Apr 21st, 2009
Posted by Ateqah Khaki, National Security Project at 1:58pm	Torture

Torture Memos: The Music Video

While it is certainly no light-hearted issue, our kudos to Rock Cookie Bottom — an internet personality who writes, records and posts a new song daily, often inspired by current events — for taking on the torture memos. In his 109th song, artist Jonathan Mann, uses language directly from the torture memos as lyrics, including horrifically graphic details on waterboarding.

Please note that by playing this clip You Tube and Google will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see You Tube's privacy statement on their website and Google's privacy statement on theirs to learn more. To view the ACLU's privacy statement, click here.

Directly from the torture memos, his lyrics include:

The waterboard
Which inflicts no pain or actual harm whatsoever
Does not, in our view inflict “severe pain or suffering”
Even if one were to parse the statute more finely
To treat “suffering” as a distinct concept
The waterboard could not be said to inflict severe suffering.
The waterboard is simply a controlled acute episode, lacking the connotation of a protracted period of time generally given to suffering.

Whether you read the memos themselves, or watch Rock Cookie Bottom’s video, it’s crystal clear that the memos released last week reveal that the CIA and Justice Department were both attempting to absolve themselves from responsibility for torture by relying on empty assurances from the other.

That’s why we need your support today. Join the ACLU in demanding that Attorney General Eric Holder appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate issues of criminal responsibility to ensure that no one is above the law.

Permalink |	Torture

Tags: national security project

1. jack Says:
   Apr 21st, 2009 at 1:53pm

   hard times call for hard decisions. and if we dont have the leadership willing to make the hard calls then get ready for the next 9/11. A country a people a way of life has to draw a line and say enough or fade into history. {Build the wall, man the wall, defend the wall, police up the bodies.}

2. Austin Says:
   Apr 21st, 2009 at 2:29pm

   Holy shit this video is awesome. Good find teeks. lol i called you teeks.

3. raymond Says:
   Apr 21st, 2009 at 3:16pm

   These enemy combatants do don't fall under the Geneva Convention, because they do not wear a designated uniform.

4. jack Says:
   Apr 21st, 2009 at 4:23pm

   yes waterboarding has its drawbacks. The c.i.a. needs to go back to the chemical interrogation technics of the 1960s 70s and 80s. {Build the wall, man the wall, defend the wall, police up the bodies.}

5. Sharon Says:
   Apr 22nd, 2009 at 2:47am

   You and other like-minded organizations are some of the greatest enemies from within our nation's borders.

   You have lost your way and the values of our forefathers. As a result, you and organizations that share your views and philosphies are helping to undermine the preservation of a free USA.

   I only hope that we all WAKE UP to REALITY in this world--stop the naivete--before we are annihilated. I don't know about everyone else; however I enjoy being Free AND Safe!

6. Sharon Says:
   Apr 22nd, 2009 at 2:50am

   So much for Freedom of Speech, eh?
   I stand up and express my views and beliefs. Political correctness is Your M.O.not mine.

7. Bob Says:
   Apr 22nd, 2009 at 7:30am

   "These enemy combatants do don’t fall under the Geneva Convention, because they do not wear a designated uniform."

   Then they probably don't fall under the general definition of being human either.

   In which case, why not just kill them and get it over with?

   Here Raymond, you get first shot.

8. Sam Says:
   Apr 22nd, 2009 at 8:11am

   I completely agree w/raymond
   This is a replay of vietnam, putting our guys in danger. Our boys are driving around w/these sneaks training them (at our expense) only to find that they learn our tactics them kill our boys.
   This is the ONLY thing I agree w/Bush on

9. Vic Livingston Says:
   Apr 22nd, 2009 at 11:33am

   TWO VIEWS OF TORTURE, AMERICAN-STYLE:

   "(Let's Go) Waterboardin' USA"

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoa8QwuldXo

   GESTAPO USA: Gov't-Funded Vigilante Network Terrorizes America

   http://nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigi lante-network-terrorizes-america

   OR (if link is tortured):

   http://NowPublic.com/scrivener

10. niasuh Says:
    Apr 22nd, 2009 at 2:05pm

    It's one thing to have a cloth on your face against your will during Water-boarding, but quite another to have the wool over your eyes in a country that seemingly promotes 'freedom and justice for all'.

    Even when organizations like the ACLU campaign to have the wool lifted, the ignorant amongst you seem intent on being blind to the true extent of the atrocities. It is still keeping a smear on a once great nation.

    You may think you are 'free' but your minds are still imprisoned.

    You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind. --Mahatma Ghandi

11. Vron Says:
    Apr 23rd, 2009 at 12:09am

    Does anyone really care what happens to these sick people who attacked us on our soil? Nope, not me. Eye for and Eye!!! ACLU needs to find better use of their time. If you feel these terrorist are being treated unfair, move there and join their army because we don't want you hear!

12. Paen Says:
    Apr 23rd, 2009 at 1:28pm

    I bet if there was an internet in the 40s people in Germany would be saying the same things as the right wingers here to justify the Gestapo.

13. ErikJJ Says:
    Apr 23rd, 2009 at 1:56pm

    So anything that inflicts acute psychic pain is ok?

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