I apologize DoDo, for not getting back to you, I missed this comment.  Sure, the US used torture before - I think waterboarding started for the US in the early 1900's if I am not mistaken.  Nevertheless, what I am referring too are the psychological, rather than physical, torture methods that came about in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.  Physical pain is one thing but the psychological is another animal in itself and highly effective - not for information, but rather to exploit and break the human soul.

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"