The U.S.'s decision to invade Iraq in 2003 was predicated on the belief that Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The ensuing war lasted almost nine years; killed almost 4,500 U.S. troops and 174,000 Iraqis; cost the U.S. $845 billion; and continues to have negative repercussions throughout the region and world. And it was all based on a lie. German filmmaker Matthias Bittner's documentary War of Lies details the specifics straight from the source: Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi—nicknamed “Curveball” by the intelligence community—an Iraqi refugee living in Germany, whose lies about WMDs in his home country set into motion a Rube Goldberg device that led to deceit and destruction. The events unfold in a series of one-on-one interviews between Bittner and Curveball in which the latter—an anti-Saddam Iraqi—justifies his actions since they ultimately led to Hussein being ousted from power. Claiming to be a chemical engineer with the military weapons division in Iraq, Curveball told German intelligence whatever they wanted to hear in exchange for asylum. The testimony is fascinating and frustrating, especially when paired with archival footage detailing the U.S. escalations that were based on Curveball's false claims. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Morehart)
War of Lies
(2015) 89 min. In Arabic, English & German w/English subtitles. DVD: $300. DRA. Film Platform (avail. from www.filmplatform.net). PPR. Volume 31, Issue 3
War of Lies
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