source: We Are Many

Moviecut—We Are Many

The 2003 invasion of Iraq is a war crime that remains unpunished by the so-called war crimes tribunal kangaroo courts which seem to only punish those the war criminals deem punishable. This powerful documentary reminds us all that the war crime occurred after the entire world stood up in protest at the Bush and Blair regimes plans to kill millions of Iraqis, destroy that country and give rise to new horrors in the following years. The fact that these war criminals and their associates walk free is testimony of why film's like this are important to remind us of their unpunished crimes against humanity.

We Are Many (2014) is a documentary written and directed by Amir Amirani. It tells the story of the worldwide attempt to prevent the US/Great Britain invasion of Iraq in 2003. (Some more recent footage of the BLM protests has been added at the end of the movie.) The film is a mixture of talking heads and documentary footage. The people interviewed are knowledgeable, and it's worth hearing what they say. The footage is excellent. This was the biggest worldwide demonstration in history. Between six and ten million people took part in protests in up to sixty countries over the weekend of February 15th and 16th, 2003. As we know, the protests failed, and Bush and Blair went on with their plans and invaded Iraq. It's now apparent that the reason for the invasion was false. However, the suffering was real. The filmmakers make the case that, after 2003, the demonstrations had a positive effect for other countries. Also, it's possible that citizen opposition to the war against Syria prevented that war from taking place. It's hard to know whether this material is correct, or just wishful thinking. I saw this movie as a live-streamed video used as a fundraiser for a consortium of progressive groups. I don't know if you can find it on DVD or Netflix, etc. To my surprise the movie has a tepid IMDb rating of 6.7. I think that it's an excellent documentary, and deserves a much higher rating. I rated it 9.

Overall it's a film worth watching since it fills in the gaps of my understanding of prelude to the Iraq invasion. There're just 4 things I would like to point out. 1. This portrayed string of events CLEARLY shows the world HOW "democracy" -- the REPRESENTATIVE type currently in vogue -- has failed MISERABLY to rein in the so-called elitist group (of politicians) SO CREATED. As someone has succinctly put it, you people speaking of people's democratic power don't seem to realise that you have power only during the few election days if you happen to be a voter. The moment your vote is casted you immediately become POWERLESS in every sense of the word. Tony Blair ultimately lost his political career because he abetted US in this crime of war, YET he wasn't directly VOTED OUT by the people! He was merely dumped by his Tory Party comrades who soon realised that HE HAD BECOME A LIABILITY rather than an asset in elections to come. Well, if this is still of any comfort to any people power believer. And Bush Jr. Remained unscathed and was REWARDED with a second term. 2. Ask yourself the question why events had gone down so differently between UK and US of A. Does this mean the US government is more skillful in manipulation of the populace or the US people are just more gullible than British subjects? It can be BOTH of course. If the Brits want to feel smug about this, they deserve it. 3. About the part on the impact of this global protest/demonstration on Egypt, the only thing I agree with the film-makers is that the success of their "1-day triumph" at Tahrir did EMBOLDEN the Egyptian people for taking activist actions not generally endorsed by their government. It has VERY LITTLE to do with inculcation of the spirit of "revolution for democracy". As I've said above that the invasion had gone on uninterrupted despite the apparent success of this global protest's (at least 150 US cities and overall 789 cities in 72 countries, participated according to this film) gave the world but one message -- democracy exists only IN NAME on politicians' and their converts' lips, and these elitists just do whatever they wish AND can get away with it! Towards the end there were funny talks of taking the whole lot of criminals to The Hague's Court for their committed war crimes but it's no more than funny talks! 4. I've heard that Collin Powell before his death had lamented that his UN sojourn marked the lowest point in his life, and I say it's crying over spilt milk. He ought to have RESIGNED if he believes more in patriotism to the nation than loyalty to an administration. The two are not one and the same, right?

