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CaliforniaPeggy

(149,583 posts)
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 02:35 AM Jan 2013

Why We Fight--documentary made in 2005.

A most excellent film, one that I recommend highly.

From the IMDb website:

Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.


Link to IMDb site:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436971/?ref_=sr_1

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why We Fight--documentary made in 2005. (Original Post) CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 OP
A great film on the Military Industrial Complex... Octafish Jan 2013 #1
I found it fascinating and horrifying...a great film indeed. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #2
'Money trumps peace.' - George W Bush, Feb. 14, 2007 Octafish Jan 2013 #5
That IS odd, indeed... CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #7
Details, courtesy of Ms. Cindy Sheehan... Octafish Jan 2013 #19
Thank you for the quote and the link. Eye-opening indeed. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #20
If you feel up to it...video of the guy saying it. He, of course, smirks a laugh. Octafish Jan 2013 #21
You have not hijacked my thread, my dear Octafish... CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #22
When John McCain was running for President, ANOIS Jan 2013 #23
Whoops! Sorry. ANOIS Jan 2013 #24
This message was self-deleted by its author markpkessinger Jan 2013 #11
K/R, I remember this! nt NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #3
I'm glad you do......it was terrific! CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #4
Have you seen Fog of War? XRubicon Jan 2013 #6
I have indeed, and it is also excellent. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #8
I believe I saw it in the trailers when I rented "Why We Fight" Kennah Jan 2013 #9
That was an excellent film. Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #10
I saw the premier screening of it in New York . . . markpkessinger Jan 2013 #12
Wow, what a great story! CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #15
And the best part was... markpkessinger Jan 2013 #17
What a great surprise for you both! You both lucked out! CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #18
I didn't like it that much Chathamization Jan 2013 #13
I appreciate your comments. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2013 #16
Thanks CaliforniaPeggy malaise Jan 2013 #14

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
1. A great film on the Military Industrial Complex...
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 02:47 AM
Jan 2013

...and its role in foisting empire upon our democracy. PNAC Richard Perle. Money. Money. Money.

PS: Great to read you, California Peggy! Hope you're feeling better!

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,583 posts)
2. I found it fascinating and horrifying...a great film indeed.
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 02:54 AM
Jan 2013

And thank you, my dear Octafish...I am feeling better, ever so slowly.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
5. 'Money trumps peace.' - George W Bush, Feb. 14, 2007
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 03:03 AM
Jan 2013

Should've been all over the front pages and airwaves, but the verbatim quote failed to get coverage. Odd, considering how he said it at a press conference.

PS: You are TOPS, Peggy-san!

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
19. Details, courtesy of Ms. Cindy Sheehan...
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:46 PM
Jan 2013

I was listening to the presser on the radio. I was stunned to hear what he said. I was furious there was no follow up. Zero.



Money Trumps Peace...Sometimes

by Cindy Sheehan
CommonDreams.org Thursday, February 15, 2007 by

It is always painful to watch George stumble his way through press conferences. He can’t get through a sentence without at least two-three “uhs,” his eye lids flutter up and down in what my daughter, Carly, calls the “liar’s blink” and just because it is painful that a human like that is ostensibly the leader of the free world. There is always a plethora of things that he says, does, or screws up on to write about but this time what caught my attention happened during the Q & A. George was asked if he thought the economic sanctions on Iran would work because so many European nations trade with that country.

He stopped to collect his thoughts with what he thought must’ve looked like a studied and careful demeanor, but more like someone with a sour tummy, and said: “well, let’s put it this way: money trumps peace, sometimes. In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world," (I added the italics). It is always interesting with people who frequently play fast and loose with the truth, such as the liars in BushCo, once in awhile, if they talk long enough they tell a truth.

“Money trumps peace” is the fundamental reason for the invasions and subsequent gory and violent occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. In Richard Behan’s excellent article: From Iraq to Afghanistan - Connecting the Dots with Oil, he brilliantly follows the history of the oil-money trail in these countries that are one, rich in oil, and two, well placed for the transportation and delivery of oil. Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan, or their leaders or governments had anything to do with 9-11, but they were in the way of oil and other industries that profit from oil, so they had to go. Money trumped peace in those countries and they are destroyed and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghanis and Americans have been slaughtered because they were blocking American imperialistic profiteering.

