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Home FAHRENHEIT 9/11 -- SCREENPLAY |
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Michael Moore: Okay, let me see if I got this straight.
Old guys in the gym, bad. Peace groups in Fresno, bad.
Breast milk, really bad. But matches and lighters on the plane?
Hey, no problem. Was this really about our safety? Or was
something else going on? Michael Moore: This is where the Pacific Ocean meets the shores of Oregon. Over 100 miles of beautiful, open coastline on our border. And, thanks to the budget cutbacks, the total number of state police protecting it: one. Part-time. Meet Trooper Brooks. Trooper Brooks: I maybe get a chance to hit this stretch of highway once, maybe twice a week during my shifts. You know, just to even drive up here and look. You know, I mean, as far as I know, somebody -- there's lots of things they could do. I don't even wanna suspect, because it just makes me ill inside. Michael Moore: Back at the state trooper patrol office, thanks to the budget cuts, Trooper Kenyon had to come in on his day off to catch up on some paperwork. Trooper Kenyon: For the most part, especially during the summer time, when people show up here, this is exactly what they get. They close the door. They can read the sign about the office closure. And it just basically explains that due to our cutbacks that our office is not open for administrative business. And there's a little sign down at the bottom that explains when the office is closed, that they can use the phone booth to get in touch with our dispatch. Ironically enough, that phone is a piece of junk. It doesn't work very well, so half the time they pick up the phone and dispatch gets a bunch of static, and they don't hear anything. For Tuesday, there'll be no troop on patrol. Wednesday, there'll be no troop on patrol. Thursday, there'll be no troop on patrol. You get calls all the time. People will call in a suspicious vehicle, or somebody looking suspicious. And I don't hardly ever respond to that anymore. I just don't have the time to do it. One time I asked, "How many people do we have in the State of Oregon on duty tonight?" And we had eight troopers on for the entire state of Oregon, working. I think Oregon is a prime example that homeland security is not as secure as I think what people would like to believe. Trooper Brooks: Nobody's sent me any manual that says, "Here's how you catch a terrorist." You know, and if I had that manual, I'd read it. But I don't. So ... yeah. Michael Moore: Of course, the Bush administration didn't hand out a manual on how to deal with the terrorist threat, because the terrorist threat wasn't what this was all about. They just wanted us to be fearful enough so that we'd get behind what their real plan was. Intercom: Four minutes. George Bush: Right from the top. Man: All right. March 19, 2003, 10:11 PM George Bush: How much time? Man: Okay, folks. Man: Stand by. Man: Fifteen seconds. Woman: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. George Bush: My fellow citizens ... Baghdad, March 2003 George Bush: At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger. On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. Michael Moore: On March 19th, 2003, George W. Bush
and the United States military invaded the sovereign nation of Iraq. A
nation that had never attacked the United States. A nation that had
never threatened to attack the United States. A nation that had
never murdered a single American citizen. Man: We're going to find this, I think this piece of my neighbor. Young girl, age 20. I think it's the other part of her body. That's all. Murderous American Soldier: There is a lot of innocent civilians that were killed. And I think that is because the U.S. Army you know, we came in, and we knew it wasn't gonna be easy. And we pretty much at first shot anything that moved. Another Murderous American Soldier Retard: When war happens and the fighting starts, you know, it's kind of like we're pumped up, motivated, ready to go. Another American Soldier Covering for His Extreme Nurdiness by Killing (LOSER! YOU'RE UGLY!): It's the ultimate rush. Because you know you're going into the fight to begin with, and then you got a good song playing in the background. And that gets you real fired up. Ready to do the job. MORONIC AMERICAN SOLDIER: You can hook your CD player up to the tank's internal communications system. So that way when you put your helmet on you can hear it through the helmet. ANOTHER AMERICAN NO-LOVE SOLDIER: This is the one we listen to the most. This is the one, when we travel and we kill the enemy: Drowning Pool, "Let the bodies hit the floor," is just fitting for the job that we're doing. We picked "the roof is on fire" because basically it symbolized Baghdad being on fire. And at the time we wanted it to burn to get Saddam and his regime out. (Soldier
Singing): The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire
(Bloodhound Gang Singing): We don't need no water, let the motherfucker
