Thanks to everyone who asked about our Patreon. I'll put out a full video when I get the time, but for those who want to jump the gun and get on board from the start, here's the link: www.patreon.com/rareearth It means a huge deal that so many have asked us to start an account. I never thought anyone would watch these videos, let alone support them.
The US is not an Empire, as an Empire would have annexed Canada and Mexico by now. While it is not clear what the US is, it is not a Colonial Power, but rather something that else, which often makes horrible decisions, with horrible consequences, like GITMO, when the US should have built a nice POW Camp in Alaskan Tundra for members of Al-Qaeda...
David Hollenshead Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and many other small regions would likely disagree that the US didn't engage in imperial conquest. Canada was invaded by the US, and absolutely an attempted part of manifest destiny. So was Mexico, which lost Nevada, New Mexico, California and Texas during their expansion. They aren't the Roman definition of empire, no. But they spent a good hundred years conquering foreign lands and peoples to bring into the American fold (often without any political representation). American imperialism was a constant debate in Congress throughout the 1800s. Using those terms, no less. Just because the US stopped taking land for physical control and started using economic control doesn't mean they didn't get there through imperialism.
War IS hell, and losing that war to the Al Qaida would have been even worse. Understanding what had to be done to get intel to save American lives when we had the men responsible for taking those lives and the plans to end countless more inside their heads we did what we knew how to do as a country to stop the bloodshed of our people. If a man kidnapped your daughter and you captured him and he knew her location would you not do everything in your power to get him to tell you where she was? That is exactly the motivation that drives the U.S. military when gaining intel from these Terrorists. It is not for shear pleasure. It is not because they are sadistic. It is because they signed up to fight and die to protect each and every one of us and there is a level of love of the American people that a soldier takes on when fighting in a war and wearing our flag. I believe we have to believe in our Brothers and Sisters and trust they are doing what is best for us as a country. The terrorists are killing our people and have plans to kill more. We have the ability to know how and when those plans could take place and we’re just going to sit by and let it happen? I think not. We fight! We protect!
@@chaddue2464 and that's what the terrorists think too. "There are foreign forces in our country, they killed people I know for something I and my men didn't do and they haven't left and probably won't for years. So let's kill those bastards"
I find it astounding, that a nation can avoid being accused of war crimes by simply saying "We are not at war" By the same logic a drug dealer could argue:"This is no drug crime, I am only redistributing mind altering substances" In my mind a nation killing people outside their borders is either war or murder. It doesn't depend what you call your crimes cause your not the one to judge them
Newgreen So if a German unit was sent somewhere as part of a UN peacekeeping operation it should be classified as war or murder? How about we classify war as deploying a large force against a similar force deployed by a sovereign nation with the goal of subduing the enemy state?
Michael Berthelsen I never said it couldn't be used figuratively but we are clearly talking about the military sense. When a government declares "war" it has actual legal ramifications. E.g. Possible conscription, private business and industry can be nationalised, martial law, detainment etc. which is a level of government interference people generally wouldn't be happy about. Presumably including yourself, as a man living in a presumably democratic capitalist state.
I really don't mean to offend anyone but as a non-American, sometimes I find the US to be really hypocritical. So it's not okay when Russia or China or North Korea doesn't respect human rights it, but it's okay when Saudi Arabia, Israel, or the US are even worse in some cases? Just to clarify, I don't hate the US, heck to a certain extent, I think that the US policing the world is one of the reasons that greater conflicts have not happened, but when preaching about morality, don't have double standards. When reprimanding Japan about editing its own dark history, when criticising enemies for their immoral actions, when accusing dictators for having WMDs that may or may not exist, don't forget about smallpox blankets, don't forget about liberating Spanish colonies like Cuba and the Phillippines only to take over, don't forget about the abuse of minority groups and immigrants within the US, don't forget about installing and backing brutal dictators, don't forget about annexing Hawaii over sugar, don't forget about turning a blind eye to the actions of Israel and Saudi Arabia for a staunch Middle Eastern ally and oil respectively, don't forget about faking a reason for the Vietnam war, don't forget about bombing hundreds of thousands of civilians of peaceful countries to flush out enemies that were inherited from the embers of a dying Imperialist France, don't forget about the soldiers forcefully shipped out to foreign countries to fight in wars that they want no part in only to be demonised and stigmatised upon their return, don't forget about destabalising the Middle East with waves upon waves of invasions and destabilising it further by prematurely pulling out and leaving a power vaccume for the Islamic State to fill, don't forget that the US is the only country to have dropped nuclear weapons on another, don't forget about Japanese internment camps, don't forget about going against the Geneva convention on multiple occasions, don't forget about arming and training minorities or rebels to go against political rivals usually ending either in death or in the creation of an even greater enemy like Al Qaeda, don't forget about napalm scorched villages, Agent Orange caked fields, cratered jungles full of unexploded bombs, CIA black sites, Guantanmo bay, and most importantly, don't forget about that one time that the US tried to annex Canada and lost, badly. Well, while I went through a lot of things that I felt the US did wrong, I chose these specific examples because they are some things that almost seem to escape the mainstream public eye. Sure the reason that I even know about them is because they were major events that had been documented, however when studying American history in school, these are some of the things that are almost always glossed over, the details that don't matter to those that they don't involve, almost excusing the government for their actions. By no means is the US the most guilty country, the sins of other powers were a hundred times worse, a thousand times worse and they seem unaffected by it in the slightest (I'm looking at you Spain, Portugal, England, France, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, you know what, pretty much everyone's done worse). And I'm not trying to speak for countries and peoples that have been harmed, if they were in the same position, they'd likely do the same thing or far worse. I'd just like to make note of some things that the US tries to forget are exactly the things that if they'd remember, mistakes wouldn't have been repeated. What's the point of having a history if you don't learn from it.
Could not have said it better. Ithink any country the professes to take up the moral mantel and champion human rights should first look inward before condemning others.
@@mrpizza1201 There will be a time when they will need help from the rest of the world, and the rest of the world will just ignore them for that they did. They just built a prison for themselves, what's a walled place other than a prison? yes, build a wall to keep people outside, but the same wall you keep people inside.
Very well said, I think the thing that bothers me most about the United States is the outright hypocrisy in their rhetoric. This isn't just a recent thing either, the absolutely disgusting and undemocratic acts the US took part in during the Cold War in the name of "fighting communism" is a blight on human history. In reality the Cold War was just a conflict between two bullies.
I can't help but imagine a life with American drones overhead, a life with stories of Gitmo and a long lost uncle whose horrible fate noone speaks of, living in a country it seems the rest of the world hates, and struggling to separate that life from the propaganda of Daesh.
Too bad most people think peace is achieved by "killing the bad guys". Millenia worth of wars in our history; millions of lives lost; still we do not learn. Thankfully, we have come a long way. I look forward to the day where we look at today the same way we now look back at the days of slavery and beheadings.
i dont think beheadings are a thing of the past. there are plenty of beheading going on legally or illegally. we are still a long way from saying goodbye to beheadings.
I think it is important to remember that history is not a single continuum of 'us' or 'we'. Every generation has to learn the same lessons again. No one is born with understanding of the consequences. History repeats because life is a cycle.
Prabhat kiran - "i dont think beheadings are a thing of the past. there are plenty of beheading going on legally or illegally. we are still a long way from saying goodbye to beheadings." or slavery
Rare Earth 20K?! Have you been asleep at the wheel again? 😃 I see 501K subscribers. Which is amazing! You guys deserve every single one of your followers.
Not a war? What happened to the "war on terror" But then, deportation of foreign civilians from inside foreign nations into deathcamps because of their religion or ethnicity... where have I heard that before?
As one North American to another, thank you ❤️. It is our duty to speak truth to the hypocrisy of our empire and it’s actions in the world, and I truly hope that you can continue successfully doing just that. You do important work. This made me cry.
My heart is heavy watching this, but I thank you for bringing light to this disturbingly dark place. We'll all answer for everything we've done eventually.
Waooo when I saw this guy walking in the streets of my beloved town I cry it is been 18 years since I left my country never been able to come back I love my country soooooo much
Evan and Francesco, bravo! Unfortunately, most of our history (as an American) is full of incongruities, ex post facto rationalization, greed, corruption, malfeasance, bad faith, hubris, genocide, murder, and injustice. James Fallows wrote an excellent book on some of the same issues Evan discussed, "More Like Us", which examines how Americans think of themselves (in the best possible sense) in contrast to our policies and the corrupting influence of power. We have GOT to get our act together!
