The Playboy Texas Senator gets a Midlife Conscience - and manipulates the System to get Potent small Weapons (notably STINGERS- which can easily shoot down most aircraft) to 1980's Afghanistan - fighting off Soviets. Russians Retreat. Communism soon falls. Charlie Wilson wins the Cold War (or most of it anyway).
This documentary is not the almost total "Charlie can do No Wrong" production that Tom Hank's movie "Charlie Wilson's War" is. But I wish that History Channel could have pulled in some noteworthy critics of the post 9/11 era to debate with the Charlie Wilson commentary whether or not the US military weapons given to AFghanistan helped later terrorists.
The REAL villain of the post 9/11 era per the movie -and this documentary - is - the later President who did NOT rebuild Afghanistan (Pres. George H.W. Bush).
Whew! Partying Charlie (his dabblings with prostitutes, illegal drugs, and somewhat illegal foreign aid manipulation treated as "cute") is SAFE! He is a flawed but lovable hero who uses even his vices to topple that Berlin wall.
Wilson---saves Western Civilization while womanizing. In fact, he even pimps out a willing Texas woman to belly dance for an Egyptian official so he will sell them weapons for Afghanistan.
Do I smell a myth being made?
Charlie takes out Soviet communism - almost singlehandedly?
And any possible evil consequences left to - someone else? (I would prefer sharing the credit - and blame - with all politicians involved!)
And while historians argue the longterm consequences of "Charlie's War", do we wish to inspire more behind-the-scenes foreign policy mavericks?
The documentary notes that the CONSEQUENCES of antagonizing the Russians thru aiding Afghanistan could have been World War 3.
Fortunately for Charlie, his actions did not lead to that war. And Pres. Reagan did sign off on sending Stingers to AFghanistan later in this process. (Tho the film "Charlie Wilson's War" makes you feel "It was all CHARLIE!") This documentary is only slightly less adoring of the previously "do almost nothing politically but party hard" Texas Senator.
And you can search the NET for the ongoing longterm consequences of supplying these Stingers. Some claim that newer, better versions were developed from other nations studying these 500 U.S. Stingers. Some also claim that the Stinger batteries only last a few years. The US Gov.bought back a few Stingers at high prices...but most are still missing.
Hopefully, you are not flying on an unarmed airline that gets hit by a small new shoulder weapon (a second generation Stinger) some well funded terrorist uses to shoot down YOUR plane..
This documentary is not the almost total "Charlie can do No Wrong" production that Tom Hank's movie "Charlie Wilson's War" is. But I wish that History Channel could have pulled in some noteworthy critics of the post 9/11 era to debate with the Charlie Wilson commentary whether or not the US military weapons given to AFghanistan helped later terrorists.
The REAL villain of the post 9/11 era per the movie -and this documentary - is - the later President who did NOT rebuild Afghanistan (Pres. George H.W. Bush).
Whew! Partying Charlie (his dabblings with prostitutes, illegal drugs, and somewhat illegal foreign aid manipulation treated as "cute") is SAFE! He is a flawed but lovable hero who uses even his vices to topple that Berlin wall.
Wilson---saves Western Civilization while womanizing. In fact, he even pimps out a willing Texas woman to belly dance for an Egyptian official so he will sell them weapons for Afghanistan.
Do I smell a myth being made?
Charlie takes out Soviet communism - almost singlehandedly?
And any possible evil consequences left to - someone else? (I would prefer sharing the credit - and blame - with all politicians involved!)
And while historians argue the longterm consequences of "Charlie's War", do we wish to inspire more behind-the-scenes foreign policy mavericks?
The documentary notes that the CONSEQUENCES of antagonizing the Russians thru aiding Afghanistan could have been World War 3.
Fortunately for Charlie, his actions did not lead to that war. And Pres. Reagan did sign off on sending Stingers to AFghanistan later in this process. (Tho the film "Charlie Wilson's War" makes you feel "It was all CHARLIE!") This documentary is only slightly less adoring of the previously "do almost nothing politically but party hard" Texas Senator.
And you can search the NET for the ongoing longterm consequences of supplying these Stingers. Some claim that newer, better versions were developed from other nations studying these 500 U.S. Stingers. Some also claim that the Stinger batteries only last a few years. The US Gov.bought back a few Stingers at high prices...but most are still missing.
Hopefully, you are not flying on an unarmed airline that gets hit by a small new shoulder weapon (a second generation Stinger) some well funded terrorist uses to shoot down YOUR plane..
