Iraq Filmography
Updated January 2008

Iraq: Iraq War, 2003 Invasion / Occupation of Iraq | Gulf War, Desert Storm | Cultural and Social History

About Baghdad. 2005. 1 videodisc (90 min.). In July 2003 Sinan Antoon, an exiled Iraqi writer and poet, returned to Baghdad to see what has become of his city after wars, sanctions, decades of oppression and violence, and now occupation. Antoon takes us on a journey exploring what Iraqis think and feel about the post-war situation and the complex relationship between the US and Iraq. DVD 1812

Al Jazeera voice of Arabia. 2002. 1 videocassette (52 min.). Founded in 1996, Al Jazeera was the first 24-hour news channel in the Arab world. This documentary, shot on location in Qatar goes behind the scenes of this Arab independent satellite TV channel. Combining news footage, excerpts from various Al Jazeera programs, and interviews with executives, anchors and journalists, the film explores the paradoxes that emerge between the apparent orthodoxy of Arab societies and the journalistic freedom flaunted by Al Jazeera in a dictatorial culture which does not know the meaning of dialogue. VHS 7276

Al Qaeda's new front. 2005. 1 dvd (60 min.). As Al Qaeda terrorist cells are uncovered in the U.K., Germany, Italy and Spain, Frontline investigates the new front in the war on terror: Europe. It discusses the challenges of intelligence services on both sides of the Atlantic, which has been exacerbated by political division over the Iraq war. DVD 1230

Baghdad blogger: Life in Baghdad. 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 78 min.). "'I live in Baghdad. I am a blogger. A blog is an online diary.' So begins this succinct report from Salam Pax, an Iraqi journalist attempting to keep the world informed about his beleaguered country. Pax regularly sends fifteen-minute video reports to the BBC. Filmed in Najaf, Baghdad, Karbala, and the south of Iraq, they are cleverly worded, cantankerous and non-partisan overviews of reality outside the Green Zone." -- from container. DVD 1610

The best of Lisa Ling collection. 2005. 2 videodiscs (ca. 300 min.). One of the most respected young voices in journalism, Lisa Ling is the dynamic host of National Geographic Explorer seen every week on the National Geographic Channel. Lisa's job now includes exploring the phenomenon of female suicide bombers, the hidden and dangerous culture inside American prisons, hunting down cocaine processing labs in the Colombian jungle, going head-to-head with narcotic-trafficking guerillas, venturing into active war zones, and trekking through Nepal, with two eye surgeons who are bringing the gift of sight to some of the country's most remote villagers. DVD 1668

Beyond Baghdad. 2004. 1 videodisc (60 min.). "As the Bush administration struggles to right its Iraq policy, Frontline correspondent Martin Smith travels across the Iraqi-Turkish border to Kurdish Mosul and Kirkuk, across the rebellious Sunni lands of central Iraq to Baghdad and finally farther south to the Sacred Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf, to take a long, hard look at the Iraq to which the president vows to bring democracy. In this diverse and fractured land can his experiment work? Through encounters with tribal sheiks, ayatollahs, politicians, aid workers, soldiers, and U.S. authorities, the film reveals what the United States is facing." --from container. DVD 1031

Bill Moyers journal Buying the war. 2007. 1 videodisc (87 min.). "The Bush administration marketed and sold the war in Iraq to the American people. How and why did the press buy it, and what does that say about the role of journalists in helping the public sort out fact from propaganda? In this program, veteran journalist Bill Moyers, award-winning producer Kathleen Hughes, and their investigative team piece together the reporting and political spin that shaped the public mind prior to, during, and following the 2003 invasion. Exposing the disappearance of a watchdog mentality in mainstream newspaper and TV journalism, the documentary also highlights the work of intrepid Knight Ridder reporters who dug beneath the surface of administration claims, only to be drowned out by the drums of war. Further insight comes from journalists Dan Rather, former anchor of CBS evening news; Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the press; Bob Simon of 60 minutes; and Walter Isaacson, former chairman of CNN."--Container. DVD 2927

