James Pastouna

I directed two films about GTMO each 45 .00 min. long. One for the prime time slot. (ARD the first German channel the other for WDR).

I visited the facility, detention centre on two occasions. As well as filming in Karachi , Kabul, US (New York, and  Washington), Britain and Germany. My book called Guantanamo Bay was published.

Got good reviews.

So how did it all begin?

The intelligence was not that great. The al Qaeda operative Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi caught in 2002 was tortured. He was captured by the US military, de-briefed by the CIA and then handed over to the Egyptians. His evidence was used by the Bush administration to claim that Iraq trained Al Qaeda members to use biological and chemical weapons.

October 7^th 2002 President George W. Bush spoke about the Iraqi threat in Cincinnati Museum Centre – Cincinnati Union Terminal “We’ve learned that Iraq has trained al Qaeda members in bomb-making and poisons and deadly gases.”

Senior Bush officials repeatedly asserted Mr. Libi’s assertions as fact. They did not mention there were doubts about this claim. Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council and said before the world: “I can trace the story of a senior terrorist operative (Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi) telling how Iraq provided training in these weapons to al-Qaeda… The support that this detainee describes included Iraq offering chemical or biological weapons training for two al-Qaida associates beginning in December 2000.”

After his address US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s February 5 presentation of the American case for war against Iraq at the Security Council chamber of the UN headquarters in New York officials covered up a tapestry reproduction of “Guernica”. A Pablo Picasso’s anti-war mural made in memory of when German bombers launched an unprovoked attack on the Basque village killing 5,000 men women and children. Flags of the council’s member countries and a blue curtain were placed in front of the tapestry. Clearly this painting was considered to not be an effective backdrop for television cameras…after Powell’s speech.

That same evening the National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice said on Larry King Live “There is no question in my mind about the al Qaeda connection. And what emerges is a picture of a Saddam Hussein who … began to give them assistance in chemical and biological weapons, something that they were having trouble achieving on their own…”

Incidentally, the late Mr. Libi recounted his statement claiming he said what he said to get better treatment. He withdrew his claims about ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda in January 2004.

After 9/11 an excuse was found to invade Iraq. Revenge for what happened? Show Dad (Bush senior) how it really should be done.  All this again Hollywood bullshit of good against bad. Who knows. Maybe there would have been no justification if there was not this evidence from Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi. Then Blair with his full support for Mr. Bush. No one listened to the Germans. Oh, the Germans after what they did, let’s not listen to them and their talks of peace and caution.

I believe the problems we have today, mass migration of desperate people, Syria all comes from this decision to invade Iraq. The belief that Saddam supported the Taliban and Al Qaida despite there being paltry evidence. The belief that with the fall of Saddam there would be little effect on governmental structures, especially the army. It never occurred to them that unhappy soldiers may join insurgent groups. It was not the end of war, it was the beginning.

Mr Bush and that picture on the Aircraft Carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln with Mission Accomplished. Then it really kicked off.

Years later, I saw the pictures in Afghanistan of the withdrawal. Have we not been here before? There was a British animal lover who wanted at all costs to get his dogs out. I wonder what it felt like to be an interpreter with years of loyal service to the British army, a mother  and daughter knowing what would be in store for them, frightened to hell at the airport watching those little mutts take flight precedence….

Suspicion for this flight came from high up…hush hush stuff…Mr Johnson and whoever influenced you (suspicion was his animal loving wife)…

And what does one really talk about? Yes, After thousands of lost lives and huge amounts of money what was achieved? Are women better treated? Maybe next time, listen to the Germans?

GTMO has many stories and I am going to write about it in the next book. Am not showing the films but with Sonja we made a three dimensional video installation about the camp.

Unfortunately, no one ever supported us with the showing of this three screen installation. The idea was to show it on a continuous loop. The art world is well…the Art world. Anyone who happens to see it or wants to exhibit it…here it is, offers are open!

Sonja Baeger is a great editor. Thank you Sonja.