War and Deliverance

A new DVD of an old movie may offer perspective on American attitudes behind the invasion of Iraq.

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  • Posted By: laudyms @ 10/30/2007 5:40:09 PM

    America was always a nation whose dreams and visions allowed us to reach beyond sordid realities. Now the visions have turned dark and even reality has a hard time matching the horrors on offer by the Bush admin. It's time to call them out and reclaim both our vision and our future. Thanks for speaking up.

  • Posted By: maheshmj @ 10/30/2007 9:05:41 AM

    It is back to "Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which talked about the basic savagery in man. And it is a replay of the events that led up to the Second World War. Germany humiliated, unable to manage itself financially, and unable to protect itself from the goons that took to beating up people on behalf of Hitler. Hitler became inevitable. What caused the aftermath to become horrific was the inability -- more unwillingness -- on the part of the strongest countries to prevent the tyrant from growing bigger. Iraq's problems will also, eventually, be solved by a strongman, a tyrant. There's no escaping that fact. What the world -- not the US -- will have to see is that he does not grow bigger. To do that, ALL oil contracts in Iraq will have to be renegotiated so that they don't become another Ruhr Valley situation

  • Posted By: delraybuzz @ 10/27/2007 5:12:41 PM

    I have long recognized a certain psychosis in the behavior of the current administration, and this article put its finger right on the nub! We are all aware of the preoccupation of this group to attacking Iraq prior to the 2000 election. I just never connected the dots so thoroughly. We had better stop wishing and DO SOMETHING!

  • Posted By: Pecos_Bill @ 10/26/2007 4:26:53 PM

    I never thought of it in terms of "Deliverance" but you have managed to frame the unbridled idiocy of the Bush administration. I just hope these cowards don't start another war with Iran before they leave office. And I'd like to see all of them tried for Treason, if they cannot be impeached.

  • Posted By: Kenzy @ 10/23/2007 1:36:12 PM

    Contray to the correlation: The perils of the mountain, ragging river and mtn men,left alone , were transfixed to the mountain, posing no real threat to Lewis and his merry men. Don't forget the burning buildings and loss of life on 9/11. Unlike the mtn men of Tennessee, these boys found their way from their caves, to the shores of the USA.

    • Posted By: DodgerFan @ 10/23/2007 3:33:47 PM

      The caves were in Afghanistan, not Iraq. George, Dick, the GOP, and the military, not satisfied with crushing the Taliban, found their way from the shores of the USA to the streets of Baghdad. Iraq is their war, not mine. From the looks of things, they will be in Iraq for another 5, 10, maybe 15 years. That's fine with me, 'cause I sure as hell ain't goin' there.

  • Posted By: jubal8 @ 10/22/2007 10:30:30 PM

    Here's another correlation. When Ed's strapped up to the tree and being told he has "a real purty mouth", he sees Lewis through the trees drawing a bead on the mountain man with his arrow. With his eyes and slight notions of his head, he encourages Lewis to take the shot.

    When the American public and policy makers were still in the thrall of the horror inflicted by the events of 9/11, many gave in to their fear and need for vengeance by voting for the administration to "take the shot".

    Unfortunately, they didn't realize that the voice they heard telling them they had a real purty mouth was that of a ventriloquist.

  • Posted By: sulligang @ 10/18/2007 2:35:00 PM

    For "YSREBOB" Bush was attached to the Air Guard w/assistance from dad, and couldn't even complete that assignment...Cheney being SecDef was civilian post, not military service,no danger to his hide... he got deferment several times during the 60s from active duty when he was more than capable to serve... Ultimately we should not have gone into Iraq until Afganistan was settled. That in itself makes the Bush administration incompetent if not criminally negligent. Saddams WMD had NOTHING to do with 9/11 whether or not every one up to the Pope agrees that he was a bad man with criminal intent.

