The Secret Files: Washington, Israel And The Gulf

While PBS can rarely be accused of overproducing a documentary, this historical overview of Middle East/U.S. "secret" correspondence during the Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy administrations plays a bit like a three-ring circus. In the center stage is Ben Bradlee, the gruff editor of The Washington Post (who does indeed resemble Jason Robards who played Bradlee in All The President's Men). Bradlee seems to be suffering from "shifting butt syndrome" as he twists from one camera to another. Bradlee reads portions of "secret" correspondence from Presidents to Saudi Arabian leaders (such as King Ibn Saud) and Israeli leaders, and interviews various ambassadors and diplomats who share historical tidbits (they appear in tilted file card/picture in picture setups that are more cute than effective). Periodically, the camera cuts away for often less than illuminating commentary from either Jamil Mrove, the Arabian commentator, or Amos Elon, the Israeli commentator. The revelations, though pumped with a lot of clandestine-type rhetoric are hardly major revelations. We were supportive of both Saudi Arabia and Israel, basically. But this sounds rather more like diplomacy than skullduggery. Still, despite the weird approach to production, there is some interesting info here, the price is certainly right, and interest in programs relating to the Gulf War has not yet disappeared. Recommended. (See Frontline: The Betrayal Of Democracy for availability.)