Water Boarding is an act of torture and is immoral.

This debate is in danger of becoming bogged in by semantics if my opponent and I continue to debate the interpretation of morality. Basically I have suggested that morality is a knowledge of right and wrong and that immoral actions are those which go against widely held opinion and common consensus of what is right. I have backed up my interpretation with several solid definitions from established dictionaries. My opponent dismisses these definitions saying: "they don't define it at all" without giving valid reason, although he does maintain that my interpretation backed up by these definitions is indeed the ""Established and general interpretation of morality." In turn my opponent substitutes his own version of Morality (basically selfishness) without any exterior source to back him up other than spurious and extremely vague references to Aristotle and insists we are stuck with his definition. I invite readers and voters to make up their own minds about how they interpret morality by weighing up the evidence on either side and to then decide how well the two of us have argued about water boarding within that context. I am glad that my opponent has addressed the issue at hand by agreeing with the first point of my resolution: "I'm not disputing that waterboarding is torture, so consider that something we don't have to argue." So my opponent makes it clear that his argument is for the use of torture in general being morally good. I will therefore now attempt to prove that torture is immoral whichever interpretation of morality the reader chooses to apply: 1) Torture is immoral because it goes against generally held principles of right and wrong. 2) Torture is immoral because it has negative effects on the life of the person inflicting it. I offer these two arguments out of consideration for my opponent's unconventional opinions. I would remind readers that evidence backs up the first interpretation and this is the one I intended to debate. Nevertheless here are some external sources which support my case under both interpretations: "Torture is immoral, illegal, and counterproductive. Torture undermines the moral and legal principles on which society is based. Moral authority and the ability to pressure allies are lost when world leaders resort to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading practices. As a means of interrogation, torture often results in false statements, and instills resentment and anger in the victims, their families, friends, and community, and generates embittered opponents. This hostility can translate into devastating consequences for those they consider enemies." http://www.amnestyusa.org... "Retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair, President Obama's nominee to lead the U.S. intelligence community, told Congress yesterday that torture "is not moral, legal or effective" http://www.washingtonpost.com... "We, as humans say what is evil or moral. If torture werenï¿½ï¿½ï¿½‚ï¿½ï¿½„ï¿½t considered a moral evil, then we wouldnï¿½ï¿½ï¿½‚ï¿½ï¿½„ï¿½t find people condemning it when their enemies engage in torture. In fact, acts of torture are readily touted as proof that the enemy is barbaric, or even sub-human, but then some of these same people sometimes turn around and pretend that this justifies their using torture or other barbaric tactics against others." http://atheism.about.com... "Calling torture a religious issue, Connecticut faith leaders demanded Tuesday that the state's congressional delegation oppose any changes of federal law that would allow violation of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners of war." http://www.commondreams.org... So we see the appointees of democratically elected presidents, leading international charities as well as leading figures from Atheist and religious groups, all agreeing that torture is immoral: a wide ranging common consensus. We also see many examples of the counter-productivity of torture without even considering the mental impact it must have personally to those ordered to carry it out. Waterboarding is an act of torture and is immoral. Thankyou.