The Torture Question By FrontLine PBS
 "The Torture Question" is an excellent documentary which traces the aggressive development of the USA's interrogation policy in the  aftermath of 9/11, where the push for some "actionable intelligence" led to the authorization for some interrogators to strip detainees, degrade prisoners with sexual humiliation techniques and use dogs for intimidation.
This excellent 90 minute documentary was produced in mid-August, 2005 as a PBS - FRONTLINE documentary crew made the perilous journey to the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. It highlights the development of USA policy regarding torture not only in Iraq but at Guantonimo, CUBA, and other black sites around the world.
In this report, American soldiers give first-hand accounts of their involvement in the harsh treatment of prisoners. Moreover, one former Army interrogator and member of a special intelligence team insists that the use of torture was happening all over Iraq. Other military sources, some of whom had to be disguised, confirm that prisoner abuse is a more widespread problem than previously reported. "The Torture Question" provides the context for understanding how the rules were confused, how lines of authority were blurred, and what happens when the authorization of "coercive interrogation" makes it way into the battle zone. Survivors of Torture:
 Survivors of Torture, International is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for survivors of politically-motivated torture and their families who live in San Diego County.
This organization has helped individuals from more than 55 countries to recover from their traumas through a holistic program including medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, legal and social services. Click here to see how SURVIVORS empowers torture survivors to reclaim the strength and vitality that were stolen from them by brutal dictators and governments. 7min
Torture Damages Bill
 Torture survivors in the UK tell REDRESS about their experiences and why the Torture (Damages) Bill is so important to obtaining justice.
Torture & America's Future
 A panel of UCSB scholars deals with the topic of torture and America's future as part of the overall series on Torture and the Future: Perspectives from the Humanities. This Critical Issues in America series of talks and panels was held at UC Santa Barbara during the Winter and Spring quarters of 2007.
| War on Democracy
By John Pilger
 A labor of love on the part of Pilger, a long-time activist for peace and freedom for all, Pilger journeys into several Latin American countries-Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, and Chile, and documents efforts being made to broaden the accessibility of freedom. He documents the populism promulgated by leaders by Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, the President of relatively poor Bolivia, to promote the values of true democracy, in which the poor are franchised and invested in the well-being of the country. Pilger talks to people who were adversely affected by CIA-backed coups in many of these same South and Central American countries during the second half of the 20th century, making a powerful witness to the deleterious effect of greed and the disproportionate allocation of power in the hands of a few. The work of the CIA on behalf of US corporately acceptable "leaders" is documented; much of this is not new, but Pilger's main accomplishment is collating and connecting the material on so many foreign interventions by the CIA.
 A wise cinematographic decision by Pilger is to interview and show the people of these nations. They appear decent and it is important for Westerners to realize that they have a lot in common with the so-called impoverished. Beneath our different exteriors, we share many characteristics. Also, the footage of the countries, and often just the day-to-day lives are lovely and the mountainous backdrops of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, are beautiful. Pilger makes a strong case for government conducted on behalf of the people and interviews Chavez, allowing him to make his case for such a rule-of-law. Pilger interviews a couple of CIA sources, including the head of the CIA in South America during the mid-1980s. He asks him whether the ouster of Allende had been justified and the man states that the ends had to justify the means. He also said that US interests were protected via the installation of Pinochet, failing to recognize the contrast between US claims of respect for democratically elected governments and US intervention when the US, oh.....felt like it. Pilger's decision to refuse to interrupt while the man put his foot in his mouth and re-affirmed the importance of protecting US interests over even sovereign governments, seems wise. The man only seems all the more out-of-touch and arrogant for his unapologetic defense of autocracy. This is a powerful indictment of greed and of the possible benefits available to ALL if the US will allow sovereign governments to work autonomously. Notably, the film is available via Google Video for those interested.    |