No End in Sight
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Movie Reviews of No End in Sight
Movie Review: Shocking mismanagement
Summary: 5 Stars
With the five year anniversary of "Mission Accomplished" having just past on May 1st and the looming presidential election, the Iraq war has been a hot topic of debate. No End in Sight chronicles the Iraq war and the policies created by top administrators concerning the war. Charles Ferguson gives an insiders view of the policies and directions taken by the Bush administration after May 1st 2003 or when major combat operations ended.
Ferguson interviews mostly middle management officials within the bush administration who have direct knowledge of the Iraq war and were involved in the policy decisions made. He splits these interviews with archival footage of high ranking officials such as Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Paul Bremer and Paul Wolfowitz. The contrasts of the interviews with the footage create a compelling documentary. In addition Ferguson also shows some footage of the war itself and the chaos that has ensued in the country.
No End in Sight mainly focuses on the history of the war and the administrative dealings that lead to the policies that were enacted. He is able to show how many of the White House officials disregarded or did not seek the opinions of those on the ground. The generals, Iraq politicians and White House officials stationed in Iraq were not taken seriously within the Bush administration. The planning and organizational structures created to rebuild Iraq are also focused on in this documentary. Ferguson shows how there was not much planning for the occupation of Iraq and the subsequent rebuilding phase during occupation. The huge mistakes and bureaucratic political issues that surrounded the planning are shown in a context that would be easy for anyone to understand. Ferguson shows that many of the policies were enacted by people who were far away from the situation and did not realize the ramifications of their decisions. The documentary creates the historical context of the main decision makers on Iraq and their involvement in the first Iraq War (Gulf War).
So where does Bush fit into this movie? President Bush is represented as a bystander to the war. Ferguson shows that Bush was not really as involved in the war as he should have been and was mostly just subject to what Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney informed him about the war. It is rather discouraging to learn that the President of the United States was not making many decisions or even reading opinions on the subject by respected officials. The President for the most part gave Rumsfeld and Cheney the authority to make any decision they felt were necessary.
The images of this documentary are the most compelling part. Ferguson is able to show what is actually happening on the streets of Baghdad. The meshing of the interviews on policy and the footage in Iraq creates a compelling story. The chaos and destruction that is seen based on the policies of a few men shows the magnitude of power that these men have. There have not been many images coming back from the war and this movie creates a vivid image of the destruction and mass chaos that still exists in Iraq. Ferguson creates a very simplistic view of the events leading to the Iraq war we have today and opens our eyes to the dealings within our own government.
This movie was one of my favorite documentaries that I have seen this year. It made me sit down and think about what kind of deals our government is making. The direction and organization of the film made it easy to follow even if you know very little about the war. Ferguson is able to show the common person why we are involved in Iraq. It makes your hair stand up at the end. The accounts by the middle management and their experiences are able to effectively tell the story themselves. There is not much narration as you learn the story how it should be told: from first hand accounts. This is a great movie that I would recommend to everyone I know.
Movie Review: $1.86 trillion
Summary: 5 Stars
I just saw this gem at an indy theatre. Films of the subject of Iraq keep getting more powerful.
To be honest, I was thinking of giving it only 4 stars for the reason I've considered that for some other documentaries: they tend to lose track of the fallacies by which we entered Iraq by getting embedded in the discussion of how it should have been better planned. But I'm thinking now that those initial issues have been addressed before, now it's time to move onto something else and this work of art does so.
This is an important documentary because those doing the speaking are mid-level bureaucrats with the federal government. So you're getting the story "straight from the horse's mouth" (or mouths).
The film begins with the history of the Iraq situation. That's covered succintly, leaving nothing out. Then there's one boondoggle after the other; Rumsfeld talking with the press, saying that they keep covering the negative, while the camera and narrative switch to what's really going on, troops dead, Paul Bremer doing some more ridiculous things, more insurgents doing all the more damage.
The troops haven't been protected with adequate armor, there aren't enough of them to cover the arsenals of weapons from which the insurgents--many of whom are fired Bathist intelligentsia and Iraqi military--are getting their weapons. The list goes on and on and on.
The film is very well crafted, in that things keep getting worse. And the reason they keep getting worse is that adminstrations' blunders--which themselves keep getting worse!