7:36 I’d expect you to be more critical of that fact, Evan. Most Westerners are indeed only really concerned with stopping terrorism that affects them; to hell with everyone else.
Rare Earth That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t critique it. If the nation believes it is “morally superior,” then shouldn’t helping others be an important value for it?
I will be taken back if Rare Earth never makes it to TV. But I would also not be surprised. This is too real, some people may not be able to cope. Beautiful channell.
This, I have not Ever paid for cable since moving out of my parents place many years ago. whats the point pay money for a bunch of stuff i do not want to watch. Especially when what i used to watch (documentaries) no longer exist on the channels that are supposed to have them and are instead only showing shitty reality tv.
Rare Earth I'm assuming that as this content made it to editing you've made it out ok :). I know I cannot speak for everyone here but I want to thank you personally for what you are able to bring us and the way you go about it. This must have been a particularly difficult topic to research and then personally dangerous to go and film on location. Good historical content that many don't know about like this gives us an idea of where we've come from, how the decisions we've made affect us all and hopefully give us perspective enough to not make these mistakes in the future. That's the dream anyway, but there is so much conflict and poor decision making in the world that I doubt there really is any hindsight. I appreciate the length that you go to in bringing this great content to a wider audience. I am probably slightly bias in my high opinion of this channel and your crew but you bring a level of inquiry and humanity that I believe comes across in the content that is appreciated by everyone watching your channel. Keep up the great work, love you guys and if you ever make it to Australia (Adelaide specific but that doesn't really matter, I travel) the beers, or other beverages, are on me. Thank-you RE.
Well said! I always find myself reflecting after watching his videos. As someone from the US, this one is particularly hard hitting. Even though prisoners have been released, there are still some there. I don't know the particulars, but they need to be transferred somewhere with more oversight, and released if possible. The only person(s) I believe should be imprisoned at Guantanamo is TFG and his partners in crime. The magnitude and multitude of his offenses against this country, against us, merit incarceration at an isolated military prison. Otherwise, I'd say turn the base into something more suitable for peacetime.
Fascinating. I suspect I am the only person whom watched this video or posting a comment here that has stepped foot on that base let alone been inside the prison camp or worked there. Its interesting to see how different the truth looks when you see conjecture like this video. It looks like you were in Cuba at the local city named Guantanamo. The problem is you don't really know what went on there, how the place operated, because you never talked to any of the people that DID work there and they can't talk about it...not for decades. So we are left with conjecture like this until the records are fully declassified and historians decades from now can take it apart and discover what only those of us that did work there know what happened.
There's plenty we can talk about... it was bull shit. I've been there plenty of times. None of the crap this video is saying is even remotely true. The guy literally never stepped foot in there. The detainees were treated extremely well... literally given way more privileges than the overwhelming vast majority of prisoners in the United States get. Ugh... I forget how gullible people are. This dude has literally never been to Guantanamo... why did he even go to Cuba, what was he even thinking he was going to do? Sigh... why do I even bother.
Evan talks a lot about how history isn't his main focus, how it can even be inconsequential. But this video demonstrates clearly why history is so important. This is a lesson worth remembering.
Minnesotan here. Our empire is out of control. I fear it's grown out of our control. Something needs to happen, because we're tearing ourselves and much of the world apart..
We have over 800 foreign military bases in 70 countries. Look up the list of our country's involvement in regime changes as well. It's a modern empire with modern tactics.
Sir Smokee Fortwence An empire by definition is a group of different tribes, cultures and so on that are rules by a single monarch (so the emperor). America is not an empire in any sense especially now that with trump foreign politics its power in foreign country is decreasing a lot
"We're shooting ourselves in the foot and calling it a bullseye." Whoah 10/10. As an American, thank you for this. Guantanamo was/is an ugly stain on our Country. Future textbooks will surely put this on par with slavery and Jim Crow laws as our missteps, and they're right to do so. Thank you for bringing this further to light, and for the attitude you adopted. You could have easily distanced yourself, citing your nationality and calling it our mistake, yet you didn't take the opportunity. The message presented here is so much more powerful because of it.
It bothers me that I am slowly starting to feel ashamed to be American. It bothers me that while few of us would be willing to torture annother human being, we look on quietly as our fellow citizens do just that. It bothers me that the society we have built makes us feel that this is necessary. It bothers me that posting this, with my real name, is uncomfortable. I should not have to fear speaking my mind. I should not have to fear my government. I know society evolves slowly. I really hope we are moving in the right direction.
I'm American, but I don't feel ashamed. I reject the things that the country has done. The government does not represent me or protect me when it commits these types of atrocities. However, I am a dual US/UK citizen, and I identify more with the Brits (for all their flaws and their old Empire). I only nominally identify as American anymore.
This was one of the most powerful pieces I've seen you post. Thank you for doing it. At the time this was unfolding, I honestly thought that the country of my birth (the US) had lost its collective mind. Unfortunately, in the intervening years, not much has happened to change my mind. I no longer bother to broach the subject these days, as it seems there are only two camps; the one which has opted for blind patriotism at all costs, and the one which has decided that the US should be destroyed for having allowed this to happen. My thinking doesn't fit into either of those extremes, but I'll frankly admit that I no longer have any idea how the course could be righted at this late date...
Evan, thanks for saying what I've been thinking for so long. It makes me angry, too. If I'd gone there, I would have been boiling the whole time. You're so much more articulate than I am. I agree with every word you said. I'm American, btw.
Many great points in this video as always. As an American myself, I always appreciate an honest look at our government and culture: the good, bad, and ugly; it allows us to think holistically about our impact as a country and citizens so that we can move towards a better future. My one issue with this video though is the use of "we". Most American citizens know little of what went on in Guantanamo Bay and likely less of the other shortcomings and atrocities caused by our government. That is not to excuse or belittle the heinous nature of the events at Guantanamo Bay, but it is to say that "we" had nothing to do with it; "they" did - our government did. I believe it is important to make this distinction because unlike in WWII, where many German citizens sat idly by smelling burnt human flesh along with their morning coffee, in cases like this - at least to my understanding - there is nothing the average American could have done or said in protest. To my understanding, "we" knew nothing. While we must all, in the aftermath of those and current events, seek to look critically at the actions of our government and who we place in positions of power, I find it to be unfair to lump the average American in with those who created and upheld GB and other blacksite-esque government operations. Overall I do appreciate this video and the sensitivity with which this topic was handled. I learned a lot here, and as you said, America has done much good, but it certainly isn't Jesus. I would just hope that in the future, especially with the increasing polarization and internal hate within America we could better learn to express these ideas and critiques without blaming all for the negligence or malevolence of the few. As a Black American in my early 20's I recognize that America is neither the idyllic paradise nor the loathsome hellscape some describe it as. I know it is a country with serious faults and failings just like any other, some I feel very personally, but I also know it is a land of great opportunity which has - in spite of what some may have predicted - grown in many ways and left a very respectable and positive impact on the world. In recent years I have seen the blame game infiltrating our society, tearing apart many people's self-worth, sense of identity, and perspective on others within or outside of their racial grouping. Black folks are told that everything is the white man's fault, and white folks are told that they constantly need to apologize. I don't think that's right, true, or fair. Some white folk may need to apologize, but definitely not all, and while many problems Black Americans face are rooted in oppression from the past (the laws or the ensuing trauma) and present - speaking as an insider - we don't do much to help ourselves even when given the opportunity. In the end, we must all take responsibility for our effect within our sphere of influence. While there is a duty to act in light of the sins of our fathers, they are not ours to bear. In short, we must move on and do our best to recognize that any good deed now - no matter how thorough - will never truly undo the wounds of the past. They stand as a blot in our history, an image carved in stone for all to look back on in horror, a reminder to never forget and never go back.
I love the Rare Earth series. You guys are doing an amazing job. I wish I could do what you're doing. As an American, this is a pill hard to swallow, but what is worse is that nothing you said is surprising. I wish that I was surprised by the research and criticism you had about Guantanamo, but I am not. I love my country, but I hate some of the things we have done.
