Bush's War -- Frontline (PBS) (1 Viewer)

[Holadem]

Has anyone seen this?

I've only watched about a third or so, here: FRONTLINE: bush's war | PBS

I caught part 2 by chance and recorded it. But I wish I could watch part 1 on TV instead of the PC as well. I have to wait till Sunday I think to DVR it.

You can watch the whole thing at the link above. The video quality is excellent and chapter breaks very convenient. I believe there is a timeline feature as well, but I've not checked it out.

I think this is the best treatment of the subject matter I've watched. What sets this one apart is the focus on the behind-the-scene dealings and personality clashes at the very top. Rivetting stuff. (and depressing at the same time.)

I am also dissapointed about the fact that I stumbled on it purely by chance, and I am an avid consumer of news. Either PBS didn't promote this properly, or it was largely ignored by the Powers That Be. Or I suck. This excellent piece of journalism is the kind we should be seeing in the establishment media.

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H

 

[Lew Crippen]

Thanks for the head's up Holadem.

 

[Citizen87645]

Frontline is one of those programs that seems to do consistently good stuff. You might just want to DVR it on a regular basis.

 

[BrianW]

Thanks, Holadem. I applaud your willingness to consider the possibility that the fault could lie with you.

However, it CAN'T be the case that you suck, because I'VE never heard about it either.

 

[LewB]

Yeah, this was a goodie.

 

[Josh Dial]

I am a massive Frontline fan, and I indeed watched both parts this week (and plan on repeat viewings online). I often walk away from Frontline docus learning a great deal, but "Bush's War," was exceptionally well made. I loved it.

With regards to Holadem's comment about either PBS failing to promote it (or it being ignored...), since Frontline is really just a weekly PBS show, it basically never gets "advertised," outside of the odd snipet here or there on the station itself. It's a damn shame too, but I try to suggest the show to friends whenever I can. There are quite a few really entertaining episodes on the official site, free of course, for viewing. In particular I liked "The Merchants of Cool," and "The Credit Card" (which just aired again last week).

cheers!

Josh

 

[Marty M]

PBS is repeating this program on their HD channel. Part 1 is being shown today at 11:00 EDT.

 

[Holadem]

Done.

I am very much ashamed to confess that I didn't know about Frontline till this week. I am an NPR ho, but never gave PBS any thought.

I have perhaps an hour left to watch (eh, this thing is 4.5 hours ).

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H

 

[Citizen87645]

Cool. I don't watch it regularly myself but I know you'll get a lot out of it.

The last Frontline episode I watched was about the true dangers of the Internet for children, which, in part, was a great counterpoint to all the NBC "to catch a predator" stuff. FRONTLINE: growing up online | PBS

 

[Michael Harris]

I did see some ads for this program but both my electronic program guide on my computer and on my cable system didn't have the running time correct. I missed recording the last half hour of part one because it was listed as being from 9-11. Fortunately my PBS station has four digital channels and it will be repeated. From what I saw, it was an excellent program. The Washington Post held an online chat with the program's producer here:

PBS Frontline: 'Bush's War' - washingtonpost.com

 

[Dan Mc]

I've got the PBS HD big 3 (Nova, Nature, and Frontline) set on my DVR. Awesome HD picture and always intresting content, plus no commercials. Anyway this special is basically a condensation, or best of, of previous episodes aired over the last few years. The new packaging works well and tells the complete story better than anything else I've seen.

 

[Henry Gale]

Yikes, that's longer than it took to get to "Mission Accomplished"!

 

[Lew Crippen]

I downloaded this from iTunes to Apple TV today. Watched just a bit on my computer and was hooked.

 

[Greg*go]

I'll be recording this at the recommendation of the people in this thread. It does sound interesting.

For clarification, it's 2 parts, the 1st is 2 1/2 hrs & the 2nd is 2 hrs, correct?

It's going to be on the early a.m. here, so I hope they don't mess with the timing at all.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I'm back at school in Boston finishing up a degree in print journalism, so I know a half dozen or so classmates that have interned at Frontline (which is produced by WGBH). It's shows like Frontline and Bill Moyers Journal that justify PBS in a 300+ channel cable world. No for-profit news organization is going to spend the time for in-depth analysis like this. It just doesn't sell.

 

[Sam Favate]

That's very true. No cable news station would devote the resources to make or the on-air time to show the kinds of programs Frontline does. The next time someone says we don't need PBS, show them Bush's War, or any number of other Frontline shows, and ask them if they'd ever see that on CNN or MSNBC or (egad) Fox.

 

[Josh Dial]

I'm not ashamed (as a Canadian) to admitting that I actual donate a small portion of my equally meagre (being a student) income to my local PBS station during their telethons. I always make sure to tell the phone operator that it's shows like Frontline, along with their dedication to high definition that drives my donation. Also, I pretty much grew up (born in 1980) on PBS children's shows such as Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, and Square One Television.

PBS is one of my favourite channels, and Frontline is one of the reasons why.

 

[ErichH]

If you're a fan of Frontline, you'd notice the first 2/3s of this are paste from previous FL docs, such as The Dark Side. In many sections the VO and interview are verbatim.

A casual viewer will enjoy the new cut (so to speak) but it is not new material. The final comment from the narrator is somewhat telling in this compilation.

Without being too political, this is a careful assembly of assumptions taken from Washington Post/NY Times writers over the past few years.

I'm a huge fan of Frontline from years past, but this subject is so carefully edited, it's difficult to find any new light.

The Frontline of old is AWOL.

 

[Holadem]

What I find funny is that the thing is boldly titled Bush's War, yet makes a central case that it's more Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz's war. I supposed that title isn't as catchy

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H

 

[Citizen87645]

Well, before "Bush's War" there was a "Rumsfeld's War." I guess they decided the buck stopped somewhere else.