Wednesday, May 21, 2008

CIA Promotes Itself as Friendly Culligan Man


If a CIA agent shows up offering free "water treatment", shut and lock your door. What could provide relief in a physical therapy office is pure torture at the hands of CIA interrogators. There are no massaging jets with Epson salts, only a bucket, ill intent and a clenched fist.

Murat Kurnaz, a German citizen held at Guantanamo Bay for nearly five years, shared with members of Congress his experience getting water treatment. Kurnaz said it involved a “strong punch” that forced him to inhale water. Asked if this was waterboarding, Murat said “water treatment” is different:

ROHRABACHER: You suggest that you were waterboarded in your captivity. Is that correct?
KURNAZ: No, it’s not waterboarding. It’s called “water treatment.” There was a bucket of water.
ROHRABACHER: Was a cloth put over your face and you were put on a board?
KURNAZ: There was a bucket of water. And they stick my head in it and at the same time, punch me into my stomach.

Make sure it's the Culligan Man wanting to treat your water, not the CIA. There's a water world of difference, at least for now.

In a creepy coincidence, The Carlyle Group purchased Synagro Technologies, a firm specializing in handling hazardous byproducts from water treatment as part of its infrastructure moves. They plan on buying more government service corporations, including Booz, Allen & Hamilton, the huge intelligence provider. When the deal closes, Carlyle will be able to garner intelligence for the feds via water treatment. It sounds like a dangerous combination.