I admit it. It was a cliche´ of a headline, but I opted to use it anyway to announce news that Democrat Charlie Wilson, a long-time Congressman from Texas' 2nd District, has died at 76 in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas.
His hometown newspaper, The Lufkin Daily News has the story about the man who not only became the subject of a 2007 Hollywood Movie, "Charlie Wilson's War," but also became the subject of a BMW post, I’ve Changed My Mind About ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’.
On the occasion of his passing, I share again what I wrote in that Jan. 22, 2008, post:
Suspecting it to be a left-wing effort to shift credit for defeating the Soviet Union’s military in Afghanistan almost 30 years ago away from Ronald Reagan and to a Democratic Party congressman from Texas whose name the film bears, I told myself I wouldn’t spend good money to see "Charlie Wilson's War". I changed my mind, however, after reading Michael Johns’ recent post about the film.
Be advised, Johns is not a movie critic and has no ties to the film industry. Instead, he’s a former speech writer for President George H.W. Bush who offers — albeit in long and scholarly fashion — a piece chock full of factoids you won’t find in the plethora of movie reviews or mainstream media feature stories spawned by the film.
Perhaps most notable among his observations is this one:
…it is the thesis of this film — that there exists an undeniable correlation between the ultimate victory of the United States-supported resistance in Afghanistan, known as the mujahedeen, in their war against the Soviet Union’s invasion and occupation of Afghanistan — that makes this film a hugely important leap in greater understanding of the truth behind the late 20th century American-led effort, under Ronald Reagan’s presidency, to win the Cold War, liberate millions, and usher in the great hope of peace and freedom that exists in our current post-Cold War world.
And there are many more observations which cast new light on the ineptness of President Jimmy Carter and members of the Democrat-controlled Congress who, during the Reagan-era Cold War years, misbehaved in ways not unlike the ways in which their present-day successors have behaved during the Global War on Terror.
If, like me, you thought you would skip seeing "Charlie Wilson's War," I recommend you read Johns’ post, Charlie Wilson’s War Was Really America’s War, before making your decision final. Compared to the ways so many members of Congress misbehave today, I think I would be happy to settle for the likes of many Charlie Wilsons in their place.
