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Bands Blast Blaring 'Music Torture' at Gitmo

Campaign against use of rock to break war prisoners

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Dec 10, 2008 2:21 AM CST
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(Newser) – Rock musicians are banding together to protest use of their music—played loudly and incessantly—to torture war prisoners. US interrogators have bragged about breaking detainees by endlessly playing the same pulsating music for months. "Plenty lost their minds"—not just to Eminem, but Sesame Street songs and Barney's I Love You—a former prisoner tells AP. The tactic is used on detainees at Guantanamo and in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The tactic, authorized in 2003, is intended to "create fear, disorient and prolong capture shock," said the commander who approved it.  "I wouldn't want my music to be a party to that," said a horrified Sesame Street musician. Not everyone agrees. Drowning Pool's bassist said he's honored his music "could be used to quell another 9/11." The protesting musicians plan to hold moments of silence at concerts to raise awareness about the tactic.

Barney's I love you is among the songs used to break war prisoners in US jails.
Barney's "I love you" is among the songs used to break war prisoners in US jails.   (PRNewsFoto/PBS KIDS Sprout)
Tom Morello is joining other musicians in holding moments of silence to protest the incessant use of blaring rock music as a torture tactic.
Tom Morello is joining other musicians in holding moments of silence to protest the incessant use of blaring rock music as a torture tactic.   (AP Photo/Jack Plunkett, File)
Fans cheer on musician Tom Morello, who joins the protest against using rock music in US jails.
Fans cheer on musician Tom Morello, who joins the protest against using rock music in US jails.   (AP Photo/Branimir Kvartuc)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Oct 29, 2009 10:41 PM CDT
Yeah, good point guys... lets stop playing music at remotely-innocent concert levels of volume. lets go back to waterboarding... granted this doesn't cause any physical pain and is at best, annoying... as long as we can protest this and support providing high quality living arangements for terrorists... f'ing morons! And britney spears should be happy they used her music... no one else is listening to that crap!
Guest
Dec 11, 2008 1:35 AM CST
The only reason they are objecting is because they wouldn't use their music if it didn't suck.

Roots of 'acoustic bombardment'
Trans

Report details Guantanamo 'torture'
New American

 
Guantanamo Bay • musician • interrogation techniques • rock music • detainees • Sesame Street

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