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September 29, 2006
America Imitating Art
The movie spares the viewer any graphic torture scenes -- leaving instead a trail of equally revealing evidence. But it makes quite clear that the occupying Germans saw the un-uniformed Resistance fighters as, umm, well, "unlawful enemy combatants" -- and not entitled to POW status. Rather than kill their French fighters, the movie suggests the Germans would use interrogation techniques that brought their prison's close to death but would not allow them that freedom. At the same time, the Germans made sure to deny their prisoners the power of suicide.
Senator John Warner has made a point, in supporting yesterday's torture/tribunal bill, of saying that previous wars -- like WWII -- have been different because the enemy wore uniforms. But history shows that occupying uniformed forces abused those not in uniform. My point is, nothing is so clear cut when it comes to war and wartime interrogation as Senator Warner and others would like us to think.
But this I believe to be very clear cut. Movies will be made around the world -- by creative, insightful directors like Melville with personal experience from which to barrow -- showing America to be no better than the Germans who occupied France.
I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's fair. I'm saying only it will happen. And because these movies will be based on truth, history will make us suffer for it -- when we had the chance not to.
Posted by shertaugh at September 29, 2006 9:11 AM
Comments
A couple of points to consider.
1. The main argument against the legislation recently proposed by Bush was made by McCain, to wit, allowing "torture"-- however loosely defined-- would put our soldiers in danger if captured. When have our enemies ever treated our soldiers well?
2. People in other countries, and many here at home, will accuse us of torture regardless of the truth.
Obviously, neither observation justifies the use of torture. On the other hand, leaving the language of the Geneva Conventions ambiguous was not a good idea.
I'm not saying it's fair. I'm saying only it will happen. And because the movies will not be based on truth, history will makes us suffer for it-- when we had the chance not to.
Because, history is not written by the victors after all. It is written by the Left.
[SHERTAUGH: The movie " Army of Shadows" was a production of the Gaullist right in France -- the victors -- not the left.]
Posted by: Roger Snowden at September 29, 2006 10:18 AM
I think what is particularly fascinating about that film, which you didn't mention, is how the freedom fighters themselves feel the need to purge their ranks of anyone who is suspected of betraying them and how they end up inflicting on each other--on themselves--as much harm as the Germans inflict on them. In the same way the damage we are inflicting on ourselves and on our principles is doing as much harm in the long run as the terrorists are doing.
Posted by: Al Weisel at September 29, 2006 3:47 PM