Funny you should say "its not quite an Orwellian society", because that's exactly the term PBS Frontline used to describe Iraq:
offering a clear view into Saddam's Orwellian police state, FRONTLINE has reproduced a top-secret memo issued in 1992 by the Iraqi government that details ways for Saddam's security apparatus to crush opposition.
pbs.org
Iraq has a very extensive and overlapping police-state which keeps tabs on its people. Here are some excerpts from an internal Iraqi security memo published by PBS:
22. Enhancing the presence of the specialized agencies - Intelligence, General Security, Military Police, Internal Security Forces - at passenger bus depots, some openly and others secretly. This matter is to be enforced, in order to limit citizens' movements as much as possible, movements which facilitate the speedy spread of news and rumors.
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50. The Security organs are required to uncover opposing and servile behavior, and contribute to creating stature and fear of the Revolution in the hearts of those Iying in wait, to a point where their practices have been described as brutal and fascist.
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59. According to our comprehension, the Iraqi works well as long as the stick is close by him. However we must not forget to advise the avoidance of erroneous behavior in concert with others. We state that the Baath has its own new morals and behavior, which are called Baathist morals.
60. The ideal model is he who is truthful with his party, does not lie to the leadership, and who does not humor reactionary forces. We must amputate the treasonous families. Pursue them as was done to their brothers, and do not succumb to anyone's blame, for the protection of the Party is the most precious thing in existence.
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B. The interrogation of party and opposition gang elements is nothing but a science and an art at the same time. It demands that interrogators be experienced, having wide cultural capabilities, powers of observation, memory, and precision, and having had experience abroad. We prefer those who have studied in Yugoslavia, because of their extensive reading about the Communist party's confrontations with its enemies. It crushed their bones, or turned them into lunatics because they could not be in harmony with the party's theory. Thus, they were indefinitely confined to the beds of lunatic asylums.
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C. The selection of competent interrogators for the interrogation of hostile elements, using frightening and terrifying psychological approaches, and methods which contribute to the speedy breakdown of the accused. Threaten him with violation of whatever he considers sacred, such as his honor, or with the killing of a loved one such as his son or his brother, in order to extract whatever we can from the interrogation.
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G. The most important event we are seeking is the elevation of interrogation to a level where it becomes an example, striking fear into traitors and informing our friends.
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26. It is not necessary for people to praise us for being nice to them; people should rather fear the swoop of your men, even if they talk about us as having hearts without pity, for this is unimportant. The important thing is the Party and its interests, which are above all else. Don't beat about the bush with people, for we and they are like boxers, to see who can deliver the knockout blow first.
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Therefore it is my view that one of our most successful methods is to taunt others, to expose what they conceal against us. Even if we make a mistake in bringing in a citizen and subject him to torture without reaching any conclusion with him in obtaining information, I say to you that we have benefited from him in that he will describe the way he was arrested and the methods to which he was subjected even though innocent, then how would it have been if he had a conspiratorial or treasonous mind. Such conspiracy shall be a horror screen before his eyes, giving him sleepless nights, making him distance himself from even thinking about politics or hostility to the Revolution. He will also flee from anyone around him who may have inclinations of this nature.
28. We ask all of you to use your friends and those who cooperate with you, in watching the enemies of the Revolution in the street and in the market and in public places.
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We have no choice but to adopt the methods which can expose some of what we don't know and fear, such as:
A. Install listening devices aimed at your neighbors' homes, and inform your friends to do the same.
B. Install recording devices on people's telephone calls.
C. Give everyone you trust (a small, concealable pocket recorder) to steal what others are saying.
D. Entrap some of those of whom you are suspicious, and subject them to strong and wearying interrogation, for you may obtain something from them which is unknown, such as a conspiracy against the Party or the Leader President.
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..the Leader President was annoyed when a woman attempted to intercede with him regarding her husband, and told him about his being transferred. If we knew who leaked this information, we would place them together forever. I tell you, make it known that 70% or more of our prisoners will probably never again emerge into the light of day, after having betrayed the Party and the Revolution, and that their cells are preliminary graves for them and whoever divulges information about them.
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34. Intensifying Security presence in residential complexes, such as using special patrols and sources cooperating with us, because these complexes will in the future become starting points for the internal cells of the saboteur gangs. We ask, in the light of the Leader President's instructions, that you establish a shadow in every house for its constant scrutiny, so that we may have them for lunch before they can have us for dinner.
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35. Punitive action must be taken against residential complex dwellers, who are either known to be or we suspect them of, helping fugitive and hostile elements: seize their homes and banish them to wherever they may go, to become an example for others; their homes are to become the property of the Directorate General of Security.
36. Laying ambushes from time to time around the perimeters of residential complexes, in the event of attempted infiltration by subversive elements. Do not hesitate to open fire when arresting suspicious elements, to demonstrate our audacity. Reports shall be made about the incidents, and promotion shall be the reward for whoever is ardent in his work and who adheres to security procedures and discipline.
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39. Continue following the instructions of the Northern Organizational Bureau, in coordination with Party organizations, in establishing registers of city and residential complex dwellers. All dwellers must be informed that they are required to register themselves and all members of their families, in addition to registering all their visitors. They must send lists about their visitors: name, place of residence, reason for the visit, whether or not he is a Party member . It is our goal that homes be like hotels, sending us a form identifying each arrival and each departure.
40. Continue following the instructions of the Northern Organizational Bureau, in preparing the Family Register forms which comprise detailed information about each family member, and whoever is permanently living with them in the same building.
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42. Visits are to be given exceptional and paramount importance, while staying away from platitudes. A detailed report shall be submitted about each visit, including a preliminary evaluation of the meeting, and recommendations for future dealings.
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..select the best methods and to use them in wiping out our opponents by any means. This can mean merciless beating to death, threats, indefinite incarceration, raping of their loved ones in their presence and in the presence of others, seizure of fixed and movable assets, and liquidation through murder by persons unknown, or by running over with cars.
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50. Serious scrutiny of libraries, especially those belonging to universities, mosques, and places of worship. Banned books are to be quietly removed, by stealing them if necessary, to prevent hostile forces from using them, with the emphasis on Shiite literary books, and books which condemn the injustice of the Omayyads and their followers, who stood up to the early and latter Shiites.
51. Avoiding groundless and unplanned impulsive reaction to events, incidents, problems, and matters falling within your specializations, because this means a loss to us and to our principles. We must learn patience from the prisoners in our cells; they are Iraqis, but we find among them those whom we cannot annoy or embarrass. He is joyful at the calls for his execution, and proceeds with self-assurance, as if he were on his way to a recreation hall.
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54. We reaffirm the need for tapping all citizens' telephones. Submit the matter to us in detail including whatever methods are to be used, putting everything in writing. Do not hesitate to tap anyone's telephone, because the rabble of Najaf, Kerbala, Basra, and Amara have left us without trust of anyone. The land was raped and destroyed, and our most precious person, the Leader President, was insulted and his pictures were torn up.
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54. We reaffirm the need for tapping all citizens' telephones. Submit the matter to us in detail including whatever methods are to be used, putting everything in writing. Do not hesitate to tap anyone's telephone, because the rabble of Najaf, Kerbala, Basra, and Amara have left us without trust of anyone. The land was raped and destroyed, and our most precious person, the Leader President, was insulted and his pictures were torn up.
pbs.org |
