FilmRoar

The Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winning documentary Why We Fight (2005) tries to shed light on the American drive to constantly be at war. At the heart of the analysis is president Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell address to the nation warning of the rise of the Military-industrial complex. The superb speech by a sharp mind with a clear understanding of both government and military gives a direct and succinct warning to dependency on a military economy. It is really too bad that Why We Fight could not emulate the clarity of message or purpose.

The documentary by filmmaker Eugene Jarecki mixes stock footage from a variety of sources with new interviews with a variety of people who are part of or affected by the war industry. During the course of the interviews we meet two U.S. Pilots who believe they dropped the first bombs of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, smart bombs that we will later find out missed their target. We will also meet various regular citizens who work to design and manufacture these smart bombs and will be told the image of the munitions as being precisely targeted is mostly manufactured (over half miss their targets). We also meet a retired policeman whose son died in the September 11, 2001 attacks and then led a successful campaign to have the dead son’s name painted on a bomb dropped in Iraq. We also meet an air force officer that resigned her position amid concerns of the propriety of military direction and a young man lost in debt who is enlisting in the army. Intertwined with these ‘ordinary Americans’ are interviews with notable social and political personages such as Senator John McCain and Gore Vidal, interviews with Eisenhower’s children and grandchildren, and a lot of generalized talk about the economic drive to feed money into the war industry. The end result is a mixed and muddled message. The main thesis gets through, but the thematic bouncing to and from various side stories serve to confuse and obfuscate rather than enlighten.

Eisenhower’s warning is of a future where government, military and the war industry are too closely related for fair oversight. This point is not (and possibly cannot be) directly proved, but the implication is strongly underlined by the statements of the various insiders and analysts. Case in point is the relationship between Vice-President Dick Cheney, who as Secretary of Defense before becoming vice-president, and who then became CEO of Halliburton, a company that has profited greatly from vast military contracts. The accusations and implications are deeply disturbing, raising concerns of an inherently corrupt system of government where the wealth of the nation (Tax dollars) are routinely directed toward corporate profit in the name of national security.

This argument is unfortunately muddled by over-generalized statements and unnecessary digressions. For example during a section where the United States is presented as “a militaristic nation” that routinely turns to violence as a method for conflict resolution a map of the world is animated with highlights of countries that have seen US military intervention. The voice-over speaks of support for violent and oppressive regimes and other unscrupulous acts of violence giving the impression that all the examples listed are of dubious character with no supporting information. While I did not recognize all the samples I do know some were instances were the US military brought humanitarian aid, not bombs. This left a very sour taste in my mouth and led to some distrust of the rest of the program. Likewise the regular cut aways to small children, usually huddled on a dirt floor and all presumably potential victims of US aggression stank of cliché emotional manipulation akin to crying ‘won’t someone please think about the children’. I was also annoyed by the way the ‘first bombs’ sub-story was introduced, then lightly touched on and not fully addressed until 1 hour, 20 minutes into the movie.

I found why we fight to be unfocused and not terribly compelling. I admit my expectations are likely biased by other documentaries that have greatly impressed me and raised my standard for documentary filmmaking (The Corporation (2003), Manufacturing Consent(1992)). I also believe that the movie sets too low an expectation on its audience resorting too often to images of prosperity and commerce next to poverty and the devastation of war instead of fact and analysis. The message is important and I would recommend watching the movie to raise awareness of our system of government. I somehow wish it could have been better though.

Included in the DVD are 5 scenes cut from the theatrical release, Q&A sessions with the Jarecki, appearances on The Daily Showand Charlie Rose, background on key people being interviewed, commentary by Jarecki and Colonel Lawrence Wikerson, and a theatrical trailer. The menus, bonus material and transfer are all of high quality making the DVD a worthy vehicle for the movie.

Farewell Address to the Nation given by Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 17, 1961

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction…

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.

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