Why We Fight

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 9:46pm

finally saw this documentary tonite. very important film. and I think it holds a fair, objective pov. about the history of how this country has become a military heavy entity.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 1:03am

we are just one in a long line Jerby......France, Britain, Germany.......the list goes on

[quintia]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 8:05am

I saw Why We Fight at a screening last fall at Salve Regina University. Eugene Jarecki was there, answering questions from students and members of the community. It was a very good film.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/1/06 at 3:27am

bump

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 7:33pm

this needs some bumping

seriously--a great film to see

[javero]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:51pm

I just ordered the DVD at Amazon's site. The online reviews alone were enough to pique my curiosity. Sony Classic's has a website set up for the flick at the link below.

Why We Fight

Updated On: 10/18/06 at 01:51 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:54pm

What conclusion does the filmmaker come to?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:58pm

Well, if I were to sum up the film, I would say it's about how war is too profitable not to fight wars.

Updated On: 10/18/06 at 01:58 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:00pm

that, I just don't get, how does he explain how war is profitable? with all the money that is spent on it, how can it turn a profit?

and who profits?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:04pm

Halliburton and companies that produce military supplies from tanks to uniforms to missles.

The lobbying is just as powerful as oil, tobacco, gun, etc.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:04pm

And, we seem to have a preoccupation with places that have oil...

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:25pm

Always depends on the war,


In the case of Iran, Israel wants regime change to happen there. Iran has an oppressive government and is a known funder of groups like Hezbollah who engage in a never-ending conflict with Israel.

The Israeli lobby in the US is very strong. Stronger often than say farming and oil lobbies. So what happens is when Israel wants something, it funds a specific US candidate for office. Democrat or Republican, groups like AIPAC then apply pressure on these candidates for their own interests. If you don’t believe look for ANY opposition to the Israeli-led invasion of Lebanon this year. The rest of the world ask Israel to stop, we said "bomb 'em all you want."


Israel was given over $80 billion dollars in US aid last year. Now this money is then reinvested by Israeli lobbyists straight into the pockets of the very politicians who funded the entire cycle.

(I will no doubt get flack for this, but is true. You can do your own research, which I strongly encourage. Usually someone will call me an anti-Semite or tell me that I think Israel is responsible for all the wars in the world. I do not think that way at all. )

[javero]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:35pm

The documentary also points out that the military-industrial complex (MIC) is a sprawling enterprise with armament factories strategically situated in each state to tie the hands of all the members of Congress. Honestly, in the past I was deluded into thinking that housing was the key US industry but this doc forces me to revisit that assessment. The MIC employs boatloads of Americans and funds many a research program at the elite US universities. In short, it's "guns or butter". Honestly, I value my personal safety but fear where all this leads.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:53pm

I thought this was going to be a thread on why we (BWWers) fight.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:58pm

It is not just in the continental US, we have bases everywhere and no other country has one on our soil. The military base in Okinawa for instance, has been in business for about 50 years. Resident there often say their human rights have been violated due to environmental destruction, accidents, noise, rapes and crime committed by our very own military.

War is usually about resources, maintaining or obtaining them. The US likes to say we are fighting for a common good or for human rights. Unfortunately, this is not the case at all. Otherwise, we would have unilaterally gone into Darfur and or Congo and stopped the genocides.

War is big money. Iraq may cost us $1 billion dollars a week, but we will get all that money back with our puppet government in place there. All this for the sacrifice of around half a million innocent people. Not to mention the money in producing a war, everything from the food used to feed soldiers to the armor (or lack thereof) they use. Follow the money, always follow the money.



Updated On: 10/18/06 at 02:58 PM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:58pm

Updated On: 10/18/06 at 02:58 PM