# The Power Of Nightmares, BBC2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004 "2004-11-04T17:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/1 "2004-11-04T17:59:11Z")
Has anyone been watching this gobsmacking series? I only caught the last one on Wed 3rd Nov, but have videod the 1st 2 to watch this w/e . The thing here is, i have had my doubts on the reallity of the War on Terror. They began to creap in around 18months ago, but just put it down to me being unhealthily cynical. However, this program is being aired at 9pm on BBC2 - not a slot for off the wall political documentaries and Tin Foil behaviour - a slot for serious programs, made by the Beeb in a professional manner. I was open mouthed for most of the hour. Everything kinda slotted into place - the WOT has been fabricated from nothing. I know i should watch the other 2 episodes before starting this thread. Even though it puts flesh on the bones of my suspicion, i just cant believe its really true. If it is, we should all be very, very worried. What did anyone think of this program? Anyone think its bs? Help me see sense ! Sin ( off to watch the video ) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/2 "2004-11-04T18:48:53Z")
It was on at work so I didn’t get much chance to pay attention to it. But generally I have a similar view of the tactics of fear for political power. I think it’s a cynicism that is healthy. (You are a self-proclaimed Brit afterall) Right now I feel like I want to get off the world. Get away from this madness. Anyone want to join me? ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/3 "2004-11-04T18:54:04Z")
I didn’t know anything about this program till I saw it advertisd last night. I didn’t get to watch it - it clashed with some property programme the missus likes - but I did tape it and will watch it later tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/4 "2004-11-04T19:14:06Z")
> [@sinical brit](#): > > Everything kinda slotted into place That’s my problem with the prog - everything slots together too damn neatly, reminding me of being buttonholed by some tin-foiler “Don’t you see? It all makes sense!” Having said that, it’s a fine piece of compelling television - Michael Moore it ain’t! (it’s a shame it’s not got the same international reach as MM’s films, I’d love to have the ideas in the series discussed in the same depth in GD by those more knowledgeable on the subjects than myself) Anyway, it’s a “must see” in my opinion - anyone who has a chance to see it should grab it, I don’t agree with all of it but I do guarantee it will make you at least start asking questions about the “war on terror” - and all those politician’s sound bites will sound rather hollow ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/5 "2004-11-04T20:18:51Z")
From The [Christian Science Monitor](http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1018/dailyUpdate.html) > [@](#): > > Another issue that Curtis tackles is the making of “dirty bombs” and how lethal they would actually be. Curtis film interviews radiation experts who say that the threat is being overstated by both the US and British governments. > ‘I don’t think it would kill anybody,’ says Dr Theodore Rockwell, an authority on radiation, in an interview for the series. ‘You’ll have trouble finding a serious report that would claim otherwise.’ The American department of energy, Rockwell continues, has simulated a dirty bomb explosion, ‘and they calculated that the most exposed individual would get a fairly high dose [of radiation], not life-threatening.’ And even this minor threat is open to question. The test assumed that no one fled the explosion for one year. Where’s [phybre](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282090) when you need him? (A.K.A. [We have a new radiation theory and it’s a Dilly](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282167&highlight=radiation) I’d lend the good Dr. Rockwell a little more credence if he ran the experiment on himself instead of relying on data from the presumably _neo-con controlled_ USDoE. I can just hear the EBS warnings now: Everyone remain calm. Do not panic. Stay where you are. That green glow you see radiating around your infant’s face is completely normal. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-nightmares-bbc2/273004/6 "2004-11-04T20:22:47Z")
I would have liked to see it. Read the comments [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3973195.stm) - it provoked really strong reactions either way.