Oliver Stone, Michael Moore & Chris Hedges On Hollywood Propaganda

I didn't know that Charlie Wilson's War originally made the link between the U.S. funding the Mujahideen in Afghanistan and their subsequent evolution into the Taliban much stronger. That cut was left on the edit room floor. It's a shame really as that link would have moved the movie from good to great. Interesting observations in this recent interview by Al Jazeera on the close links between the Pentagon and Hollywood meaning that not only is all American war portrayed as just but that the truth doesn't get a chance to be heard if it needs to use Pentagon hardware.

How Does The US Navy Get On With The Iranian Navy In The Straits Of Hormuz.

Admiral William J.Fallon, Former Commander of U.S. Central Command, speaking at the joint conference of AIC and ACMCU titled: The Changing Middle East, New Challenges, Players and US-Iran Relations. 

Fallon, discusses "The Changing Middle East and Implications for US-Iran Relations. He's kind of a straight up player who pushed back when the Bush administration wanted to start war with Iran but the bottom line is he doesn't understand that the US naval base in Bahrain is to do with US stability and not the region. He should also know the basics on Bahraini doctors and nurses being arrested and persecuted for treating injured protesters. He might choose to ignore those kind of issues but if I can learn up on his world he can learn up the world of the people where he parks his boats.

Interesting presentation though on naval etiquette and procedure. Far more grown up than Congress.

The Best Under 5 Minutes 9/11 Video Ever

I got talking to a Discovery Channel producer in a Bangkok Go Go bar about the subject of 911. He couldn't handle the thought that his country or media was lying to him and actually started to get aggressive about it. I quickly neutralised that by pointing out that he didn't even know how many buildings went down that day in New York (it's seven) and so why would would he want to discuss something he knows nothing about (as all 911 deniers do). 

But I can't help shaking my head that the producer of a discovery programme and a person who sets the agenda for learning in the United States was unable to open his mind to new information. Humans sure are curious but the brainwashed Americans too cowardly to confront the ugly reality are the most curious.