There is much discussion of Bushy insiders--almost none of whom have ANY experience in the middle east, and who have NO military experience--who made decisions as if the military didn't exist. Yes, the filmmakers talked with many military figures too, including colonels and generals (some of whom said that, if they'd have been listened to, they'd have insisted that the decision makers heed their calls).
At a rare amusing point, those interviewed refer to the "pretty boys," i.e., the recent college graduates who've been given major positions in the Iraqi govenment with no applicable experience. In one instance, a Georgetown professor refers to one of his recent students whom he ran into in Baghdad. He asked her what she's doing there and she said, she can't believe her luck. She's responsible for setting up traffic control in Baghdad. The professor asked her if she has any experience or training in urban planning or anything remotely applicable to the position, and she answered in the negative--this while there are scenes of Baghdad traffic problems enough to make you laugh. (The commentor said simply that, "Daddy made a campaign contribution, so sonny (or daughter) gets a major job in Iraq."
Where does the number in my "title" come from? By the end of the film, they add up all the "war" has cost us, what it will cost for recovery of troops, etc., etc., etc. What it's cost us so far is that number, approaching two trillion dollars.
Then you wait to see this incredible film, think of that amount increasing daily.
Get everyone you can to see this fine film. They may be chuckling in some places, sobbing in others. But that's the price one pays for a fine, fine documentary.
Movie Review: This gripping documentary will make your blood run cold.
Summary: 5 Stars
If arrogance, ignorance and belligerence make you angry, be prepared to get really mad. I was so floored by this brilliant documentary, I had to watch it again the next day just to make sure I hadn't had a nightmare.
Focusing on the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq after the war in 2003, my jaw dropped ever lower as I listened to the catalogue of errors made by a select group of politicians and advisors at the Pentagon, headed up by Donald Rumsfeld. Their flippant attitude toward a terrorised and conquered nation laid low by sanctions is utterly sickening, their lack of preparation and naivety defies belief.
But it is the total disregard for all the best advice provided by their people on the ground that is the most shocking element of this story and nothing short of criminal.
This documentary is not liberal Bush-whacking or anti-war polemic (as some claim). It features interviews with US service men, diplomats, academics, US and Iraqi journalists, top members of the intelligence community and many other Washington insiders who were tasked with jobs in Iraq, and who went there full of vigour and hope. Their sadness, frustration and disbelief about the increasing chaos in the weeks and months after the war is painfully tangible throughout the film; despite their best efforts, they were rendered impotent by the total lack of structure, and by the blustering, bulldozing, ignorant decisions made by people who either stayed cosseted in Washington or in Baghdad's walled Green Zone.
Some reviewers here are criticising this film for not dealing with the 'reasons' (or lies) that took America into the war or for not looking at the progress being made now. This documentary is not about that.
It's about how things could have been different. It's about how the insurgency and orgy of violence now occurring might have been nipped in the bud. It's about how the efforts and sacrifices of those tasked with 'saving' and rebuilding Iraq didn't have to be worthless. It's about how Iraq's heritage - its museums, archives and libraries - could and should have been protected, not just the oil ministry (SCANDALOUS). It's about the expensive consequences of not listening to advice. It's about how the financial and human cost for America, Iraq and maybe the world could have been spared.
This film also provides a tough wake-up call on why the checks and balances of democracy must be preserved and protected to guard against abuses of power, and why it's vital that politics is transparent.
No End In Sight should be mandatory viewing in schools, not least for a lesson in how not to be a chest-beating gorilla like George W Bush (I apologise for the insult to gorillas) or a tag-along-Tina like Condoleezza Rice (it's baffling that she didn't know better). The true monsters in this tale though are Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz and Paul Bremer who have a nation's blood on their hands, and should have a culture's destruction on their conscience.
It should also be pointed out that in laying Iraq so low, the Bush administration has by default made its nemesis Iran more powerful. Nice one guys.
Buy this sobering film, watch it and then tell everyone you know about it.
Movie Review: An Important Document.
