Why We Fight

Why We Fight was a documentary released 10 years ago that attempts to explore the complexity of wars past, present and future. From the beginning, the film delves into the complexity of our Foreign Policy decisions. Much of the movie serves as a warning. War has no political party. Presidents that run on a policy of peace can not stop the militarism. We fight because of our nation's hunger to be a super power, the only super power.

The chilling opening of President Eisenhower warning us that the military industrial complex is becoming too large would be the backdrop for the entire movie. Generations of Americans would believe the lies and manipulation in the form of media that misleads them into every global conflict. Patriotism is a ruse used to channel aggression. When asked "why we fight", citizens believe it is for freedom and democracy.

When the film is made, the backdrop is 9-11. A father who lost his son makes reoccurring appearances about the grief and loss of his son. He wants revenge. He wants our government to right a wrong in honor of his son's memory. Another expectation is to prevent another 9-11.

After 2001, it seemed that the United States was going to do just that, seek out justice for 9-11 Then, something began to shift. Iraq was the center of our Foreign Policy. Yet Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. The explanation for this policy shift is deeply disturbing. It suggests that our President and his administration wanted to follow a doctrine of strike first. And for people like those that lost loved ones in 9-11, we lost our will to seek our justice.

There are many dynamics to this film that are explored. From our origins to militarism to today, the United States gets involved in wars for many reasons. However, we are led to believe that every conflict is due to freedom and democracy. The rallying cry seems to work for every conflict until the casualties begin to mount.

The other aspect of the film is that I feel is great is the exploration of decisions in our past. What we are led to believe is not always true. Historians for example claim that the nuclear bombs in WWII were necessary to avoid extreme casualties for our soldiers. Yet the movie uncovers that Truman wanted to show the Russians that we were coming out of WWII as a superpower. The Japanese deaths came at an expense of a show of force. Eisenhower argued against the use of the bombs stating the Japanese were ready for surrender.

Deep, complex and thought provoking. Why We Fight is timeless as long as we are engaged in conflicts around the world. Events that lead us to fight should be questioned with greater filters than we currently use. Until then, Foreign Policy decisions are in the hands a few, while the casualties of war impact the masses.