Cool News
Capone Survives A Near-Miss With STOP-LOSS!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I’m still working on my review for this one, and I’ll post it later tonight. For now, Capone, you’ve beaten me. But we will fight again. Oh, yes, we will.
It's taken writer-director Kimberly Pierce nearly 10 years to make her follow up to the extraordinary BOYS DON'T CRY, and she, as many have before her in the last couple of years, has chosen the subject of the war in Iraq as her backdrop. She has assembled a fantastic cast of actors to tell her angry story of the government and military's policy to keep soldiers enlisted well beyond the year or so they signed up for. But STOP LOSS isn't really about the stop-loss loophole; it's about the psychological changes that go on inside a soldier's head when he returns home. It's about relationships torn apart because soldiers aren't eased back into comparatively quiet and uneventful lives after spending months on end thinking they could die at any moment. On that level, the film succeeds thanks to superb performances by the likes of Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum as soldiers returning home to Texas who the military are trying to pull back in.
Phillippe's character decides to run away rather than fight again. Abbie Cornish plays the girlfriend of one of his buddies (thankfully Pierce avoids any romantic entanglements) who travels with Phillippe to D.C., where he believes he can get in touch with a Congressman to sort out this problem. STOP LOSS also features strong performances from Ciaran Hinds and Linda Emond as Phillippe's parents, and Timothy Olyphant as his commanding officer. But there's something lacking and perhaps a bit predictable about STOP LOSS. Maybe part of it is just bad timing. Pierce's film comes after a year of one film about war in the Middle East after another. Each one has presented its story in different and sometimes trivial ways, but the subject of what exists for returning soldiers was covered to perfection in Paul Haggis' IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH, so this film seems to only skim the issue's surface. Some of the battle scenes at the beginning of the movie are pretty intense and certainly help explain the mental state of the soldiers, but it doesn't seem like enough.
Pierce seems to fall back on army speak and tried-and-true war-movie dialog to tell her story, and I know she's a better filmmaker than that. To prove that, Pierce doesn't give us easy solutions to the stop-loss situation, and most of the characters aren't better people or better off at the end of the film; a few are much worse off, in fact. But these nice touches aren't enough to place STOP LOSS in the pantheon of great films about war or the cost of it. Phillippe, Tatum and Levitt give fiercely strong and believable performances, and thankfully their acting elevates this wholly average production. But the film is a near miss in my book.
Capone
-
+ Expand All
-
this weekend
-
I have a new respect for him, although I don't know why anyone is his right mind would let Reese Witherspoon go. And oh yeah...let the crazed, right-wing, anti-everything that questions anything trumpeting begin!
-
I'm born-and-raised small town Texas. Meaning, my (public school) high school graduating class of 70 people means at least 5-10 join the armed services upon graduation, followed by many more in the following years. You don't sign up for 4 years... you sign up for 8 years. No one who enlists believes otherwise. You sign up for 4 years active duty; meaning you have the other 4 years as reserve duty (that means you can be called up at any time: by contract). Also, I don't know anyone (without wife or children) who has served only a single tour in Iraq or Afghanistan, short of death.
-
this whole "stop-loss" sucks; but it is isn't like our soldiers don't realize that they can get called out of reserve to active duty any given day. This film seems to make the opposite point.
-
Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks. After being sent back to Iraq he could lie dying in the sand and say, "I'm not even supposed to be here today."
-
You don't only enlist for 4 years... period. Go to your local enlister, and read the contract.
-
concerning the guys enlisting people for the armed services: DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD THEY SAY! read the paperwork they carry instead.
-
My only point is, out of the servicemen I know, several have been called back. Those called back (plus the guys I grew up with who now recruit for the military) all have the same opinion. That attitude is: FUCK!!!, I hoped this wouldn't happen but I signed the FUCKING PAPERS... "reporting for duty sir". But they all recognized and honored the contract they signed.
-
THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO BE SOOO TIGHT! Seriously, thats how they try to make this movie look like in the trailer. May as well put, featuring the music of Tru Sucka, Flabby Dabby, and whatever fucking dumb ass name the most popular rapper has right now. Soulja Boy?
-
Mr Spork, have a good one. I hope (but doubt) this will live up to Boys Don't Cry.
-
And Capones love at that film makes any further war film commentaries by him suspect. ELAH was every bit as overblown as Crash, and we all know how that film looks in retrospect.....ugh.
-
Okay, having just seen this film I have to clear this up. There is no way that a soldier can be sent back to Iraq after having been home only a few months. Most who are stoplossed have very little time left on their active duty or reserve/guard enlistment when their unit's mobilization order comes down. Also, when Phillipe sits down at a desk for his discharge and the guy tells him that he's been stoplossed - pure bullshit, as anyone in the military will tell you. Anyway, I know that it's pretty miniscule, but if there's anyone out there who's been to Iraq and has seen this movie, they'll understand. For the most part it was watchable, sometimes laughable; my buddies and I who were over there were laughing at the way the film slaughtered military lingo, and screwed up patches, ect, and some guy got mad and as we were leaving asked us if we thought post traumatic stress disorder was funny, which was pretty funny since all five of us were on medication to deal with it. Anyway, Iraq war movies are shit, rap music is shit, and to quote Phillipe in one early scene, "fuck the president" Huuuaaahh.
-
my son is a seargant in the marines; he has survived three full tours of duty in Iraq. When does this shit end?
