Waterboarding...cows?

California plant accused of torturing unfit cows
Wed Jan 30, 2008

By Russell Blinch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Humane Society said on Wednesday a California slaughterhouse was using a range of torture including waterboarding to prod unfit animals into the slaughterhouse so they could be processed into food that may have ultimately ended up in school lunch programs.

But do the cows retain habeas cow-us rights in this slaughterhouse?

Sorry, that was inappropriately facetious. I don't know what is most disturbing: that these animals are being treated in this way, that kids may be eating sick cows, or that the public now understands the meaning of "waterboarding" without additional explanation.

But it gets worse.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said he was convinced there was no health risk involved but the matter was being investigated. "First of all, this issue is taken very seriously by the USDA employees responsible for this area. Obviously, there is a full investigation and inspection going on today."

Hah. If it was DOJ, they'd be writing up opinions about why it is OK to torture cows, not that America would ever do so.