Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers

No doubt this will automatically be labeled as "liberal propaganda" by some but the issues tackled in this film should be of concern to everyone, Republican or Democrat.

I must admit that I didn't know much about contracting before this film came along, though I had heard bits and pieces before in the news about Dick Cheney's shady Halliburton dealings. "Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers" truly opened my eyes to the horrendous waste and fraud that is going on in Iraq and the risks that contractors and our troops have been exposed to by companies who were found in some cases to value money more than human life. People might possess the misconception that this film takes a stance against the war and against private contracting in general, but that is absolutely not the case; rather it takes a stand against war PROFITEERING and tells the stories of those who have been personally affected by it. The interviews with family members whose loved ones died needlessly are truly heartbreaking, as is the moving testimony of a former Halliburton employee, Ben Carter, who discovered the company was providing contaminated water to soldiers.

I recommend that everyone show the film to friends, family and co-workers since Brave New Films counts on people and not theaters to distribute their movies. A definite must-see.

This film shows how our tax dollars were wasted! We are paying contractors at prices far higher than what it costs us for the same thing. For example, buying new trucks every time one of them gets a minor maintenance problem. Another example of abuse is the fact that we are paying $99 per bag of laundry to get it washed by a contractor. Still another example of abuse, is that one of the contractors is supplying water to our troops that contains diseases in it for people to shower in. Also, it shows in detail how we paid to torture war prisoners. Another shocking detail was how the contractors did not get the proper equipment to protect themselves. Additionally, the contract workers were saying in 5-star hotels at night, while our troops were getting tents. What is even more shocking is the connections these companies have with officials, and how contracts to them were awarded without taking bids.

Our country needs to stand up, and hold our people in the white house, congress, the justice department, and our military accountable for these actions. We have spent almost a half a trillion dollars on the Iraq War now, and billions of it were wasted in this abuse of our money by these private contractors. Thanks to Robert Greenwald for getting out the truth to the American public again!!!!!

The story of the connection between the privately held corporations that have profited from the war in Iraq without oversight and the Bush administration has been revealed in bits and pieces over the years. This film attempts to connect the links and highlight the impact that it has had on the lives of those most affected. It is admirable that a first time director would tackle such a feat, but it could be done more successfully. Better editing and a little more research into the issues could have made this film stronger. There are a few things that I find annoying in the film. First is the sloppy use of Powerpoint like graphs & tables. The directors show names of companies and individuals in boxes and lines in between them, but never really backs this up with any explanation of what the boxes & lines represent, much less actually proving that links between the many people mentioned actually exist. The directors also make heavy-handed use of dramatic music, which usually gets on my nerves. If the story is dramatic (which it is) and effectively presented (this could have been done with better editing), such hyperbole isn't needed. A lot of the information has been previously reported in The Nation, The Christian Science Monitor & Democracy Now, what this documentary adds is the personal toll that the privatization of war has had on those who fight it. Many of the interviews are very good, though a bit repetitive in their message. A clearer structure to the film, either by a timeline or using an omniscient narrator, would have made it stronger. As it stands the film is repetitive & I found myself (someone already familiar with the story) nodding off at about the half way point. Some talking heads (NGO representatives, academics, etc.) would have also strengthened this film and give it a bit more analytical edge to it.

Iraq For Sale is a truly horrifying documentary about the state of war profiteering in Iraq as allowed or encouraged by Washington in the United States. Not to be misunderstood or understated, it is terrifying how reckless the companies mentioned in the film (Halliburton et al) act towards their customers (US Military) and their employees in pursuit of the mighty dollar. Sending out trucks on delivery missions empty because they can charge the government for sending them to the bases. Providing dubious contaminated water to the troops from their water treatment plants, and charging $100 to wash a bag of laundry to mention a few. What is even more terrifying is that the Pentagon just ignores the abuse or gives the companies a slap on the wrist for their trouble, all the while continuing to funnel billions or more dollars into their pockets. I used to accept that war was about ideology and defense, this documentary proved me wrong. War is about the pursuit of wealth and power!

The math is very simple. Contribute a couple of million dollars to key congressional figures and the Republican party and get $19 BILLION dollars worth of contracts in Iraq. You figure out the profit percentage. It's far more that your bank is paying you for your savings. How about a $4.5 million dollar investment by Halliburton resulting in so many billions of dollars in contracts that the CEO makes over $40 million. Do you really believe that the Vice-president, the former head of Halliburton, is not actively involved? Military that were involved in abuse of Abu Gahrib were court-martial-ed and jailed, while civilian contractors, after killing Iraqis were simply sent home to come back later with another contractor. At this the President dances and jokes and grins like a monkey.

The billions of dollars that we are spending in Iraq is going to companies that are major Republican contributers and they are not accountable for the fraud, waste, and abuse they are perpetrating on the American people.

It should be the obligation of every American to see this film before they cast another vote.