Review of Dirty Wars (2013) by Garrett A — 25 Feb 2014

What Jeremy Scahill did was absolutely incredible. Worthy of a Pullitzer Prize, no doubt. Dare I say unjust if he hasn't won one. There are not many people who would have done what he did to follow this story.

It is a compelling story. However, at the same time, I feel two things. I feel like most people know that this goes on all the time. It is just not talked about, but it is nothing "new." That's not to say there was nothing new in this movie, but the idea of the military doing unethical things to kill people at any cost is not surprising to anyone (or at least it shouldn't).

With that said, it is still worth reporting on. The other feeling I have is one of helplessness. What is there to do? Congress may not even have the power to stop it. The American people certainly do not.

The government will continue to operate with impunity as long as confidential files remain. They can just deny or ignore anything they want and there is nothing anyone can do to stop them. I'm sure more goes into it than he makes it seem in this movie.

I am fairly certain they don't just pick a name out of a hat and put them on their "list." I could go on all day about it, but I won't. In terms of this movie, it seemed like, while what he was doing was, without question, worthy of plaudits, it seemed to focus on him a bit too much.

He is not necessarily the story here. The injustices and the victims are the story. I feel he inserted himself into the story a bit too much. Other than that, I thought it was very well made movie that deserves credit for the work and courage required to make it.