Blood and Oil

Blood and Oil is a documentary about America's long and passionate love affair with cheap oil and the bloody lengths, including schmoozing up to some pretty strange and unpleasant bedfellows, to which we have gone to keep it flowing freely. It strips away the romanticism and innocence that has graced our diplomacy when it comes to geopolitics and we are left with the realization that, since at least 1945, every American president has kissed the hand of Saudi despots--and others as well--to make sure that our national wealth continues to grow, "plastics" make promising careers, three-ton SUVs can ply our freeways, and we continue to be the "arsenal of the world". This movie is not for those who demand complete allegiance to the American flag and blame Native Americans for wasting a perfectly good continent. But if you are a seeker of truth and, ultimately, justice (not necessarily the "American Way"), you must see this movie.

A fine documentary which bases the whole concept around the critically acclaimed book by Nation magazine defense correspondent Michael T. Klare. The 52 minute long documentary confirms that the many times dismissed fact that the US is gong to war in distant countries is Based on the dependence of oil, is in fact very true.

USA goes to war mainly in the goal of securing oil reserves, and this is no conspiracy theory. It's a mere fact. And not only the US either. This is shown to historical records, by classified governmental documents, and presidential speeches as well as behaviors. For the last 60 years this has become more and more the truth, and the film serves as a warning that this will be worsened unless there's a change in direction.

Today more than 70 percent of the US oil usage comes from abroad deliveries, a number which was zero back in the mid fifties. And USA has made certain that the growth will continue, as ways of coming around even in the US not being dependent on oil, is almost impossible.

The girl serves well for educational use, as originally intended. Also as English education outside the US, due to the narration if Klare himself, being a great ans slow paced speaker, making you very aware of every word he says. So even without subtitling, this is a good film to use in education on high school level as well as above.

The DVD version also has a bonus feature in a filmed lecture from a university session, where Klare clarifies his findings in this area, which equally is good in use educationally. It'll be begs db used with a break half way, since he us the only one talking on this two camera production.

Many US citizens will not be particularly thrilled by watching this, but nevertheless, this is important learning for the self-titled "the world's greatest democracy" which in many ways shows that this dependence is something the free nation of the US is forced into by leaders as well as the industry, hence makers of cars, medicine, plastics and a lot if other consumer products.

Recommended!