Look how far America has gone, what laws it has passed, what technologies it invented and countries it has decimated to fight terrorism. Then look at the last 10 years, where firearm homicide has taken over 350 times the amount of American lives as Islamic terrorism. In that light their impotence on this issue is so clear and horrific that i'm afraid to see what sort of a massacre it will take for their laws to change. If Orlando, Las Vegas, Newtown or this latest attack hasn't done it, to which extremes will the politicians allow this escalate before doing something?
For once you have created a video that didn't lead me into a weird zig-zag of thoughts. With gitmo I've seen the stories and have come to the same conclusions already. Keep it up!
I'm an American, from DC actually. One thing any DC resident knows is the air and space museum is the most popular museum in the city. Then it's the Holocaust museum. Why? Because we like seeing ourselves as the hero. I really like this channel and this message they are conveying. But this won't be heard if it's not spoken by an American citizen, because America wants a hero.
What I find brutally hard in this video is the credit you give the US for pushing human rights and the Geneva convention, while it is painfully clear that the US-Government often willfully ignores the very same. Gitmo is just one example. The airstrikes on a Hospital of medecins sans frontier in Afghanistan in October 2015 were in clear violation of the Geneva convention, yet to this day no independent investigation took place. I'm sure there is many more examples like this were apparently the laws do not apply to the US (or other powerful nations for that matter) and thus fail to protect those in need of protection. For that reason I've found that part of the video outrageously hypocritical.
The fight for the Geneva convention and the bombing of those hospitals were not done by the same people. There is always a struggle in society, playing out for as long as that society exists. Claiming the US is either black or white is a false picture. It isn't hypocritical to hold two contrasting thoughts in your mind. It is awareness.
Yes that is of course true. In the video you are talking about the US as an empire however, so it is my understanding that we are talking about this very empire (as one entity) and crediting it for the advancement of human rights while at the same time criticizing it for the violations. In that context I still think it is hypocritical. Even when working for human rights the US criticizes some nations loudly while ignoring violations that happen in allied countries. If we are talking about the US as a group of people of course there is a different granularity to the whole issue. Btw. I think this is a really good video and it is important to address those issues. It's just that it's an emotional subject and my perception is that there is so much injustice happening that it is very hard (for me) to not see hypocrisy in this two extremes of working towards human rights while seemingly ignoring them at the same time.
"collateral damage" is another moral contradiction of the U.S. Foreign civilian casualties are written off this way. Sad really. Life is cheap on the other side of our borders.
Patrick Noble When the US stops holding itself up as the paragon of decency and the "leader of the free world," perhaps your point will mean something. Not now.
Howell Canadian it's written off as "it's evil scum being tortured so it's okay". It's very easy to be monstrous to somebody when you convince yourself that they're the monster.
I'm American. I think many knew that it was a torture camp, but just rationalized it. Gitmo has helped reduce the standing of the US in the eyes of a lot of its own citizens. It was possible to be an idealistic American when I was young. Not now.
As a born-American I've always felt like anyone who wants to call themselves American should be able to. I don't care if you don't have a passport, papers, or a big truck. There isn't any requirement. It's about the land. Half my ancestors took this land from the other half, and they didn't have papers, half of them weren't born here or raised here. If you say you're American, you are, if we've gained nothing else from two hundred years of suffering and wars and war crime, we've seen that the concept of land and not blood or experience being what makes an American will outlast most of the people who ever call themselves that.
I'm an early 20-something American, and this piece just reinforces what I've felt has been growing within my peers for a very long time. Confused bitterness. By design, we were brought up to believe in the beauty of the United States. To look at the diversity, and the culture, and the values that supposedly came along with that. But, in one way or another, our leaders, and the people around us kept letting us down. Slavery flourished here for a very long time. We didn't allow POC to vote. We followed the imperial instincts of our forefathers from the moment the country was founded on someone else's land. My generation is going to inherit this globally damaged, injured, country that was never my own to begin with, surrounded by people so brainwashed by our politicians that they can't seem to hear the screaming of others over their own seemingly threatened identity. I am incredibly terrified of what my generation will do.
Everything you said in this video is true, but you'r missing the point and only scratching the surface IMHO. If the empire really wanted to retaliate, it should have targeted Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where most of the Men and the funding for 9/11 came from. Afghanistan and Irak had nothing to do with it. Not even Osama Bin Laden claimed it was his project. So you have to ask what the empire gained from carrying out his war on terror in countries that had nothing to do with it. As always: cui bono?
Doktor Zappergeck Pakistan has nothing to do with 9/11. Pakistan was one of the allies of US in the war against terror. Pakistan supported US in logistics movement, US was allowed to use Pakistani air bases, there is exchange of intelligence between US and Pakistan. Pakistan lost 70000 of its people and over 123 billion in this war against terrorism. Get your facts straight.
Pakistan hosts terrorists and is corrupt to its core. It is split between tribal and clan lines instead of national lines. That whole area is. Parts of Pakistan hosted Osama Bin laden.
Reer123 no! Not at all. I visit Pakistan regularly and know the facts. You are over exaggerating the corruption bit. The country does not have any tribal issue now, it had these problems because it supported u.s in its so called war on terror and the u.s bombed the border tribal areas which made the people there very uncomfortable about the whole situation. Pakistan govt has sorted all that out and there is no tribal or such issues anymore. It's a great country. Pakistan does not host any terrorists, the operations zarb e azab, rad ul fasad are an evidence that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism financed directly by India and Israel. Kindly do some research on the indian agents caught by the Pakistani authorities, who accepted all this. Here I would also mention ajit doval the head of indian intelligence agency r.a.w accepted in speeches that india hired, trained and financed terrorists to attack Pakistan.
Vlavitir glutginskiya calling Iraq war a mistake is an understatement. You attack a country destroy it and kill hundreds of thousands of thier people......it's not a mistake ...it's a blunder, its a crime against humanity
Whether we supported Bush, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the "War on Terror" or not, no matter how much we may hate Trump, this collective stain on the American conscience is only deepened by us saying "Trump makes me miss Bush." It cheapens the crimes committed by him and his administration in our name, and erases horrors like this. Thank you, Evan, for reminding us why we must never settle to look back on our greatest failings with a simplistic nostalgia, and why we must never forget these crimes, that we may never go back to them. In this retrospective, I understand the collective shame borne by Germans for their nation's actions under the Nazis. We must do better.
I am a retired American. This was a particularly painful video to watch ... so much so that I stopped it no less than three times. But I forced myself, finally, to watch it to the end. You are 100% right. Gitmo is a stain on America, just as were the Japanese internment camps of WWII. I forsee that movies will be made of Gitmo in a similar vein as the movies made about those infamous internment camps. Well done. Thanks for making me THINK once again.
Thank you! I’m sixteen now but I probably starting learning about the horrors of Guantanamo bay when I was 13 or 14 ish and I was just so frustrated at the hypocritical and horrible nature of it all. It was honestly so hard to watch this video, I just don’t want to accept that this is real life.
Don’t let the truth discourage you but rather let it inspire you. For it’s okay to be disillusioned, it’s actually a good thing as apposed to the alternative. It removes any confusion and makes it easy to choose between right and wrong.
For the most part, yes. It isn't an all or nothing thing. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. America has achieved amazing things. I think my videos will show I'm no apologist for the US, but statistically the world has been overall better under American hegemony, despite the horrors it has entailed. Removing it wouldn't instantly create paradise, it would just leave a vacuum, which nature abhors. But that doesn't mean they aren't making terrible, undeniable mistakes that need to be eviscerated like the cancers they're becoming.
Rare Earth The world has benefited from American Hegemony but its hypocritical to call western world as "free world" and POTUS as "Leader of the free World".
Yes, but looking past the propaganda is a job for us all, on every side. The terms they apply are one thing, but using them in the negative is often a way of doing the exact same thing in reverse.
