Errol Morris, Standard Operating Procedure

Get the true life story on the atrocities that occurred at Abu Gharib in the early years of the war in Iraq. Director Errol Morris tells the BlackTree TV audience what led him to creating the documentary, and what happened to those prisoners. BlackTree TV goes one on one with Director Errol Morris.Is it possible for a photograph to change the world? Photographs taken by soldiers inAbu Ghraib prison changed the war in Iraq and changed America's image of itself. Yet, acentral mystery remains. Did the notorious Abu Ghraib photographs constitute evidenceof systematic abuse by the American military, or were they documenting the aberrantbehavior of a few "bad apples"?We set out to examine the context of these photographs. Why were they taken? What washappening outside the frame? We talked directly to the soldiers who took thephotographs and who were in the photographs. Who are these people? What were theythinking? Over two years of investigation, we amassed a million and a half words ofinterview transcript, thousands of pages of unredacted reports, and hundreds ofphotographs. The story of Abu Ghraib is still shrouded in moral ambiguity, but it is clearwhat happened there.The Abu Ghraib photographs serve as both an expose and a coverup. An expose,because the photographs offer us a glimpse of the horror of Abu Ghraib; and a coverupbecause they convinced journalists and readers they had seen everything, that there wasno need to look further. In recent news reports, we have learned about the destruction ofthe Abu Zubaydah interrogation tapes. A coverup. It has been front page news. But thecoverup at Abu Ghraib involved thousands of prisoners and hundreds of soldiers. Weare still learning about the extent of it.Many journalists have asked about "the smoking gun" of Abu Ghraib. It is the wrongquestion. As Philip Gourevitch has commented, Abu Ghraib is the smoking gun. Theunderlying question that we still have not resolved, four years after the scandal: howcould American values become so compromised that Abu Ghraib—and the subsequentcoverup—could happen? http://www.blacktree.tv

Channel: Film & Animation
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: blacktreemedia

Length: 09:26
Rating: 4.56
Views: 3566

Tags: Abu American bush general george Gharib Insurgents Iraq patraeus rumsfield Soldiers Torture War Waterboarding

Video Comments

tabber87 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

My point is that America can't be brought back because America never was what it "was". The dialogue today is driven by lemming liberals who would have you believe that these foreign policies are unique to George W. Bush when in fact the leadership of this country, Republican or Democratic, has a history of exerting it's power abroad in unpopular ways without the support of the entire international community.Don't let the hyperbole of a Maher or a Colbert or a Stewart convince you otherwise.

auspiciousbunny (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thanks for this clip.

auspiciousbunny (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

That was a response to the post below.

auspiciousbunny (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Yeah look what happened at Wounded Knee.

GonnaKillYou123 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Fuckin Snitch! FUCK THESE ARABS, 9/11 REMEMBER? DETAINEES=AL QUADA ! AL QUADA = HATE "SO WHY NOT HATE THEM BACK?

WOCMMA (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Another Jew trying to justify the crimes

keltik31 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

please dont write us off. the government is one thing; the people are something else. you must believe in america. we will bring it back.

tabber87 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Yeah unlike the America during the Vietnam-era or the Spanish-American War-era or the Texas Revolution etc...Various nationalities and individuals have always charged that the United States has used its power and influence to spread violence and oppression around the world.

jetranger3 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I don't recognise the face of America any more. Bush has made the USA a mean spirited and hated country.

whyhmm (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I like to feel sexy....knowing someone is watching me ..wanting me...turns me on!BADLY! I like to flirt and pose..and sometimes i like to get WILD! how? ..he he..come in video and youll see:-)) maybe u can teach me something..or maybe i will ! come visit me at MeetYourFling (.COM) my user-id there is karrah-okhn chat soon on cam :-) iynkkmjtdex

Errol Morris, Standard Operating Procedure

Video Comments

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