Forum Post: russell brand on torture

‘Isn’t it obvious that if rape is used a way of getting information that we’re already in hell?’

Source: The Independent

Russell Brand has described the CIA’s torture report as “terrifying” in his latest episode of The Trews. The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report will reveal the extent of the organisation’s “enhanced interrogation”. Main methods are thought to include sleep deprivation, confinement in small spaces, slapping, humiliation, sexual assault threats and waterboarding. These measures were carried out on al-Qaeda terrorism suspects following the 9/11 attack and weren’t effective in delivering life-saving intelligence to the US.

Around 10 per cent of the 6,000-page tome will be released to the public. “This CIA report is important because around the world now there are all sorts of measures that give governments more rights to spy on their own people,” said Brand.

“If there are unaccountable government agencies that can torture without having to ever justify or explain even when it doesn’t work. We’re living in a terrifying time. “Isn’t it obvious that if rape is used a way of getting information out of a person that we’re already in hell? There’s no further to go, there’s no further for us to decline.” The comedian suggested that the report should make the public question “the considerable clandestine power these organisations hold”, but noted that government torture techniques are becoming more acceptable.

A recent study showed that 36 per cent of Britons think that torture is sometimes necessary.

“The problem is we’ve created a climate where we think torture as oddly acceptable,” said Brand. “According to a recent Amnesty report, television programmes like the Fox-created 24, which a couple of neon-Conservative guys created, glamorise and justify the idea of torture. It helps us to accept that that is a normal part of international espionage.”

Brand also commented on the Fox News coverage of the report, which asserted that the document should not be released.

“What this story shows is of course the CIA are acting in an unaccountable, clandestine, terrifying way. And that the media are supporting them in that,” he said. “We have no access or purchase to power.”

Once again, he asserted that supporting localised campaigns is the best way of “confronting mighty institutions”.

“Although they might seem small, it says that we come together we can change the world,” he said. “They’re the not going to do it for us. We’ve just seen how the media collaborates with the government in order to suppress the truth about the CIA. If you want true news you have to get it for yourself.”