You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Iraq
Psyop: The Love’s Not Mutual
2003-05-18
The U.S. military is using Metallica and the ‘Barney’ theme song as instruments of torturecoercion in Iraq. Your parents aren’t the only ones who hate your music—some Iraqis hate it, too. U.S. military units have been breaking Saddam supporters with long sessions in which they’re forced to listen to heavy-metal and children’s songs. “Trust me, it works,” says one U.S. operative. The idea, says Sgt. Mark Hadsell, is to break a subject’s resistance by annoying that person with what some Iraqis would consider culturally offensive music. The songs that are being played include “Bodies” from the Vin Diesel “XXX” movie soundtrack and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” “These people haven’t heard heavy metal before,” he explains. “They can’t take it.” Few people could put up with the sledgehammer riffs of Metallica, and kiddie songs aren’t that much easier, especially when selections include the “Sesame Street” theme and some of purple dinosaur Barney’s crooning.
This would definitely work on me.
There's gotta be some sort of Geneva convention against that sort of thing! [Shudder!]
Posted by:Penguin

#9  Personally, I'd recommend a couple hours of Tool's "Sober". It's a great song if you like Tool... but after a few hours, it's enough to make anyone lay down and die.
Posted by: Dishman   2003-05-19 00:19:15  

#8  I'll make you
Talk to me
Break you psychologically
I'm Public TV's purple dinosaur
Now I'm marching off to war!
Posted by: Mike   2003-05-18 20:50:15  

#7  Actually a few hours of Dr Phil faded into Opra and then to Emeril, taking pains to never allow a scene to conclude. Repeat Adnausium

amomalus.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-05-18 15:52:32  

#6  Dar...would that movie have been "Top Secret" ?
Posted by: Hodadenon   2003-05-18 15:50:47  

#5  "Should we break out the LeRoy Neiman paintings?"

"No, we don't want to violate the Geneva convention."

(Name the movie for 10 bonus points!)
Posted by: Dar   2003-05-18 15:07:38  

#4  We did some experiments on what kind of noise would be the most bothersome to a person. One thing that will drive anyone insane is to record the sound of an electric toothbrush and a hand drill at the same time, play it back and constantly, randomly, change the volume from very low to 200dB loud. Two hours and 25 minues would break a deaf Beethoven, especially if you're constantly questioning the subject at the same time. YOU wear ear plugs, he doesn't.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-05-18 14:27:59  

#3  As a reward for giving valid information to interrogators, they can have Mr. Rogers "Won't you be my neighbor" for dessert.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-05-18 14:12:27  

#2  That's interesting. I often listen to "Enter Sandman" on continuous loop in marathon gaming sessions. Oh well, I guess one man's paradise is another man's hell.
Posted by: Crescend   2003-05-18 13:44:42  

#1  It definitely qualifies as "Cruel and Unusual punishment". Look for the Donks to make this an issue in 2004.
Posted by: Ptah   2003-05-18 13:07:35  

00:00