There were quite a few people in Guantanamo Bay that werent even Terrorists at all or did anything wrong at all. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time
As a German, it really bothers me how much my country lets the US get away with. I understand why, the US are Germanys most important military ally and on top of that an important trade partner, and I agree that we cannot simply cut our ties with the US. However, we need to start distancing ourselves from the US if our values are indeed as important to us as we claim they are. Article 1 of the German constitution states that "human dignity is unimpeachable", yet we gladly turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of our "big brother", the US. I believe that it is our moral obligation, especially as Germans with our unique history, to work with all democratic governments in the world that respect human rights, especially fundamental ones such as the right to life and physical integrity and the prohibition of torture, and to oppose all those regimes that are undemocratic, that do not respect human rights, or both. The US clearly disregards human rights systematically, and whats more, though I wouldn't say the US isn't democratic, democracy in the US is certainly deeply flawed. Yes, the US are an important ally at the moment, but it should be a priority to start decoupling from them and to start defending democracy and human rights. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
As someone that became an adult around the early 2000s, let me say, Guantanamo Prison was as disgusting and repulsive back then as it is when we're talking about it here. A few political figures even ran on shutting it down, but nothing ever became of it. So much of the public has been opposed to Guantanamo Prison for so long, and yet those in power continue to get what they want, a small minority. Thats almost as scary as the horrors of Guantanamo itself when you think about the implications of it.
I’ve lived in Guantanamo Bay for 3 years because my parents were active duty military. What you said in this video is completely the opposite of true. No one is tortured... as a matter of fact they are given more in prison than most people are. You’re so wrong it’s crazy...
At last, someone who speaks the truth. These Canuck fucks wouldn't know truth if it bit them on their hoser ass. This is just a platform for them to virtue signal.
Ibrahim Ng'eno I have literally seen with my own eyes how the detainees are treated within their “cells.” They can request any type of food that they want, they’re given any type of entertainment that they want (Xbox’s, PS4s, etc) literally the only thing that they’re not allowed to do is leave. The American guards who watch these losers and forced to wear hazmat suits because the detainees will throw things at them like bodily fluids and spoiled food. The Americans that work on the base there are not in the wrong at all.
I have never seen a dog die. So dogs dont die? Of course nobody tourtures in public. Anyway, there are even official US government reports out confirming it. And of course the situation today there is different than 15 years ago. At least today they are sure that most of the prisoners were innocent.
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, and a plethora of other conquered areas might disagree. The American empire is different from previous empires in how they conduct business, but they have all the other parts and pieces.
You said you are against anti western terrorism, however death due to terrorism are in much higher numbers in Africa and Middle East. Maybe you should change your perspective of terrorism a little bit.
I didn't say I'm only against anti-Western terrorism. I said if that was the goal of the United States and its citizenry (or the West in general), this is not a way to achieve it.
Thank you for the clarification , on a second viewing i understood the context better . you are on of my favorite creators . i apologize for the misunderstanding .
@kayraa2 yeah its called boko haram and they have killed hundreds of Nigerians , and not a single westerner , even if these groups are ideologically against the west the real repercussions are felt by the locals in Africa not any western country
Thank you for helping me as an American to codify and understand the vague feelings of discontent I have always felt in our government's explanations for Guantanamo. Now WE need to push for a change.
I think this is a stain on the culture and soul of more than just America. We, as a world, allowed this to go on. When it was known. When the US Government came out and said that they couldn't release men they knew to be innocent because the treatment of those men were so horrific that it would naturally cause an anti-US sentiment. This was a place, a decision, so devoid of humanity that it speaks volumes about the evils we are capable of as humans that anyone even worked there. And what have we, as a world, done? Or what could we have done? Does this show where our lines that we'll cross to uphold humanity are? That allowing this continue is simply easier for us as a world than trying to strong arm the US? And if so, what would it take to get us to do that?
I was born in the U.S and grew up believing that the excuse of “just following orders” was no excuse at all. When drafted in 1967 I moved to Canada instead
I adore your channel, so glad I found it. But I think your audio could use some work. Maybe just some compression. It's always quieter than the video I watch before.
In Vietnam, we now all can agree who fought for the legitimate cause, in the middle east one can only dream about the legitimization of those groups provided by the US...
As a bit of warning, Guantanamo was not set up to be a secret torture base. That just isn’t true, not denying it was done, but the purpose wasn’t there from the military. That is not to say I agree with gitmo, my great grandfather came to the US after fighting them in WWII and being treated so well while as a POW. That is where I personally believe we should be with captured enemy combatants. But to get there we must do research and tell true facts and not false facts made purely off incomplete information. Truth is how we come together and bad information pulls us apart.
+DarSoul4 Yea, I think that this is more of an issue with a lack of oversight. It must have had lack of oversight (just a guess; I haven't researched this particular base), it had a group of soldiers in charge of a group of criminals. Police in this situation would have also been better, although that might lead to similar problems without supervision. When a group of people are in charge of imprisoning a group that is other, then the people in charge will not see the other group as people anymore. And this is more of a psychological problem with human nature.
My favorite wrongly imprisoned story involving Gitmo, is the two teenage boys who showed American troops where their targets house was and then proceeded to help load items from the house into trucks, and were rewarded with a year in Gitmo (source: Wikileaks). Torture did not find Bin Laden, torture is not making us safer, torture is a gift for recruiters for terror groups by showing what they want people to see in America. Problem is our country is lead by incompetent and often corrupt leaders who care about the people for a few months during their election.
Thanks to everyone who asked about our Patreon. I'll put out a full video when I get the time, but for those who want to jump the gun and get on board from the start, here's the link: www.patreon.com/rareearth
It means a huge deal that so many have asked us to start an account. I never thought anyone would watch these videos, let alone support them.
Can you tell us more about the driver?
This comment is pinned on all of your videos. At first it read good, now it's on all videos it's reading like ur asking for donations.
I am asking for donations. That's the only way this show can exist.
The US is not an Empire, as an Empire would have annexed Canada and Mexico by now.
While it is not clear what the US is, it is not a Colonial Power, but rather something that else, which often makes horrible decisions, with horrible consequences, like GITMO, when the US should have built a nice POW Camp in Alaskan Tundra for members of Al-Qaeda...
David Hollenshead Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and many other small regions would likely disagree that the US didn't engage in imperial conquest.
Canada was invaded by the US, and absolutely an attempted part of manifest destiny. So was Mexico, which lost Nevada, New Mexico, California and Texas during their expansion.
They aren't the Roman definition of empire, no. But they spent a good hundred years conquering foreign lands and peoples to bring into the American fold (often without any political representation).
American imperialism was a constant debate in Congress throughout the 1800s. Using those terms, no less. Just because the US stopped taking land for physical control and started using economic control doesn't mean they didn't get there through imperialism.
"War is hell, but that does not mean we have to become the devil" Is the epitome of good writing
War IS hell, and losing that war to the Al Qaida would have been even worse. Understanding what had to be done to get intel to save American lives when we had the men responsible for taking those lives and the plans to end countless more inside their heads we did what we knew how to do as a country to stop the bloodshed of our people. If a man kidnapped your daughter and you captured him and he knew her location would you not do everything in your power to get him to tell you where she was? That is exactly the motivation that drives the U.S. military when gaining intel from these Terrorists. It is not for shear pleasure. It is not because they are sadistic. It is because they signed up to fight and die to protect each and every one of us and there is a level of love of the American people that a soldier takes on when fighting in a war and wearing our flag. I believe we have to believe in our Brothers and Sisters and trust they are doing what is best for us as a country. The terrorists are killing our people and have plans to kill more. We have the ability to know how and when those plans could take place and we’re just going to sit by and let it happen? I think not. We fight! We protect!
Yes, but it should be written:
"War is hell, but that does not mean we have to become the devil"?
as a question, at least I think so.
@@chaddue2464 and that's what the terrorists think too. "There are foreign forces in our country, they killed people I know for something I and my men didn't do and they haven't left and probably won't for years. So let's kill those bastards"
@@chaddue2464 What concentrated nonsense. Your indoctrination is showing.
My thought as well
This is the sort of sober reason, rationality and self-searching that would benefit our world if propagated. BRAVO!!
I find it astounding, that a nation can avoid being accused of war crimes by simply saying "We are not at war" By the same logic a drug dealer could argue:"This is no drug crime, I am only redistributing mind altering substances" In my mind a nation killing people outside their borders is either war or murder. It doesn't depend what you call your crimes cause your not the one to judge them
Newgreen So if a German unit was sent somewhere as part of a UN peacekeeping operation it should be classified as war or murder? How about we classify war as deploying a large force against a similar force deployed by a sovereign nation with the goal of subduing the enemy state?
