Charlie Wilson's War

[nerdgirl 0]

Anyone seen the film yet?

I’m laughing at the one-liners from the trailers and clips:

“Why is Congress saying one thing & doing nothing?”
“Tradition mostly.”

“Well, should we try this scotch or is it going to release sarin gas when we open it?”
“Nah, I don’t think so … but open it over there.”

George Crile's book, Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, was fascinating and timely back in 2003. And, one could argue still is. Rep Wilson was an pro-interventionist Democrat representing a district north & east of Houston. He was a former USN Lt who subsequently spent time in the Pentagon doing intelligence work.

The real Rep. Charlie Wilson & Joanne Herring: http://www.charliewilsonswar.net/cww-realcharlievid.html.

Who is today’s Charlie Wilson?
Could a Charlie Wilson even make it in Congress today?

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[warpedskydiver 0]

Today a man like that would be an outcast, and vilified by his own party.

Too bad there aren't more like him, I guess sound bites are more lucrative politcally.

[BIGUN 1,488]

Test Question - Any connection between Charlie Wilson and Osama Bin Laden?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[jakee 1,596]

I'd imagine the word Mujaheddin would be somewhere in the answer.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[nerdgirl 0]

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Test Question - Any connection between Charlie Wilson and Osama Bin Laden?

That's another book, in which Rep Wilson also appears: Steve Coll's Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001.

Yesterday's Washington Times had a commentary piece:

"Conservative officials who served in the Reagan administration are upset by the left-wing slant of the new movie about the covert action program that helped Afghan guerrillas defeat the Soviet army during the 1980s.

""Charlie Wilson's War," out Friday, is based on a book about former Rep. Charles Wilson, Texas Democrat, known widely on Capitol Hill during his tenure as "Good Time Charlie" and who helped fund the semi-secret war that ultimately helped fell the Soviet Union.

"The Reagan-era officials said the movie promotes the left-wing myth that the CIA-led operation funded Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda and ultimately produced the attacks of September 11, 2001.

"Bin Laden, the officials said, never got CIA funding or weapons, and was not directly involved in Islamist extremist activities until years after the Afghan operation ended after the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989."

>

""Senior people in the Reagan administration, the president, [CIA Director] Bill Casey, [Defense Secretary Caspar] Weinberger and their aides deserve credit for the successful Afghan covert action program, not just Charlie Wilson," Mr. Ikle (USD Policy ... i think) said in an interview."

Seen the movie or read the book, yet?

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[TheAnvil 0]

Coll's book is a SUPERB read and should be required reading for every high school senior.

I recommend it for everyone.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[auburnguy 0]

Bin laden didn't have influence in Afghanistan until after the war when he rebuilt the infrastructure, he comes from a family construction background. It is during that time that the Taliban started to take control in Afghanistan and fill the vacuum of power left after the country was completely destroyed from years of war.

"If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way."
- Homer Simpson

[TheAnvil 0]

Read up a bit, dude.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[freethefly 6]

Quote

Bin laden didn't have influence in Afghanistan until after the war when he rebuilt the infrastructure, he comes from a family construction background. It is during that time that the Taliban started to take control in Afghanistan and fill the vacuum of power left after the country was completely destroyed from years of war.

Uhmmmm...
http://www.intellnet.org/documents/200/060/269.html

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[lawrocket 3]

Drinking, drugging womanizers who are nuts about power? Um, that DESCRIBES Congress.

What makes Charlie Wilson different? He doesn't deny it.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[nerdgirl 0]

Saw it Monday.

IMO, screenwriters did a reasonable job balancing fictionalized politics & history with characteristics of a mainstream Hollywood film (i.e., one-liners, fast-pace, etc). Film was too short.

Lots of political fodder, as well as proverbial food for thought on the role/advantages of technology in asymmetric/guerilla warfare.

Concluded with a strong message on the critical need of education in reconstruction – “winning the peace” – & the failure of governments to see beyond the immediate/lack of attention span in USG. The last two frames (before the credits) are a quote from Rep Wilson: "Those things happened and they were glorious, and then we fucked up the end game."

Perhaps a Texas 2nd Congressional articulation, in plain language, of Joseph Nye’s thesis on the importance of soft power (in conjunction with hard power), which has been more recently articulated by the Executive Branch (primarily Defense and State) as stability, security, transition, and reconstruction (SSTR).

Film fest suggestion:
Late afternoon matinee of "Charlie Wilson’s War" in theater then early dinner at Middle Eastern or Afghan restaurant followed by DVDs (w/couple bottles of Syrah/Shiraz) of "Syriana," "Battle of Algiers," & "Red Dawn."

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Late afternoon matinee of "Charlie Wilson’s War" in theater then early dinner at Middle Eastern or Afghan restaurant followed by DVDs (w/couple bottles of Syrah/Shiraz) of "Syriana," "Battle of Algiers," & "Red Dawn."

Ok you had me till the Red Dawn thing.....I will tell you why tomorrow when I can be acrimonious and stuff after the moratorium..

[Skyrad 0]

LOL, how times change. Today's 'Charlie' would be trying to kill the old Charlie's pals.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[jakee 1,596]

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LOL, how times change. Today's 'Charlie' would be trying to kill the old Charlie's pals.

Probably by secretly funding and arming a group of radical militant Buddhists.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?