The Forever Prisoner

The forever Prisoner is a shocking and terrifying documentary about Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee subjected to the CIA's program in Guantanamo Bay, later identified as torture by those outside the agency. I recently Watched Camp-X, which is also about Guantanamo Bay, and I wanted to know more about what actually happens there. But I was unprepared for this documentary. It is almost unbelievable what we as a country did to these people. The scariest thing is that it is still going on and that there is nothing stopping the CIA from doing it again. This really is a must-watch documentary.

Great editing. Great narration. It still doesn't mention that there was no full explanation why third tower went down, so the first few minutes is more of a US government propaganda perspective why US was attacked and why US was not able to prevent it. But the documentary is well made overall. Feels like how a Michael amoore Doco is made.

The facts of this have been presented elsewhere so it's not breaking news, but is still a compelling two hour view. One fact however, which might have been overly simplified, was fascinating. The "expert" psychologist who failed to understand that torture is about manipulation, not an easy path to truth, was himself so easily manipulated. When repeatedly told the hypothetical "what if there's another 9/11 and you didn't do all you could?" he went on the warpath, willing to do anything heinous. It says alot about him, not doing any due diligence or honest evaluation of his work which failed compared to normal relationship-building techniques. The initial methods of interrogation were bad enough, and what any normal person would consider torture...the "enhanced" interrogation was of course torture. Or what the psychologist called "temporary discomfort." Like Rumsfeld comparing his not sitting at his desk to prisoners being made to stand. They needed to minimize and dismiss torture because of their guilt. They knew it was indefensible for any reason, even national security, and was just a form of revenge.

For someone who doesn't regularly seek out political documentaries like this, I found this film to be surprisingly entertaining. Dare I say, it is perhaps the funniest film about government sanctioned torture???

It was incredibly gripping and an infuriating look back at the key players responsible for the U. S. government's torture program. It also brought to life the world of Abu Zubaydah in a creative and compelling ways. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in better understanding the events leading up to and unfolding after attacks of September 11th, without feeling like they're watching a news program. Well done.

A very good and important film. Do not listen to to right or the left in reviews on this. See for your self and decide. This film has nothing to do with Marxism or leftist politics. It also has nothing to do with conservative conspiracies. Rather it dissects what has happened over the last twenty years in our reaction to 9/11. This film also doesn't believe all terrorists are innocent. If you believe that than you are just stupid. People watch films through their own filter. Leave the politics at the door.