Raioni Then a war on terror and a war on drugs are impossible.
That's a figure of speech. If I said we should start a nationwide war on obesity would you assume I meant an actual physical war?
Raioni Absolutely not (at least I hope not), but in that case you concede that 'war' doesn't have to be used according to a strict definition.
Michael Berthelsen I never said it couldn't be used figuratively but we are clearly talking about the military sense. When a government declares "war" it has actual legal ramifications. E.g. Possible conscription, private business and industry can be nationalised, martial law, detainment etc. which is a level of government interference people generally wouldn't be happy about. Presumably including yourself, as a man living in a presumably democratic capitalist state.
I really don't mean to offend anyone but as a non-American, sometimes I find the US to be really hypocritical. So it's not okay when Russia or China or North Korea doesn't respect human rights it, but it's okay when Saudi Arabia, Israel, or the US are even worse in some cases? Just to clarify, I don't hate the US, heck to a certain extent, I think that the US policing the world is one of the reasons that greater conflicts have not happened, but when preaching about morality, don't have double standards.
When reprimanding Japan about editing its own dark history, when criticising enemies for their immoral actions, when accusing dictators for having WMDs that may or may not exist, don't forget about smallpox blankets, don't forget about liberating Spanish colonies like Cuba and the Phillippines only to take over, don't forget about the abuse of minority groups and immigrants within the US, don't forget about installing and backing brutal dictators, don't forget about annexing Hawaii over sugar, don't forget about turning a blind eye to the actions of Israel and Saudi Arabia for a staunch Middle Eastern ally and oil respectively, don't forget about faking a reason for the Vietnam war, don't forget about bombing hundreds of thousands of civilians of peaceful countries to flush out enemies that were inherited from the embers of a dying Imperialist France, don't forget about the soldiers forcefully shipped out to foreign countries to fight in wars that they want no part in only to be demonised and stigmatised upon their return, don't forget about destabalising the Middle East with waves upon waves of invasions and destabilising it further by prematurely pulling out and leaving a power vaccume for the Islamic State to fill, don't forget that the US is the only country to have dropped nuclear weapons on another, don't forget about Japanese internment camps, don't forget about going against the Geneva convention on multiple occasions, don't forget about arming and training minorities or rebels to go against political rivals usually ending either in death or in the creation of an even greater enemy like Al Qaeda, don't forget about napalm scorched villages, Agent Orange caked fields, cratered jungles full of unexploded bombs, CIA black sites, Guantanmo bay, and most importantly, don't forget about that one time that the US tried to annex Canada and lost, badly.
Well, while I went through a lot of things that I felt the US did wrong, I chose these specific examples because they are some things that almost seem to escape the mainstream public eye. Sure the reason that I even know about them is because they were major events that had been documented, however when studying American history in school, these are some of the things that are almost always glossed over, the details that don't matter to those that they don't involve, almost excusing the government for their actions. By no means is the US the most guilty country, the sins of other powers were a hundred times worse, a thousand times worse and they seem unaffected by it in the slightest (I'm looking at you Spain, Portugal, England, France, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, you know what, pretty much everyone's done worse). And I'm not trying to speak for countries and peoples that have been harmed, if they were in the same position, they'd likely do the same thing or far worse. I'd just like to make note of some things that the US tries to forget are exactly the things that if they'd remember, mistakes wouldn't have been repeated. What's the point of having a history if you don't learn from it.
Could not have said it better.
Ithink any country the professes to take up the moral mantel and champion human rights should first look inward before condemning others.
America will pay for the things it has done in it's own time. The people who set these things up and put it I motion will pay dearly.
@@mrpizza1201 There will be a time when they will need help from the rest of the world, and the rest of the world will just ignore them for that they did. They just built a prison for themselves, what's a walled place other than a prison? yes, build a wall to keep people outside, but the same wall you keep people inside.
Very well said, I think the thing that bothers me most about the United States is the outright hypocrisy in their rhetoric. This isn't just a recent thing either, the absolutely disgusting and undemocratic acts the US took part in during the Cold War in the name of "fighting communism" is a blight on human history. In reality the Cold War was just a conflict between two bullies.
Great post. Thks
I can't help but imagine a life with American drones overhead, a life with stories of Gitmo and a long lost uncle whose horrible fate noone speaks of, living in a country it seems the rest of the world hates, and struggling to separate that life from the propaganda of Daesh.
Too bad most people think peace is achieved by "killing the bad guys". Millenia worth of wars in our history; millions of lives lost; still we do not learn. Thankfully, we have come a long way. I look forward to the day where we look at today the same way we now look back at the days of slavery and beheadings.
i dont think beheadings are a thing of the past. there are plenty of beheading going on legally or illegally. we are still a long way from saying goodbye to beheadings.
I think it is important to remember that history is not a single continuum of 'us' or 'we'.
Every generation has to learn the same lessons again. No one is born with understanding of the consequences. History repeats because life is a cycle.
Fear is the only tool that works. Fear for losing life...brings controle to those who want to rule...
Prabhat kiran - "i dont think beheadings are a thing of the past. there are plenty of beheading going on legally or illegally. we are still a long way from saying goodbye to beheadings." or slavery
As a proud US veteran, I appreciate this video. Our society needs more checks on itself. Our warmongering ways need to end.
"...shot itself in the foot and called it a bullseye." Perfectly put, Evan. Thanks so much for yet another amazing video.
Hope this makes it to trending.
Haha, this is Rare Earth. We're happy with our 20k secret world.
If they had shown the torture victims they might have been. Kidding. In all seriousness though Rare Earth is not nearly as big as it should be.
Rare Earth 20K?! Have you been asleep at the wheel again? 😃 I see 501K subscribers. Which is amazing! You guys deserve every single one of your followers.
Rare Earth THOSE WHO KNOW
Rare Earth this absolutely needs to trend
Not a war? What happened to the "war on terror"
But then, deportation of foreign civilians from inside foreign nations into deathcamps because of their religion or ethnicity... where have I heard that before?
It's not a deportation, it's an um ... Compulsory vacation.
The Nazis and Khmer Rouge!
This is one of your best, most powerful videos yet. Thank you for your work.
As one North American to another, thank you ❤️. It is our duty to speak truth to the hypocrisy of our empire and it’s actions in the world, and I truly hope that you can continue successfully doing just that. You do important work. This made me cry.
Your analysis is spot on. Thank you for continuing to expose these crimes.
"Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable." - Carl Sagan
When I saw this title, my immediate reaction was that he's not going to be able to get a camera anywhere remotely close to that base. Yup.
Thanks for giving this the attention it deserves. Keep on doing the right thing!
My heart is heavy watching this, but I thank you for bringing light to this disturbingly dark place. We'll all answer for everything we've done eventually.
Waooo when I saw this guy walking in the streets of my beloved town I cry it is been 18 years since I left my country never been able to come back I love my country soooooo much
I love your channel. It's amazing.
Evan and Francesco, bravo! Unfortunately, most of our history (as an American) is full of incongruities, ex post facto rationalization, greed, corruption, malfeasance, bad faith, hubris, genocide, murder, and injustice. James Fallows wrote an excellent book on some of the same issues Evan discussed, "More Like Us", which examines how Americans think of themselves (in the best possible sense) in contrast to our policies and the corrupting influence of power. We have GOT to get our act together!
7:36 I’d expect you to be more critical of that fact, Evan. Most Westerners are indeed only really concerned with stopping terrorism that affects them; to hell with everyone else.
That is not a Western condition. It is a human condition.
Rare Earth That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t critique it. If the nation believes it is “morally superior,” then shouldn’t helping others be an important value for it?
By all means, critique it. That wasn't the purpose of this video, though.
I will be taken back if Rare Earth never makes it to TV. But I would also not be surprised. This is too real, some people may not be able to cope. Beautiful channell.
Kole Tokar tv is dead lol most people I know cut the cable years ago
This, I have not Ever paid for cable since moving out of my parents place many years ago. whats the point pay money for a bunch of stuff i do not want to watch. Especially when what i used to watch (documentaries) no longer exist on the channels that are supposed to have them and are instead only showing shitty reality tv.
this is the true reality TV they are missing!
