Mark Hadsell

Mark Hadsell (b circa 1965) was a soldier in the United States Army Reserve whose comments on psychological warfare were quoted around the world following the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003.

ervice in Iraq

Hadsell was assigned to the 361st Psychological Operations Company.cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20030515/ai_n12504784
title=There are no X-ray glasses, U.S. troops assure Iraqis
publisher=Chicago Sun-Times
author=Jack Kelly
date=May 15, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] Hadsell and one colleague, who had spent January and February 2003 on a mission in the Philippines, were scheduled to meet up with and assist the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Western Iraq, following the American invasion of Iraq. The the two men and one other soldier arrived first, so they served briefly with the 3rd Infantry Division.

On May 15 2003 Hadsell was interviewed by the "Chicago Sun Times", and offered a light-hearted account of how he dispelled the concern of some Iraqis that American GIs sunglasses allowed them to see through Iraqis clothes.

On May 16, 2003 Hadsell was quoted by the Pittsburg Post Gazette, during an incident where a paperwork mixup allowed one of Saddam's executioners to walk away from custody.cite news
url=http://www.post-gazette.com/World/20030516snafuworld2p2.asp
title=Dispatch from Iraq: Hard-won capture lost in a mixup over papers
publisher=Pittsburg Post Gazette
author=Jack Kelly
date=Friday, May 16, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27]

On May 19, 2003, Hadsell was quoted in "Newsweek" about the use of extremely loud music to break the will of captives, prior to interrogationcite news
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/59300/output/print
title=Periscope
author=A.L. Bardach, Jac Chebatoris
publisher=Newsweek
date=May 19, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/59409
title=The Love's not mutual
publisher=Newsweek
date=May 26, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] quotation
"These people haven't heard heavy metal. They can't take it. If you play it for 24 hours, your brain and body functions start to slide, your train of thought slows down and your will is broken. That's when we come in and talk to them."

Hadsell's comments stirred worldwide comment.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3042907.stm BBC article
title=Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs
publisher=BBC
date=May 23 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.bmcaoc.org/newsletters/0306.pdf
title=Sesame Street Breaks Iraqi POWs
publisher=The Association of Old Crows: Billy Mitchell Chapter
date=20 May 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/59703/page/2
title=A Heavy-Metal Overdose (letter to the editor)
publisher=Newsweek
author=Una Margret Jonsdottir
date=June 30 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/59300/page/4
title=PSYOPS: Cruel and Unusual
publisher=Newsweek
author=Adam Piore
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,959538,00.html
title=Metallica is latest interrogation tactic
publisher=The Guardian
author=Julian Borger
date=Tuesday May 20, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/19/1053196533992.html
title=Prisoners broken by heavy metal and Sesame Street
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=May 20 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/11/21/news_pf/Floridian/Iraq__n__roll.shtml
title=Iraq 'n' roll: Soldiers take on insurgents with a musical vengeance, cranking up the volume to distress the enemy. The choice of tunes might surprise.
publisher=St Petersburg Times
author=Lane Gregory
date=November 21, 2004
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A16410971
title=Ask Squarepusher
publisher=BBC
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_361/ai_111568356
title=Seriously … You couldn't make this stuff up. Everything's A-OK - Brief Article
publisher=New Internationalist
date=Oct, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2003/05/19/story99586.asp
title=Heavy metal leads Iraqi war effort
publisher=Thomas Crombie Holdings
date=Monday, May 19, 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_20-5-2003_pg9_5
title=Metallica song used to interrogate Iraqis
publisher=Daily Times (Pakistan)
date=Tuesday 20 May 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27] cite news
url=http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-05/21/article09.shtml
title=U.S. Tortures Iraqi POWs With Heavy Metal
publisher=Islam Online
date=May 21 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27]

On November 10 2003 Hadsell was quoted by "Stars and Stripes", as he left Iraq, offering helpful tips to GIs on their way to Iraq. He warned them that friendly Iraqis might want to touch them, so they should bring lots of hand sanitizer and baby wipes.>cite news
url=http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17916&archive=true
title=Departing Iraq troops advise stay safe, busy
publisher=Stars and Stripes
date=November 10 2003
accessdate=2007-11-27]

Civilian life

Hadsell is a mechanical engineer in civilian life.

References