The Bush Administration made the fateful decision to go to war on September 11th 2001, and since then the public has been presented with a plethora of rationalizations and justifications for why this decision was made. However, there was never any clear evidence that there was an imminent danger or threat from Iraq that warranted military intervention. This lack of evidence has led many to question the motives behind the war, which is why the documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11” is worth viewing.
Directed by Michael Moore, this documentary examines how President Bush used his position of power to manipulate public opinion both before and after 9/11 in order to initiate a war against Iraq for reasons other than national security. The film goes on to look at various actions taken by the Bush administration such as their failure to respond effectively to intelligence warnings about potential terrorist attacks prior to September 11th, their use of propaganda tactics during their campaign for war, and how they used connections within the oil industry as justification for pre-emptive strikes in Iraq.
In addition, Fahrenheit 9/11 shines a light on how media outlets were complicit in providing false information about Saddam Hussein’s involvement with Al Qaeda in order to make the case for war more compelling. It further explores how civilians were duped into believing that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and thus needed to be overthrown which could not have been further from reality.
By watching “Fahrenheit 9/11”, viewers can gain a better understanding of why President Bush decided to go to war without a clear or present danger presented by Iraq. Through its thoughtful analysis and historical context, it demonstrates how those in power can easily bend facts and mislead the public when they have something vested in affecting certain outcomes. This is why this documentary must be seen: it provides an insightful look into one of America’s most controversial wars while questioning our government’s true intentions behind it.
