Laurie Calhoun's Blog, page 8
May 16, 2018
Interview: The Moral Horror of Our Times. A discussion of issues raised in You Can Leave
Jeff Schechtman of Who.What.Why recently interviewed Laurie Calhoun about You Can Leave. An array of topics were covered, ranging from chemical warfare to drones to citizens’ complacency, government bureaucrats’ desire to hold onto and expand their power, and the mysterious disappearance of effective dissidents. Click here to listen to the 33-minute conversation. … Continue reading Interview: The Moral Horror of Our Times. A discussion of issues raised in You Can Leave →
May 12, 2018
Obedience to Authority: The Relevance of the Milgram Experiments in the Drone Age
Originally posted on We Kill Because We Can:
I recently watched Experimenter (2015), a film directed by Michael Almereyda, which relays the story of social psychologist Stanley Milgram and his quest to understand how human beings could be brought to do things which they would never have thought to do, left to their own devices.…
I recently watched Experimenter (2015), a film directed by Michael Almereyda, which relays the story of social psychologist Stanley Milgram and his quest to understand how human beings could be brought to do things which they would never have thought to do, left to their own devices.…
May 9, 2018
War on Terror? War on Truth.
Originally posted on We Kill Because We Can:
Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, US President George W. Bush proclaimed that “We are at war,” and we have been at war ever since. The world’s most powerful military was not apt to the task of bringing the perpetrators to justice, as evidenced…
Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, US President George W. Bush proclaimed that “We are at war,” and we have been at war ever since. The world’s most powerful military was not apt to the task of bringing the perpetrators to justice, as evidenced…
May 8, 2018
“You Cannot Kill Your Way Out of This”: The CIA’s Lethal Lack of Imagination
Originally posted on We Kill Because We Can:
The Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs (2015) is an engaging Showtime documentary in the spirit of Errol Morris’ The Fog of War (2003) and Dror Moreh’s The Gatekeepers (2012). Directors Jules Naudet and Gedeot Naudet use the same technique of interviewing former government officials to determine what…
The Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs (2015) is an engaging Showtime documentary in the spirit of Errol Morris’ The Fog of War (2003) and Dror Moreh’s The Gatekeepers (2012). Directors Jules Naudet and Gedeot Naudet use the same technique of interviewing former government officials to determine what…
May 2, 2018
Drone (2017): Are private contractors killing people using drones at the request of the CIA?
It’s probably about time for film makers to stop naming their critiques of drone warfare Drone. But that’s just a quibble—more a piece of practical advice than a substantive criticism. This latest installment in the “movies called Drone” series is directed by Jason Bourque and manages to offer some new twists on the many trenchant … Continue reading Drone (2017): Are private contractors killing people using drones at the request of the CIA? →
April 10, 2018
Insyriated (2017): What Not To Conclude
Available among recent releases to watch for free on Sky Movies right now is Insyriated (2017), a Belgian film directed by Philippe van Leeuw, which is set in the midst of the current civil war raging in Syria. The film could just as well have been called “Iniraqated” or “Inlibyated” or “Inyemenated”, or just … Continue reading Insyriated (2017): What Not To Conclude →
April 2, 2018
Notes on a Prophetic Film: Robocop (1987)
Having seen the 2014 remake before the original Robocop (1987), I was anxious to find out why some reviewers are so adamant that the earlier version is vastly superior. Of course, that is often the case for movie remakes, and I never cease to be amazed when directors take it upon themselves to attempt to … Continue reading Notes on a Prophetic Film: Robocop (1987) →
March 25, 2018
Interview: What will be the likely effects of loosening restrictions on US military drone exports?
In this short interview, Jason White of Sputnik International asks Laurie Calhoun to comment on recent reports that the Trump administration plans to loosen restrictions on military drone exports. Here is a more detailed treatment of the topic. Advertisements
March 23, 2018
Trump administration to ease restrictions on military drone exports–what does it mean?
For some time now, military advisors to President Trump have been floating the idea that the exportation of military drones should be stepped up in order to keep the United States “in the game”, so to speak. Obviously, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are part of a growth industry, with drones of all shapes and sizes … Continue reading Trump administration to ease restrictions on military drone exports–what does it mean? →
You Can Leave audiobook now available
The audiobook for You Can Leave is now live and available for sampling and purchase. Be among the first to listen to this harrowing tale of struggle in a world gone morally mad and bureaucratically bad. You Can Listen to a 5 minute sample or download the entire recording free with a trial membership to Audible: https://mobile.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime... … Continue reading You Can Leave audiobook now available →
