Chalmers Johnson on " Charlie Wilson's War".

[laststeamtrain]

Second thoughts on Charlie Wilson's War

<snip>

My own view is that if Charlie Wilson's War is a comedy, it's the kind that goes over well with a roomful of louts in a college fraternity house. Simply put, it is imperialist propaganda, and the tragedy is that four-and-a-half years after we invaded Iraq and destroyed it, such dangerously misleading nonsense is still being offered to a gullible public. The most accurate review so far is James Rocchi's summing-up for Cinematical.com: "Charlie Wilson's War isn't just bad history; it feels even more malign, like a conscious attempt to induce amnesia."

<more>

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19014.htm

[montanacowboy]

1. Yep, I had that one figured out right away

Shame on Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Seymour Hoffman;

such a piece of propaganda bullshit - and where did it all lead? to the Taliban...gee, aren't we proud of what we do.

[chukchi1]

2. Charlie Wilson's half truths

That was one point of the movie, that it lead to the Taliban. Admittedly it was sanitized of most pertinent political and historical information. But the failure of Washington to support the Afghans after the soviets were beaten was in the movie.

Chuk

[TankLV]

3. What the fuck is wrong with Tom Hanks?!?!

If there ever was an actor on my "ignore" "must not see" list - it's him...

His right wing propagandizing for the past 7 or so years has been nothing but shameful...

I automatically plan NOT to see a film of his, unless I have multiple recommendations from persons I trust to the contrary...

[Turner Ashby]

4. Has anyone read the book?

Do you know if the movie follows the book at all? The book was well done.

[Elidor]

5. How anyone could make a comedy out of what's happened in Afghanistan

Is beyond me. I don't expect Seymour Hoffman or Julia Roberts to bother with anything beyond the script, but shame on Tom Hanks for foisting this turd on the public.

[groovedaddy]

6. Compare this with the "the Good Shepard" - remembering the line

from the former Soviet agent who was being interrogated while being watched by another soviet agent who claimed to be him. He said that the Soviet Union was "rotten to the core," and would collapse from it's own dead weight (or some such).
The CIA ALWAYS over stated the power of the Soviet Union to justify actions such as Afghanistan.

Take it back to Skull & Bones, a few of whose members were instrumental in forming the CIA. These Hegelians are always interested in stirring the pot to see what happens, with little regard for morals / right-wrong. They firmly believe that society "advances" through the actions of "opposing forces," so there always has to be an "enemy." So convenient that with the fall of the Soviets, the Mujahadeen became that needed enemy. The Hegelians also believe in the ultimate power of the State, which individuals can serve but not depend upon to protect individual rights. Notice that the Cold War and now the War on Terrorism have both seen huge consolidations of power in the Federal Government (Statism) while individual rights fade into the sunset. Is there method to the madness?
You betcha!