By: Sarah Weiss
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Big Bird of Sesame Street with prisoners |
"My first reaction was this simply cannot be true," said Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer to Al Jazeera.
"Of course, I like the idea that this was helping to break the prisoners, but it was much worse when I found out later that they were actually using music in Guantanamo for really deep and long-term, questioning and obviously, to inflict enough pain to prisoners so they started to talk."
The documentary's claims are backed by a 2008 report, which found that several songs, including the Sesame Street song, the theme was used as part of the interrogation of detainees in the detention center at Guantanamo.
Military officials did not directly confirm or deny the report, saying only that they were "currently" in use. Artists of heavy metal like Metallica and Eminem rap composed most of the songs that the reports said were used in the interrogations. Although some other selections include Bruce Springsteen "Born in the USA" and "I Love You" song from "Barney & Friends" kids show.