mc_squared Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Pop stars challenge U.S. government: Tell us if our music was used for torture at Guantanamo By Mail Foreign Service Last updated at 11:21 AM on 23rd October 2009 Comments (0) Add to My Stories REM, Pearl Jam and Billy Bragg are among a coalition of musicians demanding that the U.S. government tell them if their music was used for torture at Guantanamo Bay. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has been lodged on behalf of the artists in a bid to force authorities to reveal the truth about the use of loud music to interrogate inmates at the infamous U.S. prison. Former detainees at the centre have claimed that songs from the likes of AC/DC, Britney Spears, the Bee Gees and Sesame Street were played at an ear-splitting level to break terrorist suspects. Enlarge Enlarge Torture: The music of Britney Spears, left, was used for interrogation at Guantanamo Bay, former inmates have claimed. Now musicians including Billy Bragg, right, are demanding to know if their music was also used Campaigners claim that music was played repeatedly at ear-splitting levels to 'humiliate, terrify, punish, disorient, and deprive detainees of sleep'. A jingle for cat food and the theme tune for Barney, a U.S. dinosaur television character, were also said to be pumped into cells in the Cuban prison. 'The fact that music I helped create was used as a tactic against humanity sickens me,' said guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, whose music is said to have been used at Guantanamo. Mr Morello, who has signed up to the campaign to close the centre, said: 'We need to end torture and close Guantanamo now.' The FOI was sent today to a number of U.S. agencies including the CIA, FBI and Department of Defence by the National Security Archive in Washington on behalf of the campaign group. Thomas Blanton, executive director of the archive, said: 'At Guantanamo, the US government turned a jukebox into an instrument of torture.' CIA spokesman George Little said that music was used for security and 'not for punitive purposes'. Detainees at Guantanamo Bay (file photo). Released inmates have claimed pop music was used as a form of torture in the prison He added that the volume was at levels 'far below a live band'. The music was played as a security measure, the CIA has claimed, to 'mask sound and prevent communication among detainees'. But campaigners have said that it was part of a programme of interrogation that transgressed international law. Jayne Huckerby, research director at New York University's Centre for Human Rights and Global Justice, has studied the use of music in interrogations. She said that the CIA employed loud music to 'humiliate, terrify, punish, disorient and deprive detainees of sleep, in violation of international law'. In a statement, REM said: 'We have spent the last 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice. To now learn that some of our friends' music may have been used as part of torture tactics without their consent or knowledge is horrific. 'It's anti-American, period.' President Barack Obama vowed to close the Cuban-based detention centre as one of his first acts in office. But plans to shut Guantanamo by early next year have since been beset by logistical problems that could see its eventual closure put back by months. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1222416/Pop-stars-challenge-U-S-Government-Tell-music-used-torture-Guantanamo.html#ixzz0UkrHjcLD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 :wtf: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene_Ihnfsa Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 that article is joking right? how an artist music can be used as torture? :wtf: are they recognizing they are not really good artists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electric.Candy Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Pop songs being used at torture...thats hella weird :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaLouiseSmyth Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 :laugh3: that's so funny! Womanizer, Womanizer wo wo wo Womanizer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted October 23, 2009 Author Share Posted October 23, 2009 that article is joking right? how an artist music can be used as torture? :wtf: are they recognizing they are not really good artists? Well they got it right with Britney Spears!!:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imke Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I'd torture them with my best Britney Spears personification. :wacky: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matter-Eater Lad Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 hahahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted October 23, 2009 Author Share Posted October 23, 2009 The Jonas Brothers, Lady GaGa and Tokio Hotel should all be on the list, of course.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 how an artist music can be used as torture? :wtf: are you joking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Cadet Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 :laugh3: that's so funny! Womanizer, Womanizer wo wo wo Womanizer!Now play it so loud that you get a headache. Then play that one song that loud over and over on repeat for 5 days with no breaks. It's not funny. It really is a form of torture, especially for people from backgrounds where they don't listen to pop music. Loud repeated music can have a very different effect on the brain than having a loud radio on does. If you do a bit of digging some of the allegations about how the music was used to break people are pretty nasty. I'd want to know if it was my music too. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldplay Junior Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 The Jonas Brothers, Lady GaGa and Tokio Hotel should all be on the list, of course.:rolleyes: Agreed. :dozey: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaLouiseSmyth Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 in a way, it may not be funny. But from the surface, The thought of dangerous criminals be so annoyed to a point where its toture. Only through the power of Pop Music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
an angel Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 in a way, it may not be funny. But from the surface, The thought of dangerous criminals be so annoyed to a point where its toture. Only through the power of Pop Music. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I always said that the worst conceivable disposition is to be stuck in a box, unable to die, with all american rejects on loop in the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaLouiseSmyth Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 *sings* i'll keep you my dirty little secret :laugh3: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_face_of_light Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Bit of a rubbish way of torturing someone though really isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffire Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 I would force them to listen to "The Hardest Part" by Coldplay on repeat. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Torture top 10?? 1 - Lonely by Akon 2 - Lonely by Akon 3 - Lonely by Akon 4 - Lonely by Akon 5 - Lonely by Akon 6 - Lonely by Akon 7 - Lonely by Akon 8 - Lonely by Akon 9 - Lonely by Akon 10 - Lonely By Akon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 1-10: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDdlHmzIdn8]YouTube - Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe 2002 high quality[/ame] A navy seal killed himself after watching this 5 times in a row. Chuck Norris couldn't even make it past 7 times in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretspy Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Wow so wait this is true? cause if it is that horrible! Music is supposed to be a thing of joy and entertainment, not a torture device! like wow... sorry im gonna say this but just another reason Canada is SOOO much better then the USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Wow so wait this is true? cause if it is that horrible! Music is supposed to be a thing of joy and entertainment, not a torture device! like wow... sorry im gonna say this but just another reason Canada is SOOO much better then the USA Saying that, your country is responsible for the creation of such "torture implements" as Shania Pain and Celine Dion.................................... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretspy Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Saying that, your country is responsible for the creation of such "torture implements" as Shania Pain and Celine Dion.................................... :P hahah i actually loled at this... its true... but your forgot Nickleback :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 hahah i actually loled at this... its true... but your forgot Nickleback :P Well that's such an obvious instrument of torture that it didn't even need to be mentioned........................... :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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