    • Posted By: YSREBOB @ 10/18/2007 4:58:51 PM

      If you want to limit our civilian leadership to people who have only seen combat, then that cuts out most of our recent presidents. Bush senior and Truman are the only recent ones that I am aware of. I think you are confusing incompetence with criminal intent. Otherwise I agree with everything that you say. Unfortunately, I think Afghanistan is as finished as it ever will be. We may get Ossama some day, or we may not. The British had the same problems back in the 1800's.

      • Posted By: springerj@unk.edu @ 10/22/2007 3:53:22 PM

        After Truman: Eisenhower, commanding general of the Allies in Europe during WW2; Kennedy, commanded PT boats in the South Pacific during WW2; Carter, executive office of submarine during Korean War; and then G.H.W. Bush. You missed 3 presidents who served in the armed forces during a war.

  • Posted By: glenndaleewell @ 10/22/2007 1:55:22 PM

    The comment I made below, about the mistreatment of Prisioners is wrong, in all fairness it is no different then abusing Elephants for a show, and to abuse them for Profit.

    Blackwater Ops, is no different then animal abuse, no different then being set for a crime you did not do, and those responsible will say this. Say Nothing, Deny Everything, hay thats what the CIA says, and so you get those who are corrupt to cover up the Truth. I have first hand knowledge of this type of activites within the, Ringling Bros. Circus, just what Mr. Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Ent., and the Owner of the Greatest Show on Earth did to me. Set Me Up for a Crime I did not do.. So, please feel free to comment, or just E-Mail me Directly at.. glenn_dale_ewell@hotmail.com / glenndalaeewell@yahoo.com, I answer all responses, good, and or bad, and I answer your feedback. Thank you for your time. Glenn Ewell, Ringling Bros. Whistle Blower.

  • Posted By: booker @ 10/21/2007 10:05:09 PM

    Excuse me, dodger fan: it's not the GOP that's fighting this war. They guys who started the war are as far away from it as they can get. Now, if George and Dick and those guys want to go fight and die in Iraq, I'd agree with you. As usual, though, it's the kids who are fighting, not the buttheads who pushed us into this mess.

    • Posted By: DodgerFan @ 10/22/2007 1:01:57 PM

      You are correct. However, George and Dick could not do this without the unwavering support of their core constituents, the GOP senators/reps who fail to override the vetoes, and the military itself. Most of those who fight and die in Iraq do so of their own free will. It is their war, not yours or mine. If they want to fight it, what right do we have to stop them?

  • Posted By: jameskbachman @ 10/20/2007 3:31:04 PM

    Yes, the courage that is needed is to cut off the funding. Fearing that they would appear to be failing to support the troops, Democrats continue to approve the funding. And Mr. Bush might well send the troops into combat anyway.
    least
    lleast least the Congress would have done all it could to stop the war.

  • Posted By: DodgerFan @ 10/20/2007 11:00:29 AM

    Why are the Democrats in such a rush to end this war? This war has no impact on most Americans. The GOP loves this war, and if they want to fight and die in Iraq, I say let 'em. Ain't no skin off my butt. There is no possibility of the draft, so why not kick back and let the GOP have their little war?

  • Posted By: rhill41 @ 10/18/2007 8:38:47 PM

    If there is anybody who has written more sensibly and eloquently about The Bush War than Chris Dickey, I have read her or him yet. He saw early on where this thing was going, tried to warn us about the "insider" expat Iraquis who were feeding the abysmal maw of our current administration's insatiable desire for SaddamQuest with misguidance and self-serving fabrications. If only Bush's White House and his Pentagon had been subtle readers of reality instead of glassy-eyed believers in Cultural Empire, we would still have tens of thousands of productive men and women ready to defend us in real national emergencies or to help us work out real economic, infrastructural, and other social problems. Instead, we have many more war-profiteers and many more human casualties. All for a pre-emptive war when there was nothing to pre-empt. Chris Dickey's been a prophet, a clear voice in a murky and stinking swamp of somebody's venality, somebody's wanton ambitions.

