WHY WE FIGHT

Just why does America fight? Acclaimed filmmaker Eugene Jarecki, (The Trials of Henry Kissinger) creates a sense of urgency and moves beyond the headlines to uncover the deeper answers behind the American war machine in WHY WE FIGHT - Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.

Inspired by Dwight Eisenhower's legendary farewell speech, filmmaker Jarecki surveys the scorched landscape of a half-century's military adventures, asking how, and revealing why he believes that the nation of, by, and for the people has become the savings-and-loan of a system whose survival depends on a state of constant war. Jarecki explores the gap between perception and reality, and is concerned not only with the viewpoint of Americans, but also with the perspective of those on the receiving end, the Iraqis.

On the film, Jarecki says, “Frank Capra made a series of films during World War II called ‘Why We Fight' that explored America's reasons for entering the war. Today, with our troops engaged in Iraq and elsewhere for reasons far less clear, I think it's crucial to ask the questions: ‘Why are we doing what we are doing? What is it doing to others? And what is it doing to us?'”

The film offers rare insight on President Eisenhower from both his son, John S.D. Eisenhower, as well as from his granddaughter, Susan. It also features Senator John McCain, William Kristol, Richard Perle, Gore Vidal and Chalmers Johnson, among others. WHY WE FIGHT launches a compelling inquiry into the workings of the military industrial complex and the rise of the American Empire.

WHY WE FIGHT is directed by Eugene Jarecki, and produced by Jarecki and Susannah Shipman. It was produced in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC and Arte. Producers for the CBC are Marie Natanson and Charlotte Odele.