Why We Fight

A documentary that examines America’s policies regarding making war, most recently the Iraq war and what is termed pre-emptive strikes (The Bush-doctrine). The author, Eugene Jarecki, suggests that this policy has been in the works for many years, reviewing past wars in the 20th century. A variety of individuals are asked “Why We Fight?” with, predictably, a variety of answers. This is followed by a look at today’s U.S. military/industrial complex via interviews with individuals involved with it.

Social interest

For all those interested in understanding a little better the motives behind wars in the last 60 years, this documentary will show you different points of view about “why we fight” (the original title of a series of US military propaganda films of the past). In the meantime, the film presents a lot of facts backing up the presumption that Capitalism is winning over Democracy.

Historic Interest

Why We Fight is the title of a series of propaganda films that Frank Capra began making in 1942, with the aim of encouraging the American war effort against Nazism. Director Eugene Jarecki has used the films as a commentary on the contemporary obsession of the American elite with military power. He also harks back to a speech by President Eisenhower, who, just before he left office, referred to the “military-industrial complex”. Eisenhower was worried that too much intelligence, and too much business acumen in America, had become focussed on the production of unnecessary weapons systems.

Political interest

Director Eugene Jarecki argues that since Eisenhower’s time, the US military complex has become completely intertwined with the American Economy. As a result American politics is often motivated by Military enterprises instead of vice-versa. The war in Iraq, Jarecki describes, was made possible by a new range of weapons systems. Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki’s shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.

Scenes

America against the world

After 11th September 2001, America began a worldwide attack on all countries, organisations and people that it considered to be terrorists. Was this the first time in their history that propaganda was used to fuel their foreign affairs?
Embedding fear to fuel the machine
We are faced with the argument that the foreign policy from America has been war-orientated since the end of the Second World War. The so-called “Bush Doctrine” is the post 2001 propaganda machine developed to help maintain this emphasis.
Force for good or force for imperialsm?
With the growing industrial emphasis on war, the powers that be are able to justify vast spending on defence budgets at the expense of other areas of the economy. President Eisenhower criticised his own Government during the 1950’s and warned of the dangers that this mass-militarisation could cause at the expense of human loss.
Competition for mass destruction
With contracters fighting it out to provide weapons solutions to the armed forces, the question of defence becomes more an economic one as opposed to a national security objective.
Recruitment
The armed forces are always searching for new recruits and with poor economic circumstances, and a spiralling climate of fear due to the media, many are attracted to sign up.
Economic Colonialism
Is America searching to put their mark in every corner of the globe? Are the truths behind attacks justifiable? Here we learn of the modern day imperialism that has been remarketed for the 21st Century.
The office of special plans
In order to create a plan of attack in Iraq, the Office of Special Plans was created under Donald Rumsveld to bullet point the reasons for an invasion and to help drill up support throughout America.
The New Roman Empire
Comparisons with the problems of fallen Empires, such as that of Rome, lead to sceptism over the manner of American foreign policy. With a growing war-orientated infrastructure in America, the fear of further foreign attacks is ever present.