It would do great on Vice tv.
As a German, this feels so, so familiar... I'm not sure where I've heard it before...
Oh yeah, the death camps of the Nazis.
Rare Earth I'm assuming that as this content made it to editing you've made it out ok :). I know I cannot speak for everyone here but I want to thank you personally for what you are able to bring us and the way you go about it. This must have been a particularly difficult topic to research and then personally dangerous to go and film on location. Good historical content that many don't know about like this gives us an idea of where we've come from, how the decisions we've made affect us all and hopefully give us perspective enough to not make these mistakes in the future. That's the dream anyway, but there is so much conflict and poor decision making in the world that I doubt there really is any hindsight. I appreciate the length that you go to in bringing this great content to a wider audience. I am probably slightly bias in my high opinion of this channel and your crew but you bring a level of inquiry and humanity that I believe comes across in the content that is appreciated by everyone watching your channel. Keep up the great work, love you guys and if you ever make it to Australia (Adelaide specific but that doesn't really matter, I travel) the beers, or other beverages, are on me. Thank-you RE.
Well said! I always find myself reflecting after watching his videos. As someone from the US, this one is particularly hard hitting. Even though prisoners have been released, there are still some there. I don't know the particulars, but they need to be transferred somewhere with more oversight, and released if possible.
The only person(s) I believe should be imprisoned at Guantanamo is TFG and his partners in crime. The magnitude and multitude of his offenses against this country, against us, merit incarceration at an isolated military prison. Otherwise, I'd say turn the base into something more suitable for peacetime.
I Love Rare Earth
I Love our rare Earth.
Why your volume is low?
such excellent quality video's and content, thanks so much for making them
Fascinating. I suspect I am the only person whom watched this video or posting a comment here that has stepped foot on that base let alone been inside the prison camp or worked there. Its interesting to see how different the truth looks when you see conjecture like this video. It looks like you were in Cuba at the local city named Guantanamo. The problem is you don't really know what went on there, how the place operated, because you never talked to any of the people that DID work there and they can't talk about it...not for decades. So we are left with conjecture like this until the records are fully declassified and historians decades from now can take it apart and discover what only those of us that did work there know what happened.
There's plenty we can talk about... it was bull shit. I've been there plenty of times. None of the crap this video is saying is even remotely true. The guy literally never stepped foot in there. The detainees were treated extremely well... literally given way more privileges than the overwhelming vast majority of prisoners in the United States get. Ugh... I forget how gullible people are. This dude has literally never been to Guantanamo... why did he even go to Cuba, what was he even thinking he was going to do? Sigh... why do I even bother.
We love rare earth! Greetings fron Mexico!
Nora Hernández Chavez Mexico! 🍄💋🍄💋
De que parte oiga ?
Evan talks a lot about how history isn't his main focus, how it can even be inconsequential. But this video demonstrates clearly why history is so important. This is a lesson worth remembering.
Best episode you've done so far!
Well done, Evan. I could tell this was a tough one for you, but I think this was one of your best.
U know that America thrives on war money right? They don't want conflicts to end. They create conflicts.
Wow.
I know I'm a little bit late but this is easily one of the best, if not the best videos I have ever seen on TH-cam.
Thanks for your great work.
Minnesotan here. Our empire is out of control. I fear it's grown out of our control. Something needs to happen, because we're tearing ourselves and much of the world apart..
We have over 800 foreign military bases in 70 countries. Look up the list of our country's involvement in regime changes as well. It's a modern empire with modern tactics.
MURICA!
Sir Smokee, make sure you vote appropriately and keep this kind of stuff in mind.
Sir Smokee Fortwence An empire by definition is a group of different tribes, cultures and so on that are rules by a single monarch (so the emperor). America is not an empire in any sense especially now that with trump foreign politics its power in foreign country is decreasing a lot
Tonio922 that's a dishonestly flexible definition.
This is the BEST video you have made, please don't stop
"We're shooting ourselves in the foot and calling it a bullseye." Whoah
10/10. As an American, thank you for this. Guantanamo was/is an ugly stain on our Country. Future textbooks will surely put this on par with slavery and Jim Crow laws as our missteps, and they're right to do so. Thank you for bringing this further to light, and for the attitude you adopted. You could have easily distanced yourself, citing your nationality and calling it our mistake, yet you didn't take the opportunity. The message presented here is so much more powerful because of it.
I dont know how I stumbled on rare earth but im happy I can see it now.
It bothers me that I am slowly starting to feel ashamed to be American.
It bothers me that while few of us would be willing to torture annother human being, we look on quietly as our fellow citizens do just that.
It bothers me that the society we have built makes us feel that this is necessary.
It bothers me that posting this, with my real name, is uncomfortable. I should not have to fear speaking my mind. I should not have to fear my government.
I know society evolves slowly. I really hope we are moving in the right direction.
I'm American, but I don't feel ashamed. I reject the things that the country has done. The government does not represent me or protect me when it commits these types of atrocities. However, I am a dual US/UK citizen, and I identify more with the Brits (for all their flaws and their old Empire). I only nominally identify as American anymore.
This is by far my favorite series on TH-cam! I love rare earth.
My prayers go out to the innocent people locked up in Guantanamo Bay. They do not deserve this.
I'm sure there are WAY more guilty than innocent....
This was one of the most powerful pieces I've seen you post. Thank you for doing it.
At the time this was unfolding, I honestly thought that the country of my birth (the US) had lost its collective mind. Unfortunately, in the intervening years, not much has happened to change my mind. I no longer bother to broach the subject these days, as it seems there are only two camps; the one which has opted for blind patriotism at all costs, and the one which has decided that the US should be destroyed for having allowed this to happen. My thinking doesn't fit into either of those extremes, but I'll frankly admit that I no longer have any idea how the course could be righted at this late date...
Evan, thanks for saying what I've been thinking for so long. It makes me angry, too. If I'd gone there, I would have been boiling the whole time. You're so much more articulate than I am. I agree with every word you said. I'm American, btw.
Many great points in this video as always. As an American myself, I always appreciate an honest look at our government and culture: the good, bad, and ugly; it allows us to think holistically about our impact as a country and citizens so that we can move towards a better future. My one issue with this video though is the use of "we". Most American citizens know little of what went on in Guantanamo Bay and likely less of the other shortcomings and atrocities caused by our government. That is not to excuse or belittle the heinous nature of the events at Guantanamo Bay, but it is to say that "we" had nothing to do with it; "they" did - our government did. I believe it is important to make this distinction because unlike in WWII, where many German citizens sat idly by smelling burnt human flesh along with their morning coffee, in cases like this - at least to my understanding - there is nothing the average American could have done or said in protest. To my understanding, "we" knew nothing. While we must all, in the aftermath of those and current events, seek to look critically at the actions of our government and who we place in positions of power, I find it to be unfair to lump the average American in with those who created and upheld GB and other blacksite-esque government operations. Overall I do appreciate this video and the sensitivity with which this topic was handled. I learned a lot here, and as you said, America has done much good, but it certainly isn't Jesus. I would just hope that in the future, especially with the increasing polarization and internal hate within America we could better learn to express these ideas and critiques without blaming all for the negligence or malevolence of the few. As a Black American in my early 20's I recognize that America is neither the idyllic paradise nor the loathsome hellscape some describe it as. I know it is a country with serious faults and failings just like any other, some I feel very personally, but I also know it is a land of great opportunity which has - in spite of what some may have predicted - grown in many ways and left a very respectable and positive impact on the world. In recent years I have seen the blame game infiltrating our society, tearing apart many people's self-worth, sense of identity, and perspective on others within or outside of their racial grouping. Black folks are told that everything is the white man's fault, and white folks are told that they constantly need to apologize. I don't think that's right, true, or fair. Some white folk may need to apologize, but definitely not all, and while many problems Black Americans face are rooted in oppression from the past (the laws or the ensuing trauma) and present - speaking as an insider - we don't do much to help ourselves even when given the opportunity. In the end, we must all take responsibility for our effect within our sphere of influence. While there is a duty to act in light of the sins of our fathers, they are not ours to bear. In short, we must move on and do our best to recognize that any good deed now - no matter how thorough - will never truly undo the wounds of the past. They stand as a blot in our history, an image carved in stone for all to look back on in horror, a reminder to never forget and never go back.
