Charlie Wilson's War

[Hopes-n-Dreams]

Is it an A+ or an F- ?  It's an A+

Is it child safe?  Nope

Christian "safe"?  If you're not safe watching this movie, you're only safe living in a bubble.  

I love to watch movies based on true stories.  This story is a doozy!  Not only was I entertained, I was educated too!

The story is about America's involvement (or more accurately, lack of involvement) in Afghanistan during its war with the Russians and events that contributed to the end of the Cold War by the most unsuspecting people.  The United States' covert involvement in Afghanistan beating the Russians was singlehandedly driven by a womanizing, drinking, drug-using, Texas politician at the urging of an adulterous "Christian" woman (the 6th wealthiest woman in Texas) and an unappreciated CIA agent. 

The story is fascinating on all levels.  It's an eyeopener as to why the United States left Afghanistan to struggle against the Russians on their own.  It's jaw dropping that one man was in a unique position to singlehandedly orchestrate the ONE BILLION DOLLAR funding for Afghanistan AND bring Pakistan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia together as allies.  These historic events are THE reason the United States has some of its allies today.  Ever wonder why we're allies with Pakistan?  I always did.  Watch this movie and you'll know why too. 

There's no way to watch this movie and not see God's hand in the making of history.  (Well, if you can't get past all of the sinning, maybe you'll have a hard time seeing God's hand.)  God sent sinners to create a miracle.  And it had to be a miracle because never in the history of the world has there ever been a covert war on this grand scale.  The most miraculous part is not one word was ever leaked about what was happening!  We all know how that's impossible in Washington!  The fact that the covert actions of the United States was kept a secret is one of the reasons the United States didn't end up in a World War with Russia.  Oh, I did mention earlier that these events contributed enormously to the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union.  All because a womanizing, drinking, drug-using, Texas politician, an adulterous "Christian" woman, and an unappreciated CIA agent were morally moved by the plight of the Afghan people.

And, sadly, we learn about how the United States abandoned Afghanistan after-the-fact.....as it often does to countries.....

I highly recommend Charlie Wilson's War starting Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

edited to add:  btw, it's hillarious too!

[normfromga]

Thanks for the review.  I will plan to see it.

I am always interested in fact-based stories about such behind-the-scenes, history-making adventures.

In fact, I would highly recommend the DVD of the miniseries The Company.

Who knows.  Maybe they will have another movie called "Kermit's War," which will show us the CIA's first venture into "nation (re-)building," and help us understand why Iran still doesn't trust us much...