Donahue on Iraq: We’re to Blame

Phil Donahue on CBC Radio’s As It Happens:

Who’s to blame? 

“The American people are. We elect leaders who talk tough, who say ‘Bring it on,’ instead of bringing help.”

“Every major daily paper in the United States was behind this war.”

Donahue has discovered the documentary film format, and spoke with soldiers and their families about the personal damage done by a war that was launched on false pretenses.

Interesting to see Donahue move from the daily grind of a talk show to the intense focus and long development time of a documentary. Body of War was co-produced and co-directed with Ellen Spiro.

You can also catch Donahue arguing for U.S. forces to get out of Iraq on Fox.

The objectivity (or veneer of objectivity) required for most mainstream news media isn’t required by the documentarian, probably because just about no one would go through the gruelling process of creating a documentary if they weren’t fired up about the issue they are exploring.

Updated: The original draft version of this post got published by accident.  My apologies.  Here’s the edited version.