    • Posted By: rhill41 @ 10/18/2007 8:45:31 PM

      Somebody please delete this, which has omitted an important "not" in the first sentence.

  • Posted By: rhill41 @ 10/18/2007 8:40:23 PM

    If there is anybody who has written more sensibly and eloquently about The Bush War than Chris Dickey, I have not read her or him yet. He saw early on where this thing was going, tried to warn us about the "insider" expat Iraquis who were feeding the abysmal maw of our current administration's insatiable desire for SaddamQuest with misguidance and self-serving fabrications. If only Bush's White House and his Pentagon had been subtle readers of reality instead of glassy-eyed believers in Cultural Empire, we would still have tens of thousands of productive men and women ready to defend us in real national emergencies or to help us work out real economic, infrastructural, and other social problems. Instead, we have many more war-profiteers and many more human casualties. All for a pre-emptive war when there was nothing to pre-empt. Chris Dickey's been a prophet, a clear voice in a murky and stinking swamp of somebody's venality, somebody's wanton ambitions.

  • Posted By: rhill41 @ 10/18/2007 8:39:01 PM

    If there is anybody who has written more sensibly and eloquently about The Bush War than Chris Dickey, I have not read her or him yet. He saw early on where this thing was going, tried to warn us about the "insider" expat Iraquis who were feeding the abysmal maw of our current administration's insatiable desire for SaddamQuest with misguidance and self-serving fabrications. If only Bush's White House and his Pentagon had been subtle readers of reality instead of glassy-eyed believers in Cultural Empire, we would still have tens of thousands of productive men and women ready to defend us in real national emergencies or to help us work out real economic, infrastructural, and other social problems. Instead, we have many more war-profiteers and many more human casualties. All for a pre-emptive war when there was nothing to pre-empt. Chris Dickey's been a prophet, a clear voice in a murky and stinking swamp of somebody's venality, somebody's wanton ambitions.

  • Posted By: jameskbachman @ 10/18/2007 4:43:08 PM

    Good commentary on the Iraq war; but the relationship with the movie "Deliverance" seemed rather strained. Nowadays anything can represent anything else. Now what did the dueling banjos represent? Civilization versus barbarism?

  • Posted By: glenndaleewell @ 10/18/2007 3:12:53 PM

    My name is Glenn Ewell. I seen the, "Deliverence," vry good movie, but it is no differnt then what happened at, Abugra; I hope I spelled it right, Prision, and the Horrific and Graphic Carnal Additude of the Government. Thinking that the Government cna get away with in your window sexual graphic actions. And taking incrimanating picture of the the said subjects, I seen those pictures released to the media, and they were very graphic and very horrifing to look at. However, when the Government take no actions in prosicuting those in Blackwater Ops, and letting them get away with murdering innocent men women and Children. In the name of National Security. I'm Sorry, I do not subscribe to tha type of stupidity, and I don't mistreating anyone. As far as Mr. Cheney is concerned, and the Bush Administration. Just a bunch of War Mongers, and Theves to them selve. Ask first, then steal from them later. And if that will not work, KILL THEM, and take it anyways. As for mistreating others, its no differnent then what I'm going through with Feld Entertainment's CEO, Kenneth Feld, and his Former CIA Cronies and what He, Mr. Feld put me through. I worked on there Animal Crew, taknig care of the Elephants, and quit my job only to turn evidence against on Animal Abuse, and after watching them Beat the Elephants to submission. I became an Animal Rights Activist, and was the very first Whisle Blower too ever come forward from Ringling. Corporate Government such as this one, will go as far as to discredit you, set you up for something you know you did not do, and make it look as if your the bad buy, and Mr. Feld walks away clean. On a County, State or Federal Level, you will find coruption that is so far gone mentality wise, and that they to think they are Bullet Proof. Well I'll tell you this much, they are wrong all the way, wiether it Mr. Feld, Pres. Bush, or Mr. Cheney, and those they hire to cover up the deep rooted coruption. It all catches up with them, and they will all pay for sins they have comitted against Humanity. So, if you want to find out the truth, and to exspose those for who they are corupt. Bewere, Because they will find away to silence you, and to discredit you beyound you wildest emagination. I know, I'm living proof, I've been through it, and I know who is responsible for what happened to me, and his name is Mr. Kenneth Feld.

