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Fahrenheit 9/11 and Its Impact on Military Morale, by a Soldier
Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog ^ | July 26, 2004 | Army Specialist Joe Roche

Posted on 07/26/2004 6:54:44 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4

Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11, is making the rounds here at U.S. bases in Kuwait. Some soldiers have received it already and are passing is around. The impact is devastating.

Here we are, soldiers of the 1st Armored Division, just days from finally returning home after over a year serving in Iraq, and Moore's film is shocking and crushing soldiers, making them feel ashamed. Moore has abused the First Amendment and is hurting us worse than the enemy has.

There are the young and impressionable soldiers, like those who joined the Army right out of high school. They aren't familiar w/ the college-type political debate environment, and they haven't been schooled in the full range of issues involved. They are vulnerable to being hurt by a vicious film like Moore's.

There are others who joined for reasons of money and other benefits, and never gave full thought to the issues. For them, seeing this film has jolted them grievously because they never even knew where some of these countries were that we have been serving in. Imagine the impact this film has on them.

And there are those who are hurting from being away from family and loved ones. They are burnt out, already hurting inside from 15 months of duty out here, and now to be hit w/ this film.. it is devastating.

Lastly, there are those like me, who want to explode in anger and rage at this abuse of the First Amendment and the way Moore has twisted reality so harshly.

Specialist Janecek, who is feeling depressed because a close family member is nearing the end of her life, just saw the film today. I saw him in the DFAC. He is devastated. "I feel shitty, ashamed, like this was all a lie." Not only is he looking at going straight to a funeral when he returns home, but now whatever pride he felt for serving here has been crushed by Moore's film. Specialist Everett earlier after seeing the film: "You'll be mad at shit for ever having come here."

And there are others. Mostly the comments are absolute shock at the close connections Moore makes between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family in Saudi Arabia. "Bush looks really really REALLY corrupt in this film. I just don't know what to think anymore," is a common comment to hear. Some of these soldiers are darn right ashamed tonight to be American soldiers, to have been apart of this whole mission in Iraq, and are angry over all that Moore has presented in his film.

We know this is all based on Moore's lies and deceptions. But we, I'm afraid, are a minority. Right now, just days away from what should be a proud and happy return from 15 months of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, your U.S. soldiers are coming back ashamed and hurt because of Moore's work.

What these good yet impressionable soldiers don't realize is that twisting reality and manipulating the truth is something lawyers do every day in court for their clients. OJ Simpson, so clearly guilty in the ghastly murders, was able to get off because his lawyer team completely confused the issue. Now today, in typical fashion, Moore is doing the very same thing in this film. This is, frankly, the nature of political debate in a democracy -- especially when extremism is allowed to go unchecked.

Lt. Bischoff is so angry he could explode. He knows Moore's work is based on lies and distortions, but as he says, "the damage is done." Clearly, this is the type of thing we expect from angry leftists like Moore. What we didn't expect was the full impact this film is now having and how it has been embraced and supported by so many Hollywood elites. Lt. Bischoff says Moore's film is a work of deception, lies and distortions that when seen by those unfamiliar w/ the issues involved, has the effect of attacking the American peoples' resolve and focus in this war.

From what I've heard from the soldiers, the things that have them most shocked and upset them are the connections Moore makes between the Bush family and the Bin Ladens. The impression is that Bush is part of a conspiracy that supported the September 11th terrorist attacks. They speak of how Moore makes a convincing case all the way from the 2000 election to now that Bush and Cheney are all about making money. That the September 11th attacks were merely calculated by them as to how they would earn them more money. They speak of the Saudi who was a fellow soldier w/ Bush in the National Guard, and how Moore makes it all look like Bush is more beholden to Saudi interests than US interests.

Moore's commentary and striking video stunts, such as confronting politicians w/ enlistment papers for their kids, of course hurts and affects these soldiers out here badly. These are the ones who have sacrificed much to serve. Moore's stunt is powerful.

I sometimes want to be mad at my fellow soldiers for being susceptible to Moore's distortions, but I can't really blame them. These are good Americans, who have volunteered to serve our country. Nothing says they all have to be experts in Middle Eastern issues and history and politics to serve. That would be silly. ...But this is, of course, the vulnerability that Moore has exploited.

I wonder how damaging and shocking a Moore project would have been in the 1940s making such a video of Franklin Roosevelt. All the corruption and decadence in that administration would have fed such a project well. Or how damaging and shocking would such a Moore project have been to Lincoln, who wavered and shifted often in finding the right mediums and balances in pursuing the great causes of the Civil War. ...Need I even suggest the impact such would have had on Kennedy or Johnson and all their hypocrisies?