-
it looks worth watching but nothing i'm rushing out to see any time soon.Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a fantastic actor so i'll usualy watch anything he's in.if u havn't seen him in brick do yourself a favor and watch it
-
Great avatar, Harry.
-
they need to have him on at least once a year. I can't stand the guy, then he comes on stern and makes me like him. and knew he would be great on stern last week, which he was.
-
http://tinyurl.com/2exkrx
-
Read my philippes.
-
Hope your son comes back soon and safe.
-
My heart goes out to you. Here's to your son's safe return.Hope TPTB will quickly understand the limits to military solutions.
-
Josef Goebbels would be proud. So would Stalin. I bet they've already shown this film to Bin Laden in whatever cave he's hiding in, and he's applauding it. It's not that you're traitors, and that you're factually wrong, and you are Americans who hate America and hate the people who give you the freedom to make treasonous movies. It's that you're lying. You're simply lying.
-
on friday, finishing 7th.
-
I have also survived 2 tours of Iraq and 1 of Afghan. I sat through the first 30-40 minutes, then realized, "This movie is shit" and left. Yes, the war sucks, no, I dont want to go back, no, I dont want to leave my wife and 3 children, but in 4 months I will be. The only thing this movie was made for is for the left wing "nazicrats" to show this to high school kids to try to dissuade them from enlisting in the military...talk about trying to throw the US of A under the bus. But hey, thats the democrats for ya.
-
A discussion about stop loss and wanting someone's son to return home safely does not equal hatred for such great American freedom fighters as the Founding Fathers (and mothers even thought they could not vote), Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, FDR, Ceasar Chavez and others, especially soldiers and veterans of all American wars for freedom.
-
Having seen the film yesterday, I agree with your review for the most part. However, since I have not yet seen the other Iraq War films from the past year or so, I don't think that their existence harmed the effectiveness of this film. I think that the screenplay for Stop-Loss was just not all it could have been. That's what hurt it. AND, the second thing I must mention is that you misspelled Kimberly Peirce's last name. I prefer your spelling though because the verb PIERCE is just so damn cool! Dumb reason but hey! And it also reminds me of the cutie Winona Ryder because she played a character with the last name PIERCE in Reality Bites. On another note, thanks for representing our very own CHICAGOLAND with yor kick-arse reviews!!!
-
Comparing those who disagree with the War in Iraq to Stalin and Goebbels only serves to undercut your credibility. It sounds like you're the one filled with hate. Also, to criticize anything based on factual content and support the War in Iraq is surely the height of irony.
-
I was going to leave a rather long-winded comment on your ludicrous name-calling comparison between the Democratic Party and the people who killed six million jews, but then I realized I would be arguing with someone who calls themself "ButBadger", and that's pretty sad.
-
For sparing us the long winded comment. I just call it like I see it.
-
For war films to really have an impact, they need to be made AFTER the war is over and done with, not DURING the damn thing! Most Americans are sick of the war and they sure as hell won't pay to watch it! Oh, and Cygnus, I assume you're posting from Iraq, fighting the good fight. I know you're not a chicken hawk like our esteemed Pres. and vice Pres.
-
When will they learn?
-
I enjoy reading the comments of those who are so vehemently against anti-war movies. Why? Because they so clearly illustrate the simple-minded idiocy of the counter-argument: that anyone who opposes war is a liar and a traitor who hates America... and it's just not possible or rational to oppose war for any reason whatsoever. Love America = Support War. Love that, fellas... very compelling.
-
Cheatin on Reese is pretty dumb though. She's pretty and talented and worth gamillions. I'd be her gimp bitch in a second.
-
As long as your American flag lapel pin is on full display, and you're T.V. is set to fox news, and you're white, Jesus loves you. Sigh...
-
to the American people- cause that would make them all America Haters. Mission Accomplished
-
When you join the military you are told that you are signing up for the length of your contract PLUS a period of years where the government can call you up again. You know why so few have contested stop-loss? Because they know what they agreed to. There is no surprise.
-
unless you consider an inadequate supply of body armor, armored humvees, ammunition a suprise. thank God for a strong economy
-
cuz it sure sounds like it.
-
Ever see any of those old WW2 movies? What on Earth happened to that? After 'the big one' Hollywood made movies about US Soldiers who were heroes, the light of the world. Now a days we get movie after movie designed to show our Govt. and militray in the worst possible light. Don't get me wrong. I am fully aware that there are (gasp) faults in our Govt. As well as tragedies caused by our Military (in a war how do you avoid this? Its war for Heaven's sake). The problem is there is an huge amount of people out there that believe the US is still the greatest country in the world, that have faith in our form of Govt. despite mistakes that have been made, that believe that we are still the bastion of liberty and the light of freedom for the whole world. People like me who believe our military is comprised of honorable, brave, hard working young men and women (and that a few morons doing horrible things should not take the spotlight from them). Like I said, I understand our Military and Govt. aren't perfect, but why do main stream filmakers have to chip away at the honor of our military and constantly tear down our Govt. (the same Govt. that gives them the right to their dissenting voice)? Why can't we have movies showing the heroism of our soldiers in the face of tragedy, fear, and horror? Why can't we have films championing the good that has been done in Iraq and the world through the efforts of our Govt. and our Military? Why do we instead get film after film like this one, that several actual soldiers have stated is overblown or outright false? Which is a whole problem in itself. Its like whoever wrote the script is so desperate to show the Military (and our Govt.) as unfair or even outright evil that they are willing to stretch, bend, or full on break the truth. I (and there are millions of people just like me) which much rather see the true stories of our American troops accomplishing great good all over the world.
