Fahrenheit 411

Posted By Blackfive

Normally, I wouldn't go where Christopher Hitchens has already slashed and burned...

The Chicago Red Streak, which is the left-winger, pseudo-hipster version of the Chicago Sun-Times, ran this story today that is quite even-keeled about Michael Moore and his new movie. Here are some parts of the article:

Fahrenheit 9/11: Are facts left out in cold?
BY TOM MCNAMEE - RED STREAK

Michael Moore's new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is part documentary and part indictment. It's a furious, often funny, attack on President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Moore, accused of playing loose with the facts in "Bowling For Columbine" and "Roger and Me," says he bent over backward to get the smallest details right this time. But critics of the film, which opened on Friday, are finding plenty to complain about.
<...>
Nonetheless, many viewers will leave the theater with the impression the Saudis, thanks to special treatment from the White House, were permitted to fly away when all other planes were grounded. This false impression is created by Moore's failure, when mentioning Sept. 13, to emphasize that the ban on flights had been eased. The false impression is further pushed when Moore shows singer Ricky Martin walking around an airport and says, "Even Ricky Martin couldn't fly."
<...>
But the movie fails to mention that the FBI interviewed about 30 of the Saudis before they left. And the independent 9/11 commission has reported that "each of the flights we have studied was investigated by the FBI and dealt with in a professional manner prior to its departure."
<...>
In Dec. 1997, a delegation from Afghanistan's ruling and ruthless Taliban visited the United States to meet with an oil and gas company with extensive dealings in Texas. Unocal was interested in building a natural gas line through Afghanistan. Moore implies Bush, then governor of Texas, met with the delegation.

But, as the Gannett News Service points out, Bush did not meet with the Taliban reps. What's more, Clinton administration officials did sit down with Taliban officials, and the visit was made with the Clinton administration's permission.

There's a lot more spelled out in plain english that examines the factual and spun parts of Michael Moore's movie.

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This is a letter from one of my ninja minions, in response to this post about 9/11 and the morality of stealing someone else's intellectual property. It proves you can dislike George W. Bush and still think Michael Moore a... [Read More]

Comments

[Bonfire7]

Try as I might, I can't get my lowly version of Typepad to do the trackback thing on your blog. Anyway, I linked to the story on my end.

I just saw Mr. Hitchens on Dennis Miller's show. What an interesting guy. Thanks for the post.

[Trix]

I agree. The movie is amusing, but not very factual. I don't think it should be boycotted though. Neither should Bill Clinton's book be boycotted as Bill Clinton alleges on his online diary. This is America. They have the right to make it. Others have the right to ripp it apart.

[Cate]

I'm with Trix. I kind of like Michael Moore because he's amusing and he gets people talking; as a documentarist (if that's even a word), his credibility is near to nil. But I think that everyone should see this film not to change people's minds, but to give them something to talk about.

[PJ]

Propaganda has never been done better. Moore is certainly an evil genius with a warped mind and boundless energy. Being exposed to the offal of Moore's mind is a dubious experience, very similar to pornography.

I'm with Cate. Everyone should get HIV too. Sniffing glue helps break the ice as well.
I also think everyone should smoke crack cocaine to have something to talk about. And suicide attempts are also great conversation starters. Everyone should do it sometime.

[Blackfive]

Boycotting is not book burning.

I'll watch 9/11 to judge for myself, but not until I can watch it for free. I don't want any of my money winding up in Michael Moore's bank account.

As for Clinton's book, I don't see why reading it is going to give me any more insights into his presidency - especially, after all of the horrible reviews it's received.

[Patrick Chester]

Boycotting is not book burning.

Some can't see the difference. Of course, they're usually the kind who can't stand being, gasp, ignored. :)

[Cate]

And PJ is next in line for a cup of warm milk. It's called knowing thy enemy. Blackfive mentioned that he'd watch it if he could do so for free - sounds good. I mean, how do you plan to defend yourself if you don't know what the attacks are?

[Crusader]

"I haven't seen Fahrenheit 9/11 and I have no intention to. So, if you want to make one of those pious declarations about how you can't judge the movie unless you've seen it, be my guest. It's a fair response as far as it goes. But just for the record, I haven't seen the Bare Wench Project either. But few would argue I need to see it before I can form any opinions about porn movies. Such opinions might include: bad lighting, too many fat hairy guys getting in the camera's way, etc."

http://www.nationalreview.com/goldberg/goldberg.asp

Pretty well sums it up, but I agree, if I can see it for free/no cost to me-money to MM, I will watch it.

[Alice]

So are you saying "The Bare Wench Project" is bad? God, you guys are picky. I think getting a free viewing is just what Moore deserves. He's impossible to please, even if you want to. Be afraid of Bush, but not so afraid you buy a gun. Be afraid because the terror alerts aren't accurate, but again, not so afraid you buy a gun or support a war because that causes teenagers to go postal on their classmates. On that note, simultaneously send more and fewer troops to Afghanistan. And hate Hussein because he was an evil dictator, but he should still be the evil dictator. I'm not at all confused.