Blair's war. 2003. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Caught in the center of a high-stakes political storm, British Prime Minister Tony Blair tried to personally bridge the gap between the United States and its European allies--particularly France and Germany-- over the war in Iraq. Frontline examines the perilous role Blair has played and the stakes for him and the West should this old alliance fall apart. VHS 7364

The blood of my brother. 2006. 1 videodisc (81 min.). Go behind the scenes of one Iraqi family's struggle to survive amidst the carnage of the growing Shia insurgency. Nineteen-year-old Ibrahim dreams of revenge when his brother is shot and killed by an American patrol. DVD 1815

Bridge to Baghdad. 2003. 1 videodisc (59 min.). "Days after the U.S. declared the war officially over, Next Entertainment and DCTV sent a crew to a now smoldering Baghdad to rediscover the young Iraqis. While the American teenagers waited anxiously stateside for phone calls and emails that never came, the Iraqi youth were emerging to begin their adult lives in a strange new world. Bridge to Baghdad II allows these two groups to resume the conversation that was cut short by a war. In Bridge to Baghdad II, the young Americans and Iraqis hold another satellite dialogue where they are finally able to ask the questions which have been burning inside them for weeks: What happened during the war? How do you feel now that Saddam is gone from power? Were there things you wanted to say last time but could not because of the regime? In this hour long special to air on WorldLink and NHK, the American and Iraqi youth together tackle the largest question of all: what now? The hour-long program provides a human connection to the struggles facing Iraq today. Far from the standard "talking head" reporters, Bridge to Baghdad II is told by the fresh young faces of America and Iraq who speak frankly and directly about the hopes and fears of a new life in a free society."--Packaging. DVD 2660

The case for war in defense of freedom. 2007. 1 videodisc (60 min.). With the debate over the war in Iraq reaching a fever pitch, this program follows one of the advocates for the war against Saddam Hussein. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Richard Perle travels the globe articulating, defending and debating the neo-conservative case for an assertive American foreign policy. DVD 3025

Chasing Saddam's weapons. 2004. 1 videodisc (60 min.). "With the credibility of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair at stake, BBC reporter Jane Corbin takes viewers inside the high-stakes search for Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction. Through exclusive access to top-secret location and key U.S. officials leading the hunt, including David Kay, Frontline reveals new details about what the search has uncovered and questions whether the investigation's final results will justify the White House's call for war."--Container. VHS 7818

A company of soldiers. 2005. 1 videodisc (90 min.). "Frontline reports from inside the U.S. Army's 8th Cavalry Regiment stationed in Baghdad for an up-close, intimate look at the dangers facing an American military unit in Iraq. Shot in the weeks following the U.S. presidential election, the film tracks the day-to-day challenges facing the 8th Cavalry's Dog Company as it suddenly has to cope with a dramatic increase in attacks by the insurgents"--Container. DVD 2666

Control room. 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 86 min.). A chronicle which provides a rare window into the international perception of the Iraq War, courtesy of Al Jazeera, the Arab world's most popular news outlet. Criticized by Cabinet members and Pentagon officials for reporting with a pro-Iraqi bias, and strongly condemned for frequently airing civilian casualties as well as footage of American POW's, the station has revealed (and continues to show the world) everything about the Iraq War that the Bush administration does not want the public to see. DVD 962

The cult of the suicide bomber. 2006. 1 videodisc (96 min.). Former CIA agent and terrorism expert Robert Baer tracks the history of suicide bombers from their origin in the Iran-Iraq war to their growing predominance in the post-9/11 world. DVD 2241

The dark side. 2006. 1 videodisc (90 min.). Amid revelations about faulty prewar intelligence and a scandal surrounding the indictment of the vice president's chief of staff and presidential adviser, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Frontline goes behind the headlines to investigate the internal war that was waged between the intelligence community and Richard Bruce Cheney, the most powerful vice president in the nation's history. In "The Dark Side," Frontline tells the story of the vice president's role as the chief architect of the war on terror, and his battle with Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet for control of the "dark side." Drawing on more than 40 interviews and thousands of documents, the film provides a step-by-step examination of what happened inside the councils of war. DVD 2270

