Bill Moyers Journal: Torturing Democracy

Kevin Costa recommends we watch this this PBS show

May 29, 2009

"If the Americans are doing it, and they're not accountable, then who's going to come to your rescue?" -Moazzam Begg, Detainee #558 in Guantanamo Bay. Moazzam Begg's statement, made after years of detention without charge, echoes the sentiments of many Americans and much of the world who have traditionally viewed the United States as a pillar of the rule of law.  The documentary TORTURING DEMOCRACY tells the story of how the United States government circumvented tradition and law to adopt torture as official policy. The film, produced by award-winning filmmaker Sherry Jones, draws on interviews, archival footage, and recently declassified documents to piece together the development and dissemination of torture tactics from Bagram in Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib -- and the document trail leads right to the top of the chain of command.  PLEASE NOTE: Due to rights restrictions we will not be able to stream TORTURING DEMOCRACY online. 

You can watch the entire film at the TORTURING DEMOCRACY Web site. 

http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/

or read the transcript here

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05292009/transcript1.html

Also on the TORTURING DEMOCRACY Web site, explore a timeline of events, read related articles, and delve into the archive of official documents.