I've just seen it and it was gripping, but I wonder if because of the nature of this Docu-Drama will it ever be broadcast in the US?
It didn't demonise the Terrorists, something that I feel is important to avoid, but it is why I question whether the US is ready to see a film like this now or in the near future.
I also just watched it but im still unsure about how I feel about it. Definately gripping but I wouldnt have minded some better acting.
shareI know what you mean but because it wasn't exactly your typical entertainment I'd say they got away with it. Not too much emotion from the characters they were always incredibly serious but I suspect that the writers felt that it'd be inappropriate to show them having fun and laughing considering the subject matter.
shareBut you really get to see WHY they did it and you know america hasnt learnt jack *beep* from 9/11, theres this new show like a reality thing where theyre picking who gets to build something on ground zero, how sick is that?? its like they dont actually understand that 3,000 people died there!!! Theyre probably gonna have a phone in vote!! its so so stupid
shareWhat are the lessons to be learned by 9/11?
FYI, there is no reality show about what to build at Ground Zero, which is considered hallowed.
I think your first question is simplistic to say the least. The lessons to be learnt, most notably by the current U.S. administration in terms of foreign policy forming and the operational procedures of their intelligence agencies, are truly legion and have been discussed ad nauseum by much better informed people than me in much more public forums than this. If you truly want this question answered comprehensively, I suggest you do some research on any number of applicable websites. The information won't be very hard to find. In relation to your second point, there has been a program broadcast on the BBC in the U.K. relating to the proposed new monument/building on ground zero. It concentrated on the rather stiff competition amoungst certain parties to gain the contract for the design and construction of the new project, but it could hardly be described as a "reality" program, as someone else claimed on this board. It could be more accuratley described as a documentary which focused not on the building project in question, but the rather driven(!) and single-minded people who all seemed determined to be chosen for the job and weren't afraid to tell us all why they should be. As to whether "The Hamburg Cell" will be shown in the U.S., I'd say probably but not necessarily in a very prominent or well-publicised way. The production attracted no funding from American sources at all due to the depiction of the terrorists as simply flawed, impressionable and extremely misguided people rather than two-dimesional blood-thirsty fiends or psychopaths. The only way to palatably portray the hijackers as far as the U.S. networks were concerned was as out-and-out villains - guys with black hats - and nothing more. Yes, these men committed truly disgusting acts of mass murder and are very rightly condemned for doing so, but they weren't always homicidal fanatics. They had to have come to that sad conclusion from somewhere and from a mindset far more recognizable to us than an Al Qaeda training camp. The story of how and why these men became the murderers they did is the overriding value of this piece of work and it's from this story that many lessons can be learnt.
shareThank you for your reply. In my first question, I was curious about the lessons to which iziRocks1 was referring. His/her comment appears to suggest that Americans need to learn more about the motivations of the highjackers. I was wondering what light this film sheds on that. Did you see this film? Did you feel better informed about their reasons?
I agree the film will not be given a lot of backing and publicity in the US. All the same, I would guess many Americans will want to see it if given the chance.
I in turn thank you for your reasoned response. To say that Americans generally need to learn more about the motivations of the hijackers rings true to me. To qualify that opinion, I remember someone making a comment on a U.K. discussion program screened not long after 9/11: "Most of the world hates America because most Americans don't know that most of the world hates America". Whilst I can't completely agree with that statement, I can see why it was made. There is a fair degree of insularity evident within American culture. People have said that America is fascinated with itself and so knows very little about the rest of the world. While I've met some extremely intelligent Americans who are both well informed and well travelled, I know that they represent a relative minority. Less than 10% of U.S. citizens actually possess a passport, let alone travel internationally. I recall Bill Clinton making a televised statement informing the American people of his decision to bomb targets in the former Yugoslavia and actually referred to a map showing people where in the world that country is. That would seem as ridiculous to most Europeans as their leaders showing them the location of Mexico.
As to "The Hamburg Cell", (which I did watch when screend in the U.K.) I would say it is fairly comprehensive in it's attempt to give some context to the tragedy. It doesn't show any light hearted or joyful scenes in the hijackers' lives, but this would probably have seemed insensitive and disrespectful. What it does show is people who adopted a siege mentality with regard to their religion and culture and used this sense of extreme persecution to justify their actions. They perceived the root source of injustice in the world to be the United States and it's agencies operating around the world. This hatred and fear was exploited by some to serve their own ends and religious justification was an added tool of coercion employed to manipulate. That's a fairly basic description of the film and in no way substitutes watching it for yourself, which I hope you can. You might hate it and reject what it has to say, but at least you'll know what you're rejecting.
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Huh? Did you actually read what I wrote? You've been saving up that vitriol after hearing and reading a lot of overtly America-baiting stuff and then let me have it. You picked the wrong guy! Disgust, you say. It's not an uncommon feeling amounst many peoples in the world who have felt the brunt of this "ideology of hatred" you talk about. I'm a proud Australian who is all too aware of the role the U.S. played in preventing my fair continent from being invaded and enslaved by Imperial Japan (so much for your German-speaking theory). This heroic act was repaid with the donation to Uncle Sam of several sites for military installations throughout the great southern land that are SOVEREIGN U.S. TERRITORY IN PERPETUITY. These bases proved invaluable during the cold war as listening posts, communications relay stations and an integral asset to N.A.S.A.'s space program. Many of my countymen and women utterly resented our being made a clear and prominent nuclear target for the Soviet Union (as it was) and vehemently protested at the presence of these military bases. Many more objected to Australians being sent to fight (without being asked or required to do so) in the Vietnam war. My point is, these things cut both ways. I don't subscribe to this "You're either with us or against us" hooey from Mr. Bush. I'm just as allowed to stand in awe of certain aspects of your county as I am to be utterly appalled by others. The sheer symbolism of the United States as a beacon of liberty and hope was not created from nothing. It's early society was far from flawless, but it sure beat the hell out of the mess a lot of Europe was in! Immigrants who found themselves in a land where they had a lot less to fear and infinitely more to gain quite rightly lionised their new country as a wondrous land of opportunity and prosperity ("Give me your hungry, your tired, your poor huddled masses..."). This wasn't exactly what the founding fathers had in mind, though, when they composed the Declaration of Independence. They were all pretty much of a mind to keep their America a "white Protestants only" club - (mainly Irish) Catholics, Slavs, Jews, Chinese and (god forbid!) blacks coming to live in their new world would have given them a collective heart attack. Sounds a kinda fascist, dontcha think? In the Continental Congress' first session, German was only very narrowly outvoted by English to be the official language of the new republic, just in case you didn't know (and THAT vote was counted fair and square!). Just as Americans and their leaders have acted selflessly, courageously and with great honour in the course of the past 200-odd years, so have they acted with reprehensible treachery, cynical self-interest and bloody-minded malice in their dealings with the rest of the world. You've given us an utterly incredible profusion of music, literature, film and art that has immeasurably enriched the world forevermore. Also, the real possibility of cataclymic nuclear war was a direct result of U.S. and Soviet policy - Don't think the Russians were the only ones crazy enough to try - had it not been for Jack Kennedy being president in '62, the then chiefs of staff would have talked a weaker man (probably Nixon) into invading Cuba and kicking off the last war there would ever have been on Earth. These are all part of your legacy, especially in the last century - sometimes called "The American Century". I stress, it ain't all bad by any means, but I'll damned well point out glaring examples of when it IS very, very bad and defend other people's right to do so! Now that last part sounds remarkably reminiscent of your very own right to free speech. That's something we should ALL thank America for championing.
share[deleted]
Not presumptous at all, I think you'll find. My post was not the last in the thread, yet you responded to mine in particular. Your post may well have just happened to follow mine, but then it seemed pretty apparent that you were following my comment, rather than that at the bottom of the page. I think you can appreciate my mistake. You talk of people looking down their nose at America and Americans. I can't disagree as too many of those who live in the U.K. with me are of that persuasion. It seems remarkably similar to the mindless demonisation suffered by the Germans and Japanese after the last world war as well as the Russians during the cold war. The French didn't exactly get off lightly for disagreeing with your administration only recently, I seem to recall. You mentioned belonging to "...a completely unappreciated and often despised nation". Whoa there, I think you're overreacting. Your culture and media are consumed with some appetite all over the world at a greater rate than ever. Doesn't this infer more than a little acceptance to you? You also said, "...it's all but impossible to change the minds of those who've taken a position and have closed their eyes and ears to other possibilities". I couldn't agree more. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the rather influential section of the American establishment who were vociferously isolationist just prior to the onset of WWII. The horrors of "The Great War" had convinced many that Europe's folly should stay hers and hers alone. Why send yet more Young Americans overseas for a cause of uncertain value to America's domestic interest? They were proven rather wrong. Does that situation sound familiar? I'm not about to agree with those who portray Americans generally as ignorant, bullish dullards because I know that all of you are not. Of course some are, but I've met all too many Brits and fellow Aussies (amounst others) who more than fit that bill. I'm sure you've bumped into a few examples yourself. More worrying by far, for mine, is when the prevalent mentality is that of "My country, right or wrong". Patriotism is the last refuge of those who would have you see enemies everywhere. I resent and abhor having a flag waved in my face to obscure another insidious agenda, and that is what I believe has happened all too often to your country of late. Equally, trying to justify and even glorify murder in the name of religion is becoming somehow an accepted means of "reprisal" in the face of perceived attack. A section of the Islamic world feels a boiling resentment at America's obvious and historical support of Israel (now there's a kettle of fish!) and it's this which will be endlessly used as ammunition - amoungst other things - for the demonisation you so fear. Many Muslims feel collectively victimised and hated too. Some Muslim friends of mine talk about a sense of paranoia and all-encompasing Islamaphobia. I'd say it will definitely be to the detriment of the world if this victim mentality becomes as prevalent in the States as you say it will. The point is to try NOT to let it.
share[deleted]
Man, you mustn't have had any for weeks! You are FIXATED on being steamed and will not be diverted to anything like reasonable discussion by anyone or anything. I've been trying to bring you down to the level of reason with some (hopefully) thought through examples of where I'm coming from. I shouldn't have bothered. You're DETERMINED to think of me as a blinkered America-hater. I'll do something here that I don't like doing very much; I'll repeat myself.
I AIN'T THE GUY!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a student of history and am ALL TOO AWARE of the great acts of wisdom and heroism undertaken by governments and the people of the United States. You can save all the Patton-in-front-of-Old-Glory sermonising because I DON'T THINK OF AMERICA AS THE GREAT SATAN! I AM NOT THE AYATOLLAH OF IRAN! Your degenerating into a sarcastic little whine impresses me not one jot. I'm trying to talk to you here and all I'm getting back is "You all hate us! You think you're all so smart and righteous! Well *beep* you! Hate us, cuz we know better and you'll all be sorry!". That gets a bit tedious when I'm NOT making or advocating the case you're railing against.
The original thread this little chat arose from was the film, "The Hamburg Cell". This has had it's fair proportion of praise and damnation but I think it's important as a peice of instructive history. The Cell of the title only became able to plan and operate due to the C.I.A. being hamstrung in it's use of aggressive investigation subsequent to some major and well publicised *beep* in Central America during the 80's. None of this back-story was presented in the film, but luckily, I try to learn what I can about an issue before I shoot my mouth off about it. Due to a cut in funding for field agents and the payrolling of informants and contacts, certain Islamic fundamentalist operations were able to operate with near impunity for almost a decade. They were observed and followed extensively by the Agency travelling to and from North America, the Middle East and Europe (let's not sell the men in the field too short), but the resources and, more importantly, the will up-high was not forthcoming. Blame this on Clinton's administration? I'm not sure. Bush Snr was the one who reigned-in operations initially - despite being a former C.I.A. head himself! - but Slick Willy didn't exactly make amends in his 8 years. Whether he was battling hostility to a Democratic administration from within the Agency to affect change isn't too clear. In any event, the plotters were able to execute their plan to brutally and senselessly murder thousands of people (Americans AND OTHERWISE, many of my fellow countrymen and women died also). This pretty much answers - to a fair extent - how 9/11 was allowed to happen. It was preventable if only America's intelligence services had been allowed to act upon what they saw unfolding. This isn't to say that the Agency has always been relatively blameless, but I'm hoping you knew that already.
What the hell was that S*** you were spouting about Israel? Do you know ANYTHING about the issue? Your shocking oversimplification screams that you are someone who made his mind up about this a lot of years ago and NEVER read anything about it subsequently. I'm hardly saying that I despise all Israelis or Jews, but the backgroung of how the state came into existence and continued to exist through to the present is hardly a tale of butterflies, flowers and rainbows. Jesus!, you come out with "... the Palestinians want to eradicate the world of all Jews". Are you serious? Calm down, breathe deeply, wipe the rabid froth from the corners of your mouth and READ A BOOK! A home state for the Jews of the world. Sounds great. Brutally evict the people who live there already. Hang on a second...
By the way, I don't read the Mirror, it's a tabloid rag and I'd rather read a newspaper. Equally I don't watch Fox as I'd rather watch news, rather than opinion - Rupert Murdoch is one Australian we were glad to see leave.
By the way, if you possibly can, watch a program produced by the BBC called "The Power of Nightmares". It really shows a great insight into the origins of modern Islamic fundamentalist terrorism and the culture of how American government evolved during the middle and end of the 20th century. Especially how the permissive society and "Great Liberal Reforms" of the 60's led pretty much to disaster and a greater concentration on adversarial politics and a culture of "fearing the enemy". Seriously, it's very worth seeking out. Don Rumsfeld doesn't come out too well, but then when does he?
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I doff my hat to you, sir. You are one of the few shining examples of your great people who understand irony! Unfortunately, having mastered this aspect of expression, ITS THE ONLY DAMN WAY YOU CAN EXPRESS ANYTHING!!! Have you quite finished you "Exorcist"-style regurgitation of bile? If so, let me help you take up where you left off. Successive U.S. administrations have not addressed in any real way the issues of America's enegy consumption and emissions. Is this because you're all morons? You tell me? There are a huge number of frighteningly educated individuals in the States who are at this moment engaged in research and development as to how to produce a better mini-van for soccer-moms to pick up their (preferably white) kids from private schools. Well, the state schools are all so full of those nasty violent blacks and latinos, aren't they? As for cleaning them up and making state education half-decent (without needing corporate sponsorship from a damn soft-drink company, that is), that would mean tax increases. No ******* way! What is this, Sweden? You'll be demanding basic health care for all U.S. citizens next! Hell, they might even raise the price of gas and make the cost somewhere near a realistic level! Oh, no, hang on, the electorate would never stand for that. Any government who dared do something as positive as that would be voted out faster than you can say pressure-group-politics. If there's one thing an American would resent more than the threat of terror, it's making the trip to the drive-thru more expensive. Nope, instead, we'll just keep letting Americans do what only they can do best. Pollute and consume at levels that are utterly unsustainable for the forseeable future so that the rest of the world gets it in the neck just as fast as "Number One" does. Its the American way, after all. The War on Terror need only be giving those darn towel-heads enough SUVs for them to collectively choke to death on the diesel fumes. Dubya's doing his part. He's repealed environmental legislation dating back to the Nixon adminstration. An oil man's dream! Now while we're all distracted by the clear and present danger of terror (and let's face it, it's easy to distract people who mostly haven't read a book since they left High School), the really destructive stuff goes completely unnoticed! Well, except by Grummand, Lockheed Martin, Abrams and any number of other defence contractors who are making out like bandits on the sly. Now THERE are some mighty sharp American minds! Those TV evangelists ain't too shabby either. Who needs foreign religious zealots when the domestic brand is so much more slick and just about as fanatical? Never mind the Taliban, fundamentalist Christians make their operation look amateurish. God knows, the oh-so-gullible faithful keep their preachers very comfortably in cheap-looking jewellery (and cheaper looking prostitutes). Not that I'm using this as an example of just how stunningly slack-jawed you Yanks can be, you understand. How can serving the Lord be stupid? You thanked me for sharing. Hell, your country's sharing more good stuff than I could ever want!
There, now how does it feel to be accused of something you're not? You clearly aren't an example of some navel-gazing dimwit who sleeps under a flag and hugs an M16 every night after consuming his own body-weight in Tootsie Rolls. You admire the work of Orson Welles, for Pete's sake. Equally, I reiterate that I do not hate America. I do not resent every little thing that America and Americans have done in other nations. I do appreciate that America's position and role are unique in the world and that they rid us of the tyranny which was the Soviet Empire. Their power, of course, comes with a huge responsibility and this has not always been recognized by those not in America's position. There have been many errors made and attrocities commited by those fighting under your banner, but the many great, important and heroic achievements done under the same auspices seem too often forgotten by those who should know better. I am not one of those people. I am all too aware of the importance of security to a society like America's. The U.K. has lived under the threat of Irish Republican terror for some decades and have the F.B.I. to thank in no small measure for lessening this threat. I am not about to condemn ANY country for voting in a Head of State in free and fair elections. It's a right which has been admirably championed by The United States for practically it's entire history and no-one has any legitimate right to criticize the American people for having a political preference. I can remember seeing a discussion program on the BBC a very short time after 9/11 in which the audience were positively LOADED with those of an anti-American persuasion. The poor U.S. Ambassador was a member of the panel and found himself in the midst of an angry mob, all seemingly hell-bent on completely discrediting both him and his country. After the credits rolled, he was in tears, apparently. I couldn't have been much angrier at the way this man was treated, especially at that time (he's a New Yorker, for christ's sake!)
Now if you want to leave it at that and just agree to differ, fine. Equally, if you want to actually discuss SOMETHING without resorting to snooty, know-it-all sarcasm, I'm willing. Despite you last post, I'm hardly "determined to be correct", more determined to get some sort of response beyond misplaced hostility (something you seem to mightily resent yourself, I gather).
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Aww dammit! You went and got friendly on me! Since you're in Wisconsin, I was just about to make some snide comment comparing you to Potsy Webber, Ralph Malph or some such. You try to be cool like Fonzie, dig?
AAaaaaayyyyyy! ;-)
I believe this movie was a point of view that the U.S. society needs to see. Someone on this post spoke of most of the free world being under the control of a fascist eletist control if it wasn't for our great country, and I respond that we are seeing the signs of it now. We refuse to understand the rest of the world's
experience in this life and it will lead to death as it has already. Everyone reading this will know what I am speaking of (Iraq, Sept 11,.....). Why does this
country's society refuse to embrace any foreign opinion of itself? I guarentee the victims of Sept 11 and the casualties of the present war have a better understanding than the American who cast their vote for the President in power. The results of Nov 2 2004 have sealed the fate of so many more American deaths in the near future because these people are oblivious of the convictions of religious fanaticism. You know why this is easy to see? These mostly goodhearted people are blinded by their own neighborhood religion as well. I think you can see where I'm going with this, but I can't ignore the fact that my fellow Americans cannot
stomach the truth. I was born and raised in America's heartland, and still reside here, therefore I am witness to more blinder mentality than most. These people just need to be better informed, simply, however, looking back, it doesn't seem likely, which could be the only meaningful observation stated here. Don't count on the average American to look truth in the face any time soon.
Goodness Mr Welles, i think you have well and truly proved the stupidity of Americans by your postings! Strange-8 - RESPECT 2 u!
Well I just have to say to Strange-8 go ahead!, mr welles, come on! the guy was just trying to make a point wich I think he did, the thing is, yeah people hate the united states (I actually dont like to use the term america, cause america is the hole continent) and the reason is, you (almost all of you anyhow) belive that the u.s is the center of the universe, Im a mexican girl and when I've been in holidays to the u.s people actually ask me if we have stuff like microwaves and t.v on mexico, one girl actually asked me if I've ever seen a car before I went to the u.s, give me a break! but anyway the point in here was not about how stupid did we find you, but if you are going to jugde something yoy should look at both stories, i agree what happened in 9/11 was horrible and I strongly belive that the people responsable for it should be somehow punished but i don´t think the thousends of inocents that got killed during your invation to iraq had anything to do, as you don´t like people to generalize that all citizens of the u.s are stupid or ignorant i dont think all islamic people are murderes or terrorists, what i belive the point of the hamburg cell was show the other side of the story, if you dont agree with it it's ok, nobody is telling you to abandon your life and pursit peace but at leat you can be a little more open minded an perhaps, only perhaps you'll learn something and then you can agree or disagree with the movie but it's always nice if you are able to recive critisism from people that doesnt think the same way as you, besides Strange-8 was just making a statement of his interpretation of the movie and how it made him feel, and now after reading all this posts i can say that i dont think most of the people of the united states are ready to see this movie with an open mind, maybe its too soon, but someday you'll have to realize that there a people in the wide world that think somehow different and there's nothing you can do to stop it, and by the way the selfless help that you big hearted heroes give to the world in my opinion is so much less than selfless, i have no doubt that you are an amazing and caring person but you goverment in an overall is not.
sharemr wells could not agree with you more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"While I've met some extremely intelligent Americans who are both well informed and well travelled, I know that they represent a relative minority. Less than 10% of U.S. citizens actually possess a passport, let alone travel internationally.
I'm not sure if the 10% figure is accurate, but no matter. The fact that many Americans do not possess a passport or travel internationally has more to do with geography than anything else. If I live in the United States, I can travel the entire North American continent, down to Mexico's Southern Border, as well as Hawai'i (obviously) and some Caribbean destinations, without a passport. (This is going to change soon, though.) This is a HUGE area. The US itself is huge. New York to Los Angeles is a five or six hour flight. Most of American's travels, not unsurprisingly, occur in North America.
Couple that with the fact that transatlantic and transpacific airfare can be quite expensive, and you see why traveling to Paris from NYC is not exactly analogous to traveling from London or Rome.
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This is available on a torrent here
http://66.90.75.92/suprnova//torrents/2566/Hamburg%20Cell_sm-avi.torrent
Firstly you have to register on the site at http://tracker.philsmy.com/index.php to access the torrent, it was the guy who runs this site who made the excellent avi of the film so thx to him
Will it be shown in Germany? Does anyone know where I can see this film or get a copy of it on DVD since the showing was cancelled at the film festival in Hamburg (where I live). It was apparently cancelled do to licensing problems. Hmmm???
shareschick mir eine mehl zu [email protected], Ich kann dir eine NTSC DVD Copie schicken when es auf HBO leuft
shareUhhh...To answer the question. Yes, it will premiere in January on HBO2. But keep in mind, not all HBO subscribers get HBO2 necessarily. So not too many will be seeing it. But I will.
IRAQ: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
jan 10th i think?
share this is from the HBO website
THE HAMBURG CELL
Rated TV14: ADULT CONTENT, ADULT LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE
Running Time: 105 minutes
Genre:
Like hundreds of other exchange students living in Hamburg, Germany in the 1990s, Muhammad Atta, Ziad Jarrah and Marwan al-Shehhi were quiet, orderly tenants who never drew attention to themselves. But on September 11, 2001, they became part of the worst attack ever waged on U.S. soil. This daring drama sheds light on these young Islamic men who were transformed into Al Qaeda killers while in Hamburg--and who would eventually enact the diabolical plan that destroyed the Twin Towers. This semi-fictionalized dramatic account stars Karim Saleh, Kamel, Agni Tsangaridou and Omar Berdouni. Directed by Antonia Bird; written by Ronan Bennett and Alice Pearman. Widescreen.
Actors:
Director(s): ANTONIA BIRD
ALL SHOWINGS, HBO/MAX East
DATE/TIME CHANNEL
Mon 1/10 10:00 PM HBO2 - EAST
Thu 1/13 12:10 AM HBO2 - EAST
Wed 1/19 02:05 AM HBO - EAST
Wed 1/19 02:05 AM HBO LATINO - EAST
Wed 1/19 02:05 AM HBO High Definition - EAST
Thu 1/20 11:15 PM HBO2 - EAST
Mon 1/24 03:15 AM HBO - EAST
Mon 1/24 03:15 AM HBO LATINO - EAST
Mon 1/24 03:15 AM HBO High Definition - EAST
Fri 1/28 02:25 AM HBO SIGNATURE - EAST
Tue 2/1 04:05 AM HBO SIGNATURE - EAST
I caught it last night on cable and I'm in the USA. Then again it was inauguration night.
shareDid anyone think to tape this when it aired on HBO? I saw it on the last night it aired but didn't think I would want to see it again. Now I wish I would have taped it, especially with the anniversary of 9/11. I told my co-workers about it and they had never heard of it but would love to see it.
shareif you have comcast it's on hbo on demand
shareI just taped this off HBO this morning and watched it later on tonight.Reading the TV Guide synopsis it suggested like a previous poster stated that some would find the film objectionable because of how the terrorist were portrayed.
No they were not given to us as some evil monsters as most would choose to believe.I'm glad instead we got to see who and what they really were.A group of men who looked upon the decadence and vast moral decline of this modern world as a direct influence of the United States upon other nations.
Their Muslim beliefs,as they interpreted it,led them to singling out America for the devastating attack Sep 11,2001.Religious beliefs have been taken this far before in the past resulting in unforgiveable attrocities done to the innocent.
One would just wonder whatever religious belief a person might have,wouldn't a true God fearing heart question even the thought of commiting such acts?Looking at their views on the subject and my being a Christian I find it quite absurd that they would imagine any rewards awaiting them in the afterlife.Come on now,upon their death they will be greeted by a number of beautiful virgin women?An intelligent mind would or should ask itself "Is this really how my God works"?
They might say well yes we are fighting our enemy and we kill innocent people just like the American soldiers.Soldiers who believe they are fighting a war condoned by God too.They feel their acts are honorable just as our boys feel their military duty is honorable.
Well this is what this film shows us.I think is is necessary for us to see their real mental frame of mind.I know they and others following those beliefs are truly mislead.Many thanks to HBO and contributors across the Atlantic for this interesting look at the factual story that led to the Sep 11 disaster.
extremist Muslims and only those really busted up in their mind (please make the difference) believe that a sacrifice to Allah, a suicide mission to eradicate non Muslim people allows them to go straight to paradise, with virgins (mermaids)….
I would like to give my honest opinion about the movie: It is amazing! Living in a complex regional spot on the earth, Lebanon, you learn a lot of stuff regarding Muslims and Christians. The intriguing character depicted by the actor who played Ziad is brilliantly conveyed and typically Lebanese. Someone who has doubts, who thinks of human issues such as family, love, friendship and a Mercedes! All the events in the movie are accurate, Ziad Jarrah was a normal human being who used to drink, date and have fun in a country known for its nightlife and the excesses of alcohol and just entertainment. Lebanon is the only spot in the Arab world where many many people follow American and French culture… However, when confronted to isolation, lebanese are vulnerable and are easily brain washed. His family is wealthy, open minded, typically as said in the movie: Jarrah INDEED was in a catholic school and his parents ARE very open and are known for their civilized manners … it’s a great family that has good reputation!
As to whether the Americans can accept that movie, I understand every one of you if you don’t since the movie has a different goal than cliché Hollywood stories. It is very realistic to believe. Finally, Jarrah is a terrorist, Jarrah killed people on that plane, and Jarrah was aiming to destroy one of the most democratic super powers in the world. But it may be difficult to understand that doubts exist and here is a perfect example. Jarrah did it and was a victim of brain washing.