The interrogation technique known as waterboarding — controlled drowning — is a terrifying experience that is unendurable after a few minutes. But is it torture?

Yes. On this question human rights groups, the U.N., civilized countries and common sense agree. Waterboarding is torture, and illegal under U.S. and international law.

But for the first time this week, the Bush administration publicly confirmed its willingness to flout the law.

In testimony before a congressional committee, Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell said waterboarding is "a legal technique used in a specific set of circumstances."

His comments came as CIA Director Michael Hayden confirmed the use of waterboarding against three top al-Qaida detainees in 2002 and 2003. He did not say if the technique did the job.

But regardless of its value as an interrogation technique — experts will dispute its effectiveness and the new U.S. Army Field Manual forbids it — the problem is a larger one.

The Bush administration's position continues to stain our country's reputation.

It cripples our ability to spread democratic values — such as the importance of the rule of law — around the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, where our troops are fighting and dying to uphold those principles. That's reason enough to end this odious practice.