-
I am so sick of hearing that stuff. Just because people love their country, or (shudder) happen to be conservative does not make them: morons, hatemongers (and or racists), just becuase we would rather laud the good of our nation does not mean we are ignorant or empathetic to its faults. And just because you don't like Fox News or Republicans or Conservatives (and you better believe those are two different things) or President Bush it doesn't automatically make you: enlightened (and or correct), sympathetic, or tolerant. Point of fact comments like yours often demonstrate the exact opposite of those traits. For example lets change your statement up a little and see how awful it sounds: As long as you have your Bush Lied, People Died bumper sticker on full display, and your T.V. is set to CNN, and your an Arab, Allah loves you. Man that is bigoted, intolerant, tripe.
-
"Ever see any of those old WW2 movies?" Are you referring to propaganda films? I seem to recall other films like William Wyler's "The Best Years of Our Lives" which frankly examined the effects war can have on the men who wage it. But that was an exception. After Vietnam, it became no longer acceptable to make films about empty heroics and jingoism in the face of senseless slaughter. The world, and indeed the cinema, woke up to a little thing we call reality. In this particular case, the War in Iraq, the reality included a trumped up rationale for the war(no WMDS, no working relationship between Saddam and Al-Queda)and a presidential administration willing to hold people indefinitely without trial, willing to torture, and willing to spy on American citizens without warrants. This is the type of government you wish for all citizens to blindly place their trust in? Just so you can sleep well at night with your fantasies of gallant John Wayne types fighting black baddies, while not breaking a sweat? This is reality. Like I said, "wake up" And stop using that "Govt." abbreviation. It's a bit much.
-
Who literally sounds like an insane person with posts like that and deserves all the mockery he draws. As for your previous question about why Iraq movies aren't like WW2 movies, I thinkt hat's pretty obvious, Iraq is about as far away from WW2 as you get. WW2 was quite obviously a righteous cause lead by one of the best Presidents in AMerican history. Flip that last statement around 180 degrees and you've got the war in Iraq. War films will always take on the tone of the war they are recreating. No filmmaker wants to be a part of selling this ridiculous campaign, nor can I blame them. Why can't we have films glorifying the good of the war? Well before you dot hat you gotta find some good. You can't create reality out of something that doesn't exist whether it's pro war or anti war. Maybe if things go our way over the next five years or so you'll have those films, but don't hold your breath. Now I'm not defending Stop Loss which I havent seen and I quite obviously hated In the Valley of Elah, but the tone or spirit of those films isn't necessarily the problem and I support what those filmmakers are trying to get across even if they fail.
-
They keep making 'em even though we keep not watching 'em, which shows you how committed they are to the message and/or fearful of testing that "America’s not ready yet" hypothesis with a pro-war flick. People go to the movies to be entertained, not be preached to about morality by Hollywood producer types. And any movie that glorifies desertion deserves to tank miserably.
-
Couldn't you call all of these films (like Stoploss) propaganda for our enemies? At least to some degree that is what you have. Also, I have already conceeded to the fact that our Government (better?) is far from perfect. I also realize that there are plenty of modern and classic WW2 films depicting the war in a very realistic and horrific fashion. I have no problem exploring both sides of the realities of war. The problem is, a person has to look very hard to find a film presenting the US cause in a positive light, whereas movies like Stoploss are widely distributed and marketed. The exception I take is with the prevailing attitude in our own media that we are the enemies, that we are the 'black baddies' (whatever that means). My point is, I should be allowed to love my country, warts and all, without being called stupid or a sheep or a bigot (explicitly or implied). I should be allowed to trumpet the fact that we do good in the world. And no, I refuse to accept your "reality" You talk about senseless slaughter? That is not what our soldiers do...they put themselves in greater risk just to insure, as much as possible, that the people they kill are enemy combatants. Our enemies on the other hand send their youth with bombs strapped to their abdomens to kill anyone who happens to be in range. My reality is our government has made very, very hard decisions; trying to fight a war, unlike any war known before. They have to fight aware against an enemy that does not wear uniforms. They have done hard things to try and accomplish that. Your arguments prove my point...you talk about torture, and holding people and phone taps...all with the implication that our Government is doing these things on a wide spread basis, without precedent or cause (none of which is true) and you completly ignore what our enemies do...subvert our own citizens, spread dissent and hatred, commit horrible atrocities in the name of their cause or religion...how is that fair? Its like you want the people protecting us to tie their hands as much as possible why allowing our enemies free rein to do whatever they please, with next to no one condeming their actions. That is reality, and that is exactly why I do not sleep all that great.
-
...the words "unpatriotic" where thrown around a lot. President Bush used it to his full advantage and anyone who was seen as not blindly supporting his decisions was called a supporter of terrorists. People who sought to think first and question actions instead of supporting irresponsible violence were met with anger and outrage. These movies are a backlash to that environment, and in that regards, they are just a drop in the bucket, and all of society needs to explore what happened after September.11, so that history does not repeat itself. However, these films come at a time when many people now agree with the point being made, so they are not as topical as they would have been five years ago, but there are things about the political/military environment over the last 8 years that could be creatively explored in an original manner which have not yet been done, but hopefully they won't be redundant. Also, Republicans have changed roles in recent decades, and are supporting rather than opposing more government control. The right to bear arms was created out of suspicion and mistrust of government, but now the Right supports a government that strips away all of our freedoms and liberties, and uses disaster and tragedy as an opportunity to do so. What's up with that?