Fahrenheit 9/11. 2004. 1 videodisc (122 min.). Through actual footage, interviews, and declassified documents, Michael Moore illustrates the connections President Bush has to the royal house of Saud of Saudia Arabia and the bin Laden's, how the president got elected on fraudulent circumstances and then proceeded to blunder through his duties while ignoring warnings of the looming betrayal by his foreign partners. When the treachery hits with the 9/11 attacks, Moore explains how Bush failed to take immediate action to defend the nation. DVD 775

Gangs of Iraq. 2007. 1 videodisc (60 min.). Gangs of Iraq takes a hard look at how the four-year training effort has failed and how these coalition-trained forces have themselves been infiltrated by various sectarian militias. DVD 3024

Generation X-Saddam. 2003. 1 videocassette (45 min., 6 sec.). On the eve of the 2003 U.S. invasion, filmmaker Shelley Saywell traveled to Iraq to film the lives of ordinary people, especially young Iraqis, who were caught between Saddam's tyranny and a devastated economy (for which they blamed the West). She returns to find the people she met and interviewed before the war. VHS 865

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. 2007. 1 videodisc (78 min.). Interviews with perpetrators, witnesses, and victims examining the abuses that occurred in the fall of 2003 at the notorious Iraqi prison. Probes the psychology of how typical American men and women came to commit these atrocious acts. DVD 796

The ground truth. Focus Features spotlight series. 2006. 1 videodisc (78 min.). Documents the stories of American men and women who heeded the call for military service in Afghanistan and Iraq and the challenges they faced upon their return home. DVD 1803

Gunner palace. 2005. 1 videodisc (85 min.). In the world's most dangerous war zone, 400 American soldiers carry out their mission from a bombed-out pleasure palace once owned by Saddam Hussein. Welcome to a place called "Gunner Palace" and experience what life is like for the soldiers who live there. For these war hardened soldiers "minor combat" involves everything from executing raids on suspected terrorists, enduring roadside bombs and mortar attacks from an enemy they never see to post-raid parties around the palace pool. This is their story which shows a side of the war not seen on the nightly news. DVD 2492

Gunning for Saddam. 2001. 1 videocassette (57 min.). As Americans are confronted by acts of bioterrorism, powerful forces in the nation's capitol believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is to blame, for this and many other terrorist acts during the last decade. Many are lobbying to mobilize a military operation to oust Hussein when the next phase of the war on terrorism kicks in. This program also looks at Saddam Hussein's taste for revenge during his two decades as Iraq's leader, and at the failure of U.S. policy on Iraq since 1991, including the failure to support uprisings against Saddam in the northern and southern parts of Iraq. VHS 6977

Indy media: war and peace trilogy. 2003. 1 videodisc (80 min.). In Independent media in a time of war, journalist and host of Democracy now!, Amy Goodman, criticizes the pro-military bias of the mainstream news media, whose reportage of the U.S. invasion of Iraq downplays or ignores the impact on civilians while overstating the success of U.S. military operations. The speech was recorded at Christ Church, Troy, New York on Apr. 21, 2003. Footage of the speech is interwoven with footage of news reports and graphic scenes from the war. Voices against war chronicles the experiences of people on the streets of Manhattan who participate in a Feb. 2003 protest against the war in Iraq. Womens' fast for peace examines the case of 125 women in upstate New York who, on the eve of the Iraq War, fasted to create a culture of peace rather than of war. DVD 937

The insurgency. 2006. 1 videodisc (56 min.). The Iraqi insurgency continues to challenge the most highly trained and best-equipped military in the world. This investigation includes access to insurgent leaders, commanders of Iraqi and U.S. military units, and journalists who have risked their lives to meet insurgent leaders. Frontline explores the battle for one Iraqi town and presents testimony from civilians whose families were targets. DVD 3288