“Money trumps peace” is the underlying reason for all wars as two time Congressional Medal of Honor winner and highly decorated Major General Smedley D. Butler wrote in his reflective, yet prophetic, work War is a Racket:

WAR is a racket. It always has been.
It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.


CONTINUED...

http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0215-29.htm



War is money for such as Bush and his crony capitalist traitor chums. Casey Sheehan paid the ultimate price for their wealth.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
21. If you feel up to it...video of the guy saying it. He, of course, smirks a laugh.
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 03:01 PM
Jan 2013

Hear and see him laugh when he says it around the 25-second mark:



No one makes me angrier than a warmonger.

PS: Not trying to hijack your thread, my Friend, but I can't let the opportunity to spread truth go to waste.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,583 posts)
22. You have not hijacked my thread, my dear Octafish...
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 03:49 PM
Jan 2013

Far from it. You have provided a prime example of just how wrong Bush was.

Thank you for the clip. Horrifying and shedding light all at the same time.

ANOIS

(112 posts)
23. When John McCain was running for President,
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 04:08 PM
Jan 2013

I read a quote of his. Someone asked him how he was that day. His reply, "It's always a good day when we are at war."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANOIS

(112 posts)
24. Whoops! Sorry.
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 04:18 PM
Jan 2013

I just googled it to cite it. Can't find it. How did that get stuck in my brain? You would think if he did, it would be on the Google.

Response to Octafish (Reply #1)

XRubicon

(2,212 posts)
6. Have you seen Fog of War?
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 03:05 AM
Jan 2013

A good one too. McNamara tells all.


IMDB:
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

"A film about the former US Secretary of Defense and the various difficult lessons he learned about the nature and conduct of modern war."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317910/?ref_=sr_1

markpkessinger

(8,392 posts)
12. I saw the premier screening of it in New York . . .
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:19 AM
Jan 2013

... At the end, as the final credits were wrapping up, a man stood up from the front row and introduced himself: it was Eugene Jarecki, the film's director. He very graciously stayed for close to an hour, engaging the audience in a fascinating and informative Q&A. One question I remember in particular was an audience member who asked Jarecki how in the world he was able to get so many Bush administration officials, some of them still serving, to speak so candidly, given some of their truly startling admissions made on camera. Jarecki said that it probably had a lot to do with the fact that he was, at the time, a relative unknown. He added, "I rather think that if I had been, say, a Michael Moore, I might have gotten a much chillier reception!" He then added further: "The thing about most of these guys is that they have enormous egos, and it doesn't take all that much to convince them to talk about themselves and their work on camera!"

Great film -- I cannot recommend it highly enough!

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,583 posts)
15. Wow, what a great story!
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:32 PM
Jan 2013

I wondered that too, and I'm glad you knew the answer. It's stories like yours that bring the film to life.

Thank you!

markpkessinger

(8,392 posts)
17. And the best part was...
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:38 PM
Jan 2013

... the fact that my friend and I had no idea it was the premier screening, or that the director would be present. You don't get surprises like that every day!

Chathamization

(1,638 posts)
13. I didn't like it that much
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:45 AM
Jan 2013

It's been a while since I saw it, but I remember feeling like most of the movie was surface level stuff that most people already know about (I think they didn't even discuss NSC-68?). To each their own I guess.

For people interested in this subject, I highly recommend The Arms Bazaar by Anthony Sampson (if you can track down a copy). It only focuses on the business side of things, but provides tremendous insight into the mindset of these companies and the role they play internationally. It was written a few decades ago and only goes up to the late 70's, but I felt it made the book more interesting (for instance, the writer wonders if the signs of instability in Iran will lead to the Shah losing power).

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,583 posts)
16. I appreciate your comments.
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:33 PM
Jan 2013

And thank you for the reference to the book. It's always good to have as much information as possible about a topic as complex as this one.

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