Moore is hurting us, hurting America, and today I can tell you he is hurting your soldiers. I don't know what to ask, except that good people out there find ways to organize information so that we can better counter Moore's impact. Is there anyone in Hollywood who is willing to stand up and make a similar film to counter Moore's? I know good people w/ integrity in the film industry don't want to be seen as pushing a political agenda in movies. But this is EXACTLY what Moore and the radical leftists in Hollywood have done. Is there no way to put together a response to them?

I hope more people will arm themselves w/ the facts and the realities of the situation out here and in the world at large. Our political arena is taking a big hit from this film by Moore, and it should tell us all something when terrorist groups like Hezbollah are distributing it around to their own people.

I think it is sad and unfortunate that at this last hour of a long and difficult deployment, so many soldiers are being made to feel ashamed and "shitty" for having ever served in this whole mission. Moore has abused the First Amendment. This is his right, and we soldiers have defended that right, but we who know better should NOT just sit back and let such enemies w/in our own country get by w/ such assaults unanswered.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: f911; fahrenheit911; kuwait; moore; morale; sedition; traitor
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To: Varmint Al

Thanks for posting Brittany's very well done piece! Her rebuttal is what those service members need to be told who are disheartened by Moore's propaganda-mentary.


61 posted on 07/26/2004 8:33:33 AM PDT by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

I think our men and women in uniform are strong individuals and very capable of seeing through the political propaganda of Moore's crappy homemovie. The liberal establishment and the pop culture groupies are the ones rejoicing in Moore's film. Most Americans are also smart enough to realize that "F-911" is political hogwash and nothing but a bunch of allegations deliberately spread to further the cause of liberal John Kerry and damage the credibility of PresBush.


62 posted on 07/26/2004 8:33:59 AM PDT by Reagan Man (.....................................................The Choice is Clear....... Re-elect BUSH-CHENEY)
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To: Modernman

You have to remember that the troops don't recieve much info about the real world when they are deployed. They are seeing this film in a virtual bubble, without the ability to find refuting information on the subject. Nobody is there telling them that this is BS, because the officers and NCOs are actively discouraged from talking politics with the lower enlisted.

This propaganda piece should NEVER have been allowed in-theater. Wait until these troops get back home and find out that they've been lied to by the DemonRats. It ain't gonna be pretty.


63 posted on 07/26/2004 8:38:59 AM PDT by ex 98C MI Dude (Proud Member of the Reagan Republicans)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

The thought of our brave troops sitting through this crap, and doubting themselves is unbearable.

We have been remiss in our duty to spread the truth about this pack of lies.
Check out this thread, "59 Deciepts"- it rebuts point by point. A long read but well worth it. We need to get this info out.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1166355/posts

Another good read, "Documentary, 'a lie'", from the Sydney,Austrailia paper - excellent rebuttal:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178110/posts

The website www.Moorelies.com is a good site also.

We need to step up and email as many of our troops as possible. They deserve our support.


64 posted on 07/26/2004 8:42:17 AM PDT by baseballmom (Michael Moore - An un-American Hatriot)
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To: embedded_rebel; Poohbah; Long Cut; Pukin Dog; section9; Common Tator; mhking; Howlin; ...

This guy has done stuff there before... and he's in the past covered what's going on there.

This is pretty serious, if true.


65 posted on 07/26/2004 8:45:50 AM PDT by hchutch ("Go ahead. Leave early and beat the traffic. The Milwaukee Brewers dare you." - MLB.com 5/11/04)
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To: thepackn83
I hope Michael Moore and his leftist brethren can sleep at night after producing such an anti-American propaganda film

Trust me when I say they are "sleeping well"!

They don't mind at all dancing in the blood of America and the ultimate train-wreck of our free society if it will propel them back into power so they can control the wreckage for their own evil purposes.

66 posted on 07/26/2004 8:46:07 AM PDT by Gritty ("Don't go the American way... it is the wrong way"-Michael Moore)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
This is one of the many reasons why I wish Bush had called for a formal declaration of war on terrorism. With a declaration of war, when Moore had accepted Hezbollah as a Middle Eastern distributor of his little movie, he could be sitting in jail right now, awaiting trial for treason.
67 posted on 07/26/2004 8:46:09 AM PDT by Uncle Vlad
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To: valkyrieanne

Nonsense.