-
Go Google "good things in Iraq" Not everything you find will be a reliable source, but you might be surprised. Just becaues you never hear about it from CNN doesn't mean nothing good has happened in that country.
-
Our government strips away all freedoms and liberties...funny I thought it was our government who (in many cases) first granted those freedoms and liberties...oh well my mistake...Guess you should be on the watch out for the secret police, who are bound to break in your door, put your head in a bag, and make you dissappear for your dissenting comments! Come on people this is my point! Our Government doesn't do those things, our enemies do. GD almost make me miss the cold war...at least back then it was okay to hate the enemy and like ourselves.
-
It was called "We were soldiers" and oh, did it suck. I like those old War movies to an extent too, but if you think "The Longest Day" is a realistic portrayal, you really should lay off the television for a while. Uber patriotic comic book war films died in popularity once we started engaging in needless and unpopular wars. I really think Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh should get together and work on a screenplay of a militantly propagandic pro-Iraq war, neoconservative movie, so we can all see just how diseased the right wing mindset is. Cygnus, cchhhrrrisssmmm, and but badger would all die of joy.
-
One can still love their country and at the same time, hate the politicans and current government officials that are fucking up one's country. In fact, that to me makes one more patriotic than someone who believes that being patriotic means supporting their government no matter what they do to the principles and foundations a country was built on. Politicans and governments are power-hungry by nature. Its up to a thinking and vocal populace to keep them in check. Thats what democracy is about.
-
"Its up to a thinking and vocal populace to keep them in check. Thats what democracy is about." Correct sir! And isn't it great that our government won't behead you for doing this? I think so. I am sorry, looking at my previous posts, I do imply that those who dissent hate the USA. I know that isn't always true (probably not true most of the time). It just seems to me that many people start out with the idea that our current government (which, btw includes a Democratic congress, with the constitutional power to end the war, but they won't) is wrong, greedy, and evil and then ignore anything that suggests otherwise, while trumpeting anything that proves the point. Look, I think Bush,et all have a lot to answer to, but I just don't see this wicked, dictator type making deals in smoke filled rooms for his own benefit, regardless of the cost to the American people (and peoples around the world). Stupid? Perhaps. Evil? I just don't see it.
-
I have to refer to your statement again. The other thing that bothers me is the implication that those who do not hate the politicians and current government officials are not thinking people. See it is the snarky way in which those with a dissenting view seem to see themselves as enlightened or better than the rest of us.
-
Home of the Brave w/ Sam the man, and the tv star, Jesica Biel, and the 50 cent. That dealt w/ Iraq and was gung ho. Now, I haven't seen it b/c i assume it's a piece of piece of shit. Who's pandering to the, lets say, 'Nascar crowd' errr... Freedom Fries folk.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0763840/ -
...then I apologize, sewiz. I do agree that people who discuss politics get too wrapped up with being right than actually considering the points the other makes. Then you have people who cannot discuss it without getting riled up and angry. On the one hand you could look at that as a positive thing that their love for their country is so great that they get so passionate to further their argument, but on the other hand, its done in a purely destructive manner and the country only suffers as a result. Its the fact that people view things so differently in the country that has led to such polarized opposites, so hopefully things will start middling out in the near future. It won't happen without some effort.
-
Those who want movies to portray it otherwise are the ones living in the land of make believe.
-
It's probably the same reason I hate puppies and sunshine and walks on the beach.
-
on the same side..... Im there...
-
Just allow them to stew impotently in their stupifying lack of knowledge while the world passes them by.
-
Where the hell did that come from???
-
WW2 and the war in Iraq? Really that divide just doesn't register? And you can't say that division doesn't matter because it's the only thing that matters when it comes to the films made about them. All the answer to your questions about the diferences in the films lie directly in the chasm that is the difference between the wars themselves. I think most of you guys are smart enough to see that.
-
Curse my terrible typing skills!
-
It showed the good and the bad, it wasn't preachy, pedantic, or jingoistic. Can't everyone agree BoB was sweet?
-
I can't claim to know why guys like Cygnus despise these movies so much exactly, but I know why they urk me: it's only one point of view. I can only hear about how horrible America is so many times before I wonder what the other perspective is. Why can't we have a movie about the US fighting a dictator who kills civilians with impunity, propped up by a military that hides vital equipment and resources near schools and hospitals, and the resulting attempt to give the disenfranchised people of that nation a voice? I don't deny that the US military has killed civilians in this war, but it was never intentional and usually the result of terrorists starting shit in populated areas. Furthermore, I don't deny that horrible things like Abu Graihb and other similar events are truly terrible, but let's keep it in perpective--we're at war with an ideology that wants to bomb civilization for publishing cartoons it doesn't like, treats women like dogs, and does any and every dirty, underhanded thing to kill US troops, civilians they don't like, and anyone else who gets in their way. Certainly, a movie COULD be made about villains like that... it probably won't be... but it could. There just isn't any ideological diversity coming out of Hollywood and it's truly sad.
-
it's a controversial stand, I know. i also pro-choice, anti-abortion- i believe women with unwanted pregnancies seeking abortions should be euthanized (after the baby is born of course). i am also pro death penalty, but only for misdemeanor parking violations.
-
Just one Iraq movie where Islamic extremists are the enemy and not the US would be nice. I get that there are issues with Iraq, I do. Just one Black Hawk Down type production.
