Power of Nightmares re-awakened

I have written in past blogs about the myth al-Qaeda's organizational strength and its purpose in the New Crusades. It now seems that the excellent series concerning this myth, "The Power Of Nightmares", will finally see world-wide theatrical release. It has been persona non grata here in the Nation of Righteous Holy Crusaders since its first airing in the autumn of 2004, and while we were hoping for DVD release, this is certainly a wonderful first step.--Pete

By Adam Curtis
Writer, Producer and Narrator, The Power of Nightmares

The Power of Nightmares - first screened in Autumn 2004 and repeated last week on BBC Two - questions whether the threat of terrorism to the West is a politically driven fantasy and if al-Qaeda really is an organised network.

The BBC has been inundated with correspondence, some critical much of it very positive. Viewers were invited to put their questions to the writer of the series, Adam Curtis. Here he responds to some of those correspondents, chosen to represent a broad selection of your questions.

I know you have already been asked, but PLEASE, PLEASE, release the series on video or DVD

Peter Grant, London

The problem is that the films are full of archive film and music from a multitude of sources. The reason my series are normally not released on DVD is that it is prohibitively costly and a nightmare - no pun intended - to clear the rights.

But so many people have now asked for the series to be released in this form that I think it probably will happen.

I have sat through your documentary tonight. I hope your programme is shown again following the next terrorist attack. You sound like the hedgehog who claims that cars won't hurt you!!!! I'm amazed!!!!!!!

Iain Foster, Portsmouth

In the face of much more tangible threats in the past - like the IRA, the Soviet Union and even Nazi Germany - British governments did not encourage the people to behave like hedgehogs.

Why roll up into a ball now in the face of what is a serious but in no way an overwhelming threat to our nation and our freedoms?

The programmes did not say that there was no threat. What they argued was that although there is a serious threat of terrorism from some radical Islamists, the nightmare vision of a uniquely powerful hidden organisation waiting to strike our societies is an illusion.

The question the series tried to answer was why contemporary politicians and other elites, like the media, want you to feel frightened - to behave and feel like a hedgehog trapped on a motorway - when the reality and the scale of the threat is actually very different. (more...)