The Power of Nightmares
The Power of Nightmares, subtitled The Rise of the Politics of Fear, is a BBC documentary film series, written and produced by Adam Curtis. The series consists of three one-hour films, consisting mostly of a montage of archive footage with Curtis's narration, which were first broadcast in the United Kingdom in late 2004 and have been subsequently aired in multiple countries and shown in several film festivals, including the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
The films compare the rise of the American Neo-Conservative movement and the radical Islamist movement, making comparisons on their origins and noting strong similarities between the two. More controversially, it argues that the threat of radical Islamism as a massive, sinister organised force of destruction, specifically in the form of al-Qaeda, is in fact a myth perpetrated by politicians in many countries—and particularly American Neo-Conservatives—in an attempt to unite and inspire their people following the failure of earlier, more utopian ideologies.
I just watched a documentary that focused on the rise of Neoconservatism and the evangelical right without mentioning even one time the role of Zionism, whether it be in the creation of these movements or the manipulation of them.
And I guess I should add that there are none so dangerous as those who think they know what is best for all and should do whatever it takes to lead them. Well and then that brings up the vast majority of humans who are just begging for someone to tell them what to do. What are ya gonna do with a species like that? Just have to let them go at it and then make a video about it and keep doing it until the species finally goes extinct.
Gee if it wasn't for how corrupt some other countries are a real good case could be made for this society in this country to be the most corrupt on earth. When I hear my country mentioned I don't swell with pride, I cringe and hope it passes quickly. This is a human animal problem rather than this or that country, you know, the human animal created in the exact image of God.
The apt comparison of the absolutist Muslim Brotherhood and the Neo Conservative Movement is a proper source of concern--especially now that the sources of funding can be seen as from a very wealthy few without any accountability. We all the truth about the wars on "terror" and weapons of mass destruction. See Curtis latest work!
Kelly Kafir,
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Give it a rest.
The masses NEED to be led??? You think that is ok?
Oh yeah, the USSR didn't put missles on Cuba, right... what a stupid mockumentary this is.
Qutb was a Shafi'ite - they believe in cutting out a woman's clitoris and her outer labia and sewing up the inner labia to leave a small hole near the anus. This is to prevent a woman from having sexual pleasure and to supposedly keep her chaste until she is married. It is called female circumcision or Female Genetalia Mutilation. Watch Desert Flower if you want more info.
"Sayyid Qutb was an Egyptian author, educator, Islamist theorist, poet, and the leading member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the 1950s and '60s. In 1966 he was convicted of plotting the assassination of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and was executed by hanging.
Even though most of his observations and criticism were leveled at the Muslim world, Qutb is also known for his intense disapproval of the society and culture of the United States, which he saw as obsessed with materialism, violence, and sexual pleasures. (oh wait until you hear about what Islam condones!!) He is one who shaped the ideas of Islamists and particularly of groups such as Al Qaeda."
Islam has 1400 years of violence.
Everything makes sense now, but I kind of miss my ignorance. I was raised thinking America was great and we had it all figured out and now I'm realizing that was about as true as the sleeper cell terrorists in video 3... Jeremy, you are amazing.
Adam Curtis is my hero!!
If the BBC produced it you can safely bet that it will be outstanding and reveal things which the American media conglomerates would prefer to keep hidden. And then there is Adam Curtis. He is probably the best non-fiction film maker of our time. His insight into politics and other social topics is nothing short of brilliant especially when he documents the true nature of government and society and the role of corporations (and technology) which lock is into an illusion of a free democracy that we cannot escape from. All his film productions are a must-see.
This is wonderful! I'm glad I found it again. Good job bbc!
The ignorance of the common American is only exceeded by their greed, the Air force has a term for it, “followership”.
Let's move forward!! I bet everyone in the world wants something simple. Access to resources for the best life possible, and the freedom to live that life without prejudice and bigotry from others. Honestly this is easy to achieve if everyone has their needs met. Let's eliminate profit and the monetary-market paradigm from history. It's outdated and holding us back. Just like the "truth" of divine right of kings.
when an idea demands LIFE (yours or of another's), it's a dangerous one there for must not be pursued.
Thanks!!! Now I know that 1000 women dying in honorkilling only in Pakistan every year is a dream. And the demonstration for Sharia in Egypt is a dream. Also the islamist in Somlia who stone people and the killers in Iran is only a dream. WOW !! I am so happy.
It is funny seeing Curtis say that attacks on the London Tubes were a fantasy swept up by the media. He works for the media, only instead of sweeping up he is sweeping under.
It is funny seeing him portray his insight that the planned attack were fantasy as some profound revelation, esepecially after such attacks have occured with devastating effects. Has he toned down his "fantasy" insight since then? No. Now he wants to tell us that the American Revolution, freedom, and the World Wide Web are a fantasy. Nothing is happening in the Middle East.
Adam Curtis is full of crap. The Soviet Union didn't exist? Al Quaida didn't exist? The US is in no way special or unusual in world history? Next he will try to prove that the 4th of July never happened.
Adam Curtis docs are excellent! Check out Century of the Self if you haven't already.
I think he covers 7/7 despite the fact it is in the future. He talks of the thread from those inspired by what is created and the increased possibility of terror strikes as a result of the mythology that the war on terror bought with it.
Amazing documentary.
From what I've seen (part 1/3) this is a fascinating doc. I took from it that in today's age, the two most polarizing world views out there namely, Neo-Conservatism and Qutb's Islamism are basically based on the same thing: fear. Ironically, it's fear of each other that drives them. And to see their long and interconnected history is very eye opening.
It's really a Platonic view of society: the most desirable structure is one where the people fear something and thus rally around an elite and common morals. Fear of chaos, fear of the unknown...fear of anything. This fear allows the political structure to endure, and cannot exist without something or someone to fear.
P.S. This doc is a little dated, because he scoffs at the idea of an attack in the UK, yet, a year later, there's a bombing in the Tubes, from homegrown terrorists, to boot. I agree that the threat is exaggerated greatly, but he shouldn't act as if it doesn't exist at all.
Given the recent events in Egypt, I came back to watch this for a 2nd time and I'm glad I did. I'm still trying to make sense of what is behind the revolution-is it a true populist uprising, or is the Muslim Brotherhood behind it? The fact that the movement (if you could call it that) leading to Sadat's execution was spurred by the peace talks with Isreal and the cozy relationship with the west seems eerily similar to what I've heard many of the protesters saying when asked about the reason for their outrage. In any case, this is an excellent doc, thanks for posting it Vlatko!
It's all about Power....for as long as there is oil....after oil these people will all look like you and me, pupets at the mercy of Mother earth.
The first video link isn't working. Anyone else having this problem?
This is one of those documentaries that everyone needs to see.