Posted on 12/10/2008 5:58:14 AM PST by Stoat
Dec 10 2008 WalesOnline
Rock musicians have joined British activists to demand US military interrogators stop using their songs as weapons to disorient terror suspects and other prisoners.
A campaign organised by UK law group Reprieve has brought together groups including Massive Attack and musicians such as Tom Morello, who played with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and is now on a solo tour.
It will feature minutes of silence during concerts and festivals, said Chloe Davies of Reprieve, which represents dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The tactic of auditory assaults has been common in the US war on terror, with forces systematically using loud music on hundreds of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, the then US military commander in Iraq, authorised it on September 14 2003, to create fear, disorient ... and prolong capture shock.
FBI agents stationed at Guantanamo Bay reported numerous instances in which music was blasted at detainees, saying they were told such tactics were common there.
According to an FBI memo, one interrogator at Guantanamo bragged he needed only four days to break someone by alternating 16 hours of music and lights with four hours of silence and darkness.
Ruhal Ahmed, a Briton captured in Afghanistan and later released without charge in 2004, described excruciating sessions at Guantanamo Bay in which his hands were shackled to his feet, which were shackled to the floor, forcing him into a painful squat for periods of up to two days.
Mr Ahmed told Reprieve the agony was compounded when music was introduced because before you could actually concentrate on something else, try to make yourself focus on some other things in your life that you did before and take that pain away...it makes you feel like you are going mad.
For many detainees who grew up in Afghanistan where music was banned under Taliban rule interrogations by US forces marked their first exposure to the pounding rhythms, played at top volume.
Binyam Mohammed, now a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, said men held with him at the CIAs Dark Prison in Afghanistan wound up screaming and smashing their heads against walls, unable to endure more.
There was loud music, (Eminems) Slim Shady and Dr Dre for 20 days. I heard this non-stop over and over, he told his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith.
The CIA worked on people, including me, day and night for the months before I left. Plenty lost their minds.
Rear Admiral David Thomas, the commander of Guantanamos detention centre, said the music treatment was not currently used at Guantanamo but added that he could not rule out its use in the future.
I couldnt speculate and I wouldnt speculate but I can tell you it doesnt happen here at Guantanamo and it hasnt happened since Ive been here, Rear Admiral Thomas, who has been at Guantanamo for six months, said.
But not all of the music is hard rock. Christopher Cerf, who wrote music for Sesame Street, said he was horrified to learn songs from the childrens TV show were used in interrogations.
I wouldnt want my music to be a party to that, he said.
Some musicians, however, are proud that their music is used in interrogations.
Bassist Stevie Benton, whose group Drowning Pool has performed in Iraq and recorded one of the interrogators favourites, Bodies, said: People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that played over and over it can psychologically break someone down.
I take it as an honour to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that.
US military interrogators have often blasted music at detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. According to Reprieve, these are some of the songs they have used most frequently:
:: Enter Sandman Metallica;
:: Bodies Drowning Pool;
:: Shoot to Thrill AC/DC;
:: Hells Bells AC/DC;
:: I Love You, from the Barney And Friends childrens TV show;
:: Born In The USA Bruce Springsteen;
:: Babylon David Gray;
:: White America Eminem;
:: Sesame Street theme song from the childrens TV show.
Other bands and artists whose music has been frequently played at US detention sites are Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Don McLean, Lil Kim, Limp Bizkit, Meat Loaf, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tupac Shakur.
What was that group you sent me a link to? “Sonseed,” or something?
Since Gitmo and other terrorist spa / resorts are not 'public' areas, I don't believe that the issue of royalties would apply because the 'music' is not being publicly broadcast.
The usage in this case could be likened to playing music at a party for your friends, with the notable exception being that the terrorists are most definitely not friends of the troops and my understanding is that the food served to the terrorists is considerably better than what's served to our troops and quite a bit better than what's been served at many parties I've been to. The terrorists are also not allowed to leave the party at a whim although that is a matter that the Left / terrorist enablers are desperately trying to change.
Ted Nugent should record some torture music and let the military use it as desired.
If it works to break murderers .. what’s it doing to our lovely children?
Have at it.
My kids tortured me with that music during their teen age years. I am sure it will break the most stubborn terrorists.
I guarantee you will go crazy listening to that 24/7.
The RIAA is investigating... to see if any of the songs have been illegally downloaded and that the Army has paid their ASCAP dues.
Whiny little liberal greedy girly-men, the lot of ‘em.
Music from Barney and Friends is obnoxious in ANY language or culture!.............
Horrible, to us, but to them , maybe not..............That muslim prayer screeching is music to them........
ok that’s bad - really bad
If we fail to pay the royalty each and every time we torture somebody, somebody is going to be in mucho trouble!!
Let me add a few of my favorites to that repetoire...
“Bark At The Moon” - Ozzy Osborne
“Highway Star” - Deep Purple
“Looks That Kill” - Motley Crue
“White Punks On Dope” - The Tubes
Thankfully, there are at least a few exceptions. From the posted article:
Some musicians, however, are proud that their music is used in interrogations.
Bassist Stevie Benton, whose group Drowning Pool has performed in Iraq and recorded one of the interrogators favourites, Bodies, said: People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that played over and over it can psychologically break someone down.
I take it as an honour to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that.
before you could actually concentrate on something else, try to make yourself focus on some other things in your life that you did before and take that pain away...it makes you feel like you are going mad.
Like raping a prepubescent girl.
British Rock Bands:
“Stop torturing people with out music!”
Give’em Hinson!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBxLGZTRwmE&feature=related
Sweet pain!
Have you heard his version of "Mr. Tambourine Man"? An All Shatner tune rotation could shorten the war considerably.
Thank you! that was very informative.
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