burn American Soldier: This is a whole, totally different picture here being pushed into the city. Urban warfare in a tank, you know. Civilians, the civilians -- you don't know who's friendly, who's the enemy. American Soldier: This was a lot more real and true than just a video game. A lot of people thought it was just going to be, "Ah, yeah, look through the sight and shoot." No. A lot of this is face to face. Especially riding by after some of the bombs have went off, and seeing all the people on the side of the road bloated up. And all the smells around you, I mean from the people lying dead, rotted. It's a lot more gruesome than you think. American Soldier: We called in with some artillery and some napalm, and things like that. Some innocent women and children got hit. We met them on the road. And they had little girls with noses blown off. And, like, husbands carrying their dead wives, and things like that. That was extremely difficult to deal with 'cause you're like, "Shoot. What the hell do we do now?" Donald Rumsfeld: The targeting capabilities, and the care that goes into targeting, is as impressive as anything anyone could see. Soldier: Got him. Soldier Trainer: Good. Second one. Get the other one. Donald Rumsfeld: The care that goes into it, the humanity that goes into it. Iraqi Woman: They have no conscience! They know nothing! They slaughtered us! They destroyed our houses! God will destroy their houses! God is great! God destroy their houses! Victory to Iraq! Reporter: You mean they killed civilians? Iraqi Woman: Yes, civilians! It's our uncle's house! We're all civilians. There is no militia here. I pray to God to avenge us! I can only count on you God! We've had five funerals because of the bombings. Oh God! Oh God! God save us from them! Where are you God? Where are you? Diana the Huntress, I mean Britney Spears: Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes, and we should just support that. You know? And be faithful in what happens. Reporter: Do you trust this president? Liar Britney Spears: Yes, I do. Michael Moore: Britney Spears was not alone. The majority of the American people trusted the president. And why shouldn't they? He had spent the better part of the last year giving them every reason why we should invade Iraq. George Bush: Saddam Hussein has gone to elaborate lengths, spent enormous sums, taken great risks, to build and keep weapons of mass destruction. Colin Powell: Saddam Hussein is determined to get his hands on a nuclear bomb. George Bush: Nuclear weapon. Colin Powell: Active chemical munitions bunkers. Mobile production facilities. George Bush: We know he's got chemical weapons. Michael Moore: Huh, that's weird. Because that's not what Bush's people said when he first took office. Colin Powell, February 2001: He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. Condoleeza Rice, July 2001: We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt. George Bush: Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. Dick Cheney: There was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda. George Bush: Saddam. Donald Rumsfeld: It is only a matter of time before terrorist states, armed with weapons of mass destruction, develop the capability to deliver those weapons to U.S. Cities. Colin Powell: What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence. George Bush: He's a man who hates America. This is a man who cannot stand what we stand for. There's willingness to terrorize himself. He hates the fact, like al Qaeda does, that we love freedom. After all, this is a guy that tried to kill my dad at one time. Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington), House Ways and Means Committee: They simply got people to believe that there was a real threat out there, when in fact there wasn't one. Donald Rumsfeld: You get told things every day that don't happen. It doesn't seem to bother people. Michael Moore: Of course, the Democrats were there to put a stop to all these falsehoods. Senator Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota), Senate Democratic Leader: I will vote to give the president the authority he needs. Colin Powell: The United States is prepared to lead the coalition of the willing. That will do it. George Bush: When I say we will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him if he chooses not to disarm, I mean it. Reporter: Who's in that coalition of the willing? George Bush: You will find out who's in the coalition of the willing. THE COALITION OF THE WILLING ROLL CALL. Michael Moore: Of course, none of these countries has an army, or for that matter, weapons. So it looked like we'd be doing most of the invading stuff ourselves. Then there was also: Romania. Michael Moore: Morocco wasn't officially a member of the coalition, but according to one report, they did offer to send 2000 monkeys to help detonate land mines. George Bush: These are men of vision. The Netherlands. George Bush: And I'm proud to call them allies. Afghanistan. Michael Moore: Afghanistan? Oh, yeah. They had an army. Our army! I guess that's one way to build a coalition. Just keep invading countries. Yes, with our mighty coalition intact, we were ready. Donald Rumsfeld: One could almost say it's the mother of all coalitions. Michael Moore: Fortunately, we have an independent media in this country who would tell us the truth. Newscaster: They are rallying around the president, around the flag, and around the troops clearly has begun. Soldier: And we're gonna win! Newscaster: You really have to be with the troops to understand that kind of adrenaline rush that they get. Newscaster: I just want you to know, I think Navy Seals rock. Reporter: The pictures you're seeing are absolutely phenomenal. Newscaster: When my country's at war, I want my country to win. Newscaster: Iraqi opposition has faded in the face of American power. Reporter: What you're watching here is truly historic television and journalism. Reporter: It was absolutely electrifying. They actually had to strap me in with my camera at the back of the plane. Reporter: An awesome, synchronized killing machine. Newscaster: There is an inherent bias in the coverage of the American press in general. Newscaster: Am I slanted and biased? You damn well bet I am. Michael Moore: But one story the media wasn't covering, was the personal story of each and every soldier who was killed in the war. The government would not allow any cameras to show the coffins coming home. That kind of story is a downer, especially when you're getting ready for a party on a boat. (Song):
