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Found this on a message board.
Message 1 of 43 Subject: I have seen the film
First a little about my background. I have served in the Military for 30 years and am a Viet Nam, Desert Storm and Iraqi veteran. I work as a broadcast Journalist and served for a year in Iraq. I hold 3 Army Commendation, 7 Army Achievement, a Joint Service Commendation, National Defense (2 Stars). Korean Defense Service, Presidential Unit Citation and wear the Secretary of Defense service badge. And was notified I am being considered for a Bronze Star (for my work in Iraq). I also have been stationed and served for 9 1/2 years overseas.
I was privileged to see this film before it went to Cannes on May 11 04. My wife a member of Military Families Speak Out was working with Mr. Moore to help my reserve unit get the body armor promised by Mr. Bush (but never showed up, oh yeah that's right reservists are second class citizens) when he had started to send the body armor and the Army command found out, guess what, rather than be embarrassed for once again failing to support it's reserve and Guard troops they finally found some and it arrived the next day. They could have had us armor sooner but the General in charge was to busy spending monies that could have bought us the body armor on himself ($50,000 on his office furniture, $10,000 on his bedroom suite and $10,000 on his 2 story, two porcelain bowl and sink equipped outhouse, complete with possibly, oh and over $250,000 on personal transport vehicles. We could not get armor for our vehicles ). But we all know (those of us in our unit) if not for the fact that Mr. Moore was sending us some it would never have arrived. Which is why we were invited to see the film at it's premiere in New York to a select audience before it went to Cannes. This is a film that should be shown to all registered voters and all citizens so they may understand how a few can manipulate the many. Just look to see how now that they (those who chose to send us off) still refuse to take responsibility by blaming all the actions taken on an Iraqi citizen that they followed blindly into a war. This administration knew what it was doing way before 9/11. Just look how they suspended the PERS Tempo laws (laws enacted to keep Reservists and Guard members from serving for more than 180 days. If so it allowed for a $100 a day bonus to be paid. I am owed under this program $31,000) To much of it just seems to convenient.
As to the film I would advise you to read his book "Dude, where's my country" it has all the relevant sources that went into the making of the movie. So for those of you who claim and spout that it is all propaganda and made up, the proof is supplied, as every fact in the film is verified by more than one outside source. It was an excellent film and I believe it portrays the facts (and lack of them by Mr. Bush) credibly. And the interviews by the American GI's in the film are all factual. After seeing this some of you will understand better why the prison abuses happened. It is disturbing in some parts and is real, it brought back some of the most unpleasant memories of what it going on in Iraq and this country. But it is factual and relevant.
As a broadcast journalist I examined the evidence and sources as brought forth by Mr. Moore and found them to be factual and relevant to events taking place in this country.
Also as a broadcast journalist who served for a year in the Sunni triangle region (Ramadi, Falluja and the Al Anbar region) I can say without any doubt the facts being reveled are truthful, having observed abuses by U.S. troops personally. Not just physical abuses, but stealing from families and others on a continual basis and numerous violations of civil liberties.
What many in this country should realize is the only thing separating us from the Muslim fanatics is a clause in the US Constitution that separates church and state. Without it we would be just like them.
So before you condemn this film, do something unusual for an American, see it before you judge it. And for once stop shooting the messenger.
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