Stating the obvious is not always such an extraordinary act. But in the current world we live in, in sham "democracies" where truth tellers like Assange are jailed and tortured for revealing war crimes whilst the lying war criminals who committed them walk free without consequence, such a film that states the obvious truth is an extraordinary and revolutionary act. Bravo to Amir and his team for authentically capturing a historic period when the emergence (and re-emergence in some quarters) of people power and principally the anti-war movement took shape, and yet despite the criminal tragedy of the illegal and immoral war that followed despite overwhelming opposition, this movement has laid a seed of peace that continues to grow, even despite the efforts of the evil elites to subdue or control it. As a historical documentary alone, this film brilliantly captures the time and it's diverse voices, and technically it is brilliantly directed, produced, edited, and scored. Some of the giant voices of reason in this documentary have sadly passed away since it's creation (RIP Tony Benn), but the beauty of such a profound document is that their voices and contribution, like those millions of people who turned up to say no to war against Iraq (including me), is that it is enshrined into a record for generations to learn of and be inspired by to action against tyrannous regimes like the one of Tony war criminal Blair. We are many and counting! Ten out of Ten.

It is wrong to assume that this documentary is just about the activists and protesters around the world; Archived footage of George Bush, UNHCR comments It shows the resignation speech of phyllis Benis - Institute of Policy Studies Phillip Sands, Professor of Law University of London; Explains the document (legal memorandum) of Lord Goldsmith declassified tells the British Prime minister 'you cannot use force without a further security council resolution' It also includes veterans against iraq war and their perspective during 2004,2005,2006.

Powerful, intelligent documentary around the huge effort to head off the start of the Iraq war, and the lingering echoes coming down from the protest marches of tens of millions in hundreds of cities of around the world on Feb. 15, 2003, the largest world-wide protest ever. While the first half of the film shows how that wonderful show of massive human unity failed in the short term to stop that terrible war based on false evidence – a truth which is a terribly sad to re-visit - the 2nd half of the documentary combines anger and optimism in equal parts to show that those efforts made were not in vain in the larger picture. From showing how the protests in Egypt against the Iraq war laid the groundwork for the successful uprising against the Mubarek government 10 years later, to the recent turn where the UK Parliament refused to give support for U.K. military intervention in Syria –- members of the government openly afraid of repeating the errors of 2003. As the film points out, the fact that tens of millions of people were right that the war was unnecessary, the fact that Tony Blair is now seen as having been part of one of the biggest military disasters of the last 100 years has made members of government scared of repeating that debacle (hence also Obama's reticence re Syria). But if those millions hadn't raised their voices back then, if no one had seemed to care, then the fear and 2nd guessing that governments are showing now might not have happened, and further needless military adventures may have ensued. At a moment when it feels like peaceful protest and citizen empowerment movements are all but pointless and impotent, the film is a welcome balm pointing out that the reality is more complex, and giving up in despair is neither wise nor called for. The fascinating and moving interviews and commentators include John le Carre'. Stephen Hawking, Tom Hayden, Noam Chomsky, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson, Ken Loach, and most amazingly Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from the Bush years Lawrence Wilkerson, who says he would like to see Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld tried for war crimes - even if it meant he'd be put away too – and would gladly testify against them. An astonishing moment.

I've watched the trailer, and really want to see We are Many. The one big problem is that it can't be scene in America, or after looking for a day or two, the only place that has anything about it is in England, and they look like DVD pirates.

Brilliantly seamed documentary, anyone who cares about global humanity should watch this. Some documentaries are said to change the world, this one makes subtle yet hugely significant changes in us which could have its part in changing the world. It is important to come back to these events that seem to disappear for the majority of us, not too long after they happen. It is important to reflect on our history and review the stance we did or did not take at the time. We Are Many is a reminder of the atrocities we can choose to or not to take part in and says that if we choose to respect life, there is probably millions of other people that feel the same way. Thank you to everyone involved in the film!