Look at what's happened to me George Bush: My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. Soldier: Get out of the way! Soldier: Get out of the way! Soldier: Move! Move! Move! Move! [WOUNDED SCREAM IN AGONY] Newscaster: 162, the number of troops killed by hostile fire. Newscaster: 244 U.S. Troops. Newscaster: 384 U.S. Troops have lost their lives. Newscaster: Total killed, 484. Newscaster: 631 American troops. Newscaster: More than 825 troops have been killed in Iraq. Newscaster: The largest number of American military deaths since Vietnam. George Bush: There are some who feel like that if they attack us, that we may decide to leave prematurely. They don't understand what they're talking about, if that's the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on. Soldier: The United States was planning on walking through here like it was gonna be easy and all. But it's not that easy to conquer a country, is it? Huh! Newscaster: The renewed battle for control of Iraq raged for a fourth day today with street clashes in nearly every corner of the country. Iraq could become "another Vietnam." Newscaster: Officials say they see evidence that Sunni and Shiite extremists might be joining forces. George Bush: They're not happy they're occupied. I wouldn't be happy if I were occupied either. (Song):
Come on, party people! Newscaster: Two Japanese aid workers and a journalist, kidnapped by men calling themselves the Mujahideen Squadrons. They threatened to burn the hostages alive if Japan does not withdraw its troops from Iraq within three days. Newscaster: What's happened? Thomas Hamill, Halliburton Fuel Tanker Driver: They attacked our convoy. Newscaster: You wanna give us your name? Thomas Hamil: Hamill, Thomas. Newscaster: The Pentagon might keep up to 24,000 troops in combat beyond their tour. Soldier: I know our numbers in the military have gone down. You know, they talk about retention. Soldier: You know, I never really expected to be deployed this long. I don't think anybody did. Soldier: I don't have any clue as to why we're still in Iraq. Soldier: If Donald Rumsfeld was here, I'd ask him for his resignation. Michael Moore: With the war not going as planned, and the military in need of many more troops, where would they find the new recruits? Newscaster: Military experts say three times the 120,000 U.S. troops now deployed would be needed to pacify and rebuild the country. Michael Moore: They would find them all across America, in the places that had been destroyed by the economy. Places where one of the only jobs available was to join the Army. Places like my hometown of Flint, Michigan. Boy: And I was watching TV one day, and they showed some of the areas that had been hit by bombs, and things like that. And while watching, I got to thinking, like, there's parts of Flint that look like that. And we ain't been in a war. Kids: Exactly! Man: Look at the neighborhood I live in. Most of them are abandoned. I mean, you know, that's not right. You wanna talk about terrorism? Come right here, President Bush, right here. Come right here. He knows about this corner. I e-mailed him. Lila Lipscomb, Executive Assistant, Career Alliance: At the end of January of '04, the unemployment rate in Flint was actually 17 percent. But you have to take into consideration as well that when your unemployment runs out you're no longer counted. I would say that we're probably close to at least 50 percent not working or underemployed. Because being underemployed is just as dangerous. So my family has gone through the welfare system when it was Job Central. In the mid-'80s I came through the job training partnership program here at Job Central. And I went to a secretary school. Years later, I'm executive assistant to the president of the agency. Interesting. My mother used to tell me all the time that, "Why do you always go for the underdog?" It was because the underdog is who needed me. People that don't have anything, that's who I have to fight for. And that's who I have fought for my entire life. I started taking my children, and telling my children: "The military is a good option. I can't afford to have you go to college. I cannot pay your way. Financial aid will not help you." So I, as a mother, started teaching my children about the options that the military could do. They would take them around the world. They would see all the things that I, as a mother, could not let them see. It would pay for their education that I, as their mother and their father, could not pay for. Michael Moore: The military is a good option for kids in Flint? Lila Lipscomb, Executive Assistant, Career Alliance: The military is an excellent option for the people in the city of Flint. Michael Moore: How many of you have a friend or a family member in the service? Anybody currently serving overseas? Boy: A brother of mine. Boy: My cousin. Boy: Yeah, cousin. Michael Moore: Where's your brother? Boy: Iraq. Boy: Germany. Boy: My cousin got shipped off to Iraq, like, three days ago. Boy: Dang. Boy: There's, like, an Army or Navy recruiter, or Marines recruiter, up there almost every week in the lunchroom recruiting students at the lunchroom. NATIONAL
