Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

Well, well, well... another anti-USA film by a documentary film maker who has been born into every privilege in America has to offer and I guess its still not good enough to say Thank you, America, and Thank you, armed forces, for keeping me and mine safe and sound while we gallivant around on Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod and make films that would never be financed without my royal American family name.

I have seem Ms. Kennedy's films before (just saw another one about a nuclear power plant in NY state) and most of them are very liberal along the lines of every Republican is evil and every Democrat is a saint trying to right all the wrongs (perpetrated by evil Republicans, of course). In this one, Rumsfeld is the Villain.

I know it there were some pretty awful things done to the prisoners, but do we have to parade it out there again? When is enough enough, when is it time to just stop all the self-flagellation? I mean, punish those who committed crimes, don't let it happen again, and move on. It doesn't make what these maniac terrorists did any better, does it? In addition, some of the things considered "torture" according to this film are really pretty mild, considering.

I'm really tired of all the anti-American military "documentaries" out there-- its really nothing more than liberal propaganda if you ask me. I am pretty certain Ms. Kennedy has made a nice and tidy profit off of this type of stuff too. See it if you must, but you've been warned.

I may just have to go and see "Hillary's America" to erase the bad feelings.

After seeing this film at Sundance 07 all I can say is, Wow! Rory Kennedy directs a stunning documentary that examines the horrors and human atrocities of the notorious Abu Ghraib prison. The interviews with the US Soldiers involved and the Iraqi victims will leave the view speechless as we are left to ponder how could such things happen. What would make ordinary Americans do such terrible things to another person? How can the United States hold itself out as a beacon of freedom condone this type of treatment.

Ms. Kennedy does a phenomenal job of exploring this tragedy and looking for whom is accountable, all the way up to the President of the United Stated.

This film is a must see!!

Film Summary Through startling interviews with perpetrators, witnesses and victims, GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB examines and contextualizes the abuses that occurred in the fall of 2003 at the notorious Iraqi prison abuses documented in photographs that are etched in our national consciousness. The film probes the psychology of how typical American men and women came to commit these atrocious acts and, on a parallel track, explores the policy decisions that eroded our compliance with the Geneva Conventions and contributed to making the abuse a reality. Ultimately, the film asks what these events say about America, our government, our military and our human nature.

HBO Films is currently presenting one of the nominated documentaries for a Grand Jury Prize at this years Sundance Festival: Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. This is a film that needs to be seen by every American. It is a stark lesson in what happens when we are led by individuals who have no respect for law and human rights.

Rory Kennedy's film is a masterpiece that demonstrated how and why America was shamed. It begins and ends with the lessons from the Milgram Experiment conducted in 1961. The actions of the guards at Abu Ghraib replicate the Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971. What is crucial is the fact that, as in the experiments, it has to be assumed that the soldiers were acting under higher authority. Part of the shame of what happened is that this higher authority escaped punishment for their crimes. This is, of course, the way of the world. The peons get the shaft while the higher authorities get medals and promotions.

A critical piece of evidence present might be missed: the techniques used at Abu Ghraib came from the Brazilian Military. These low-ranking soldiers would not have known of these measures. They had to be taught.

Again. all Americans need to see this excellent film to see what happens when authority is abused and law is ignored.

The point of the documentary was to show that the acts carried out at the prison were under the direction, authority and knowledge of high-ranking military and executive office personnel. It was the result of policy under the Bush administration. Those accused of committing acts of torture were directed to do those things so often that it became routine for these people. When the acts of torture were exposed, the Bush administration threw those people under the bus and tried to disassociate themselves with all involvement in the events that happened at Abu Ghraib. I loved when John McCain called Rumsfeld out on the Senate floor (if you're going to lie, do it with some finesse, Rummy). Props to you, McCain.