Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs

BBC News ^ | May 21, 2003

[MadIvan]

Heavy metal music and popular American children's songs are being used by US interrogators to break the will of their captives in Iraq.

Uncooperative prisoners are being exposed for prolonged periods to tracks by rock group Metallica and music from children's TV programmes Sesame Street and Barney in the hope of making them talk.

The US's Psychological Operations Company (Psy Ops) said the aim was to break a prisoner's resistance through sleep deprivation and playing music that was culturally offensive to them.

However, human rights organisation, Amnesty International, said such tactics may constitute torture - and coalition forces could be in breach of the Geneva Convention.

Sergeant Mark Hadsell, of Psy Ops, told Newsweek magazine: "These people haven't heard heavy metal.

"They can't take it. If you play it for 24 hours, your brain and body functions start to slide, your train of thought slows down and your will is broken. That's when we come in and talk to them."

Sgt Hadsell's favourites are said to be 'Bodies' from the XXX film soundtrack and Metallica's 'Enter Sandman'.

The theme tune from the US children's programme Sesame Street and songs from the purple singing dinosaur Barney are also on their hit list.

"In training, they forced me to listen to the Barney "I Love You" song for 45 minutes. I never want to go through that again," one US operative told the magazine.

'No lasting effect'

Rick Hoffman, vice president of the Psy Ops Veterans Association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that such a tactic would have no long-lasting effect on prisoners.

"The use of this kind of audio-technique is rather new in interrogation," he said.

"There have been other kinds of non-lethal, non-harmful techniques, such as sleep deprivation... which leave no long-lasting effects but do have the end result of breaking down the individual's will to resist questioning."

Amnesty International told BBC News Online that at least one Iraqi captive - a civilian, later released - had reported being kept awake for up to four days by loud music.

"This is an issue that seriously concerns us. If there is a prolonged period of sleep deprivation, it could well be considered torture," said a spokeswoman.

"It is a very difficult line to draw between what constitutes discomfort and what constitutes torture - that line will vary for individuals and it would depend on each particular case," she added.

She said they were looking into whether the US and UK were abiding by their responsibilities under the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.

The UK's Ministry of Defence has said all its prisoners are being held under the terms of the Geneva Convention and are visited by members of the International Red Cross.

[MadIvan]

I can definitely see Barney the Dinosaur being used as torture. It's more effective than the Comfy Chair.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Dirk McQuickly]

Will Lars Ulrich sue for royalties? ASCAP needs its piece of the action, too.

[AntiGuv]

I could deal with Sesame Street, but Barney?! Have they no mercy???

[mewzilla]

And if the music doesn't work, they can always break out the Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam...

[Paleo Conservative]

More proof of the Iraqi-Al Qaeda connection.

[Sparta]

I think Britney Spears and the boy bands would be even more cruel. Bush is showing once again his concern for the well-being of the Iraqi people.

[freedomlover]

Back when the internet was young (Algore had only invented it a few years and had just developed the WWW) I remember one of the most favored genre of free games set up on the web was "kill Barney" games. They were rough but funny.

[socal_parrot]

"We have ways of making you talk..."

[freedomlover]

I dunno. Those soft cushions can be pretty . . well . . comfy!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Sergeant Mark Hadsell, of Psy Ops, told Newsweek magazine: "These people haven't heard HILLARY'S SHRILL SPEECH OR BYRD AND DASCHLE on a rant.

"They can't take it. If you play it for 24 hours, your brain and body functions start to slide, your train of thought slows down and your will is broken. That's when we come in and talk to them."

Edited to include what would really be cruel and inhumane TORTURE.

[Vortex]

Reminds me of the "Happy House" at the summer camp that the little girl Wednesday gets put in, from the Addams Family movie.

[jriemer]

And if the music doesn't work, they can always break out the Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam...

Wherever there's SPAM, there's Vikings...

[xJones]

We're saving "Mr. Rogers's" theme song for the really hard-core Iraqis.

Then there's Disney's "It's a small world, afterall..."

Generations of American children have grown up with this, but then we train them to be tough. :)

[carl in alaska]

As the chiropractor said to his patient when he returned from vacation, "Well, I see you're back." We all hope you had a fine holiday.

[Carolina]

And F.A.O. Schwartz' "Welcome to our World of Toys."

[xJones]

Think Andy Williams singing the "Love Story" theme. Or "Achy Breaky Heart". They'll beg for mercy.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Tele Tubbies are inspired by the Great Satan. 24/7/12 would crack a walnut so pistachio suckers ought to be short work.

I wonder if Clinton era XXX "gay" porn would get them to talk? Even if just to ask out for a date special agent M-9, recently separated from M-16? It cuts to the issue. Their hands are tied, not ours.

Maybe looped Sec'y of State Albright's speeches and interviews?

[headsonpikes]

"I hate you, You hate me, Let's all kill our families..."

As I recall Grade IV students singing 10-15 years ago.

;^)

[Eala]

Overkill. They could break the Iraqis as effectively with daytime TV. Or even prime time TV.