GUARD: YOU CAN Boy: I'm going into the Air Force, myself. I'm gonna take a year off probably after high school. And then just go and make a career. I wanna be an aircraft maintenance technician. Boy: I ran into a recruiter, and there was something I noticed about it. And this is kind of on another issue. I noticed it was odd. It was more like he was hiring me for a job than recruiting me for the Army. It was the way he approached me and he approached a friend of mine. I was in Borders Books and Music. He just came up like he was handing us a business card. He had business cards made for the Army and everything. Michael Moore: Meet Marine Staff Sergeant Dale Kortman and Sergeant Raymond Plouhar. They are two of the many recruiters assigned to Flint, Michigan. They're very busy these days. Dale Kortman: Look-it, he's running away already. Raymond Plouhar: He's seen us coming. Dale Kortman: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: What have we got here? Dale Kortman: Uh-huh. Raymond Plouhar: We don't need no gangster. Dale Kortman: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: We're heading over to the Courtland Mall right now. Michael Moore: They decided not to go to the wealthier Genesee Valley Mall in the suburbs. They have a hard time recruiting young people there. Instead, they went to the other mall. Raymond Plouhar: Let's go in through Mervyn's. Dale Kortman: In through Mervyn's. Raymond Plouhar: And then we'll walk straight down ... Dale Kortman: straight down ... Raymond Plouhar: straight back and then go down ... Raymond Plouhar: Gents, you know we're looking at you, right? You guys ever think about joining up? Boy: I thought about going to college and playing basketball. Raymond Plouhar: You any good? Boy: Oh, yeah. Especially basketball. Raymond Plouhar: Good. You can play ball for the Marine Corps, as well. You know, travel around the world, get on the Marine Corps basketball team. David Robinson was in the military, as well. Boy: Oh, was he? Raymond Plouhar: So yeah, you can definitely hook it up. Dale Kortman: Right now there's somebody out there who wants to be a Marine but has no idea how to do it. Raymond Plouhar: Where do you work at? Boy: I work at KFC. Raymond Plouhar: Sweet. You can hook us up with some deals. Boy: Yes. Dale Kortman: They're waiting to get recruited. Boy: I don't know, I'm probably going to try to get a little career in music or something. Raymond Plouhar: Career in music? Maybe we can get you a career in music. You know, let the Marines go for it. I'm sure you know who Shaggy is, right? Boy: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: You know anything about him? Boy: Yeah, he's the Jamaican singer. Raymond Plouhar: Yeah? How about a former Marine? Boy: Oh. Raymond Plouhar: Did you know it? You definitely need to know discipline if you're gonna get into music. Boy: Yeah, I understand. Raymond Plouhar: Especially discipline with the money. If you make a million, you need to manage that money. So come into the office, we can sit down and talk, show you everything we know about the Marines. Sound like a plan? Dale Kortman: What you got going on later on this afternoon? How about tomorrow? Say at around 10:00 Monday morning? Boy: That sounds pretty good. Dale Kortman: Okay. You want me to come pick you up? Dale Kortman: It's better to get them when they're in ones and twos ... Raymond Plouhar: Hey, pal! How are you? Dale Kortman: and work on them that way. Raymond Plouhar: Ladies, you ready to join up? Raymond Plouhar: Green hat right behind us. Looks young. He's young. Dale Kortman: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: We got two over here ... Dale Kortman: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: Right over by the red van. Dale Kortman: Yeah. Raymond Plouhar: You go that way, I go this way, we corner them. Raymond Plouhar: You're in the ninth grade? Boy: Yes, sir. Raymond Plouhar: Man, you look older than ninth grade. All right, here's my card. Dale Kortman: You ever thought about being a Marine, man? Boy: Um, yeah, I've thought about it. I've got a wife and kid now. So. Dale Kortman: Okay. Raymond Plouhar: Even more reason to join up. Raymond Plouhar: What I want to do, man, real quick, is just get some information from you so I can scratch you off my list saying I've already talked to you, and, you know, you're not interested. Is that cool? Boy: Uh. Raymond Plouhar: Alright. What's your name? What's your phone number? What's your address? Raymond Plouhar: Add another one to the list. Boy: However, you know, one would love to have that chance to experience college life. You know, stuff young people can do without having the risk of dying in the process, I guess I can say candidly. Iraq, Christmas Eve Soldier: The holidays do add a little bit more friction, as opposed to just another night, in the fact we wanna give our guys a little bit time off, a little bit time to relax. However, we are in a combat zone, and my soldiers do recognize that fact. Soldier: Everybody's a little bit nervous about it, I guess. But ... Soldier behind: We're professionals. We're gonna take care of you. I promise. Soldier: Every house here has the right to have weapons. Maximum -- excuse me -- one AK-47. We always expect the targets to be armed. Soldier with gun: Rock 'n' roll. Soldier: These are fucking bolt cutters. This goddamn thing will pry doors open. Pop this in there ... (Frank
Sinatra singing): You better watch out, you better not cry, you better
not pout I'm telling you why [SOLDIERS CRASH IN THE DOOR] Soldier: Hey, Adele, just hold up. Soldier: No, no, no, no, no. Where's she going? Woman: I'll go with her. Soldier: Where's she going? Woman: She's gonna call him. Soldier: She's gonna call him? No, no, no, no, no. Where is he at right now? Not on the phone. Not on the phone. Is he in the house? Is he in the house? Soldier: Passerelli! Passerelli! Soldier: He is in the house? Where? Soldier: This is him? Soldier: Get up there, second floor, second floor! Soldier: Watch out, watch out, watch out. Go, go, go! Watch out, Adele, watch out, watch out. Soldier: Hey, one coming up. Soldier: That's Suheib Al Douri? Soldier: What's your name? Man: Suheib, Suheib. Soldier: This is Suheib. Woman: Yeah. Soldier: Stand him up. Get up. Terrorized Woman: What has he done? He is just a college student. Soldier: Tell them to calm down, please. We will not be long. Soldier: We appreciate your cooperation. This is the target! Suheib Al Douri. Bring him out. Soldier: Alright! Soldier: We have to, as you go back to the old saying, "Win the hearts and minds of the people." That's our job. We have to, we have to bring the ideal of democracy and freedom to the country, and show them that the American people are not here to rule Iraq. Woman: Don't be afraid. He's not going to hit you. Terrorized Woman: What did he do? Terrorized Woman: Why don't you tell us? God keep you, what did he do? Soldier: I start doing evidence turn-in. That process takes about three hours. So that's gonna be it for the night. And that concludes Christmas Eve. (Frank
