The New Gitmo Video Game And The Concern About ‘Our Image’

Commentary
by Mario Andrade
June 3, 2009

Scottish video game maker, T-Enterprise, has announced a new Gitmo video Game, and the neocons are already up in arms about it. Suddenly, the torture supporters are concerned about our image, while in the past, they’ve been chanting in unison that ‘we must do what ever it takes to keep our country safe, including torture.’

The video game is called Rendition: Guantanamo, and it’s being developed for the Xbox 360 and PC platforms. The video game’s trailer depicts a Gitmo-style prison, ran by security contractors, where detainees are tortured and used as lab rats for secret experiments. The main goal of the player is to escape, killing as many guards as necessary. And here’s the kicker: T-Enterprise has recruited former Gitmo detainee, Moazzam Begg, to assist with the video game development, based on his experience as a prisoner.

The Miami New Times has posted the video game trailer, and it mentions the following: “The hero of the game is sold by the United States to an evil corporation known as Freedom Corp (which a pixelated Dick Cheney probably runs), and is used in medical experiments. The character has to escape, but don’t worry he’s not shooting U.S. Troops, just mercenaries for Freedom Corp.”

Fox News has posted an article with the headline “Accused Terrorist Behind New Video Game,” as though Al-Qaeda is now in the business of creating video games that taint the image of our policies toward the treatment of detainees. Another Fox affiliate, kfoxtv.com, has posted another article with the headline “Many Angry Over New Guantanamo Video Game.” The article mentions how many people feel that the video game ruins America’s image. It includes the following statement from a former Gitmo guard, who’s now a chairman of the organization Vets for Freedom (The words Freedom Corp. come to mind):

“In actuality, it’s depicting the U.S. as sort of oppressive guards, and these terrorists, for lack of a better term, as freedom fighters and the victims. It tries to create this perception that Americans are the oppressors. This is a prison where torture goes on a daily basis, and as a guard who served in Guantanamo Bay, I know what a professional operation we have there,” he said.

I guess a ‘professional operation’ includes water-boarding, among other enhanced techniques that are performed in a professional matter, and done by professionals only. My questions are these: Why are you angry at this video game? Don’t you think it’s a little too late to worry about our image? Is it okay for our government to torture these ‘terrorists, for lack of a better term’ in real life, but not in a stupid and meaningless video game? The perception that ‘Americans are the oppressors’ is not being created by this video game; it was created years ago by your government, and with your support. Of course, at that time, you didn’t care about our image! Remeber?

The precedent was set by this government –with your blessing- to torture people, long ago. We went down that path. And now, you, me and everyone else has to live with it. This video game is only a fraction, a small manifestation of the results of our policies, in the big picture of our image, as the rest of the world sees us. It’s too late to worry about that!

Finally, before I get accused of being anti-American, or before someone says that I hate the troops, let there be known that I served honorably for 8 years, including during the first Gulf War. Also, before I get accused of being a liberal, please know that I’m pro-gun, pro-national sovereignty, pro-constitution, pro-life, and pro-freedom (real freedom; not the Kool-Aid you’ve been drinking).

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