Fahrenheit 911. Controversial? A tad, yes. Finally got to see this on Friday, just a day or two before the long-awaited Iraqi elections. The stuff about the business relationship between the Bush family, their friends and the various oil interests in the region was very interesting. I can’t agree with Moore’s visions of a peaceful, happy Iraq before the invasion — that’s flying in the face of what we know about the dictatorship that was in place. But the film confirmed my long-held view that the invasion of Iraq couldn’t possibly be seen to be a valid response to any terrorist threat. There were no WMDs there. None. Fascinating (if gory in parts) viewing, in any case.
PS. My friend Tony looks worryingly like Michael Moore sometimes.
5 replies on “Fahrenheit 911”
that’s a totally uncanny resemblance Tony has to Moore… creepy.
I agree the film was fascinating in any case, although bringing up the subject at work sparks criticism and strong views!
“what we know about the dictatorship that was in place”
But what do we know?
Was it appreciably worse than any other tin pot third world dictatorship?
And is Iraq (or the world generally) a more peaceful, happier, better or safer place as a result of the invasion?
Firstly, hooray for Michael Moore. Thank God there is someone in the good old USA who isn’t afraid to speak up. He may be over zealous in his “war” against Bush but at least he has the guts to fight for what he believes is right, Patriot Act or no Patriot Act. I bet the FBI/CIA have got huge fat files on him.
I find the in depth articles in Vanity Fair of some interest. If you can hunt down copies of the May 2004 issue you should read The Path To War article. In the October 2004 issue there is a lengthy article The Path To Florida which covers the 2000 election voting fiasco. Read that and not believe that Bush is in by fraud, I doubt it.
I still cringe at the fact that we sided with the USA against Iraq.
Vaughan, re: your point on other dictatorships, as I said in 2003: if being a horrendous tyrant is all that you need to get a coalition of western forces ousting you from power nowadays, I’m interested to see who is next on the list. Somehow I doubt there is anybody.
I’ve been around the U.S.A. for well nigh on 80 years and I’ve never found it difficult to express my views, nor seen it as a big problem for anyone else, including Michael Moore. I’ve also seen my views rearranged by the media when quoted, something like Moore rearranges history.
Yet, I’ve also had more than 100 letters and some columns published in the past 12 years, so who can or can’t get their viewpoint put out there?
As to WMD in Iraq, Hussein himself declared them to the U.N. around 1990. Hans Blix said he had them. Are they in Syria now? Who knows?
Is the World and the Middle East better off without Hussein? Come on, are you going to say NO? Who knows what other evil would have been done by these terrorists if we didn’t “kill them” in Iraq? The leader of the insurgents (terrorists) is from Jordan, and he’s killing Iraqi citizens, scores of them. Innocent women and children. Thank God for the help from others in England and Australia who see the dangers we all face.
Do I like war? Hell, no. I lost two cousins in WWII, one on D-Day #5, and the other in the Pacific. I have a young cousin in the service now. I’ve seen my share, and I know we have to make sacrifices if we want to remain free, and also free of terrorism. Thank God too for the Aussies who were standing with us in WWII. Google “Bright Red Was the Night” if you have time. (Thanks, Daniel).