Some time back, the news came out that the CIA was operating prisons across the world in which they were engaging in practices of torture. These included techniques such as Cold Cell (a prisoner stands in a cell which is between 40 and 50 degrees and is repeatedly doused with cold water), Long Time Standing (in which a prisoner stands for up to 48 hours at a time without sleep) and waterboarding (a technique where the prison is made to feel as if he or she is drowning). Soon after this was revealed, many came out in defense of this torture. I remember thinking how odd it was that American politicians, pundits and citizens were now being asked to state their "position on torture." Who would have thought such a situation would come to pass in the United States?