Otterman's work presented in his book American Torture will no doubt be recognized as a classic for those opposing the so called "coalition of the willing" war on Islam. his early chapters describe the torture being applied to detainees (POW's)and suspected terrorists. The 'human face' of torture and the complicity of professionals and the U.S. government in systematic torture of these unfortunate captives. the material is hard hitting and one gets the sense that Mike is pulling his punches in order to not horrify his audience. A wise move, indeed, as the torture is very ugly. My initial response was to ponder what darkness lies in mens hearts to do such things to fellow human beings. Combined with the widely broadcast pictures of torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanimo Bay, these chapters resound with Robert Lifton's The Genocidal Mentality. Lifton was the sole survivor of his family from Nazi Germany's death camps for Jewish, homosexual and others who are 'different' who live with us. The answer Lifton came to was that the entire process of exterminating Jews (or rephrased for today;s audience 'Ethnic cleansing')was done by bureaucrats who were simply following orders.
This now seems almost obvious. The torturers were driven by the glue of society - obedience to authority. Authority and power unjustly used is the problem. Otterman does a fabulous job explicating the details of this process and lays the problem directly at the feet of the elected government's neo conservative policies and rhetoric. As a Psychologist, author of several books and University Professor, I was absolutely appalled by the involvement of my profession with respect to their designing, implementing and supervising the practices described in Mike's book.
Psychologists are banned from using cruel and inhumane practices in their professional activities. So, the US government defies international law and introduces a re-definition of what constitutes cruel and inhuman practices. A handfull of my American psychologists colleagues can then continue to perpetrate the most vile of practices which are condemned by international law.
It is true that my confusion and anger with these colleagues practice of torture as defined by the UN Convention on Human Rights continues to deeply trouble me. However, the problem is clearly laid at the feet of the fundamentalists' in power governing the US Empire.
In his final chapter(The dual state) Otterman finally bursts forth from his closet, pulling no punches whatsoever. In response to Mike Otterman's work in the final chapter, the following quote seems appropriate: All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident. - Arthur
Schopenhauer (1788-1860.
Mike has released his book and the reader should understand that we are now dealing with Stage 2 of Schopenhauer's stages.
I most heartily endorse this book for anyone who is able to think 'out of the box'. I can say my students will be required to use this book as a text of several on state terrorism.
Professor Arthur Veno, Ph.D.
Monash University
