DVD Review: National Geographic: Inside Guantanamo: Peter Coyote, Jon Else, Bonni Cohen: Movies & TV
DVD Review: National Geographic: Inside Guantanamo: Peter Coyote, Jon Else, Bonni Cohen: Movies & TV
Product Description
The naval base at Guantanamo Bay secured a place in the annals of history when the first wave of detainees from Americas War on Terror men dubbed “the worst of the worst” arrived in 2002. A symbol of freedom protected or freedom tragically betrayed, the controversies of Guantanamo embody the thorny issues of America’s fight against an enemy that wears no uniform, has no address and will declare no armistice, and an administrations battle to keep prisoners beyond the reach of due process in American courts. The goings-on inside the wire encircling this highly classified camp have been a closely held government secretuntil now. For the first time, National Geographic exclusively captures day-to-day life in the most famous prison in the worldexploring the ongoing daily struggle between the guard force of dedicated young military personnel and the equally dedicated detainees, many of whom are still in legal limbo after being held for seven years.
Well-done and even-handed,
By James D. Crabtree “Doc Crabtree” (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) -
National Geographic was given unprecedented access in order to produce their film on the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and they took advantage of it to produce a documentary which does show what life is like for both the detainees and the guards who must serve inside the wire.
While not a 100% accurate portrayal of what goes on in the facility (the very presence of the cameras changes the behavior of the detainees) it is as close as it gets to seeing the inside of Gitmo without actually getting assigned to JTF Guantanamo Bay. Interviews allow the viewer to get a better idea of the issues which surround the controversial facility, including (unfounded) allegations of “torture,” the problems involved with releasing detainees, and the legal responsibilities of the U.S. government. Lawyers for detainees, guards, military officers and even released detainees themselves all discuss issues which surround Guantanamo.
If the film has a weakness it is that the statements of former detainees are not more strongly challenged. For instance, the former Taliban “ambassador” to Pakistan stated something to the effect that Islamic scholars “studied and respected” the U.S. legal system prior to the long detention of detainees at Gitmo. This statement is absolutely absurd… Jihadists were bombing our embassies, ships and the WTC (twice!) well before Guantanamo. The lawyers could have used some more scrutiny as well, in their statements that “they only wish to see due process” in the case of detainees. Many of these folks are antiwar and antiprison types and have agendas other than judicial.
My take? Could have been a bit better. But it could have been a LOT WORSE. Anyone who questions the mass media’s template of Guantanamo Bay does so at their own risk. Just look at what happened to Miss Universe.
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