Chronological look at the fiasco in Iraq, especially decisions made in the spring of 2003 - and the backgrounds of those making decisions - immediately following the overthrow of Saddam: no occupation plan, an inadequate team to run the country, insufficient troops to keep order, and three edicts from the White House announced by Bremmer when he took over.
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Reviews
A lot of fun.
Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
It's 2006. After 4 years in Iraq, there are over 3000 American deaths and countless others suffer. This Charles Ferguson documentary investigates the start and the execution of the war in Iraq. Many of the people involved are interviewed although the big names from the administration do not participate. The research is very detailed and extensive. It's laid out in a straight forward timeline. It's relatively easy to follow but it doesn't talk down to the audience. This is really an extended news report. It's a real indictment of the insular Bush administration. It's a solid report for anybody willing to listen.
This documentary is amazing. It describes the IRAQ issues very well and shows the arrogance and ignorance in the mistakes made in Iraq. Amazingly the problems were well understood and still occurred. It is ridiculous and scary that this level of stupidity can exist in the USA at top levels and terrifying to see it proved so well here. One can only hope more people will see this documentary. It is relevant to anyone wanting to understand the IRAQ situation clearly, and even more it gives you an understanding that the future events there will most likely escalate to effect the entire world we live in. The interviews are well done with intelligent people who were "in the know" and also the use of the news cuttings that reflect the position of the Bush Government is well done too, illustrating the massive lies the public have been told. You get to see the EXACT decisions made in the beginning which echo through the entire IRAQ disaster to this day. It also shows the unfortunate perspective of soldiers who have been let down by these decisions. The perspective of people in IRAQ and the emotional content is handled well, this area has been hidden far too long from the public. You are left realizing just how irreparable the damage done to the IRAQI people is.
This documentary focuses on the post invasion mistakes made by the administration and problems of occupation and factors leading up to the insurgency.It does a great job of putting together what has happened since the invasion of Iraq. I think it would have been hard to get a clear picture from newspapers and TV news. This is not a Michael Moore style documentary - it's less in your face but no less effective. There are interviews with many relevant people from the administration and Iraqis as well.A couple of small faults. A lot of information is given very fast. It's a bit hard to remember who is who. They should have left the names and designations of the persons a bit longer on the screen when the person is talking. A bit more background on the people interviewed might have helped the viewer understand what they are trying to put forth.A very well done documentary that should be seen by all. Makes one want to find out more about the situation right now in Iraq and what has happened to the people who screwed up the occupation. Also it makes one wonder what will happen to Egypt and Tunisia etc when power is being transferred to the new government.
Ferguson did something no other documentary film writer would have done. He interviewed the people who were in charge. Amazingly, most of them showed up. He asked them very respectful questions, and they explained how everything has gone so wrong. Anyone could assemble a group of war opponents and ask them their opinions, and many already have.This is new, amazingly well presented, and until Rumsfeld, Bremer, Cheney and Bush are willing to speak candidly on the subject, this is the last word on what happened in Iraq. Based on what you see in this film, there is no need to wait until the war in Iraq is over to tell the story. Iraq was lost years ago.