The Invasion of Iraq. 2004. 1 videodisc (120 min.). A year after the fact, a followup report on the U.S.-led coalition's March 2003 invasion of Iraq. DVD 1039

Iraq for sale: The war profiteers. 2006. 1 videodisc (90 min.). Exposes the monetary cost of war and reveals the truth behind the misuse of funds that were intended for Iraq's reconstruction. Discusses the monetary cost of war and describes the misuse of funds that were intended for Iraq's reconstruction. DVD 2209

Iraq in fragments. 2007. 2 videodiscs (225 min.). Documentary in three parts. Offers a series of intimate, passionately-felt portraits: A fatherless 11-year-old is apprenticed to the domineering owner of a Baghdad garage; Sadr followers in two Shiite cities rally for regional elections while enforcing Islamic law at the point of a gun; a family of Kurdish farmers welcomes the U.S. presence, which has allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied. American director James Longley spent more than two years filming in Iraq to create this stunningly photographed, poetically rendered documentary of the war-torn country as seen through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. DVD 3049

Iraq voices from the streets. 2002. 1 videocassette (23 min.). Joins a U.S. congressional delegation that traveled to Iraq in September 2002 to discuss with Iraqi officials the readmission of UN arms inspectors in the hope of averting war. The documentary also features numerous man-in-the-street interviews with Iraqi citizens, commentary from international politicians and peace activists. Offers a rare chance to hear the views of ordinary Iraqi citizens about the United States along with shocking views of the impact of UN sanctions and U.S. bombing on the Iraqi economy and the restrictions of the 'oil for food' program. VHS 7316

The Long road to war. 2003. 1 videocassette (120 min.). Once again, the U.S. finds itself about to battle Iraq.  How did the nation come to the brink of another war with Saddam Hussein?  Frontline draws on more than 12 years of reporting in Iraq to tell the history of the U.S. confrontation with Saddam.  VHS 7363

The lost year in Iraq. 2006. 1 videodisc (60 min.). In the aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein, a group of Americans led by Ambassador ... Bremer set off to build a new nation and establish democracy in the Arab Middle East. One year later, with Bremer forced to secretly exit ... the group left behind lawlessness, insurgency, economic collapse, death, destruction -- and much of their idealism ... DVD 3286

My country my country. 2007. 1 videodisc (90 min.). Working alone in Iraq over eight months, director/cinematographer Laura Poitras creates an extraordinarily intimate portrait of Iraqis living under U.S. occupation. DVD 2569

Newshour with Jim Lehrer. 2004. 1 videocassette. Jim Lehrer speaks with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about his testimony Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the 9/11 commission's recommendations, the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the proposed realignment of U.S. troops in Europe and East Asia. VHS 7757

No end in sight. 2007. 1 videodisc (102 min.). An insider's look at the decisions that led to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the handling of the occupation. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officals, as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers and prominent analysts. Examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy - the use of insufficient troop levels, allowing the looting of Baghdad, the purging of professionals from the Iraqi government and the disbanding of the Iraqi military - largely created the insurgency and chaos that engulf Iraq today. DVD 2786

Now with Bill Moyers November 22, 2002. 2002. 1 videocassette (60 min.). The first segment includes a report on the advertising industry and its hidden role in the promotion of various drugs.  The second segment contains an interview with Brown University's James G. Blight, who discusses George Bush's comparison of the Cuban missile crisis to the Iraq situation.  The third segment focuses Robert Moses' efforts to teach mathematics to African American students in high schools. VHS 7165

Now with Bill Moyers April 4, 2003. 2003. 1 videocassette (60 min.). 1st segment]. Bill Moyers interviews Greg Mitchell, editor of Editor and publisher, about the media and the war in Iraq. Includes discussion of embedded journalists and how difficult it is for reporters to be objective. [2nd segment]. Rick Karr, National Public Radio, and Peter Meryash, Now, report on media consolidation in radio, television and newspapers. [3rd segment]. Bill Moyers talks with Susan Sontag about the seriousness of war and her book, Regarding the pain of others. VHS 7582

