Description
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war.
Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed, and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.
Rate Points :4.5
Binding :DVD
Label :Brave New Films
Manufacturer :Brave New Films
ProductGroup :DVD
Studio :Brave New Films
Publisher :Brave New Films
UPC :893890001994
EAN :0893890001994
Price :$14.95USD
Lowest Price :$10.71USD
Customer ReviewsEmotion reigns in this ranting film
Rating Point :2 Helpful Point :0
I am in the US Army.
This is not a documentary. It is made up of interspersed interviews with people who fit into four categories: families of civilian contractors who died, civilian contractors who survived an attack, eyewitnesses of wasteful spending by companies with government contracts, and former Soldiers of unknown character complaining about the use of civilian contractors in Iraq. Wrongdoing should be punished. This film never clears up whether it is against wasteful spending or against the use of civilian contractors altogether. The films arguments are too broad and, sometimes, random and confusing. Several times, the statement is made that "this war has been privatized to a greater extent than any other war in history." This is an asinine comment. With a new type of war being fought over the course of almost a decade, now, of course private companies will be employed more than before. Statements like these are devoid of value in the greater debate of how to regulate wasteful spending by these large corporations. Another frustrating element of this film is that the images from Iraq are not related to the story being told at that time. Its confusing for the viewer. Interviews with people who had first-hand knowledge of the wasteful spending were effective, but few, and as a result, the filmmaker spread them throughout the film, which watered down the effectiveness of their accounts. Unfortunate.
As a Soldier, I found the complaints about contractors living in better quarters than tent-bound Soldiers ridiculous. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen have given their lives to their Country and are willing to sleep in muck and grime for the sake of the cause. Civilians, brave and heroic them all, need a softer touch. The men and women of the U.S. Military are happy to sleep wherever the mission takes us. Keep your pity to yourself. Of course Soldiers are going to living in the suck, suffer, bleed, and die thats our calling. We love it! Were here, on the wall, so you dont have to be. Just say thank you and move on.
The emotional outcry against Halliburton as a demonic overlord is very compelling however, not backed by enough evidence to be completely persuasive. The speakers are mostly just making accusations that sound reasonable, but are not substantiated within the film itself. (This only makes the fact that there is a special feature on the DVD aimed at organizing protesters more laughable. Is it possible to organize protesters based solely on unsubstantiated claims, reasonable or not?) Someone is going to make money on the privatization of jobs by the U.S. Government. The American economy is built on the concept of companies doing what they can, within ethical boundaries, to make money. That shouldnt be discouraged. Only wrongful profiteering should be punished. This film does not clearly delineate between the two, so the viewer is never sure which is under attack.
There are two redeeming qualities in the film: First, the opening story of the Blackwater employee, who died in an ambush, was touching. The familys argument that an ambush, by definition a surprise attack, could have been avoided was heart-wrenchingly nave. The second redeeming comment was the argument that more Iraqi civilians should have been hired, thereby getting them off the street and winning a PR battle, was very enlightening. (This approach worked in Germany and Korea.) Too bad the rest of the film is simply an emotional debate and not one backed up by actual evidence, but rather logical assumptions on the part of the individual interviewees. Pass this one up.
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
We are too lazy, naive, afraid and stupefied to even comprehend what is happening around the globe. If it doesnt affect us directly its not our problem!! Right? Right!! Anyway people get too stressed when they see and or hear about extremely disturbing things, such as this DVDs context -Economical Racketeering By Big Business!!
Quick Summary:
Impartial governments around the globe look the other way while companies run amuck making ungodly profits from Tax-Payers. Did I mention all whom are ironically friends of government(s) and or were once government officials themselves?
The list of neglect (cutting corners over charging) for the almighty dollar are endless atrocities that are absolutely prevalent simply go unchecked.
Worry about that? Not Me Joe FreeWorld we/I cant change anything anyway ...were helpless!!!
Sadly, all of the people/families interviewed in this DVD were uneducated or unaware themselves UNTIL family members ended up dead or they themselves saw BIG BUSINESS up-close and personal.
These factions run along side our governments (some never even bid for the job its simply given to them) - all involved willing to put you in harms way for "PROFITABILITY"!!!
These companies spoke about in this program will never be held accountable for their over spending and or the death-toll to regular Joes ...not until its too late then maybe a few patsys will be thrown in jail.
This is the Zeitgeist of our times ...this is our legacy!!!
Crime pays
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
As people looted in the streets of Iraq following the 2003 United States invasion, U.S. Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld said, "Freedoms untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things."
Perhaps the free-for-all Rumsfeld referenced wasnt Iraq citizens stealing television sets from bombed-out retail stores. As the documentary IRAQ FOR SALE details, those feeling free to commit crimes and do bad things in U.S.-occupied Iraq are Halliburton, Titan, Blackwater and other contractors with friends in high places, namely the halls of the George W. Bush White House.
Privately-contracted interrogators abuse Iraqi citizens without being subject to laws that would call for a court martial were they U.S. military personnel. Kellogg Brown & Root supplies contaminated water to American soldiers. Halliburton charges $45 for a six-pack of soda pop. In IRAQ FOR SALE we see the contractors disregard for anything except profits includes the lives of their own employees, most noteworthy the four Blackwater security personnel who die because the company sends them ill-equipped and under-manned on a dangerous mission.
IRAQ FOR SALE presents a press conference clip where George W. Bush laughs off a reporters question about military contractor corruption. Rather than follow up with Bush, the reporter laughs, too, and lets him off the hook. Of all the accomplices Bush had in his illegal invasion of Iraq, the corporate media are among those with the dirtiest hands.
See IRAQ FOR SALE.
A Must See
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
This is a must see. Our government contracts out the interrogation and torture of Iraqi civilians to private companies which are not subjected to any sort of supervision, so that the U.S. government can wash itself clean of any ethical misconduct.
This movie also addresses the tremendous financial gains that are made by several private companies that are essentially stealing money from taxpayers and care nothing for the health and well being of the militia they are contracted to protect.
fabulous Iraqi facts
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
Iraq for Sale: The War ProfiteersThis film is amazing! I had a slap in the face wake up call. I know that I must work even harder to help stop what is happening in Iraq and stop the hemorrhaging of our military budjet and our American way of life from being funneled to the "WAR PROFITIEERS". Brilliant and concise detail. Our soliders deserve better. Diana Harden...Livermore, Ca.
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