I love the Rare Earth series. You guys are doing an amazing job. I wish I could do what you're doing. As an American, this is a pill hard to swallow, but what is worse is that nothing you said is surprising. I wish that I was surprised by the research and criticism you had about Guantanamo, but I am not. I love my country, but I hate some of the things we have done.
Thank you, Rare Earth. These are the ugly, horrible things that must see the light of day.
Look how far America has gone, what laws it has passed, what technologies it invented and countries it has decimated to fight terrorism.
Then look at the last 10 years, where firearm homicide has taken over 350 times the amount of American lives as Islamic terrorism.
In that light their impotence on this issue is so clear and horrific that i'm afraid to see what sort of a massacre it will take for their laws to change.
If Orlando, Las Vegas, Newtown or this latest attack hasn't done it, to which extremes will the politicians allow this escalate before doing something?
It's called money. Money is more important than random people. As long as no action brings in campaign contributions, there will be no action.
Thank you. I adore you.... Finally the voice of reason and decency has arrived
For once you have created a video that didn't lead me into a weird zig-zag of thoughts. With gitmo I've seen the stories and have come to the same conclusions already. Keep it up!
So what do you do with someone you can't release and can't execute, but it is "morally wrong" to imprison?
No, but probably the oversight was really bad here and caused them to imprison them too harshly, and also they didn't get a proper trial.
i love the disclaimer you have at the end. I think every news show needs that too (yes even the one YOU like, random viewer)
I'm an American, from DC actually. One thing any DC resident knows is the air and space museum is the most popular museum in the city. Then it's the Holocaust museum. Why? Because we like seeing ourselves as the hero. I really like this channel and this message they are conveying. But this won't be heard if it's not spoken by an American citizen, because America wants a hero.
What I find brutally hard in this video is the credit you give the US for pushing human rights and the Geneva convention, while it is painfully clear that the US-Government often willfully ignores the very same. Gitmo is just one example. The airstrikes on a Hospital of medecins sans frontier in Afghanistan in October 2015 were in clear violation of the Geneva convention, yet to this day no independent investigation took place. I'm sure there is many more examples like this were apparently the laws do not apply to the US (or other powerful nations for that matter) and thus fail to protect those in need of protection.
For that reason I've found that part of the video outrageously hypocritical.
The fight for the Geneva convention and the bombing of those hospitals were not done by the same people. There is always a struggle in society, playing out for as long as that society exists. Claiming the US is either black or white is a false picture. It isn't hypocritical to hold two contrasting thoughts in your mind. It is awareness.
Yes that is of course true.
In the video you are talking about the US as an empire however, so it is my understanding that we are talking about this very empire (as one entity) and crediting it for the advancement of human rights while at the same time criticizing it for the violations. In that context I still think it is hypocritical.
Even when working for human rights the US criticizes some nations loudly while ignoring violations that happen in allied countries.
If we are talking about the US as a group of people of course there is a different granularity to the whole issue.
Btw. I think this is a really good video and it is important to address those issues.
It's just that it's an emotional subject and my perception is that there is so much injustice happening that it is very hard (for me) to not see hypocrisy in this two extremes of working towards human rights while seemingly ignoring them at the same time.
"collateral damage" is another moral contradiction of the U.S. Foreign civilian casualties are written off this way. Sad really. Life is cheap on the other side of our borders.
Everything you guys are talking about is in no way exclusive to the US. That doesn't make it right, but it does make you hypocrites.
Patrick Noble When the US stops holding itself up as the paragon of decency and the "leader of the free world," perhaps your point will mean something. Not now.
This video was incredibly informative and well done, thank you for sharing this and educating your audience.
Americans didn't know that Gitmo was a torture camp ? Time to wake up America
Howell Canadian it's written off as "it's evil scum being tortured so it's okay".
It's very easy to be monstrous to somebody when you convince yourself that they're the monster.
I'm American. I think many knew that it was a torture camp, but just rationalized it. Gitmo has helped reduce the standing of the US in the eyes of a lot of its own citizens. It was possible to be an idealistic American when I was young. Not now.
americans are more interested in bread and circus
As a born-American I've always felt like anyone who wants to call themselves American should be able to. I don't care if you don't have a passport, papers, or a big truck. There isn't any requirement. It's about the land. Half my ancestors took this land from the other half, and they didn't have papers, half of them weren't born here or raised here. If you say you're American, you are, if we've gained nothing else from two hundred years of suffering and wars and war crime, we've seen that the concept of land and not blood or experience being what makes an American will outlast most of the people who ever call themselves that.
This would be more powerful if it had numbers instead of qualifiers like "many".
I'm an early 20-something American, and this piece just reinforces what I've felt has been growing within my peers for a very long time.
Confused bitterness.
By design, we were brought up to believe in the beauty of the United States. To look at the diversity, and the culture, and the values that supposedly came along with that. But, in one way or another, our leaders, and the people around us kept letting us down.
Slavery flourished here for a very long time.
We didn't allow POC to vote.
We followed the imperial instincts of our forefathers from the moment the country was founded on someone else's land.
My generation is going to inherit this globally damaged, injured, country that was never my own to begin with, surrounded by people so brainwashed by our politicians that they can't seem to hear the screaming of others over their own seemingly threatened identity.
I am incredibly terrified of what my generation will do.
Everything you said in this video is true, but you'r missing the point and only scratching the surface IMHO. If the empire really wanted to retaliate, it should have targeted Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where most of the Men and the funding for 9/11 came from. Afghanistan and Irak had nothing to do with it. Not even Osama Bin Laden claimed it was his project.
So you have to ask what the empire gained from carrying out his war on terror in countries that had nothing to do with it. As always: cui bono?
Doktor Zappergeck Pakistan has nothing to do with 9/11. Pakistan was one of the allies of US in the war against terror. Pakistan supported US in logistics movement, US was allowed to use Pakistani air bases, there is exchange of intelligence between US and Pakistan. Pakistan lost 70000 of its people and over 123 billion in this war against terrorism. Get your facts straight.
Pakistan hosts terrorists and is corrupt to its core. It is split between tribal and clan lines instead of national lines. That whole area is. Parts of Pakistan hosted Osama Bin laden.
Reer123 no! Not at all. I visit Pakistan regularly and know the facts. You are over exaggerating the corruption bit. The country does not have any tribal issue now, it had these problems because it supported u.s in its so called war on terror and the u.s bombed the border tribal areas which made the people there very uncomfortable about the whole situation. Pakistan govt has sorted all that out and there is no tribal or such issues anymore. It's a great country.
Pakistan does not host any terrorists, the operations zarb e azab, rad ul fasad are an evidence that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism financed directly by India and Israel.
Kindly do some research on the indian agents caught by the Pakistani authorities, who accepted all this. Here I would also mention ajit doval the head of indian intelligence agency r.a.w accepted in speeches that india hired, trained and financed terrorists to attack Pakistan.
Vlavitir glutginskiya calling Iraq war a mistake is an understatement. You attack a country destroy it and kill hundreds of thousands of thier people......it's not a mistake ...it's a blunder, its a crime against humanity
Whether we supported Bush, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the "War on Terror" or not, no matter how much we may hate Trump, this collective stain on the American conscience is only deepened by us saying "Trump makes me miss Bush." It cheapens the crimes committed by him and his administration in our name, and erases horrors like this.
Thank you, Evan, for reminding us why we must never settle to look back on our greatest failings with a simplistic nostalgia, and why we must never forget these crimes, that we may never go back to them. In this retrospective, I understand the collective shame borne by Germans for their nation's actions under the Nazis. We must do better.
Other Side of Free World
I am a retired American. This was a particularly painful video to watch ... so much so that I stopped it no less than three times. But I forced myself, finally, to watch it to the end.
You are 100% right. Gitmo is a stain on America, just as were the Japanese internment camps of WWII. I forsee that movies will be made of Gitmo in a similar vein as the movies made about those infamous internment camps.
Well done. Thanks for making me THINK once again.
Even the the Japanese internment camps were like DISNEYLAND compared to Gitmo!
