Wing & a Prayer Productions

Former U.S. President George W. Bush is in the headlines today for admitting that the U.S. used waterboarding on terrorist suspects on his watch and with his approval. He claims that this is not a form of torture (because a lawyer told him so) and that the use of waterboarding prevented terrorist attacks, not only on the U.S. but on London’s Heathrow Airport and Canary Wharf as well.

I am uncomfortable with this news (not that it comes as a surprise), for several reasons. Firstly, I find it distressing that Mr Bush does not see waterboarding as torture. I would like to ask if he would be willing to undergo it himself and, while undergoing it, be asked again if it doesn’t constitute torture. The process should be continued until he either changes his mind or it becomes clear that, yes, he’s right, waterboarding is a humane process. Given that trained CIA operatives have themselves have apparently caved in after just 14 seconds of being subjected to the technique, I don’t hold out much hope for the latter.

Secondly, I’m distressed that Mr Bush’s argument appears to suggest that the ends justify the means (though, if he truly believes that waterboarding isn’t torture, I wonder that he bothers to make this argument at all). In other words, it’s all right to resort to inhumane methods to deal with inhumane people. The problem with this is that if you try to defeat evil (a favourite George W word) by using evil methods (and I cannot see waterboarding as anything else) then you yourself have become the very thing you attempt to destroy (a lesson Francis Ford Copploa so admirably taught us in ‘Apocalypse Now’). I do not want to be part of a society which defends our freedoms by employing terror. Yes, much may be a lot at stake in terms of human lives; but there’s also a lot at stake in terms of human souls.

Finally, I’m distressed because this comes from a man who claims to be a Christian and who opposes abortion because it disrespects the sanctity of life. Jesus taught his followers to turn the other cheek, he taught respect for those made in the image of God (whether unborn or not), he taught that others should be treated the same way you yourself would wish to be treated. With this in mind, it baffles and saddens me that someone who claims to follow Jesus would be willing to allow such barbarity to be inflicted on another human being.

In some Church circles it’s common to see people wearing wristbands with the letters ‘WWJD’ embroidered on them, standing for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ It’s meant as a reminder, in every situation, that followers of Jesus should follow in the footsteps of their Lord. With this in mind, I have to ask, Mr Bush: Who Would Jesus Waterboard? I have a mental images of Judas, sack over his head, being held down by Peter and John, while Jesus pours a jug of water over his head saying ‘Come on, Judas. How much silver did they pay you?’ But somehow I don’t think so. It somehow doesn’t ring true with the life of a man who came to set all people free that they may have life to the full.

To Mr. Bush and to all in the positions to make decisions over issues such as waterboarding I want to say this: Not in my name.

And, for Christ’s sake, not in His name either.