Off to war from rural Arkansas to Iraq. 2006. 4 videodiscs (ca. 452 min.). Tracks the citizen soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard as they come face to face with the horrors of war. Never before has a unit of soldiers been followed from the beginning to the end of their deployment at war. DVD 2519

Occupation: Dreamland. 2005. 1 videodisc (1 hr. 18 min.). Follows the members of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, deployed in Falluja, Iraq, during the winter and spring of 2004, leading up to the Battle of Fallujah. DVD 2024

The prisoner: or, how I planned to kill Tony Blair. 2007. 1 videodisc (72 min.). In September 2003, freelance Iraqi cameraman Yunis Khatayer Abbas was arrested and accused of planning to kill Tony Blair. This documentary is a fascinating portrait of an ordinary man trying to make sense of an absurd and nightmarish situation. DVD 3491

Private warriors. 2005. 1 videodisc (60 min.). FRONTLINE returns to Iraq, this time to embed with Halliburton/KBR, and to take a hard look at private contractors who play a critical role in running U.S. military supply lines, providing armed protection and operating U.S. military bases. Their dramatic story illuminates the Pentagon's new reliance on corporate outsourcing and raises questions about where they fit in the chain of command and the price we are paying for their role in the war. DVD 2664

Robbing the cradle of civilization: the looting of Iraq's ancient treasures. 2004. 1 videocassette (ca. 42 min.). "It has been said that the first casualty of war is truth; the second casualty of war is history. The war in the 90's and the Second Gulf war were an occasion for 7000-year-old treasures to be pillaged from sites such as Babylon, and most recently, the Baghdad Museum. Organized gangs of criminals have systematically looted the treasures, finding escape routes across borders and managing their transport into the hands of wealthy collectors and museums in New York, Canada, Switzerland and Norway, and wherever else the money is to be made. This documentary takes us into the Baghdad Museum to see the shards and broken glass which remained from seven days of pillage." -- Container. VHS 7718

Rumsfeld's war. 2004. 1 videodisc. With the United States Army deployed in a dozen hotspots around the world, on constant alert in Afghanistan, and taking casualties every day in Iraq, some current and former officers now say the army is on the verge of being "broken."  The program digs into the aggressive attempts to assert civilian control and remake the military by the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his allies. DVD 1033

Saddam's revenge. 2004. 1 videocassette (52 min.). What has become of the Sunni tribes a year after the end of Saddam's dictatorship? This film examines the attempts by Americans to understand Sunni mentality and gain control of what has actually become a civil war between Sunni and Shia muslims. American officers, former CIA agents and Shia and Sunni leaders discuss Saddam's legacy which threatens the stability and future of Iraq. VHS 7717

The short life of Jose Antonio Gutierrez = Das Kurze Leben des Jose Antonio Gutierrez. 2006. 1 videodisc (58 min.). The story of the Guatemalan immigrant and former homeless street child who became the first American soldier killed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. DVD 1753

Soldier's heart. 2005. 1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.). As the War in Iraq continues, the first measures of its psychological toll are coming in. A medical study estimates that more than one in seven returning veterans are expected to suffer from major depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For those who have survived the fighting, the battle is not over. For some, the return home can be as painful as war itself. FRONTLINE tells the stories of soldiers who have come home haunted by their experiences and asks whether the government is doing enough to help. DVD 2700