-
Your ideas intrigue me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
-
but only against French Canadians and short people. Michael J Fox is my nemisis
-
Mar 29, 2008 5:21:46 PM CDT
Stripes, now there's your cutting edge war commentary!
by irrelevntelefant
-
A "near miss" is a hit!
-
War! What is it good for? A talkback!
-
I don't know how many in this talkback have actually watched the movie yet. I just got back from the theater. This isn't an anit-war or pro-war film. This is a intensly emotional pro-SOLDIER film. Stop-loss is about the difficulty these soldiers have when they are put in terrible situations on the other side of the world, then forced to put on a happy face for everyone back home. These are young men and women who sacrifice some of the best years of their lives to fight, kill, and maybe die for their country. I'd say Stop-loss does a spectacular job of conveying the conflicts these men are faced with when they return.
That said, stop-loss is a real problem. I'm glad this "backdoor draft" is getting some attention now. It's bullshit to ask so much from these brave men and women, then to demand even more. -
"We're at war with an ideology that wants to bomb civilization for publishing cartoons it doesn't like, treats women like dogs, and does any and every dirty, underhanded thing to kill US troops, civilians they don't like, and anyone else who gets in their way." If the US gave a rat's ass about any of that above and beyond realpolitik it would have broken off relations with Saudi Arabia (#1 nation behind the 9/11 attack) immediately. Better yet, it would have overthrown its government of fatass, fundamentalist creepazoid "Princes" in favor of democratic ideals. Too idealistic? Okay, let's keep talking purely in Machiavellian terms: Iraq was a stupid, self-defeating move by a bunch of fucking morons...Iran won, long story short. Or, mathematically put, the US is better at killing Iraqis than Hussein ever was. For "freedom" or to intimidate, you just can't beat America for ending Iraqi lives: Hundreds of thousands to get Kuwait "free" (actually, to perpetuate some equally totalitarian "Princes"), hundreds of thousands more for ineffectual sanctions that starved babies better than Ba'athists, hundreds of thousands more fighting a war on behalf of the Ayatollahs (might as well have been)...by comparison, even Blair's office sheepishly admitted in 2004 that about 5,000 bodies in Hussein's mass graves have been found to date (tinyurl.com/2ftmbg). Fuck this war, fuck the NeoCons, fuck the faded American flag on your SUV. Long live whichever liberal or weary war vet takes over from these loudmouth losers...
-
just want to see Muslims getting killed, and not for any justifiable ideals or national security. I can count at least two around these boards.
-
My take has never been that it's an "unresolved" war but a really, really stupid one. No one is stopping anybody from making a rosy, pro-Iraq war movie. There is no Hollywood cabal halting pro-Iraq war movie productions. There simply just isn't a whole lot good about the war. Look at the documentaries being done on the subject. Watch Gunner Palace and tell me it's slanted liberal propaganda. It's not; it just shows that it's a dangerous, unconventional guerilla war of occupation, where, due to the fact we started the damn thing because we wanted to pre-emptively, a lot of our guys over there aren't exactly sure what the hell it is they're even doing there.
-
BSBSSHS9
-
If you like this type of movie go for it. I caught her tour with it a few months back. It might be a front but she seems a hell alot nicer than other dirs i have talked to. made me a fan of her and not just her work.
-
Mar 29, 2008 11:42:17 PM CDT
Most Americans do NOT support the war - but they don't like thes
by aceattorney
What gives?
-
How can I never get tired of seeing these shitty, one note, POS, anti-war movies fail? I dunno. But it sure is fun to see each and every one get rejected out of hand by the very people they attempt to sway? Awesome! Way to go, H'wood! Way to keep in time with the rest of America that has sense....
-
Who is John Galt?
-
This from some little Tucker Carlson pussy who cries when the other side fights back...oh, shit...I just opened the door for some meaningless fantasy fusillade from a fake "Veteran" here to "tell it like it was" about when the "shit went down" in some imagined conflict or other. I repeat myself: fuck you and your pointless war. Up the ass. With a big rubber dick. Then snap the sucker off, and beat you with what's left.
-
Some wussy who paid a broke Mexican to water his lawn, then convinced himself that it was the tears of Adam Smith that actually moisturized it...
-
true... the Mexican should have nationalized that lawn. Big Brother is awesome.
-
fucktard
-
Mar 30, 2008 2:59:35 AM CDT
Less Than 50% of Active Duty Military Think It Was Right To Inva
by bad lt
I often read comments on here to the effect that anybody who is against the Iraq War is a commie sell out traitor. Interesting then that the Military Times did a poll of active duty military and less than 50% think it was right to invade Iraq.
9) Should the U.S. have gone to war in Iraq?
Yes 46.1%
No 34.2%
No opinion 10.9%
Decline to answer 8.9%
[url]http://www.militarycity.com/polls/2007activepoll_iraq.php[/url]
This war has been a massive Charlie Foxtrot from the start, and nobody knows it better than the guys who have been there, and seen their friends die and lose limbs. For the sake of what? The threat from WMD that was never found because Saddam got rid of it all years before? The threat from a nonexistent link to Al Queda, recently shown from a Pentagon examination of 600,000 captured Iraqi documents that there was no link or support to Al Queda, and in fact Saddam did not like or trust Bin Laden? Or for the benefit of the Iraqi people, who do not seem to appreciate our sacrifice, and do not seem to understand democracy, and now we have Shia killing Shia? For a three trillion dollar expense, $4 a gallon gas and a recession? For vets to come home to unemployment and second rate medical care?
