New Film Takes a Hard Look at the American War Machine From World War II to Iraq

Forty five years ago - January 1961 - Dwight Eisenhower gave his final address as President of the United States.

* Dwight Eisenhower, January 17, 1961.

Those words are the starting point for a new film that takes a look at the American war machine over the past half century. "Why We Fight" by filmmaker Eugene Jarecki looks at conflicts from World War II right up to the current war in Iraq to examine the political, economic and ideological reasons that drive American war policy.

The film includes interviews with John McCain, Gore Vidal, William Kristol and Richard Perle, as well as a retired New York City cop and Vietnam vet who lost a son in the World Trade Center attacks.

"Why We Fight" won the 2005 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It opens in theaters nationwide today. Director Eugene Jarecki's previous film, "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" was widely acclaimed and won the 2002 Amnesty International Award.

* Eugene Jarecki, filmmaker "Why We Fight"

Read Eugene's article: "An Unhappy Anniversary"

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/10/1433258