Summary: 5 Stars
"No End In Sight" is the best documentary yet made on the disastrous fate of Iraq at the hands of the Bush White House. It is quite possible that historians and scholars will include this as a valuable visual source of information in the future when discussing the illegal occupation and destruction of Iraq. Like Errol Morris' "Fog Of War," this is a valuable piece of film because it is not based just on paper documentation or the opinions of analysts, the information here is spoken by the very people who were part of the team that was supposed to reconstruct Iraq and set on the course for a transition to democracy, instead they became helpless witnesses to the birth of a horrific quagmire. The information shared here is devastating, it gives us a rare glimpse into the incompetence and sheer ignorance that went into the planning and execution of this war. We learn about the important historical and social facts about Iraq that were discarded by Bush and his cronies, the horrendous looting that was allowed as soon as Baghdad fell and how American troops simply stood by as priceless national monuments like the National Library and National Museum simply burned. The disastrous tenure of Paul Bremer as the practical czar of Iraq is discussed, and how his idiotic decisions including the disbanding of the nation's armed forces contributed to the chaos and violence that later became a full-fledged insurgency against the occupation. "No End In Sight" makes it quite clear that Iraq was a bad imperialist operation conducted by people with no understanding or desire to understand the nation they were pretending to invade and rebuild. For nationalist Americans this will be a hard film to bear, but it must be seen. In meticulous detail we see how we have been trapped into an endless guerrilla war similar to if not worst than Vietnam. There are moments of tragic, enfuriating comedy as an official describes how 20-year olds fresh out of school were put in charge of Iraq's traffic plans, there are atrocious tales of troops raiding homes at night, terrorizing civilians, and yes, supported by video evidence. There is even footage of private contractors randomly shooting at passer-by vehicles. We have stolen Iraq from the Iraqis and turned it into a calderon of violence, "No End In Sight" must be seen by all concerned citizens because as I mentioned, it is straight from the horse's mouth, no second-hand witnesses, these were the people directly involved. A disturbing picture is presented of a White House in denial, of a President blind to the consequences of his own devices, and a nation torn apart by imperialist war. The film also goes through important moments of history, including the Reagan administration's own support of Saddam Hussein even as he carried out his worst atrocities. Future generations will look back at a film like this and wonder why these men were elected to office. "No End In Sight" is urgent, it must be seen, now before later.Movie Review: "We will bring the Iraqi people food and medicine and supplies and freedom"
Summary: 5 Stars
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The title of this review is actually a quotation by President George W. Bush found in some archival news footage near the end of this powerful documentary.
This is a documentary film about America's occupation of Iraq. It focuses generally on the two-year period following the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and particularly with the period of a few months in the spring and summer of 2003. It asserts that serious mistakes made by the Bush administration during this time were the cause of the ensuing quagmire of problems of guerrilla warfare, warlord rule, criminality, and anarchy that dominate Iraq to this day. (Note that this film does initially touch on other aspects prior to the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq.)
To a large extent, this film, besides archival footage, consists of brief interviews with high ranking officials who were involved in the initial Iraqi occupation authority and ORHA (the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, later to be replaced by the CPA, the Coalition Provisional Authority). Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, and prominent analysts are also interviewed.
Thirty-five people were briefly interviewed, many of them former Bush loyalists who have since become disillusioned by the incompetence and recklessness they were involved in at the time.
Examples of those interviewed include the following:
(1) General Jay Garner, who briefly ran the reconstruction before being replaced by L. Paul Bremer III (who took over May, 2003)
(2) Ambassador Barbara Bodine, who was placed in charge of the Baghdad embassy
(3) Richard Armitage, former Secretary of The State Department
(4) Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell's former Chief of Staff
(5) Colonel Paul Hughes, who worked in the ORHA and then the CPA
One criticism of this film is that it is biased. This is not true. The accumulated professional standing of the people that were interviewed and their insistence on the facts makes this criticism not plausible. Besides key officials such as Bremer and former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld declined to be interviewed.
This film has won many awards.
Incidentally, there were no weapons of mass destruction found in this documentary.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2007) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has fifteen interesting extras. There are no English subtitles but there is closed captioning.
In conclusion, this is the first film of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq's descent into chaos. As such, it is not to be missed!!
(2007; 1 hr, 40 min; wide screen; 12 scenes)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
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