I am a veteran (8 years US Army Reserve), and I find it funny that the chickenhawks who never spent a DAY in uniform - Cheney, Wolfowitz, Feith, Perle, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, William Kristol - often equate criticism of the war with treason, when LESS THAN 50% of active duty military think the Iraq invasion was a good idea.
And this movie was good. Not great, but good, well acted.
-
Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum was immunized because he agreed to testify against his superior officer in the Haditha killings! That hardly counts as exoneration. And John Murtha has served his country more than you ever will. Why is it those who claim to be the most patriotic are the ones who Swift Boat those who actually served? And, is it me, or is the bigotry on the TB just staggering? Not to mention all the Michael Savage death wish comments and the rather strong but pungent emphasis on inserting objects where the sun don't shine. A lot of repression here, fellas. And, by the way, John Wayne did make the ultimate propaganda film: "The Green Berets". Also, anyone who thinks torture(useless as it is) and indefinite detention are okay, as long as their done in the hallowed name of "patriotism", clearly never read a book about democracy, or learned the difference between right and wrong. And that is what is truly "anti-American". Harry owns all you fucks. You diss the man, and yet you come back for more. All I can do is laugh.
-
you are a "vetran" huh? Sounds shit to me. Well let me tell you; I am a Bad 'CPT' and have deployed thrice....and you my friend...sound like a fucking liar.
-
Do you really think that 'Swift Boated' has overcome 'Borked' in the political lexicon?!?!?! Well, maybe it has, but damn it, every time I hear it, it puts a smile on my face. Good for those guys! (Swift Boaters). Say all you want about that JFK wannabe, fake Purple-Heart wearing shit-talker who ran against the President in '04. It still doesn't add up. I have been in since I was 17 years old, been to the Gulf, Somalia, Afghanistan and OIF. Been enlisted and an officer. I would probably never run for office, but if I ever did...the one thing that I would know beyond a shadow of a fucking doubt, is that EVERY SINGLE MAN that I had ever served with would either vote for me, or if not, would never say a foul word about me. Senator Kerry knew in his heart that this shit was just waiting to boil over. You can't serve with a bunch of guys in life and death situations, leave early (and as an officer, I abhor the fact that he rolled out several months before the men under his command did) and then sit with a congressional committee and condemn his own fellow veterans as war criminals. He reaped what he Sew.
-
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
"May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."
-
Fools speak (or post) often but say very little. The wise say much but speak very little.
-
That movie you so crave was "Home of the Brave." It was a gung ho, American pie eating, flag waving, in your face type of movie about the Iraqie war. I mentioned above but the crazies didn't see it I guess. But not really b/c they see what they want to see and thats it. Or if Rush "lortab" Limbugh or O'Reilly tell them what to think. Oh, or Drudge or Hanity tell them how to feel. Imo, those scumbags are worse for the troops because they don't give a fuck if they losse an arm or leg or their eye sight or whatever malady they suffer, even death. As long as they keep putting their lives at risk for "OUR" freedom! What a bunch of bullshit! A fuckng 12 yr old could see right through that shit. And speaking of 12 yr olds. Thats what it looks like we've got fighting over there on our side. Ever looked at some of them on tv or in a magizine? they look like fucking teenagers for christsake. How bout at the Oscars when they gave that little speech before Tommy Hanks gave out the oscar for best docu? They looked like they all were in jr. high school..............
Oh and another thing: the liberals dont' hate the troops you small minded mother fuckers! They hate dont' like the people that are in powere that put them in danger for reasons other than what they stated since '03! I know it's difficult not to hate w/ a passion everything dememcrate,but they don't hate the mother fucking troops! They hate the fact that young men and women, who risks getting maimed or worse killed for reasons that were unnessarry. And not the ones in Afcanistan(sp?). That is a just war. It's the ones in Iraq. -
and support the elephants. Why in the hell would you support a party that has the best interests in the country club folk? When I see these people driving cars w/ the "W" sticker on the back of some, broken up piece of shit ride. I scatch my head every fuckng time. People when are you going to learn it's in your best interests to vote by your pocket book? With the housing market in the shiter. With gas going up every fucking day. Hey, how much was gas in Bush took office? Don't know? It was 143. Shocking I know, but not so shocking when you put these clowns in power. After all, what is Bush? An oilman. What is Cheney? An oilman. What a surpise we have.
-
"And Senator John McCain...the next American President!" Sorry to all of you X-Files-Theme-Music, conspiracy theory, crazy, Prius driving, ultra left wing, wacko liberals. Barry Obama (oh, forgot, you all have a thing with his name, right?) sits in a church for TWENTY FUCKING YEARS and listens to a racist motherfucker spewing hatred and smiles all Sunday morning long, while talking out of the other side of his fucking face saying shit like...
"Hope", and "Change" and “Kumba-Mutherfucking-Ya,” all while the other fucking wacko is looking the camera straight on (“I did not have sexual relations…”) and lying like there is now tomorrow..."Landing under sniper fire..." whatever loser. LIAR. Great choices huh? Remember 1996, when we were left with Senator Bob Dole? Enjoy the crow bitches...tell me how it tastes.
-
thought it was a ra ra ra type of film. If I"m wrong then I don't know of any film that you guys have wished for.
-
died. Getting your dicked sucked and lying about it is somewhat differnt than lying about sending young men and women to die.