Thank you! I’m sixteen now but I probably starting learning about the horrors of Guantanamo bay when I was 13 or 14 ish and I was just so frustrated at the hypocritical and horrible nature of it all. It was honestly so hard to watch this video, I just don’t want to accept that this is real life.
Don’t let the truth discourage you but rather let it inspire you. For it’s okay to be disillusioned, it’s actually a good thing as apposed to the alternative. It removes any confusion and makes it easy to choose between right and wrong.
Free World?
For the most part, yes. It isn't an all or nothing thing. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. America has achieved amazing things. I think my videos will show I'm no apologist for the US, but statistically the world has been overall better under American hegemony, despite the horrors it has entailed. Removing it wouldn't instantly create paradise, it would just leave a vacuum, which nature abhors. But that doesn't mean they aren't making terrible, undeniable mistakes that need to be eviscerated like the cancers they're becoming.
Rare Earth The world has benefited from American Hegemony but its hypocritical to call western world as "free world" and POTUS as "Leader of the free World".
Yes, but looking past the propaganda is a job for us all, on every side. The terms they apply are one thing, but using them in the negative is often a way of doing the exact same thing in reverse.
Sneet brilliant
This is just such of an amazing, informative channel. Thank you so much for uploading.
There were quite a few people in Guantanamo Bay that werent even Terrorists at all or did anything wrong at all.
They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time
As a German, it really bothers me how much my country lets the US get away with. I understand why, the US are Germanys most important military ally and on top of that an important trade partner, and I agree that we cannot simply cut our ties with the US. However, we need to start distancing ourselves from the US if our values are indeed as important to us as we claim they are.
Article 1 of the German constitution states that "human dignity is unimpeachable", yet we gladly turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of our "big brother", the US.
I believe that it is our moral obligation, especially as Germans with our unique history, to work with all democratic governments in the world that respect human rights, especially fundamental ones such as the right to life and physical integrity and the prohibition of torture, and to oppose all those regimes that are undemocratic, that do not respect human rights, or both.
The US clearly disregards human rights systematically, and whats more, though I wouldn't say the US isn't democratic, democracy in the US is certainly deeply flawed.
Yes, the US are an important ally at the moment, but it should be a priority to start decoupling from them and to start defending democracy and human rights.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU! You should consider uploading louder videos.
As someone that became an adult around the early 2000s, let me say, Guantanamo Prison was as disgusting and repulsive back then as it is when we're talking about it here. A few political figures even ran on shutting it down, but nothing ever became of it. So much of the public has been opposed to Guantanamo Prison for so long, and yet those in power continue to get what they want, a small minority. Thats almost as scary as the horrors of Guantanamo itself when you think about the implications of it.
Thank you
It creates more terrorists. But what if you want more terrorists? Like in the Balkans, you need something to unify people. Even a common enemy.
I’ve lived in Guantanamo Bay for 3 years because my parents were active duty military. What you said in this video is completely the opposite of true. No one is tortured... as a matter of fact they are given more in prison than most people are. You’re so wrong it’s crazy...
At last, someone who speaks the truth. These Canuck fucks wouldn't know truth if it bit them on their hoser ass. This is just a platform for them to virtue signal.
How does you living in GitMo prove torture did not happen? How does being "given more in prison" mean that you aren't being tortured?
Ibrahim Ng'eno I have literally seen with my own eyes how the detainees are treated within their “cells.” They can request any type of food that they want, they’re given any type of entertainment that they want (Xbox’s, PS4s, etc) literally the only thing that they’re not allowed to do is leave. The American guards who watch these losers and forced to wear hazmat suits because the detainees will throw things at them like bodily fluids and spoiled food. The Americans that work on the base there are not in the wrong at all.
I have never seen a dog die. So dogs dont die? Of course nobody tourtures in public. Anyway, there are even official US government reports out confirming it. And of course the situation today there is different than 15 years ago. At least today they are sure that most of the prisoners were innocent.
These documentaries are outstanding!
"I'm Pro American" #Honesty
This hurt so much to watch but I'm sure it hurt much more to produce. Thank you.
Trumptards can't handle the truth. They'll just mindlessly chant "fake news" and watch the "Bachelor" TV show.
nice strawman bro
The end card says your driver was detained for driving you? Is he alright?
Empire? Hegemonic power. Not an empire.
Not literally an empire in terms of government structure, but certainly imperialist.
Lol, imagine him say Hegemonic power in place of empire.
CrystalGears how so?
Arcduck lol fuck being accurate am i right?
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, and a plethora of other conquered areas might disagree. The American empire is different from previous empires in how they conduct business, but they have all the other parts and pieces.
One of your best videos
You said you are against anti western terrorism, however death due to terrorism are in much higher numbers in Africa and Middle East. Maybe you should change your perspective of terrorism a little bit.
I didn't say I'm only against anti-Western terrorism. I said if that was the goal of the United States and its citizenry (or the West in general), this is not a way to achieve it.
Well...They have a terrorist group literally called ''Western education is sinful'' in Africa.
Thank you for the clarification , on a second viewing i understood the context better . you are on of my favorite creators . i apologize for the misunderstanding .
@kayraa2 yeah its called boko haram and they have killed hundreds of Nigerians , and not a single westerner , even if these groups are ideologically against the west the real repercussions are felt by the locals in Africa not any western country
...True
The biggest victims of terrorism are the people who live next to them.
What part of Maryland did you live in?
Ive served 15 months across Guantanamo . great video
This was beyond powerful and salient. It brought tears to my eyes, and that is saying something. I am at a loss for words.
Maybe there is a reason why a certain huge country isn't a member of the international criminal court?
Thank you for helping me as an American to codify and understand the vague feelings of discontent I have always felt in our government's explanations for Guantanamo. Now WE need to push for a change.
this is just the most prominent site of more im sure. what about diego garcia?
People don't realize having a threat is the goal. They want a perceived threat to exist. It keeps people looking in the wrong direction.
I think this is a stain on the culture and soul of more than just America. We, as a world, allowed this to go on. When it was known. When the US Government came out and said that they couldn't release men they knew to be innocent because the treatment of those men were so horrific that it would naturally cause an anti-US sentiment. This was a place, a decision, so devoid of humanity that it speaks volumes about the evils we are capable of as humans that anyone even worked there. And what have we, as a world, done? Or what could we have done? Does this show where our lines that we'll cross to uphold humanity are? That allowing this continue is simply easier for us as a world than trying to strong arm the US? And if so, what would it take to get us to do that?
This is such an amazing video, going to share this with everybody i know.
This was great keep telling the stories people need to hear
Was your driver released/is he ok?
Thank you. People like you make difference.
I was born in the U.S and grew up believing that the excuse of “just following orders” was no excuse at all. When drafted in 1967 I moved to Canada instead
I adore your channel, so glad I found it. But I think your audio could use some work. Maybe just some compression. It's always quieter than the video I watch before.
In Vietnam, we now all can agree who fought for the legitimate cause, in the middle east one can only dream about the legitimization of those groups provided by the US...
As a bit of warning, Guantanamo was not set up to be a secret torture base. That just isn’t true, not denying it was done, but the purpose wasn’t there from the military. That is not to say I agree with gitmo, my great grandfather came to the US after fighting them in WWII and being treated so well while as a POW. That is where I personally believe we should be with captured enemy combatants. But to get there we must do research and tell true facts and not false facts made purely off incomplete information. Truth is how we come together and bad information pulls us apart.
+DarSoul4 Yea, I think that this is more of an issue with a lack of oversight. It must have had lack of oversight (just a guess; I haven't researched this particular base), it had a group of soldiers in charge of a group of criminals. Police in this situation would have also been better, although that might lead to similar problems without supervision.
When a group of people are in charge of imprisoning a group that is other, then the people in charge will not see the other group as people anymore. And this is more of a psychological problem with human nature.
My favorite wrongly imprisoned story involving Gitmo, is the two teenage boys who showed American troops where their targets house was and then proceeded to help load items from the house into trucks, and were rewarded with a year in Gitmo (source: Wikileaks). Torture did not find Bin Laden, torture is not making us safer, torture is a gift for recruiters for terror groups by showing what they want people to see in America. Problem is our country is lead by incompetent and often corrupt leaders who care about the people for a few months during their election.
Can u interview some of those prisoners
you been workin out ,you look jacked