The Survival of Saddam. 2000. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Presents an intimate portrait of Saddam Hussein's life and the secrets behind his leadership. The film examines Saddam's uncanny ability to outmaneuver his enemies, exploit their weaknesses and, against all odds, to remain in power. Film is an in-depth look at Saddam -- from his days as a young hit man in the Ba'ath Party, to his rise to power with CIA help--from his successful exploitation of superpower rivalry in the 1970s, to his miscalculations in invading Kuwait 20 years later--from CIA-backed coup attempts and internal rebellions against him throughout the 1990s, to his successful stand-off with UN weapons inspectors. Featuring an interview with biographer Said K. Aburish, as well as interviews with Iraqi opposition leaders, CIA officers, U.S. Middle East diplomats, and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, report reveals how, like many dictators, Saddam's rise to leadership can be attributed to a unique mixture of intelligence and brutality--he eliminated every  potential rival, including in some cases, his closest allies. The film also details Saddam's tactical brilliance inside Iraq in dividing the opposition and keeping a grip on the population through an Orwellian police state. [Summary from PBS website]. VHS 6340

A time for drunken horses = Zamani baray-e masti asbha. 2003. 1 videocassette (80 min.). Life is harsh for three Kurdish children whose mother is dead and whose father is often away extended periods, trying to earn money for the family. The children work at a local factory, but are also forced to become involved in a smuggling trade between the border of Iran and Iraq in a desperate effort to raise money for medical treatment for their handicapped brother. VHS 7925

The torture question. 2005. 1 videodisc (90 min.). The program traces how decisions made in Washington, D.C. in the immediate aftermath of September 11th led to a robust interrogation policy that laid the groundwork for prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and Iraq. The program provides the context for understanding how the rules were confused, how lines of authority were blurred, and what happens when the authorization of "coercive interrogation" makes it way into the battle zone. The program focuses on the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq as a case study in prisoner abuse. DVD 2667

Truth and lies in Baghdad. 2002. 1 videocassette (57 min.). In the first segment, reporter Sam Kiley faces government intimidation and censorship in Iraq as he investigates charges of brutal repression.  In the second segment, Saira Shah reports from the front lines of Colombia's civil war, where an 800-kilometer pipeline that transports oil owned by the state and Occidental Oil Company is a target in the battle between the army, left-wing guerillas, and right-wing paramilitary groups, resulting in environmental damage, murder and disappearances, and other costs to the civilian population. Due to graphic imagery and descriptions of brutality, viewer discretion is advised. VHS 7382

Truth, war, and consequences. 2003. 1 videocassette (ca. 90 min.). Traces the roots of the 2003 Iraqi war to the attempt to look for evidence justifying the war beginning with Sept. 11, 2001. VHS 7629

Turtles can fly. MGM DVD. 2005. 1 videodisc (ca. 98 min.). Feature Film. Soran is a 13-year-old boy who orders other children around as he installs an antennae for villagers keen to hear of Saddam's fall. Eventually, he falls for Agrin but is disturbed by her brother Henkov who can seemingly predict the future. DVD 1516

Uncle Saddam. 2003. 1 videodisc (ca. 103 min.). A documentary presenting a uniquely intimate view of the personal life of Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein. Includes interviews with Saddam's inner circle, the impact of American sanctions on Iraq, Saddam's extravagant personal lifestyle and his family, including the revenge, betrayals and murders within the clan. DVD 1446

Uncovered: the whole truth about the Iraq War. 2003. 1 videodisc (60 min.). Interviews with more than 20 experts in opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq. DVD 1201

Veterans against Iraq War. 2003. 3 videocassettes (219 min.) - Part 1 (2 parts) & Part 2 (1 part). A broadcast of a teach-in sponsored by the Veterans for Common Sense, a group of veterans of many different wars who are opposed to the war in Iraq. VHS 7362

The War behind closed doors. 2003. 1 videocassette (57 min.). As the U.N. inspections process really begins to get underway, the Bush administration seems prepared to go to war. Frontline explores what's going on behind the scenes in the confrontation with Iraq.  VHS 7337

War feels like war. 2003. 1 videocassette (59 min.). Documents the lives of reporters and photographers from various countries who got access to the Iraq War. Reveals the addictive nature of modern war reporting. VHS 7723

