Defense bigs ask '24' to cool it on torture - military and FBI interregators critical

[Mike Daniels]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/496343p-418187c.html

Interesting take from people who are actually in the field...

And here are the opinions from the keyboard warriors from FR:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1782957/posts

[bryant69]

1. Torture is 24's raison d'etre.

I like the show well enough - but if they got rid of the torture they'd have to call it 15, 15 and a half tops.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[liberalmike27]

4. I watched

I watched the first season, then I stopped. I figured the show would go on to be a big hit, but it just seemed to right-wing, and drove their agenda too much.

That doesn't surprise me about torture. They want to be able to do it, and never hear it on the news or on regular shows in America. No need to trouble America's conscience, what little is left of it.

Another similar show is "The Unit". It too was totally right-wing. I didn't disagree with everything, but they seemed to have this "anything is okay if America does it," attitude, which is what gets us in trouble, and makes us hated by the world. Both shows end up being idiot fodder in the long run, at least for people who don't understand the implications, or what they are trying to put out there into your minds.

[PLF]

7. torture porn

[ShortnFiery]

2. IMO, these leaders have a valid request.

It's up to the moral conscious of the creators of "24" as to whether they choose to place profit over patriotism. :shrug: In a world of FREE EXPRESSION, they have a right to continue on with their fantasy show, but it doesn't reflect the reality of EFFECTIVE Intelligence Interrogations.

When I was an impressionable 18 y.o. first enrolled in R.O.T.C. I loved everything about patrolling and small unit tactics. I joined a group that trained cadets to attend that kick-ass Ranger School and *really*, I mean *really* got into the thought of covert ops. I have trained with numerous SF and Ranger types, to include attending parties that honored Bo Gritz. However by the time of my Regular Army Commissioning (upper 5% of R.O.T.C. graduates) I was beginning to mature and form more of a "real effect" image of combat and it's aftermath. When a (mentally healthy & somewhat compassionate) person matures emotionally, all that *take no prisoners* rhetoric is put into perspective as PURE fantasy.

My Point: The reason that I provide my history above is to emphasize: at the age of 17 and 18 years old, the vast majority of our intelligence slotted enlisted soldiers do NOT have the emotional maturity to FULLY understand the repercussions of "violent behavior." The foregoing is NOT a dismissal of their overall intelligence but, I believe, a statement of fact that those under the age of 21 (many under the age of 25) do not have the capacity to "think things through" but instead, live for the moment.

I have changed my philosophy 180 degrees over my lifetime. But I still remember "the rush" of charging through an objective; setting off grenade simulators; firing a LAW; jumping out of perfectly good airplanes; firing a cal 50 and rappelling Australian (face first) off of the local fire tower, etc. etc. Now that I'm an old broad, I feel a little guilty because of the "gung ho" feelings I felt back THEN. However, I understand the INTENSE allure, especially for very young and impressionable adults. We should, as a people, be careful to not encourage barbarism at this point in our nation's history ... even if it is dubbed as *fiction.*

That's why the portrayals of horrific methods of coercion are NOT good for young adults who sign onto the Military Intelligence MOSes. The instructors have to "train out" the delusions of grandeur that such fantasy programs portray.

Any series and/or movie that GLORIFIES any aspect about WAR or TORTURE does a disservice to our youth. It's always the old powerful men (and some women) who send our treasure (young people) off to kill and die. To glorify MAIMING and KILLING, IMO, is just plain EVIL.

[C_U_L8R]

3. If Keifer is truly anti-torture

then he should speak out - loudly and often
(or better quit, but that's a hell of a paycheck to walk away from)

[PLF]

5. I'm sure he is rich enough by now

But I doubt he has the integrity to quit.

[liberal N proud]

6. Are we in the USSR?

The military telling the movie and TV producers they can't show things that are controversial for the commanders?

Maybe the military should stop the torture.

[rebel with a cause]

8. the show has gone from torture with a conscience

when necessary (?) to torture them because they are going to torture you. sound familiar?

edited to change a period to a question mark. :dunce: