9/11 and the Belligerent Empire
Released on the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this edition of The Empire Files is a scathing anti-war essay that focuses on what the filmmakers say was a political disinformation campaign that followed the 9/11 attacks on the US invasion of Afghanistan, 2001.
The filmmaker’s claim that the U.S. government exploited a country out of fear to wage a chaotic, misguided war gave audiences a history lesson about religious extremism in and around Afghanistan. They ended up implying that the CIA was somehow responsible for the emergence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Considered in many ways to be the Vietnam War of this generation, the filmmakers highlight quotes that support their argument. A statement by a British military official suggested he lacked confidence in the US strategy or any chance of success, and a letter from a US soldier implored his government to end the futile mission, claiming it was only him and his ’s army brothers were in danger for no reason.
The film documents how many people have died since 2001 and asks how many more will die because the US military base in Afghanistan is expected to be there until at least 2024. Instead of bringing citizens toward a safer and more democratic society, Afghan government changes have turned the country into the world’s leading supplier of opium.
In a conversation with peace activist Dahlia Wasfi, we learn more about the death squads that contributed to the rise of ISIS and the widespread atrocities it has wrought in Iraq in recent years. She claims that the United States has contributed to these environmental damages and stifled growth by helping dictators stay in power. Wasfi explains the various downsides of so many complex political factors and provides the clearest anti-war testimony in this informative short film.
9/11 and the Belligerent Empire is a passionately critical film that examines the motivations behind the U.S. invasion of Iraq and asks viewers whether the Middle East will ever be at peace as a result of U.S. military intervention.