68 posted on 07/26/2004 8:49:33 AM PDT by Max Combined
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Hang 'em High!


69 posted on 07/26/2004 8:50:38 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
To me, the worst part is that these soldiers are going to be asked to vote soon, since they will be voting absentee! These lies and distortions could affect they way they might have originally planned to vote. If they are convinced that Bush is corrupt, they might be persuaded to vote for (UGH) Kerry, thinking that at lease, he wasn't connected to the Saudis.

This is just pernicious. If they're going to show the movie, they should at least have folks there ready to combat the deceptions put forth by MM, and be able to talk to the soldiers about them.

70 posted on 07/26/2004 8:52:10 AM PDT by SuziQ (Bush in 2004-Because we MUST!!!)
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To: hchutch

This doesn't quite ring true. The most likely reaction Moore's tripe would get from those who've been there and done that is a hearty "F*** YOU, GIRLIE MAN!"


71 posted on 07/26/2004 8:53:17 AM PDT by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man." -- John Dryden)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

I'm not discounting the post, but I have a little more faith in those serving in our military.


72 posted on 07/26/2004 8:55:06 AM PDT by Gothmog (The 2004 election won't be about what one did in the military, but on how one would use it)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

One small thing that could be done is to start writing a penpal or two in Iraq. Show them that we support them and also counter the lies in F911 if those come up. I know I have seen some websites that organize this sort of thing. Perhaps we need to be more active in this respect? If done on a large enough scale I think this could have a big impact.


73 posted on 07/26/2004 8:57:38 AM PDT by Avenger
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
".....The impact is devastating......"

That was his purpose in the first place......To undermine both the Home- and Foreign-Fronts of the WOT.

74 posted on 07/26/2004 8:59:21 AM PDT by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Treason in wartime. Aid and comfort to the enemy. Wall. Blindfold.


75 posted on 07/26/2004 9:00:30 AM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Travis McGee
Treason in wartime. Aid and comfort to the enemy. Wall. Blindfold.

Far too merciful.

Give 'em a date with the Turk.

76 posted on 07/26/2004 9:02:53 AM PDT by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man." -- John Dryden)
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To: All
The sad thing is, Many of the US Military personnel are willing to accept Moore's comments as "fact". Never bothering to look into the deception or lies.

I was recently in SWA area on a Deployment.. I do not know how many times I heard comments about Halliburton making "millions and millions" because of Vice President Cheny... Although today.. it was announced that Halliburton reported a $663 Million Dollar Loss in the 2nd Qtr... due to the KBR subsiderary loosing money... (The one with all the military contracts)

I also noticed alot of "liberal" thinking military folks who were screaming that rich people in the world were making the rules and everyone else was oppressed.. so when I asked them if they thought it was better if Kerry became President. Most would say yes.. then when I pointed out how much Kerry was worth according to his own admission.. they would back peadle.

Then what really scared me.. my own troop thought Michael Moore was "cool" and his hero. When I asked why he told me that Moore was just a "common" person who told things like it is.. I tried to point out Moore's untruths in Bowling For Columbine and the kid just shrugged and stated that Moore was right anyway.. Scared me.. But thats what were up against.. Even when they are presented the facts that Moore lies or distorts they truth.. they still believe that he is right and "just".
77 posted on 07/26/2004 9:06:21 AM PDT by Kitanis
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To: Carl/NewsMax

ping


78 posted on 07/26/2004 9:08:37 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: valkyrieanne

You're right.

It's very unfortunate. Because Moore has asked these questions, he's tainted them. We deserve to know, but now we can't push for answers without lumping ourselves in with him.

That's the most damaging thing about this film. I don't buy the whole "our soldiers are uneducated, simple folk" nonsense.


79 posted on 07/26/2004 9:11:38 AM PDT by horatio
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
It may be appropriate to cross-post the links found on this thread to the Freeper Canteen threads. At least this information refuting the lies and distortions will get out to some of our troops this way.

It worth noting that these antics have been going on for quite a long time. The name Tokyo Rose comes to mind. The difference is now the propaganda comes from inside our own border in addition to those of our enemies. By his own admission through his own words, Michael Moore doesn't give a damn about the victims of 9/11 or the troops sent in harm's way as a result. To him, the end justifies the means.

The sad irony in all this is the troops in country, while protecting the freedoms we cherish so dearly in America, are also protecting the freedoms of those who would lie, spin and distort the truth to further their own twisted agenda.
80 posted on 07/26/2004 9:11:46 AM PDT by BraveMan
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