For years, the Bush Administration eviscerated all the military and legal structures that were designed to separate the innocent from the guilty in the 'Global War on Terror.'

In this quote, Alex Gibney, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for his investigative documentaries, critiques the Bush Administration’s handling of the Global War on Terror. He argues that over the course of several years, the administration systematically eviscerated the military and legal structures that were meant to distinguish between the innocent and the guilty. Gibney implies that the government's actions undermined critical safeguards that should protect the rights of individuals, particularly in the context of detentions and trials related to terrorism.

The origin of this statement likely stems from Gibney’s examination of the Bush Administration's policies after the 9/11 attacks. In particular, he refers to the controversial practices that were introduced, such as the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, the indefinite detention of suspects without trial, and the use of military tribunals for terrorism suspects. Gibney’s critique suggests that these practices eroded the legal principles that should have been in place to ensure fairness and protect the rights of individuals, even in the context of national security.

By using the term eviscerated, Gibney emphasizes the extent to which the administration weakened the legal protections and procedures that would normally prevent the mistreatment of suspects and ensure that only the truly guilty were targeted. His statement suggests a belief that the Global War on Terror was conducted in ways that disregarded due process, creating a system where the innocent could be wrongfully detained or harmed in the pursuit of security.

Ultimately, Gibney’s quote reflects his perspective on the moral and legal consequences of the Bush Administration's counterterrorism policies. It highlights the tension between national security efforts and the preservation of individual rights and legal standards. Gibney is arguing that the damage done to the military and legal systems in the name of security has had lasting consequences, compromising the principles of justice and fairness.