To the editor:

Waterboarding has been recognized since World War II as torture and illegal under any circumstance under common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention. Sen. John McCain, former POW and Republican nominee for president, has criticized the practice and denied its effectiveness, and noted Japanese soldiers were hung after World War II for inflicting such torture.

Academy Award nominee for best picture “Zero Dark Thirty” depicts waterboarding being applied by CIA agents. Controversy around the use of torture in the movie has centered on whether waterboarding led to useful information being gleaned or not. Several members of Congress challenged the producers for portraying the technique as effective rather than concern over the legality and criminality around admitted enhanced terror being used by CIA agents. If it is illegal and doesn’t produce reliable information, why is it used at all? Ironically, only one person has been charged with a crime concerning waterboarding. Ex-CIA agent John Kriakou was recently sentenced to 30 months in prison for his part in waterboarding. His crime was exposing the use of waterboarding by CIA agents violating the Constitution and world treaties.

When administrations interpret law to suit their objectives, the Legislature fails to challenge presidential powers and the judicial department turns a blind eye to the possible violation of the constitution. Whistle-blowers deserve protection, not prison.