Roll over Beethoven

[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rLci6tPOtY[/embedyt]Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Canine Spy Section correspondent, was considering giving a bone to a passing-by dog, when he read
Architects of C.I.A. Interrogation Drew on Psychology to Induce ‘Helplessness’. Two military psychologists used a dog experiment as the basis for interrogations designed to eliminate detainees’ “sense of control and predictability,” the Senate report said. Marquel read the article with professional interest, and more than a little anger. Marquel is not PETA, nor even a strong supporter of animal rights. But he does believe in common decency and this was way, way, way over the line.

It seems some scientists, or more accurately,  really bad American Nazis, had experimented on dogs, giving them electric shocks. Of course the dogs were upset at each shock and tried to escape. But this is a very different experiment. They made it impossible for the dogs to escape. Eventually the dogs became listless, helpless, and just sat taking the shocks. Marquel felt like twisting the necks of the scientists until he heard a big pop.

The important thing to note is that the U.S.torture program was based entirely on this experiment. Marquel contacted the researcher.

“What did this prove?” Marquel inquired.

 “That when an animal, or person, has no hope they turn passive, helpless, and available for domination.” The scientist said.

“When you gave these dogs shocks, did they talk or bark?”

 “No, that’s the point. They became quiet, unresponsive, listless. It was the picture of hopelessness.” He said.

“Well did they give up any state secrets? Did they say where the gang hung out at night, where the local dog ho could be found? Did any dog show you where he hid his bones?” I asked.

 “That wasn’t the point. That wasn’t our point. The government misused our research. We didn’t design it to indicate how to get prisoners to talk.” He said. “What are you doing?”

I was prying his mouth open. “Do they still put poison pills in CIA employees mouths in case of capture?” I asked.

 “Yes! What are you doing?” He bellowed.

“I’m looking for that pill and if I find it I’m going to pop it with this pen.” I said.

 “Why!?” He asked.

“What you did to those dogs shouldn’t happen to a cricket, an amoeba, a Barbie doll. Those poor tortured dogs.” I said.

 I went down to NYU where the CIA psychologists were presenting a paper. They had used the dog test as support for torture.

“Why did you use the dog experiment?” I asked.

 “Isn’t it obvious? If you reduce a person to hopelessness, they’re yours. That’s what the government wanted.” He said.

“That’s not true. They didn’t say anything about helplessness. They wanted cooperative witnesses who would talk. These dogs didn’t talk.” I said.

 “Of course not. They’re dogs. They became like putty.” He said.

“But that experiment didn’t show the dogs would cooperate. It showed they gave up.” I said.

 “Yes and giving up meant they’d answer our questions.” He said.

“So you say. But the experiment just showed they gave up. In fact it showed that they kind of lost their fear of shock. They took it. Doesn’t that indicate if you really and honestly follow the teachings of the experiment, if you torture someone enough, they’ll give up and tolerate the torture! Instead of talking, they’ll clam up and take your abuse. That’s what the dogs did, you idiot!” I’d lost my cool.

 “I don’t have to take this,” he said.

“If you were a prisoner of the US, you would,” I shouted at him.

Then I thought about Bin Laden. They didn’t catch that guy. They couldn’t catch a fly, even packed with IEDs. I was convinced that bin Laden gave himself up, tired and seeking martyrdom. It’s the only story that makes sense. Then I thought of the dogs and cried a bit. For the dogs mostly. But also for my country

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BY MARQUEL: Roll over Beethoven