-
Damn, Brasky. You can't pin Barack's preacher on him. He's his own man. CHILL BILL!
-
My grandfather and my great uncles served in WW II, one of them died at the Battle of the Bulge. My father served in Korea. I joined the US Army Reserve and served 8 years.
I am not a liberal. I voted for Perot (Annapolis grad, Naval Officer, anti-Gulf War, anti-NAFTA) in 92 and 96, the Libertarian in 2000 (anti-drug war, anti-tax, anti-war, pro-freedom), I did vote for Kerry on 04 and Democrats in House and Senate in 06 - as an anti-war gesture, and I supported Ron Paul (anti-war, anti-tax, anti-NAFTA, less regulation, less government, pro-freedom) in 08.
Who gave us and cheerleaded the Iraq War? Mostly chickenhawks who never served a DAY in uniform. Cheney, Wolfowitz, Feith, Perle, Libby, Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter. Many critics of the war have served - John Kerry, Bob Kerrey, Rep. Murtha, Rep. Rangel, Oliver Stone, Norman Mailer, Kurt Vonnegut, Ron Paul. Bush is not a conservative - he has increased the size of civilian government MORE than Clinton, in fact, more than any President since LBJ. He has sacrificed 4,000 American lives in an unneeded war, and curtailed Constitutional liberties. All that great wiretapping and police powers to fight "terrorism"? Turns out it will be used to against political enemies like the Alabama and NY Governors, victimless crimes like prostitution, federal raids against state legal medical marijuana sellers and users, Tommy Chong's bong company, internet gamblers and the guy who makes the Girls Gone Wild videos. Wow, I feel safer already! :) If you don't subscribe to the liberal equation of more government + more taxes = good, and you reject the chickenhawk neocons who offer the same thing + war all the time and less freedom, check out www.amconmag.com and www.antiwar.com and www.infowars.com. -
I hate when people talk about "do you support the troops". You don't "support" them by hoping they don't get blown up...no one fucking supports the troops...not unless you send them stuff or if you women fuck them when they come home on leave...anyway, I've gone off on a tangent but too bad this movie isn't better.
-
Everything he said is sensible. At least hear him out man. The people who instigated this war and lied to get us into it have a hidden agenda. That's no joke. Have you read Project for a New American Century's missives? That's the real impetus for the war, not yellowcake, freedom, battling terrorism and all the other smokescreens they could conjure up. It's total bullshit.
-
Kudos to the many who have summed up the real problem with stop loss, which stems from the question "Why are we there?" since, contrary to what America was told, there where/are no weapons of mass destruction. The Chicken Hawks, like Chicken Little, said the sky was falling when it really wasn't.Unfortunately, when chickens engage in "dual hatting" as Chicken Little and Chicken Hawks, they can actually make the sky fall and sadly, our troops take the brunt of it.
-
Clearly, I never stated that not "a single veteran or soldier" supports the war. I simply remarked that our troops (and thank you, the veterans who have returned) are taking the brunt of tall tales and missteps made by Chicken Hawks/Chicken Little(s).
-
How many American troops died in Haiti and Bosnia? Actually, I am generally against wars for "humanitarian" reasons like Haiti, Bosnia, Somalia. I am also against the Iraq War, which seems to have been mainly ablut meeting the needs of the oil/arms complex (Cheney, et al), domestic politics (Karl Rove - "The war will create a positive issues environment for Republicans"), and the Neocons (Wolfowitz, Feith, Perle, Kristol) who have strong ties to the ultra right Likud faction in Israel and a vision of an American military empire dominating the middle east and the third world.
Read "A Pretext For War" by James Bamford. It details how the false WMD intel was created and why it was done, by and for the interest groups mentioned above. -
So for the folks who don't see this as such a bad thing for us to stick our nose over there in Iraq. Why do you think the old-timers came back? I.e. Cheney, Perle, rummy, Wolie, etc? And why do you think the real reason why we invaded Iraq? I'm not being a smart ass. I really want to hear your reasoning why we did what we did.
-
...Why don't you just join up and go over there and fight? Oh that's right...you're a chickenhawk pussy loser, like the Bush kids or Michelle Malkin, who all could enlist tomorrow as well. But you know, it's not that anyone seriously believes that the Democrats are going to be the second coming...it's just that when you hit rock bottom, there can only be an improvement. Pure logic. Shit, even if McCain gets elected, has a stroke and winds up a bedridden half-vegetable blinking out what flavor of pudding he wants, it would still be a vast improvement over Dubya.
-
Because a) it's about a depressing topic, and b) because Americans are already depressed enough from being broke, thanks to the same moron who brought you a). Who can blame them for blowing their movie dollar on some happy shit about a CGI elephant?