Warriors. 2007. 1 videodisc (60 min.). Profiles a handful of Army soldiers filmed during the spring and fall of 2005 in some of the most dangerous areas in and around Baghdad. DVD 3022

The war tapes. 2006. 1 videodisc (97 min.). The war tapes is Operation Iraqi Freedom as filmed by Sergeant Steve Pink, Sergeant Zack Bazzi and Specialist Mike Moriarty. Steve is a wisecracking carpenter who aspires to be a writer. Zack is a Lebanese-American university student who loves to travel and is fluent in Arabic. Mike is a father and resolute patriot who rejoined the Army after 9/11. These soldiers captured over 800 hours of footage, providing a glimpse of their lives in the midst of war. The result is a raw portrait of three men -- and their families -- as they face, and struggle to understand, their duty. DVD 3241

WMD: weapons of mass deception. 2005. 1 videodisc (98 min.). "There were two wars going on in Iraq, one was fought with armies of soldiers, bombs and a fearsome military force. The other was fought alongside it with cameras, satellites, armies of journalists and propaganda techniques. One war was rationalized as an effort to find and remove WMDs, Weapons of Mass Destruction; the other was carried out by even more powerful WMDs, Weapons of Mass Deception." -- container. DVD 1415

The World according to Bush. 2004. 1 videodisc (93 min.). "The 1000 days of George W. Bush's presidency from the 9/11 attacks to the Iraqi quagmire. How a bunch of people influenced by neo-cons hawks took control of the US foreign policy"--Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com. DVD 1317

Worth the price? 1998. 1 videocassette (ca. 15 min.). Film made by the Bruderhof community after a visit in March 1998 to Iraq. Looks at the conditions, especially those affecting children, in Iraq under the economic blockade imposed by the United Nations after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Argues for the lifting of the sanctions saying they have led to food and medicine shortages, epidemics, permanent health damage and death. VHS 5335

Counterfeit coverage. 1992. 1 videocassette (27 min.). Explores how Kuwaiti government over a 6-month period  uses one of the biggest public relations firms in America, Hill and Knowlton, to wage an unprecedented media campaign entitled "Citizens of a free-Kuwait" to argue the case for war. VHS 2506

Fires of Kuwait. 1992. 1 videocassette (36 min.). 607 oil wells burning out of control, ignited by retreating Iraqi troops are put out by the united efforts of firefighting teams from ten countries. Kuwait's cry for help was eventually supported by more than 10,000 people from 40 nations who battled the firestorm and won. VHS 2494

Future peace, next war.  Tkuma: the first fifty years. 1998. 1 videocassette (52 min.). Part 6 of a historical documentary series on the first fifty years of the State of Israel. This final segment of the series examines the vision of Israel's purpose and scope--and the leaders who have interpreted and shaped that vision. From the first Begin/Sadat meeting in Jerusalem to the war against the PLO in Lebanon, from the post-Gulf War peace initiatives to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's history has been a story of the search for a lasting peace, but within the context of almost constant war. VHS 5686

The Gulf crisis: the road to war. 1991. 1 videocassette (ca. 136 min.). Records Bush administration decision making from the invasion of Kuwait through Desert Storm. Features officials who formulated U.S. policy during the Gulf War. Includes highlights from an AEI-sponsored day of discussions among the members of the Deputies Committee, the President's management team, and others. VHS 1655

The Gulf War. 1996. 2 videocassettes (116 min.). "On the fifth anniversary of the war with Iraq, FRONTLINE presents an authoritative four-hour history of the Persian Gulf crisis. The series features in-depth interviews with the key political and military leaders on all sides of the war, as well as dozens of pilots and soldiers from the U.S., coalition, and Iraqi forces. "The Gulf War" investigates what really happened behind the scenes during the months of diplomatic maneuvering, the air war, the ground assault, and the war's ragged ending."--Cassette Container.  VHS 3828

