The Fox News expert who said Birmingham was a "no-go zone" for non-Muslims has compared listening to his mistake to being waterboarded:
Quick reminder: Steve Emerson, a self-dubbed expert on terrorism, said yesterday that "there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don't go in".
View this video on YouTube
But Emerson was a bit baffled when asked if he thought others might be offended by the suggestion that getting mocked online was comparable to getting waterboarded.
Waterboarding – an "enhanced interrogations" technique where the recipient feels as though they are drowning – has been used by a number of countries in an attempt to extract information from detainees, although a report released by the Senate Intelligence Committee last month revealed it was not an effective interrogation tool.
And just as Emerson had been getting criticised for his geography (and "sloppy research", he admitted)...
BREAKING: Fox News publishes up-to-date map of terrorist movements.
...his credentials as a terrorism expert also started to get challenged.
. @skypadrob It appears Steve Emerson's knowledge of waterboarding is equal to his knowledge of Birmingham.
I'm not sure many of those who were waterboarded will that is a suitable simile for Steve Emerson to use, especially in an apology
@skypadrob @FelixRatbastard There speaks either a man who has never been waterboarded or an imbecile who has.
Because hey, waterboarding's not that bad, right?
I've never been waterboarded, but I can't imagine it being any worse than getting a popcorn shell stuck in your throat
Yeah totally *rolls eyes* MT"@skypadrob: Steve Emerson apologises for Birmingham comments. Says twitter treatment was like waterboarding"