Mr. X from Planet X

.

In Breaking the Silence John Pilger takes a look at history of US and British intervention in Afghanistan

Pilger brings to light Jimmy Carter authorized $500 million to supported the Mujahidin six (6) months before Russia had invaded Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden was created by this funding and was regarded by the US and Brittan as a “Good Terrorist”.

Americans were completely unaware that their government along with the British Secret Service, MI6, had begun training and funding terrorists. Out of this came Osama bin Ladan.

Soon after the Taliban came to power 1996 the administration of Bill Clinton backed a secret plan for a pipeline through Afghanistan from central Asia which has vast reserves of oil and gas.

After 911 the United states invaded Afghanistan, and drove out Taliban, only to place warlords in power.  Although driving out Taliban was claimed as a great victory, The warlords won’t allow women to study, have burned down girls schools, and force woman to wear burkas just like the Taliban.

Unlike the Taliban, the war lords support poppy fields that supply most of the heroin being sold in the US and Brittan.

In order to establish a perspective on US foreign policy, Pilger interviews a number of experts: pro and con.

Pilger interviews Ray McGovern a former CIA operative who gave the U.S. President his daily CIA intelligence report for 30 years.  Ray Ray McGovern was a personal friend of George Bush Sr. McGovern states there was a group in Washington referred to as “The Crazies.” “Anyone knew who you were talking about if you mentioned the crazies.” The Crazies are now personal friends and allies of George W. Bush: Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perl, Doug Feith, and Donald Runsfeld.

Pilger interviews William Kristol the President for “The Project for The New American Century”. William Kristol states the problem with the U.S. is being to slow to get involved in foreign countries. William Kristol states the U.S. would not intervene in any “decent” country.

Pilger states to Kristol since World War II there have been 72 interventions conducted by the United States. William Kristol replies “That is ludicrous.”

John Pilger goes on to document these interventions, like the U.S. intervention in Chile.

John Pilger does miss one issue. In nearly every case there was a financial interest at stake. In Chile Salvador Isabelino Allende Gossens wanted to nationalize the copper mines, kicking out multinational corporations. This was covered by HBO Chile.

John Pilger uses the Freedom of Information act to examine documents like “The National Security Strategy of The United States of America.”

Pilger interviews Reed Brody from Human Rights Watch. Mr. Brody States the U.S. government multiplied it’s aid to Indonesia as slaughter in East Temor was increasing.

Pilger interviews Denis Halliday former UN Assistant Secretary General.  Halliday likens the current U.S. situation to when children where trained  to hide under their desks in case a nuclear bomb were to strike. Halliday states the Axis of Evil is fundamental rubbish and part of a political game.

The United States now has 152 military bases around the world. The U.S. military calls this full spectrum dominance.

Charles Lewis from The Center for Public Integrity likens the situation to the Roman Empire.

George Bush states “We cannot accept and we will not accept states that finance, harbor, train, or equip the agents of terror. Those nations that violate this principle will be regarded as hostile regimes.”

Amnesty International has documented thousands of terrorists who were trained in The School Of The Americas who have been granted safe haven in the United States.

Pilger speaks with Colonel Rod Davis Director of Public Affairs for CJTF 180 in Coalition Military force stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afgahnistan. Colonel Davis assures Pilger no torture takes place at any of the holding locations, no abuse, they receive medical attention, and they are fed.

Pilger states there have been reports. One example is a military pathologist who sited a man named Delewa who’s death was attributed to homicide. Colonel Davis states “Anyone who’s fair would have to say that Americans in particular but certainly members of the coalition aren’t known for committing atrocities. That’s not part of our history, that’s not the way we do business. It’s not the way we treat people.”

One of the prisoners at Wasaya Mohammed is a Kabul taxi driver, who disappeared into Bagram last hear. He’s now in Guantanamo Bay. His crime was to enquire about another taxi driver who has since been released. Mohammed has never been charged with any crime. Pilger states what makes this case so appalling is this man is recognized by the present government as having resisted the Taliban. He had no connections with Al Qaeda.

There are 9 British Citizens being held in Guantanamo including Shafike Razual. Shafike Razual was kidnapped and taken to Guantanamo two weeks after he had arrived in Pakistan where he has relatives. He has been held for two years without being charged.

Andrew Wilkie former Australian Intelligence Officer. Mr. Wilkie is the only serving western intelligence officer who has broken cover to expose what he considers to be the lies that lead the West into the war with Iraq.

General Wesley Clark former NATO commander states from the time he served he never saw any evidence produced to show Saddam was behind Al Qaeda. Clark states “The only reason to have gone to war to deal with a threat so eminent and so dangerous that war as a last resort was the only means available. As I weighed the evidence as I watched the debate emerge. I reflected on my own experiences I listened to the discussions from the Pentagon and inside the White House as I checked with sources in Congress and people who were current on the intelligence that simply wasn’t the case.”

Douglas Feith under Secretary of Defense (remember Ray McGovern stated he’s one of the crazies), states he does not think the threat of weapons of mass destruction was a lie. Feith points out Saddam used weapons of mass destruction on his own people.

John Pilger counters that most of the biological weapons Saddam used, and their components were sold to him by the US and Brittan. Pilger goes on to cite it’s on the record in the Library Congress. A congressional record of a US Senate inquiry from October 27th 1992 shows the US approved the sale of biological weapons from ATCC and Porton Down in Brittan.

Colan Powall’s speech from February 2001 stated Saddam “He has not developed any significant capabilities with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors.”

Condoleezza Rice Bush’s National July 2001 stated . “We are able to keep arms from him. His military force has not been rebuilt.”

This was covered up after September 11th when Bush and Tony Blair decided to invade Iraq. Condoleezza Rice had told one official, “The decision has been made. Don’t waist your breath.”

As of the making of this film it was estimated 10,000 civilians died in the attack on Iraq. John Pilger provides footage of injured civilian in hospitals, and interviews Jo Wilding, human rights observer. Wilding describes the wounded civilians in agonizing pain. There wasn’t enough anesthetic in the hospital to administer to all of them.

John Bolton (under Secretary of State) assures John Pilger the number of Iraqis killed was the absolute minimum for modern warfare. John Bolton also accuses John Pilger of being a member of the Communist Party.

At the end of the documentary John Pilger features conclusions by many of his interviewees.

Rita Lasar’s brother Abe Zelmanowitz was killed in the twin towers on 911. Lasar states “There is something so similar between our administration and Al Qaeda, in it’s certainty that God is on its side that it’s laughable. And that the American people should fall for this lie hurts me more than I can tell you.”

Pilger states “Norman Mailer wrote the other day that he believed America had entered a prefascist state. What’s your view of that?”

Ray McGovern: “Well In a way, and I’m not saying this to be cynical, but I hope he’s right because there are others who say we are already in a fascist sort of mode. If you say something often enough people begin to believe it, and that strategy has been applied with unfortunately great success by this administration.”

More Information:

As always this film is available in the US through Bullfrogfilms.  Breaking the Silence can be purchased on VHS or DVD for $29.95.

You can also order a copy of Breaking the Silence on DVD for public viewing for $39.00.  The public license gives you the right to show the film publicly, but you are not allowed to charge admission.  This is great for libraries, or you could hold a fund raiser to rent out a theater.

As with any film distributed through Bull From Films, I do not make any money if you buy the film.  I’m only providing this information as a public service.