Meeting Resistance

[Kashafa]

In one of the greatest(and under-mentioned) feats of modern journalism, Molly Bingham and Steve Connors spent 10 months embedded with the Iraqi Resistance, right after the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, and in the process, made a documentary that upended the lazy jingoistic reporting by the mainstream media. Their magnificent piece is called: Meeting Resistance.

 

Here's the synopsis:

What would you do if your country was invaded? MEETING RESISTANCE raises the veil of anonymity surrounding the Iraqi insurgency by meeting face to face with individuals who are passionately engaged in the struggle, and documenting for the very first time, the sentiments experienced and actions taken by a nation's citizens when their homeland is occupied. Voices that have previously not been heard, male and female, speak candidly about their motivations, hopes and goals, revealing a kaleidoscope of human perspectives. Featuring reflective, yet fervent conversations with active insurgents, MEETING RESISTANCE is the missing puzzle piece in understanding the Iraq war. Directed by Steve Connors and Molly Bingham, this daring, eye-opening film provides unique insight into the personal narratives of people involved in the resistance, exploding myth after myth about the war in Iraq and the Iraqis who participate. Through its unprecedented access to these clandestine groups, MEETING RESISTANCE focuses the spotlight on the "other side," leaving the viewer with clarity as to why the violence in Iraq continues to this day.

And a few choice quotes culled from the Director's Statement

On May 1 2003, President Bush triumphantly stood on the deck of an American aircraft carrier and declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq. Behind him fluttered a banner proclaiming "mission accomplished". Even as the President made his speech, men and women in Iraq were in the early stages of organizing themselves for a guerrilla war and some of that preparation was already being translated into action. Small incidents - described by one American general as "militarily insignificant"- were already taking place. Despite their amateurish and ad hoc nature these incidents were being written off by the US military as "mopping-up operations" against remnants of the Iraqi military. These attacks were harbingers for the future. Through the summer of 2003 the attacks against American troops increased in both frequency and ferocity and, when asked about them by reporters, President Bush replied with the words "Bring 'em on".

There were people in Iraq who were listening to the President's words and were prepared to rise to the challenge

.

In the teashops and alleyways of Adhamiya we found people who - within days of the fall of Baghdad - were organizing themselves into resistance cells, finding the money and weapons to continue the fight against the American military. We discovered that before retired general Jay Garner had even managed to board an aircraft in Kuwait, phase two of the Iraq war was being planned in places like Adhamiya.

 

By repeatedly interviewing a number of characters over a period of ten months we were able to learn about the people themselves, how they organize themselves, why they have decided to violently oppose the occupation of the country, what are the underlying ideological foundations to their fight and how and why those have changed over time. We discovered, from those involved, the real timeline of developments - both structural and tactical - that have led to the present methodology and targeting policies by the different groups who gather under the heading of the Iraqi resistance. We came to know who funds them [broadly speaking] and where they get their weapons, who and how they recruit and what effects US counter-insurgency operations have on their will and effectiveness to fight.

The one and only Amy Goodman(bravely working through a partial facial paralysis) interviews the directors here(part 1) and here(part 2)

 

And here's a NYT Video Op-Ed by Bingham and Conners. Basically, scenes from the documentary interspersed with findings and conclusions of the direcetors based on their 10 months of research.

 

Finally, the haunting poignant

which poses the following rhetorical Qs, interjected with scenes of mayhem, destruction, and bombardment, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood occupier:

 

What if America was invaded ?....... And then occupied........ They dropped bombs on your town........And killed your neighbors......... They came to your house............And took your family away..........

 

How would you feel?......What would you do?

 

Iraqi civilians narrate:

 

When they occupied Iraq, they subjugated me, my sister, my mother, my honor, my homeland

 

What do you want me to do ? Just sit at home with my wife and keep quiet?

 

A person who doesn't fight to defend himself or his country, shouldn't be called a human being

[Kashafa]

Bump.

 

Dhul Qarnayn, Do you know where I can find a copy of this documentary online ? There's gotta be one floating around cyberspace. I'm sure they woulda had it on movieforumz.com but it got shut down.

[Chimera]

Sorry bro, i've tried several forums but nothing.

 

i will keep looking.