Now I have seen Iraq for Sale, on war profiteering, and I recommend it. It is a little bit homemade, and it does not say anything that people who are aware of the Iraq situation do not already know.
On the other hand, for people who do not know how much money Blackwater, Halliburton, KBR, and other companies to whom the Iraq war has been contracted to are making, and how corrupt and destructive their practices really are, it is an excellent way to find out.
I especially enjoyed seeing the employees of these companies describe their practices, with utter and biting disgust. A lot of people are brighter, more observant, and more morally and ethically sound, than the Bush administration appears to expect.
I learned a number of things, including that the “security” firm Blackwater, infamous for its activities in Iraq and elsewhere, recruits some of its mercenaries from among former death squad members in countries such as Chile.
The film suggests that a mass movement is necessary to bring the Bush régime down. A foreign commentator asked a few weeks ago on this site, why is there no such movement here? Why are Americans so complacent?
One of my classes has been discussing Operation Condor this week. Especially in light of the abolition of habeas corpus and legalization of torture in process here, I would not be surprised if such a mass movement were met with Condor-style counterinsurgency tactics.
This is not to say I do not recommend the creation and expansion of a mass movement. The sooner we start, the sooner we end the suicidal spiral this country has already entered. But in the current atmosphere, I understand very well why people might think long and hard before they act.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
I went to highschool with a young man who ended up in Iraq after he retired from the Army (at 40). He got pretty disgusted with his employer’s tactics, I think he worked for one of the big three. Now he is in Africa, I’m trying to think of the country, I can see it in my mind, it is on the west side, below Nigeria. Sigh, I need to find my map. I often argue with him, because being an African American male who grew up just as poor as I did, I am surprised when he expresses a lot of prejudices against the natives where he is at, somewhat too American and imperial for my taste. But then again, he did spend 22 years in the Army. Actually I read a story in The New Yorker a few months ago that reminded me of the dynamics of his neighborhood, he was one over from ours. Ours was a bit poorer. Did you read it? It was set in D.C., everyone was black, and when a new neighbor moved in, black as well, the old neigbors got together to buy their house so they could throw them out? I’ll stop now, I am way off topic. I wish I could think of the name of that story. I need to stop sending my magazines to the recylcers so soon.
Hi Professor,
Thanks for stopping by my site. Return often, if you can. I have become convinced that the internet is a powerful organizing tool for good because it has the power to connect individuals in wa way that was unimaginable in previous generations. I have found peace and solidarity in the comfort of my blogging comrades.
Also, I checked out the link on Operation Condor. I would have loved to have sat in on this class discussion. I confidently assume that it would have been much more lively than my micro practice course.
I need to start subscribing to the New Yorker again!
I found the story on-line, free and printable.
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/content/articles/060807fi_fiction
if you are interested.
I’m the presidents of the university’s Film Club in Kuwait. If there is a way I can get this movie here *HOPING* I will debut it. People are against countries invading other countries and for the ultimate power to do so, is quite hypocritical. How can you strive for democracy when you have Guantanamo, invade two countries and have a scandals pewing left and right?
We owe the USA for helping us out when the Iraqis invaded us, but what happened now?
I cannot forget George Dubya’s 72 hour (right?) ultimatum. That semester in university was so short because of the instability (cancelled classes and all) that we don’t know what we learned!
Why did they mislead the world in the U.N? What is the real reason behind invading Iraq and Arghanistan? Osama is still running loose and Saddam is captured but the country is way way WAY unstable than during his regime. Chaos filled the region – latest: Lebanon.
When will this ever end? Stop deluding the people, we’re not dumb. Anyway, sorry for the rants.
Hey Captain Obvious – I think it may be possible to download the movie. I also think you can get the makers to send it to you. They were selling the DVDs where I saw it for $13 U.S.
I would love to know what W et al. really think they are doing. What they say makes no sense at all, and it looks as though they are interested in, well, stealing. Are they entirely cynical, or do they really believe they are right in some way … I do not know!