3-5-13 Excellent Guests for Your Show

1. Anne Speckhard, Ph.D.: Zero Dark Thirty and the Real World of Torture, Enhanced Interrogation, Rendition and Prolonged Detention

2. James Hirsen: Caution Needed for 'Jack the Giant Slayer'

3. John LeBoutillier: Will the Sequester Hurt the President? Is the Media Just Jealous of Bob Woodward?

4. Kyle Olson: Local NAACP President Defends Marco Rubio’s School Choice Proposal

Zero Dark Thirty and the Real World of Torture, Enhanced Interrogation, Rendition and Prolonged Detention

By Anne Speckhard, Ph.D.

The disturbing torture scenes depicted in the recent film Zero Dark Thirty, along with President Obama’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act allowing for Americans on U.S. soil to be subject to indefinite detention and torture, have once again brought the questions relating to the usefulness of rendition, indefinite imprisonments and torture (both light and hard) back into the public consciousness. With media depictions increasingly glorifying the roles of military and civilian intelligence officers - even those who rely on torture - surveys of U.S. citizens have shown an alarming increase of Americans who embrace the idea of torture. Of course one must understand that people - on both sides of the “War on Terror” - are increasingly likely to embrace violent and extremist measures in direct proportion to the more they feel threatened. [more...]

Caution Needed for 'Jack the Giant Slayer'

By James Hirsen

The super dark fairytale is a relatively new genre that is making its presence felt on the small and big screens. Recent movies such as “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” and television programs including “Once Upon a Time,” are Hollywood cases in point. It appears that some traditional fairytales have mutated into entertainment fare with distinctly adult themes, the latest of which is this past weekend’s top box-office film, “Jack the Giant Slayer,” a sci-fi fantasy action movie loosely adapted from the children’s story “Jack and the Beanstalk.” [more...]

Will the Sequester Hurt the President? Is the Media Just Jealous of Bob Woodward?

By John LeBoutillier

How long can President Obama remain above the fray in the midst of this ongoing budget disaster? Will the Sequester cuts ever be pinned on him? Is the media just jealous of Bob Woodward? Can the GOP ever fix its deteriorating image? [more...]

Local NAACP President Defends Marco Rubio’s School Choice Proposal

By Kyle Olson

Last month, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) proposed a national school voucher plan. It would allow corporations and individuals to contribute money to Scholarship Granting Organizations in exchange for tax credits. The Rev. Manuel Sykes, pastor of Bethel Community Baptist Church and president of the St. Petersburg NAACP, weighed in. [Read his comments here...]