Military Criticizes 24 Torture Scenes  2/13/07

The US military has criticized the producers of TV hit 24 for featuring too many scenes of Kiefer Sutherland's character Jack Bauer torturing suspects for information.

Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan recently visited the set of the hit show in California to speak to the show's makers.

Finnegan is concerned about the effect the torture scenes are having on US troops abroad as 24 is popular among members of the American armed forces.

According to the New Yorker, Finnegan told the producers, "I'd like them to stop. They should do a show where torture backfires. The kids see it and say, 'If torture is wrong, what about 24?'

"The disturbing thing is that although torture may cause Jack Bauer some angst, it is always the patriotic thing to do."

Human Rights First spokesman David Danzig says, "I think there is no question (that torture scenes are having an effect).

"We have spoken to soldiers with experience in Iraq who say, for young soldiers, there is a direct relationship between what they are doing in their jobs and what they see on TV.

"The image of the US and its military is being affirmed."