QUICKLINK U.S. · October 22, 2009 · Freedom of information
Musicians file FOIA request seeking music used in torture
Keywords: Guantanamo Bay; military
|
|
Dozens of high-profile musicians on Thursday demanded the release of song titles that were played repetitively as a coercive interrogation technique at Guantanamo Bay and signed onto a public records request filed by the National Security Archive, the Washington Post reported.
Current and former band members of Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails and the Roots signed the NSA's request, which was sent to numerous government agencies, including the CIA, FBI and the Department of Defense, The New York Times reported.
The musicians have also launched a formal protest against the use of music in torture -- a technique that involves blasting songs for hours or days to coerce cooperation from prisoners. Pres. Obama banned this technique and others during his second day in office.
Thursday's protests were part of a broader coalition of veterans and lawmakers that seek to hold Obama accountable for his promise to close Guantanamo Bay during his first year in office.
"The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me," Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello said in a statement to the Post.
— Kirk Davis, 5:27 pm
Comments: (3)
Comment by Soldier Girl, Fri, Oct 23, 11:47pm
To the musicians who signed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out if your music was used as torture at GITMO:
If your music was played at GITMO you should be proud. You call this “crimes against humanity” yet these are the same people that want to torture and kill Americans and Europeans and will stop at nothing to do so. It’s a disgrace that you haven’t put forth same effort to support the coalition Soldiers who have spent the last eight years protecting your freedom; in many cases sacrificing their lives to so. To Tom Morello specifically: Sickening is knowing that while I, my family, and friends are willing to be stuck in some of the worst conditions, risking our lives you choose to use your freedom to speak support terrorist. You are welcome – An American Soldier.
Comment by Nobody, Sun, Oct 25, 4:00am
That actually sounds like a relatively humane way to extract information that will save innocent lives.
Comment by American Soldier, Mon, Oct 26, 12:23pm
maybe we should just stick with waterboarding....
Submit a comment
• RSS feed
News categories:
News keywords: