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History Channel 2 Hour Documentary Premier: The True Story of Charlie Wilson
History Channel et. al. ^ | December 22, 2007 | Staff

Posted on 12/21/2007 7:32:45 PM PST by flattorney

Produced by Wild Eyes Prods. Executive producers, Carl H. Lindahl, David Keane; producers, Ryan Spyker, Aaron Cowden; director, Keane; writers, Bowden, Terrence Henry. Narrator: Bill Lloyd. Editor, Justin Inda; music, Michael Plowman. Running time: 120 Min.

“Charlie Wilson’s War” (Wide Release Theater Movie)
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adaptation, Biopic and War
Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.
Release Date: December 21st, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.
Distributors: Universal Pictures Distribution
Production Co.: Icarus Productions, Participant Productions, Relativity Media, Playtone
Studios: Universal Pictures
Filming Locations: Morocco
Los Angeles, California USA
Produced in: United States
- - Based on the true story of how Charlie Wilson, an alcoholic womanizer and Texas congressman, persuaded the CIA to train and arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. With the help of rogue CIA agent, Gust Avrakotos, the two men supplied money, training and a team of military experts that turned the ill-equipped Afghan freedom-fighters into a force that brought the Red Army to a stalemate and set the stage for conflicts in the Middle East that still rage to this day.
Reviews and additional movie information:
Movie Review Query Engine
Internet Movie Database
Yahoo Movies
Rotten Tomatoes

Book: Charlie Wilson's War:
The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press (April 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871138549
ISBN-13: 978-0871138545
------
PaperBack – 550 pages
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Pub. Date: April 2004
ISBN-13: 9780802141248

Posted for FlAttorney by TAB


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aaronsorkin; afghanistan; alqaeda; avrakotos; benazirbhutto; billcasey; bogusmovie; boxoffice; charliewilson; charliewilsonswar; cia; corruptdemocrats; crile; deguerin; democrats; documentary; georgecrile; gustavrakotos; herring; historychannel; intel; jackwheeler; joanneherring; liberals; michaelvickers; movie; pakistan; reagan; reaganswar; ronaldreagan; scam; shadowparty; soros; taliban; terrorists; texas; tomhanks; vickers; wot
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To: Just A Nobody; Calpernia

From Calpernia’s link:

Gust Avrakotos, from Aliquippa, PA, just northeast of Pittsburgh.


41 posted on 12/22/2007 3:07:21 AM PST by freema
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To: Ann Archy

bump


42 posted on 12/22/2007 4:18:21 AM PST by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: freema

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/12/26/gust_avrakotos_67_led_cias_arming_of_afghan_mujahideen_against_soviets/
Gust Avrakotos, 67; led CIA’s arming of Afghan mujahideen against Soviets

Created a very, very large blackmarket of our weapons. Some of which were still being chased down. Many of these monies were also funneled to fund Sheik Rahman, mastermind of the WTC ‘93.


43 posted on 12/22/2007 4:21:24 AM PST by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: Calpernia; smoothsailing; Just A Nobody; jazusamo; RedRover; W04Man; Fedora; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; ...

Merry Christmas, Calpernia-

Additionally, I would add that regarding your opinion that Abscam is the stepping stone to Able Danger:

When one looks at the parallel to the timeline of the publication of George Criles’ (U.S. Marine Corps Reservist) book, Tom Hanks procurement of the movie rights, and production of the movie,

and

looks at the timeline of murtha’s behavior concerning his remarks about the war and the blood thirsty Marines

one just wants to kick some ass.

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=24234


44 posted on 12/22/2007 4:50:46 AM PST by freema
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To: freema

Ass kick bump


45 posted on 12/22/2007 4:56:58 AM PST by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: denydenydeny

Having read the book and seen the film you would be wrong.


46 posted on 12/22/2007 5:43:39 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: TLI

Yeah, you’re right this couldn’t have happened to people from any other State, but Texas.


47 posted on 12/22/2007 5:47:08 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: discostu
You just wrote the best review I’ve seen of all the people who have posted on the subject.....who have not seen the film or read the book. Go enjoy the film and let me know what you think after.

Recon Dad

48 posted on 12/22/2007 5:49:31 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: bpjam
Julia Roberts role could have been played by a dozen other women though.

Google Joanna Herring and see what see looks like. I did it right after seeing the film and looked at the pictures of her in the book. She is really looks a lot like her. Last night History channel had her on and even after all the years that have past you can see why the picked Roberts.

49 posted on 12/22/2007 5:55:03 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: sinanju

Perfect review. You are going to read the book twice, I did. The build up and machinations that take place to make this all possible make it a great read.


50 posted on 12/22/2007 6:05:55 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: Robwin
Charlie’s reputation as a boozer and womanizer was well-known throughout the region, thus I was always amused and chagrined that the fine Christian folk of East Texas elected and re-elected that putz time after time.

This was well document in the book and Crile’s take was that they voters knew about Charlie but he was like the son you could always forgive no matter what.
A flawed man can have one redeeming event in his life and in Charlie’s it was Afghanistan. In one thing in his life he can say “I made a difference”.

51 posted on 12/22/2007 6:13:15 AM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: Recon Dad

Oh I loved it, you and I are on one of the other threads about the movie together. Even handed and entertaining.


52 posted on 12/22/2007 7:15:47 AM PST by discostu (a mountain is something you don't want to %^&* with)
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To: discostu
They did leave in the part of our abandonment of Afghanistan contributing to 9-11, but that’s the truth.

Oh, the USA is good at the abandonment thing. We did the same thing to South Vietnam. We left them to die and rot under communism. Thanks to the Marxist Dimocrats in the Peoples Congress.

53 posted on 12/22/2007 7:21:44 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Better prepare, come Nov 08, we have a Marxist Commissar President and Marxist Congress.)
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To: RetiredArmy

Well in South Vietnam we lost, can’t really blame us for abandoning a lost battlefield. But we do have a history of a firm handshake and walking out the door once we’ve gotten what we want out of another country. The US is definitely not the kind of guy who makes breakfast the next morning. And I think that’s a good discussion to have right now while we’re in Iraq, everybody whose complaining we should flee Iraq (and Afghanistan) is basically saying we should do now what we did in 1989, and the need to be reminded of just how well that worked.


54 posted on 12/22/2007 7:29:35 AM PST by discostu (a mountain is something you don't want to %^&* with)
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To: freema

Thanks for the ping.


55 posted on 12/22/2007 9:36:10 AM PST by sweetiepiezer (Duncan Hunter .....................a man of his word.)
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Comment #56 Removed by Moderator

To: flattorney

The book was great. I’ll probably see the film.


57 posted on 12/22/2007 10:16:32 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: nancytx; flattorney; Calpernia; discostu; fnord; billorites; bpjam; sinanju; Robwin; BnBlFlag; ...
Excellent Charlie Wilson special web page by the Lufkin (Texas) Daily Newspaper
# Many articles and documents links, videos, photos, and resources

10/03/07: Ex-Rep. Charlie Wilson leaving hospital after Heart Transplant
# Retired U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson is leaving a Houston hospital ten days after a successful heart transplant. The 74-year-old Wilson will be discharged from The Methodist Hospital on Thursday. Wilson received a heart from a donor in Kansas on September 24. Wilson, who represented Texas' 2nd district in the House from 1973 to 1996, is the subject of an upcoming movie starring Tom Hanks. The film "Charlie Wilson's War" is scheduled for Christmas release, is about Wilson's efforts to arm Afghani mujahedeen during their war against the Soviet Union. Wilson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped secure money for weapons, including Stinger missiles. Wilson was known as "Good Time Charlie" when he was in Washington.

June 2003: Charlie Did IT
# Comprehensive article with one section written by Charlie Wilson’s War book author George Crile

12/20/07: Houston Socialite talks "Charlie Wilson's War"
- Video interview by local ABC News with Joanne Herring (78 y.o.)

12/20/07: Article and video interview with Joanne Herring: Houston Socialite's Battle against Communism turned into movie - Local CBS News interview

12/16/07, Houston Chronicle article and video interview: Joanne Herring celebrates "Charlie Wilson's War

4/13/07 - Houston Chronicle: Joanne Herring has lots to say on many subjects. Just listen:

12/11/07 Houston Chronicle: Charlie Wilson's War makes a Texas-size debut

Local Houston NBC News Review: "Charlie Wilson's War a Big Winner (4 of 4 Stars)

Houston Chronicle CWW Review: "Stops 30 minutes Shy of Greatness" (3 or 4 Stars)

Charlie Wilson's War Official Movie Website

Women like Joanne pick the men, they don’t pick her. She got what she wanted from Charlie Wilson and that was that. As to Charlie during the time they were together the following quote comes to mind - “That guy's soft. Look in his face. The booze and the concha (cocaine) tell him what to do.” – Tony Montana, Scarface (1983). The hot tub scene in the movie reminded me of Tom ‘Hot Tub’ DeLay during his younger wild partying political days in Houston and Austin. At least Tom stop the boozing and womanizing when he became very religious, Charlie never did. Tom looks and acts fantastic at 60. I think Ms. Herring should become an honorary FReeper! and the GOP should turn her loose against Hillary Clinton. - NancyTx

@ @ @

Here you go nancytx. I got it all fixed up for you. Let me know if it’s not alright. Thank you very much for all your time and input. Have a wonderful holidays! – TAB

58 posted on 12/22/2007 10:20:38 AM PST by flattorney (See my comprehensive FR Profile "Straight Talk" Page)
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To: flattorney

I hope someone is telling the true story, because Hollywood damn sure won’t.


59 posted on 12/22/2007 10:34:55 AM PST by DesScorp
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To: nancytx
I added a direct link to your above links and comments post to FlAttorney's FR "Straight Talk" page as follows: - TAB

Charlie Wilson’s War
12.21.07: Theater Movie wide release | 12.22.07: 2 Hour TV Documentary Premier: The True Story of Charlie Wilson
| Book (5 Stars) | Support Articles and “Dirt” | FR comments and intel | All FR Threads: Charlie Wilson (War)
Excellent resource links and videos for Joanne Herring and Charlie Wilson courtesy FR NancyTx


60 posted on 12/22/2007 10:39:53 AM PST by flattorney (See my comprehensive FR Profile "Straight Talk" Page)
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