Psyche, Science, and Society

“Truth serum” for interrogations?

November 20th, 2006

An article in the Washington Post reminds us that the desire for total control knows no bounds. It seems the government is seeking to harness new work in psychopharmacology to create the fantasized “truth serum.” Mind control, in its various forms, has long been a dream of those in power. Guantanamo, after all, is largely a laboratory for developing mind control techniques. No one in their right mind seriously believes that anyone imprisoned there for almost five years still has any valuable intelligence information left to give. But attempts to create the total environment for control are endless, and the total environment, subject to absolutely no legal constraints, is just the place to do it.

Question. Are efforts to develop “truth serums” being used there? After all, Jose Padilla’s lawyers claim that Padilla was drugged during his years of imprisonment. In an environment of illegality, such as Guantanamo, with no outside oversight,virtually anything is posible. Some day, the history of that evil place will be written. Until then, we can only speculate.

Entry Filed under: Guantanamo, Psychology, Rights and Liberties, Science, Social Issues, Torture, War Crimes