While in Winston-Salem I watched this film in my hotel room. I found it very interesting. It traces the Presidential office's use of force and the media's going along with it from 1964's Gulf of Tonkin Incident, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident, to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Norman Solomon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Solomon, wrote the book of the same name in 2005. Solomon traces the history from Viet Nam to the present day.
It's amazing to see how little differences there were between the US entering Viet Nam and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It's interesting because I am a believer that the powers that be seldom learn from history (subsequently repeating past mistakes) but they're in reality selective historians. They repeat the things that will help their cause and ignore the overall helpful lessons.
LBJ was less than honest about the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that led the US into Viet Nam, although Eisenhower was footing 80% of the French bill during the First Idochina War and Kennedy had sent "advisers" and was involved the the South Vietnamese gov't early in his administration (on a side note for those interested in the America's history in Viet Nam read David Halberstam's book, The Best and the Brightest, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_and_the_Brightest). Much like how President Bush made up the evidence about Saddam Hussein's connection to al-Qaeda and WMDs. So it's nothing new, it's all been done before. One could argue that it goes back to the sinking of the USS Maine in 1898, a direct cause of the Spanish-American War. At the time it was believed that the Maine struck a mine and gave us the battle cry, "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" Several different investigations lead to different disputed conclusions but in 1898 a mine was all that was needed to send the country into war.
In addition to Viet Nam (Nixon gets some blame as well) and Iraq, the film also touches upon President Reagan's invasion of Grenada in 1983, President Bush's invasion of Panama in 1989, the First Gulf War, President Clinton's use of military action in the Balkans and Somalia, President GW Bush's wars and President Obama's subsequent follow-ups in Afghanistan and Iraq. All the President's from LBJ to the present have blood on their hands. It also touches upon how the mainstream media has gone along in lock step with the various administrations and how the Presidents use (or manipulate) the media to get their point across.
It's interesting note how each President says almost the same thing about how it's "with a heavy heart" that the US needs to use force and how they don't want to do it, yet they all did. Also, the Bush administration wasn't the first administration to call dissenters cowards and unpatriotic, that goes back to Viet Nam. "Cut & Run" also dates back to Viet Nam, again selective history is in place. I thought it was ironic that the "Hawks" turned Rep. John Murtha, a decorated Viet Nam vet and 2 time Purple Heart recipient, into a traitor! Much like Bush managed to turn his Republican opponent for the 2000 Presidential nomination John McCain, a Naval pilot who spent several years in captivity at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton," into a wimp. Bush's people managed to turn John Kerry, another decorated Viet Nam veteran, into a non-patriot during the 2004 Presidential Election.I also found it funny that President Bush killed McCain & Kerry for being "dove-ish" despite the fat that Bush never saw any combat.
I could probably go on for hours but I'm going to cut it short. The film is very eye opening and it will make you think, as probably was it's intention. The film makes another interest point about how civilian casualties have risen steadily, since WWI, and the adminstrations seem to fail to recognize the damage they're causing (US casualties, civilian casualties and the destruction to the areas with civilians). The film gave me the feeling that the politicians who make these decisions are detached from the perils of war. Which is true because Reagan (served in the Army but did not serve overseas in WWII due to nearsightedness, Clinton, GW Bush (served in the "champagne unit" of the Texas Air National Guard) and Obama never saw combat. LBJ served in the Navy and received a Silver Star but his own biographer noted that it was the "the most undeserved" citation in history. GW Bush was a decorated Naval aviator during WWII.
Once again, I am not political (I feel that the Republicans & Democrats as a whole are equally inept and out for their own personal gain) and this film hammers the Republicans, Democrats and mainstream media equally (despite having Sean Penn narrate as his views of President Bush are unflattering to say the least). It blasts MSNBC & Fox News equally and takes no sides other than the side of the facts. I interpreted these facts as not only are politicians untrustworthy (since they're bought & paid for, they're not but that's my opinion) but you can't out too much faith in the mainstream media as well.
