James Lileks: Filmmaker Is On the Bad Guys' Side (Guess who!)

The Times-Picayune [New Orleans] ^ | May 28, 2004 | James Lileks

[quidnunc]

Michael Moore's latest movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," is an anti-Bush broadside. It accuses President Bush of letting Saudis leave the United States after Sept. 11 without being interviewed by the FBI. A shocking charge! And utterly false as well — the FBI got its crack — but who cares? Millionaire Moore is a deft provocateur, and if he's wrong about the facts, well, the facts should be right. They feel right. Isn't that what counts?

Of course his latest film won the Palme D'Or at Cannes. Jittery film-geek Quentin Tarantino, who led the panel, assured reporters that the choice was not a political statement. Lands sakes, no. "I made a statement early on," QT added, "that I didn't want politics to be involved."

Oh, well, if a statement was made, that settles any suspicions. Tilda Swinton, a Scottish actress, noted Moore's brave stance: "What he is saying in this film can't be said in the mainstream U.S. media." She's right, of course. There's much that can't be said in the mainstream media. If Dan Rather tells his bosses that delicate fairies are hovering around the cameras making funny faces at him while he gives the news, they will probably decide that can't be said, either, lest their remaining credibility melt like cotton candy in a warm Texas rain.

-snip-

[My2Cents]

Moore is a deft provocateur

Why not call him what he is: a lying propagandist.

[kaktuskid]

More like a DAFT bloviator!

[cybersmitty]

Michael Moore is the lefties equivilent to Joseph Goebbels.

[Reagan Man]

It's difficult to nail a "lying propagandist", especially when you have the leftwing media so infatuated with Moore, while promoting his agenda and hailing him as a hero. But James Lileks does a good job anyway.

[Argus]

As Moore wrote on his Web page in April: "The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not 'insurgents' or 'terrorists' or 'The Enemy.' They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win."

The only thing to do with this pig is spit-roast him.

[TrueBeliever9]

BUMP for interesting article quoting Michael Moore!

[TrueBeliever9]

BUMP

[Mr. Buzzcut]

The only thing to do with this pig is spit-roast him.

But then we'd have to eat his sorry ass!

[freedumb2003]

But then we'd have to eat his sorry ass!

Just claim you're Jewish ;)

[Howlin]

And on the same day Michael Moore posted that, he also posted this:

Michael Moore's "Secret" Movie About the US Army in Iraq
Michael's Moore Web site: the "Mike's Message" section ^ | April 14, 2004 | Michael Moore

Posted on 04/25/2004 9:38:29 PM EDT by summer

From Michael Moore's web site:

[...]

The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "The Enemy." They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win. Get it, Mr. Bush? ....

[....]

I currently have two cameramen/reporters doing work for me in Iraq for my movie (unbeknownst to the Army). They are talking to soldiers and gathering the true sentiment about what is really going on. They Fed Ex the footage back to me each week. That's right, Fed Ex. Who said we haven't brought freedom to Iraq! The funniest story my guys tell me is how when they fly into Baghdad, they don't have to show a passport or go through immigration. Why not? Because they have not traveled from a foreign country -- they're coming from America TO America, a place that is ours, a new American territory called Iraq.

[....]

[reformed_democrat]

Might one of those cameramen have been Nick Berg?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

"...the majority of Americans supported this war once it began and, sadly, that majority must now sacrifice their children until enough blood has been let that maybe -- just maybe -- God and the Iraqi people will forgive us in the end."

I'm pretty sure the American people will be forgiven by the Iraqi people for taking out Saddam. Michael Moore might have a slightly tougher time with God.

[Shermy]

That's right, Fed Ex.

Last report of Berg had him leaving for the Baghdad airport.

Is that where the Baghdad Fed Ex office is???

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Because they have not traveled from a foreign country -- they're coming from America TO America, a place that is ours, a new American territory called Iraq.

If only it were true. That place would be worth at least 40 electoral college votes.

[Howlin]

Customer Service

FedEx is represented in Iraq by a nominated Service Contractor. For more information about the FedEx services available from Iraq please contact:

Company:	Falcon Express Inc
Address:	Baghdad International Airport Cargo Terminal FedEx Section Baghdad IRAQ Al Jame'a (university) Street Hassan Jarazat Comm. Center, 1st floor Mosul IRAQ Al Barrak Marine Services Al-Ashar Office Al Jazaier Street Basra IRAQ
For all three locations:
Satellite phone:	+882 1 667 771792
Telephone:	+964 790 1302203
MCI:	+1 914 8225012
Hours of operations:	8.00 am - 6.00 pm
Service Available:	Import/Export

[Shermy]

Hmm...

[visualops]

Berg was pro-war. Moore claims to have the footage of a 20 minute interview with him in Iraq. Footage left out of the movie. Dunno if it was cut because of the murder, or because Berg was pro-war. Moore's "people" are negotiating with the family supposedly (over the footage). What's to negotiate unless either Moore or the family or both are looking to make money off it?
Seems odd to me that Moore's people would interview Berg if they were looking for anti-Bush/anti-war crap.

[CyberAnt]

Oooooooh! What an interesting statement .. my only question is why would they kill someone who was providing them with cover ..??

[wingnutx]

it's called 'picking the lowest hanging fruit'.

Dan Pearl was going to do his killers a huge favor in giving them a platform and publicity, but they wanted an easy kill even more.