Sinatra singing): He's making a list, and checking it twice Santa Claus: Merry Christmas, PRT. Merry Christmas. Santa came to Iraq just for you guys. Soldier: Yeah! We're trying to keep the skies clear for you, Santa. Michael Moore: Do you consider yourself a proud American? Lila Lipscomb: Absolutely. I'm an extremely proud American. I'm probably more proud than the average Joe. When I put my flag out, I can't allow it to touch the ground. Because I know the lives that were lost and the blood that was shed so that I could be here and have a flag. Michael Moore: How often do you put the flag out? Lila Lipscomb: Every single day. Every single day. I started when my daughter was in Desert Storm. I had the same flag flying on my front porch, and the same yellow ribbons. Praying and hoping every single day that my child would come home safe. And that everybody's child would come home safe. Michael Moore: And she did. Lila Lipscomb: And she did. Michael Moore: Do you have other family members that have been in the military? Lila Lipscomb: Absolutely. Uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers, father. Michael Moore: You're a very strong military family. Lila Lipscomb: Very strong. My family was, my family is what I consider part of the backbone of America. It's families like mine. And it's not just my family. There's hundreds of families, millions of families out here, that this country was founded on their backs. I have been known to be a conservative Democrat. Yeah. Michael Moore: That's what you consider yourself? Lila Lipscomb: Yeah. Michael Moore: Yeah, it's a great country. Lila Lipscomb: It's a great country. It's a great country. The cross that I choose to wear, if you notice, it's a multicultural, a multicolor cross. That's because I believe that all God's people come in many colors. And my family itself is multicultural. Michael Moore: You have a daughter who went into the military. Lila Lipscomb: Into the military. Michael Moore: Then your first-born son, in the military. That's, you know, quite a gift to the country from your family. Lila Lipscomb: Exactly right. Michael Moore: So having a son in the Army, pretty proud thing. Lila Lipscomb: Oh, you know what? He made it. Michael Moore: What was your reaction to protestors during, say, the Gulf War or Vietnam? Lila Lipscomb: I always hated the protestors. I always hated the protestors. It was just a slap in my face. It was just like they were dishonoring my son. And I burned in my soul to tell them, "You don't understand. They're not there because they wanna be there." But then I came to understand that they weren't protesting the men and the women that were there. They were protesting the concept of the war. A Man Who Thinks He's a Soldier: I know I'm a soldier, and I'm here to do a job. I've been a soldier for a while. Once you have to go and do your job, and you see the things that you see, I was saying, there's some disillusionment in that. Soldieress: Battalion commander fully expects us to be
attacked in some type of way before we get to FARP Shell. I know that so
far Soldier: They're beginning to organize themselves, just in neighborhoods. The kids get together a lot. Well, I can't say kids, but guys about 17, 18, starting to come together. And they hate us. Why, I'm not really sure. Michael Moore: Immoral behavior breeds immoral behavior. When a president commits the immoral act of sending otherwise good kids to war based on a lie, this is what you get. Soldier: Hey, is he ticklish? Soldier: Don't tell me you don't know what it is. Soldier: Ali Baba still has a hard-on. Soldier: Why are you touching someone else's -- Soldier: He touched his dick! Soldier: To have these people shoot at us, kill us, blow us up, by whatever means they can. And I don't understand it. We're trying to help these people, and it seems they don't want our help. "Get out of here!" But the minute something goes wrong with them, "Oh, why weren't you here? Why didn't you do this?" You know, it's -- I hate this country. Soldier: You know, you, I feel that a part of your soul is destroyed in taking another life. Yeah, that statement is very true. You cannot kill someone without killing a part of yourself. Michael Moore: If you get called up will you go back to Iraq? Cpl. Abdul Henderson USMC, Served in Iraq: No, no. Michael Moore: What repercussions do you face if you don't? Cpl. Abdul Henderson USMC, Served in Iraq: Possible jail time. That's one possible thing. Michael Moore: Are you willing to risk that? Cpl. Abdul Henderson USMC, Served in Iraq: Yes. Yes, I, I will not let my person, I will not let anyone send me back over there to kill other poor people. Especially when they pose no threat to me and my country. I won't do it. George Bush: This is an impressive crowd. The haves, and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite. I call you my base. Michael Moore: While Bush was busy taking care of his base, and professing his love for our troops, he proposed cutting combat soldiers' pay by 33 percent, and assistance to their families by 60 percent. He opposed giving veterans a billion dollars more in health-care benefits, and he supported closing veteran hospitals. He tried to double the prescription drug costs for veterans, and opposed full benefits for part-time reservists. And when Staff Sergeant Brett Petriken from Flint was killed in Iraq on May 26th, the Army sent his last paycheck to his family, but they docked him for the last five days of the month that he didn't work, because he was dead. Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington): They say they're not gonna leave any veteran behind, but they're leaving all kinds of veterans behind. Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Wounded Soldier: To say that we're forgotten, I know we're not forgotten, but missed? Yes. Yes. You know, there's a lot of soldiers that have been missed, you know, that have been skipped over. That didn't get the proper coverage that they deserved. Nearly 5,000 soldiers wounded in the first 13 months of the war. Wounded Soldier: They have the death toll, but they're not showing the amount of people who have been injured or amputated because of the injuries, you know. Wounded Soldier: I still feel like I have hands. Yeah. And the pain is like my hands are being crushed in a vise. But they do a lot to help it, and they take a lot of the edge off it. It makes it a lot more tolerable. Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky Wounded Soldier: I was injured in late April on patrol in Baghdad. A couple of guys came out and ambushed us. I got nerve damage and stuff like that. I've got a lot of pain. I'm constantly in pain. I take a lot of morphine to help with that and stuff. I'm doing, doing, you know, just readjusting. Getting life back on track. You know what I'm saying? I'm not gonna do what it is that I did before. I was a Republican for quite a few years. And for some reason, they, they conduct business in a very dishonest way. I'm gonna be incredibly active in the Democratic Party down where I live once I get out. So I'm gonna definitely do my best to ensure that the Democrats win control. Lila Lipscomb: Iraq, Baghdad, I didn't know anything of those things. And we were in the hallway in the upstairs of our house, and he was crying and he said that he was really scared. And he didn't want to have to go to Iraq. So we were able to have a whole conversation about, sometimes some fear is healthy, because it keeps our senses about us. And that's when he told me that he had not told anybody else. But he knew he was going to Baghdad. We were, as everybody, we were glued to the TV. Just glued. Completely glued to the television in hopes of seeing a glimpse of him. "Can't you please go to where the helicopters are? Can't you please let us see him?" Then that night, it was about 10 something, I went upstairs to the bedroom. And I was laying in bed, and I was flipping the channels with the remote. All I heard was, "Black Hawk down, in South Central Iraq." Soldier: What I can tell you at this hour is that last night the Army did, indeed, lose a Black Hawk helicopter. We are being told by officers on the ground that there were six occupants inside the Black Hawk. Lila Lipscomb: The next morning I got up, and I said: "You push those sad thoughts out of your mind. Okay, Jesus, I need you to come in. I need you, Jesus. You gotta help me through this." The Army called me, and I remember getting on the phone and him saying, asking me was I Lila Lipscomb, and I said, "Yes." And he said, "Mother of Sergeant Michael Pedersen?" And I remember dropping the telephone. And all I can honestly say that I remember is, "Ma'am, the United States Army, the secretary of defense, regretfully informs you ..." That's all I know. The grief grabbed me so hard that I literally fell on the floor. And I was alone. I didn't have anybody to pick me up. So I literally crawled over to my desk, and was hanging on. And I remember screaming: "Why does it have to be Michael? Why did you have to take my son? Why is it my son you had to take? He didn't do anything. He wasn't a bad guy. He was a good guy. Why did you have to take my son?" George Bush: I ... I ... I ... I'm ... I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a son or a daughter, or a husband and/or a wife, for that matter. And I ... it pains me. Michael Moore: Do you have his last letter? Lila Lipscomb: Uh huh. It was mailed March 16th, but I didn't get it until probably a week before he was killed. "Hello. Hey, Mama. Well, sorry I haven't been able to call. They took the phone seven days ago. I got the letter and box. That is so cool. Your first grandson came the same day your oldest son did. How is everyone? I'm doing fine. We are just out here in the sand and windstorms waiting. What in the world is wrong with George? Trying to be like his dad, Bush. He got us out here for nothing whatsoever. I am so furious right now, Mama. I really hope they do not re-elect that fool, honestly. I am in good spirits, and I am doing okay. I really miss you guys. Thanks for the Bible, and books and candy. I really look forward to letters from you guys. Well, tell all the family hello and that I am doing fine. We don't expect anything to happen any time soon. I cannot wait to get home and get back to my life. Tell Sputnik congrats, and I'll see my first nephew soon, as soon as I get back to the States. Hope you guys are doing okay, and keep sending the mail. It makes getting through the days easier. Well, I am on my way to bed, so I will write you guys soon. I love and miss all of you guys." Lila Lipscomb: I want him to be alive, and I can't make him alive. But your flesh just aches. You want your child. It's out of sync. A parent is not supposed to bury their child. Howard Lipscomb: I feel, I feel sad for my family because we lost our son. But I really feel sorry for the other families that is losing their kids as we speak. And for what? I, I don't -- that's the, I guess the sickening part. For what? Dave Lesar, CEO, Halliburton: You've heard a lot about Halliburton