In the end I just think it's an interesting thought provoking documentary that is worth seeing. That's why I wanted to bring it to people's attention. Formulate your own conclusions. Once again, thank you to all the men & women in the military for your service and dedication to your country. Thanks for your time.
It's amazing to see how little differences there were between the US entering Viet Nam and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It's interesting because I am a believer that the powers that be seldom learn from history (subsequently repeating past mistakes) but they're in reality selective historians. They repeat the things that will help their cause and ignore the overall helpful lessons.
LBJ was less than honest about the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that led the US into Viet Nam, although Eisenhower was footing 80% of the French bill during the First Idochina War and Kennedy had sent "advisers" and was involved the the South Vietnamese gov't early in his administration (on a side note for those interested in the America's history in Viet Nam read David Halberstam's book, The Best and the Brightest, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_and_the_Brightest). Much like how President Bush made up the evidence about Saddam Hussein's connection to al-Qaeda and WMDs. So it's nothing new, it's all been done before. One could argue that it goes back to the sinking of the USS Maine in 1898, a direct cause of the Spanish-American War. At the time it was believed that the Maine struck a mine and gave us the battle cry, "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" Several different investigations lead to different disputed conclusions but in 1898 a mine was all that was needed to send the country into war.
In addition to Viet Nam (Nixon gets some blame as well) and Iraq, the film also touches upon President Reagan's invasion of Grenada in 1983, President Bush's invasion of Panama in 1989, the First Gulf War, President Clinton's use of military action in the Balkans and Somalia, President GW Bush's wars and President Obama's subsequent follow-ups in Afghanistan and Iraq. All the President's from LBJ to the present have blood on their hands. It also touches upon how the mainstream media has gone along in lock step with the various administrations and how the Presidents use (or manipulate) the media to get their point across.
It's interesting note how each President says almost the same thing about how it's "with a heavy heart" that the US needs to use force and how they don't want to do it, yet they all did. Also, the Bush administration wasn't the first administration to call dissenters cowards and unpatriotic, that goes back to Viet Nam. "Cut & Run" also dates back to Viet Nam, again selective history is in place. I thought it was ironic that the "Hawks" turned Rep. John Murtha, a decorated Viet Nam vet and 2 time Purple Heart recipient, into a traitor! Much like Bush managed to turn his Republican opponent for the 2000 Presidential nomination John McCain, a Naval pilot who spent several years in captivity at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton," into a wimp. Bush's people managed to turn John Kerry, another decorated Viet Nam veteran, into a non-patriot during the 2004 Presidential Election.I also found it funny that President Bush killed McCain & Kerry for being "dove-ish" despite the fat that Bush never saw any combat.
I could probably go on for hours but I'm going to cut it short. The film is very eye opening and it will make you think, as probably was it's intention. The film makes another interest point about how civilian casualties have risen steadily, since WWI, and the adminstrations seem to fail to recognize the damage they're causing (US casualties, civilian casualties and the destruction to the areas with civilians). The film gave me the feeling that the politicians who make these decisions are detached from the perils of war. Which is true because Reagan (served in the Army but did not serve overseas in WWII due to nearsightedness, Clinton, GW Bush (served in the "champagne unit" of the Texas Air National Guard) and Obama never saw combat. LBJ served in the Navy and received a Silver Star but his own biographer noted that it was the "the most undeserved" citation in history. GW Bush was a decorated Naval aviator during WWII.
Once again, I am not political (I feel that the Republicans & Democrats as a whole are equally inept and out for their own personal gain) and this film hammers the Republicans, Democrats and mainstream media equally (despite having Sean Penn narrate as his views of President Bush are unflattering to say the least). It blasts MSNBC & Fox News equally and takes no sides other than the side of the facts. I interpreted these facts as not only are politicians untrustworthy (since they're bought & paid for, they're not but that's my opinion) but you can't out too much faith in the mainstream media as well.
In the end I just think it's an interesting thought provoking documentary that is worth seeing. That's why I wanted to bring it to people's attention. Formulate your own conclusions. Once again, thank you to all the men & women in the military for your service and dedication to your country. Thanks for your time.