  • Posted By: oldmarine @ 10/18/2007 1:57:16 PM

    For "dwerth": The thought-provoking and inspiring suggestions (warnings) are plentiful, for those who would seek them. The most clear and concise comes from B.H. Liddell Hart, noted strategist, in his classic "Strategy," "A State which expends its strength to the point of exhaustion bankrupts its own policy, and future. If you concentrate exclusively on victory, with no thought for the after-effect, you may be too exhausted to profit by the peace, while it is almost certain that the peace will be a bad one, containing the germs of another war." Action undertaken without consideration for the outcome/consequences is the point. We may not need a historian, as "sulligang" suggests, but a leader who has read a good book or two would be an improvement.

  • Posted By: YSREBOB @ 10/18/2007 1:36:10 PM

    Christopher Dickey's abilities as a mind reader puts the Amazing Kreskin to shame. To say that the idelogues of the Bush administation secretly envied the tyrants' of the Soviet Union is speclative and reduclious.

    For the record, Bush, Chaney, and Rumsfield all have previous military experience. Rumsfield was a naval Aviator, Bush was a pilot in the Air Guard, and Chaney was the secretary of Defense during the first Gulf War. Also for the record Sadam was a very bad man. He used cimical weapons agains the Iranians and his own people. Prior to the war numerous world leaders believed Sadam was working on a WMD program including Putin and Clinton. Sadam's own son-in-law (who he later executed) said he had a WMD program.

    The problems of the middle east predate the Bush administration and even the 1949 formation of Isreal. The root cause goes back to colonial medeling by Britan, France, German, and Russia. Iraq wasn't even a country until Lawrence of Arabia and the British re-drew the map after World War I.

    A key part of the plot of Diliverence that Mr. Dickey does not expand upon, is that the four subburbanites from Atlanta were unprovokedly attacked. Regardless of the personality falts of the characters, they were forced to protect themselves the best they could.

    There has been lots of mistakes in this war, as there are in most wars. In hind sight I believe that the war has probably hurt American interest around the world, but just because the war has gone badly does not make the Bush administration tyrants and criminals.

  • Posted By: YSREBOB @ 10/18/2007 1:35:49 PM

    Christopher Dickey's abilities as a mind reader puts the Amazing Kreskin to shame. To say that the idelogues of the Bush administation secretly envied the tyrants' of the Soviet Union is speclative and reduclious.

    For the record, Bush, Chaney, and Rumsfield all have previous military experience. Rumsfield was a naval Aviator, Bush was a pilot in the Air Guard, and Chaney was the secretary of Defense during the first Gulf War. Also for the record Sadam was a very bad man. He used cimical weapons agains the Iranians and his own people. Prior to the war numerous world leaders believed Sadam was working on a WMD program including Putin and Clinton. Sadam's own son-in-law (who he later executed) said he had a WMD program.

    The problems of the middle east predate the Bush administration and even the 1949 formation of Isreal. The root cause goes back to colonial medeling by Britan, France, German, and Russia. Iraq wasn't even a country until Lawrence of Arabia and the British re-drew the map after World War I.

    A key part of the plot of Diliverence that Mr. Dickey does not expand upon, is that the four subburbanites from Atlanta were unprovokedly attacked. Regardless of the personality falts of the characters, they were forced to protect themselves the best they could.

    There has been lots of mistakes in this war, as there are in most wars. In hind sight I believe that the war has probably hurt American interest around the world, but just because the war has gone badly does not make the Bush administration tyrants and criminals.

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