by Stephen B.

Created on: July 15, 2008

There is a time after World War II when the United States decided to use its military to construct a huge global system of wealth. In this system the military was used to support human rights violations in developing nations and create jobs throughout the this country. In "Why We Fight," this system of the Military-Industrial Complex is explored from the end of World War II leading up to the War in Iraq.

Wirter/Director Eugene Jarecki uses the farwell speech from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to establish the beginning of the budget increases in defense spending. Through interviews with some of President Eisenhower's family Jarecki shows how much Eisenhower wanted to limit the spending on defense. There are even a few memorable scenes of Ike yelling at Congress about not over spending.

The movie also moves toward a look into the awarding of these huge contracts and what it is like for workers in the bomb and gun factories. The film follows the flow of money into the hands of the voters and how important it is for these districts not to loose defense jobs. Congress is depicted as being infavor of using these defense jobs to secure them a seat.

Jarecki also shows the a way in which the US Presidents and the Pentagon have used the military from World War II to establish an unending conflict to fuel the economy. The film depicts the, through the years, all of the countries we had been in throughout the world. The conflicts in East Asia, Latin America, South America, and Northern Africa were frightingly high for someone who thought they had good knowledge of American history of the 20th century.

During the film you find it hard not to follow the slant that the director is using and trying to agree with President Eisenhower that we shouldn't spend any more than we need to on defense. This is driven home when the movie includes the way that the Bush Administration used propaganda and politics of fear to write a blank check on defense after September 11, 2001. There are times that you can tell what Jarecki's underlying intentions may be when it shows Vice President Dick Cheney telling the press that Sadam is connected to Al-Queada and has weapons of mass destruction. Later President Bush is shown telling reporters that Dick Cheney never said that well after the US had invaded Iraq.

You could leave the film saying that this might have just been another attempt to discredit the current government. You might also leave this film thinking that everything is true, because it is presented quite well. In film just like anything else you take what you want, not everything is true but then again the parts about American history and defense are public knowledge. Jarecki does a good job at reminding us just how history has lead us to where we are right now.

Learn more about this author, Stephen B..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.