-
Wars: I never voted for Clinton or Gore because (A) they both supported Gulf War I and Panama and a generally interventionist military policy (B) they supported NAFTA/WTO policies which have hastened the deindustrialization of America and a loss of sovereignity (C) supported the insane war on drugs and the death penalty. I voted for Perot in 92 and 96 and Libertarian in 2000. Did Clinton kill the Branch Davidians? Yes, though most of the blame should go on Reno and the ATF and FBI men responsible (who Clinton later promoted). The ATF and the FBI (under Bush I) also murdered the wife of white seperatist Randy Weaver and shot his teenage son in the back. For six years Bush II had a Republican Congress, and there was talk of abolishing the ATF. But guess what? The Repubs didn't do it because they thought they would lose a fundraising tool. And under Bush II, the ATF continues to make bogus cases, and the IRS goes after small business owners and waitress tip money, raid state legal medical marijuana sellers in Cali, put Tommy Chong in prison for selling bongs, restrict internet gambling and porn. As Hunter Thompson would have said, the War on Fun. After all its not like Osama Bin Laden is still free and laughing at us...oh, he is, oops. Clinton death list. The Foster case is questionable, though I have never heard a credible motive why Clinton would want their lawyer dead. The others are right wing paranoia peddled by Jerry Falwell, who thought the Teletubbies were a gay plot and 9-11 divine retibution from God for the US having gay people and the ACLU. If you want to look at some people that MIGHT have been victims of forces supporting Bush I and II, go to wiki or other sources and look up Danny Casolaro, Enron whistleblower J. Cliff Baxter and Gary Webb. Iraq War: Huge topic. Read "A Pretext For War" by James Bamford. Right now American men are getting killed because we are supporting the Supreme Islamic Iraq Council over the Badr Mahdi Army. Both groups are involved in kidnap for hire, oil smuggling, black market dealing, drug sales, death squads, torture teams. One group of criminal anti-American Shite Islamic nuts versus another group of the same. NOT WORTH ONE AMERICAN LIFE.
-
Well, I don't see anyone in the frenzy you described, because if anyone is in a frenzy it appears to be you.
But guess what? Was it worth speaking out against Bush and the NeoCons? Yeah, it's worth it and will continue to be worth it. Does anyone owe you, of all people, an explanation of the obvious as to the 'why' it was worth it? No. As long as you're content to know that your country was lied to enter an unjust war, and it satisfies your bloodlust, that's really all you care about. Any reasoning would be lost on you anyway. The gloating over the bloodshed is something for you, and people like you, to enjoy. Shit, the world will always deliver in that respect. There will never be a time of peace. For those who enjoy a good clusterfuck, it's a good time to be alive, ain't it? As long as it's not your limbs on the line, it's as easy to enjoy as watching Rambo.
-
That's too much information wasted on the likes of Moe. He's not interested in facts, he's interested in right-wing hyperbole of just the right variety to support his cheerleading of war.
Funny thing is, we should've gone into Sudan and Darfur if there was ever a despotic Muslim tyrant that needed deposing, and we would have been right to go in and save the Africans, and that would have made Moe a happy camper too. But no, we went along with the ill-advised PNAC plot, a plot co-authored and suggested by double-agent Ahmed Chalabi, instead and opened up a Pandora's Box EXACTLY as Iran and bin Laden wanted. The real story of the Iraq War will be how Iran infiltrated the NeoCons to set up Iraq for them to dominate.
-
The Dems took over the House and Senate in 06. And I think a Dem will win in 08. And McCain won the Repub primary - the one guy (other than the one I liked best Ron Paul) who fought Bush on torture, fought him on the tax cuts for the rich, and is known for working with the Dems on campaign finance, Wall Street regulation and a lot of other stuff. Now McCain has backtracked on some of this stuff, and is wrong on the war issue, but regardless of if it is President McCain or Obama (even Clinton) they all have more integrity than Bush.
As for the futility of protest, look up Sophie Schol (sp?) and the White Rose group. A bunch of young Christians in Nazi Germany, they were outraged at aggressive war, seeing their brothers dies at the front in a futile campaign, and watching Jews, Poles, Slavs, Gypsies, the retarded and political dissidents being shipped off to death camps. They spread protest papers, even though they knew iw was probably "futile" and would lead to their death. Sophie never backed down, and told the Judge "somebody had to start it, somedbody had to do something." She was executed. And I am not saying that Bush is the same as Hitler. But protest creates its own reality, and I don't think it is futile. -
That was lame, man. And you didn't answer why your ass isn't risking mutilation and death while patrolling the streets of Tikrit.
-
The topic of your post? You have, like, 12 of them and they are all book length. So you seem like a piece of shit looking for an argument any way he can get one. If you're 41 now, that means you could have already put in over 20 years in the military AND would be a veteran of the Gulf War. So get off your fucking high horse and maybe respond to some points without calling the other person "fucktard," "jackass," "DUMBASS," or "fucking retarded idiot" Are you sure you're 41?
-
Why is it that every conservative assumes that they are more informed than everyone else? While most of the liberals AND conservatives I know tend to be well read and informed, it seems like the stereotypical liberal that only listens to their feelings instead of the facts has been replaced by conservatives of the same mold. I'm not saying that every protester is as well informed as he/she should be, just that he/she isn't any less informed than your average young Republican.
-
GQTaste said....Oh and another thing: the liberals dont' hate the troops you small minded mother fuckers!....Funny, I was listening to one of the councilwomen from Berklee and she said the reason they tried to shut down the recruiting center was because, "Male soldiers rape women and children in Iraq, and female soldiers get raped when they join up too." Hmmmm, I guess you're right. Liberals just adore the military. Maybe if some Liberals would condemn that type of insanity, people in the Center or Right would stop lumping Liberals together. Unfortunately I've been waiting for 7 years and I haven't heard it yet.
-
Makes sense... one woman said something and you condemn everyone of the same political party for what that ONE woman said. Makes complete sense.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 383 total posts 380 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 111 total posts 111 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 75 total posts 73 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 71 total posts 68 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 77 total posts 55 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 54 total posts 48 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 165 total posts 41 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 41 total posts 41 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 500 total posts 35 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 28 total posts 28 posts