Comments on: “Charlie Wilson’s War” – Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

By: Accuracy in Media - There Has Got To Be a Better Way |

Accuracy in Media - There Has Got To Be a Better Way | — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:37:04 +0000

[...] Imagine if all I have to contend with is my own demons that inhabit my conscience, how difficult it must be for those tempted when money, power and prestige is on the table and at stake? When you read the daily newspaper or view then evening news, think about those writers, editors and program managers that are pulled and pushed into every direction except the TRUTH. [...]

By: Michael Lang

Michael Lang — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:29:45 +0000

Katrina, unfortunately the answer to your question is that there is very little, if anything that you can count on as far as accurate information. That is why it is so important that you do 2 things. Build your own support system of RELIABLE SOURCES and secondly, do your own due dilligence. I too am always suspicious of the agendas that a source might have…like “what’s in it for them!”
What’s really a mindblower and travesty of journalistic integrity is people like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly that pass themselves off as dispensers of the truth when they are BOLD FACE LIARS…I mean outright liars….not just a stretch of the truth but lies!
PERSEVERE

Mike Lang
Publisher

By: Katrina

Katrina — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:37:02 +0000

I am just curious, how can we believe anything that is fed to us by Hollywood or the Government. They are holding hands through so much, that you cannot differentiate one from the other. Everything we do needs to be researched. I do not know how to do this, as I trust no one. Everyone wants either power or money, and they do not realize that they are destroying the world at an alarming rate to get what they want.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:45:42 +0000

admin (Mike) – Wilson has credibility with me as well, never stated ot implied otherwise. Wehre this movie derails is in its inistance that Wilson was the only one of this point-of-view and that whatever he did, he did in spite of the administration in power. not as a part of it. Historically, there’s no question that Wilson’s part was highly significant, but he was far from alone. Read, “Charlie Wilson and Ronald Reagan” by Dr. Jack Wheeler over at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59402. Charlie Wilson was his best man. I think he has some credibility as well.

James – Hindsight is too easy. Our present age, good or bad, has been built on decisions such as this one. Sometimes they turn out OK, sometimes not, but coulda, woulda, shoulda, should never lock one into a geopolitical paralysis to world events. it should give on pause, and in the case of potential war, a very long and dteremined pause, but it should not result in a complete abdication of responsibility.

By: James

James — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:57:37 +0000

So we have Charlie Wilson to thank for the rise of the Taliban, 9/11 and our current war on terror? Why do we find this story either amusing or entertaining?

By: admin

admin — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:07:30 +0000

You know the old term, “poetic license”…..well some people seem to take more liberties with their license than others. We can only hope, if we are going to be more than entertained, that there is enough truth to make a statement or at least a point.
The fact that Charlie Wilson was bestowed with the “Honored Colleague” award by the CIA does give him and the storyline enough credibility, for me, to make it an enjoyable black comedy with built-in morality play.
I did see the movie after I wrote the article and I am happy to report that I am satisfied with both.

Mike Lang, Publisher

By: Michael Budrock

Michael Budrock — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:15:53 +0000

Truth is stranger than fiction. Most of this “article” was lifted directly from Wikipedia and some of the quotes have been totally misappropriated. My favorite?

“Mines that looked like they were toys would blow apart, blowing off the hands of little children. Wilson recalls learning from Herring.”

Lifted almost word for word from Lou Cannon’s book, “Ronald Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime.” In his book, Mr. Cannon notes how Reagan “expressed revulsion of the brutal destruction of Afghan villages and such Soviet policies as the scattering of mines disguised as toys that killed and maimed Afghan children.” Interesting little footnote, wouldn’t you say?

As is always the case, the truth here lies between the suspicious timing and presentation (look deeper into the political concerns, past work histories, and familial ties of those engaged in creating this movie, as well as the book on which it is based) of those who would adopt “Charlie Wilson’s war” as absolute fact and those who would adopt Mr. Cannon’s rendition as absolute.