lately. Criticism is okay. We can take it. Criticism is not failure. Our employees are doing a great job. We're feeding the soldiers. We're rebuilding Iraq. Will things go wrong? Sure they will. It's a war zone. We're serving the troops because of what we know, not who we know. Dick Cheney, July 2000: Well, let me tell you about Halliburton, the company I ran. I'm very proud of what I did at Halliburton. The people of Halliburton are very proud of what they've accomplished. And I, frankly don't feel any need to apologize for the way I've spent my time over the last five years as the CEO and chairman of a major American corporation. George Bush: This is also an attempt to divert attention away from the fact they have no energy policy. And as the secretary of energy said, "We were caught unawares." Michael Moore: In the middle of the war, Microsoft, DHL and other corporations invited Halliburton to a conference to figure out how much money could be made in Iraq. Michael Mele, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Having worked this effort even since before the the invasion, the liberation of Iraq started. You, industry, are definitely a vital part of that effort. We appreciate your interest in this. We need you. Youssef Sleiman, Iraq Initiatives, Harris Corporation: Now lots of you are small businesses and struggling: "How do we get a piece of this big action? All of you, the big guys, are gonna get it. And the rest of us will have subcontracting capability or none at all." USTDA is for you. Once that oil starts flowing, and money coming, there's gonna be lots of money. It's the second-largest reserve of oil in the world. There's no question about how much money's there. Dr. Sam Kubba, American Iraqi Chamber of Commerce: I've been getting complaints from Iraqi firms, and from American firms, about the lack of transparency, the corruption. I think the profits American companies are making -- the major, the main companies -- are so overwhelming. I mean, like when you have a line item for a million dollars, and you subcontract it out for 50 or 60 or $70,000 that's a huge profit. And it's the American taxpayer that's gonna pay for that. Youssef Sleiman, Iraq Initiatives, Harris Corporation: And it's gonna get better. Start building relationships. Because it's gonna get much better as the oil flows and their budgets increase. And the good news is, whatever it costs, the government will pay you. Dr. Sam Kubba, American Iraqi Chamber of Commerce: War is always good for certain companies that are in the war, the business of war. George Sigalos, V.P. Halliburton: We're very proud of the work we're doing, again, in supporting the U.S. Government and the U.S. Military. And the real heroes in the campaign and the real heroes in the reconstruction are the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. And we're very proud of being any part of that that we can in supporting them. Adcaster: Halliburton delivers hot meals, supplies, clean clothing, and communications to our soldiers so they can be a little closer to home. Soldier: It's a girl? It's a girl! Halliburton. Proud to serve our troops. Woman 1: I just read in the paper. Halliburton got another contract. Halliburton got another contract. Woman 2: That's right. Woman 1: Which is not being contested at all. Woman 2: Because nobody knows. Woman 1: Well, it's in the paper, so somebody knows. Woman 2: But that's after it happens. It's after the fact. It's too late. Newscaster: The United States is now a major player in the Iraqi oil business. American troops guard the oil fields as Texas oil workers assess their potential. Oilman: So it's a safe environment to work in. We don't feel any risk. We feel like we're being well protected here, or we wouldn't be here. Soldier: It's no secret. I mean I make anywheres -- I don't know -- between 2 and 3000 a month. A Halliburton employee out here driving a bus can make between 8 and 10,000 a month. Explain that one to me. For 40 hours a week. Driving the same two-and-half-mile route. Go figure. Where's the justification in that? Gordon Bobbitt, Kalmart RT Center: There's no other single area of the world today with the opportunity for business, new business, similar to the opportunity that's available today in Iraq. Grant Haber, American Innovations, Inc.: The president went in, and did what he did. We're all supporting him and our troops. And we wanna make sure that -- you know -- the efforts and the lost lives wasn't for no reason. Dr. Sam Kubba, American Iraqi Chamber of Commerce: If it wasn't for the oil, nobody would be there. Nobody would worry about it. Blaine Ober, High Protection Company: Unfortunately, at least for the near term, we think it's gonna be a good situation, a dangerous situation. Good for business, bad for the people. Woman 1: Today on the news, Rumsfeld was saying, and Wolfowitz was saying: "Oh, the Iraqi people are much, much better off. Isn't it better that we got rid of Saddam, and now the Iraqi people can do what they wanna do, and really be free?" Will they ever be free? No, they'll not be free. And where are the weapons of mass destruction? It was a, we were duped. We were really duped. And these poor people, the young men and women who are being killed there. It's unnecessary. Woman 2: That's a disgrace. Woman 1: That's it. No more. Woman 2: That's a disgrace. George Bush: They died in a just cause, for defending freedom, and they will not have died in vain. Michael Moore: Lila had called to tell me that she was coming down from Flint to Washington, D. C. to attend a jobs conference. On her break, she said she was going to go and pay a visit to the White House. Protester: Bush killed children. Iraqi children. Lila Lipscomb: My son, killed. Protester: Killed my people in Spain, yesterday. Bush lies kill people. Your