Hearts of Darkness

George W. Bush's war on terror defended torture as a matter of official policy and furthered an already emergent culture of cruelty. As torture became normalized in the Bush era, it not only corrupted American ideals and political culture, it also passed over to the dark side in sanctioning the unimaginable and unspeakable: the torture of children. This shocking book documents cases of child torture by American military personnel, many of which have never been reported in the media. Giroux raises serious challenges the Obama administration must address in light of this shameful period in American history if it wants to restore democratic culture. Going further than simply blaming those at the top, Hearts of Darkness also raises questions about the collusion of the media, educators, the criminal justice system and other institutions that have enabled a culture that accepts the torture of children.

Henry A. Giroux holds the Global TV Network Chair in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University in Canada.

1 The War on Terror and the Culture of Cruelty 2 Torture and the Politics of Historical Amnesia 3 What Is New About Torture? 4 The Disappearing Body 5 The Unthinkable: Torturing Children 6 Bush's Legacy and Obama's Challenge