children too. Lila Lipscomb: Yes, my son. Protester: They have no business to do in Iraq now. They're killing all these young Americans. Lila Lipscomb: Yes. CIA Agent: No, he isn't. This is all staged. Protester: Yes, he is. CIA Agent: This is all staged. Lila Lipscomb: My son. CIA Agent: Where was he killed? Lila Lipscomb: You tell me my son is not a stage. CIA Agent: Where was he killed? Lila Lipscomb: He was killed in Karbala. April 2nd. It's not a stage. My son is dead. CIA Agent: There are a lot of other people too. Blame al Qaeda. Michael Moore: What did that woman yell at you? Michael Moore: I guess I was tired of seeing people like Lila Lipscomb suffer. Especially when, out of the 535 members of Congress, only one had an enlisted son in Iraq. I asked Corporal Henderson of the United States Marine Corps to join me on Capitol Hill to see how many members of Congress we could convince to enlist their children to go to Iraq. Congressman, I'm Michael Moore. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: Hey, Michael. How are you doing? Michael Moore: Good. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: John Tanner, from Tennessee. Michael Moore: Very nice to meet you. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: What y'all doing? Michael Moore: Well, I'm here with Corporal Henderson. United States Marine Corps. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: Corporal, I was in the Navy years ago. 1968 to '72. Corporal Henderson: Okay. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: We had Marines guarding the base. Michael Moore: You have kids? John Tanner, D-Tennessee: Yeah. Michael Moore: Is there any way that we can get them to enlist, uh, and go over there and help out with the effort? I've got all the brochures. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: One of them has got two children. Michael Moore: Yeah, well, see, there's not many congressmen that have kids over there. In fact, only one. You know. So we just thought maybe you guys should send your kids there first. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: That's right. Michael Moore: What do you think about that idea? John Tanner, D-Tennessee: I don't disagree with it. Michael Moore: Oh, you don't? Oh, good. Well, here, take some brochures. Here, at least take a Marine brochure. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: Thank you. Michael Moore: Pass it around. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: Yeah, well. Michael Moore: Encourage the fellow members that, you know, if they're for the war to get behind it. You know, and send their own. John Tanner, D-Tennessee: (Slapping him on the chest with the brochure) Thank you, Mike. Michael Moore: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Congressman? Michael Moore. Congressman: How you doing today? Michael Moore: Good. I'm trying to get members of Congress to get their kids to enlist in the Army, and go over to Iraq. Congressman. Congressman. Congressman Castle? Congressman Castle? Congressman. Congressman. Congressman Doolittle, I was wondering if ... Congressman Doolittle: I don't know (unintelligible). Michael Moore: Is there any way to ...? Of course, not a single member of Congress wanted to sacrifice their child for the war in Iraq. And who could blame them? Who would wanna give up their child? Would you? Would he? I've always been amazed that the very people forced to live in the worst parts of town, go to the worst schools, and who have it the hardest, are always the first to step up to defend that very system. They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is remarkable their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it's absolutely necessary. Will they ever trust us again? George Bush: He had used weapons. Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense: We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad, and east, west, south and north. Condoleeza Rice: There is a tie between Iraq and what happened on 9/11. Dick Cheney: The struggle can only end with their complete and permanent destruction. George Bush: We wage a war to save civilization itself. We did not seek it. But we will fight it, and we will prevail. Michael Moore: George Orwell once wrote that, "It's not a matter of whether the war is not real or if it is. Victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won. It is meant to be continuous. A hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past, and no different past can ever have existed. In principle, the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects. And its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia, but to keep the very structure of society intact. George Bush: There's an old saying in Tennessee. I know it's in Texas -- probably in Tennessee -- that says, "Fool me once, shame on, shame on you. You fool me, but you can't get fooled again. Michael Moore: For once, we agreed. A FILM BY MICHAEL MOORE THIS FILM IS DEDICATED TO Michael Pedersen, Brett Petriken, and all the soldiers from the Flint area who have died in the Iraq War. Bill Weems and the 2,973 who died on 9/11/01 And the countless thousands who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq as a result of our actions. LINE PRODUCER: MONICA HAMPTON FIELD PRODUCERS ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS RESEARCH ARCHIVAL RESEARCH GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION PRODUCTION COORDINATOR CONSULTING PRODUCER ADDITIONAL CAMERA ADDITIONAL SOUND OFFICE COORDINATOR ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR DOG EAT DOG FILMS ASSISTANT POST PRODUCTION SOUND SERVICES PROVIDED BY RE-RECORDING MIXER & SOUND EDITOR FIRST ASSISTANT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS APPRENTICE EDITOR
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