The Iraq campaign 1991: a television history in color. 1992. 1 videocassette (28 min.). Filmmaker Phil Patiris condenses 750 hours of film into a pastiche of short clips, Desert Storm events, news reports, Superbowl clips, advertisements, the Rodney King beating, and war and science fiction movies to show how American commercialism and sports hype influenced the public attitude toward the Gulf War. The film closes with scenes of President Bush greeting returning men at the Capitol. The film is followed by a radio interview of Patiris while a still photograph is displayed on the screen. VHS 1828

Last battle of the Gulf War. 1998. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Frontline looks at the story of how Gulf War Syndrome came into existence, examining the psychology of war, the politics of veterans' affairs, and the role of the media and the biomedical research community. VHS 5189

Lessons of darkness. 2001. 1 videodisc (130 min.). Lessons of darkness: A stirring documentary of 1992 post-Gulf War Kuwait, focusing on the oil well fires ignited by retreating Iraqi soldiers. What resulted is less a simple documentary about an environmental catastrophe than an apocalyptic vision of hell, a strangely beautiful portrait of a world on fire.  Fata Morgana: Herzog brings his cameras to the Sahara desert in order to film mirages. He combines the apocalyptic, often hallucinatory images of the desert with passages from the Mayan creation myth, the Popol Vuh, set to songs of Leonard Cohen.  DVD 452

A Line in the sand an ABC News special on the Persian Gulf crisis. 1990. 1 videocassette (ca. 50 min.). A look at events leading up to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. VHS 960

A Line in the sand what did America win? 1991. 1 videocassette (ca. 50 min.). Documentary about the aftermath of the Persian Gulf war and conditions in the Middle East. VHS 2152

The Media in the Iraq war. America's defense monitor. 1991. 1 videocassette (29 min.). Following a background report on the assumed legacies of the Vietnamese Conflict and the invasion of Grenada, Sanford Gottlieb interviews Pete Williams, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and Newsweek correspondent Dave Hackworth, a retired colonel and veteran of both Korea and Vietnam. They express opposing views about the relations between the military and the press in the Persian Gulf War. Was the coverage accurate? What is the proper balance between security and censorship?  Was the press denied access?  Must the military "sell" war to the public? VHS 1535

Old wars, new weapons lessons from Iraq. 1991. 1 videocassette (ca. 29 min.). The Iraq war showcased complex weapons; did they perform as expected? The Department of Defense wants more such weapons, but are they necessary? VHS 2519

Paying the price killing the children of Iraq. 2000. 1 videocassette (ca. 75 min.). John Pilger "investigates the effects of sanctions on the people of Iraq." Contends that ten years of extraordinary isolation, imposed by the U.N. and enforced by the United States and Great Britain, have killed thousands of people. Also discusses illegal bombing campaigns conducted by the U.S. and Great Britain in "no-fly zones". VHS 6454

Perspectives on the Gulf crisis. 1990. 1 videocassette (30 min.). Excerpts from a congressional teach-in held by the Institute for Policy Studies on October 1, 1990. Investigates political interactions in the Arab community. Emphasizes that any intervention should be a result of United Nations action and not a unilateral United States action. VHS 1329

Schwarzkopf, how the war was won. 1991. 1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.). The Riyadh Command military briefing dated Wednesday afternoon, February 27, 1991, presented by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander of the Allied Forces in the Gulf. He explains the military tactics that led to the conclusion of the Iraq-Kuwait Crisis of 1990-1991. VHS 1207

Showdown with Saddam. 1998. 1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.). Peter Jennings updates his one-hour special report, "Peter Jennings Reporting : Showdown with Saddam" (Summer 1997) which revealed that in May 1991 following the Persian Gulf War, President George Bush signed a classified Presidential Finding directing the CIA to "create the conditions for the removal" of Saddam Hussein. Discusses the details of the ensuing unsuccessful six-year CIA covert operation to eliminate Saddam. Looks at such events as: the CIA supported military coup plot in 1996 that cost the lives of dozens of Iraqis after Saddam's secret police uncovered the plot; a military operation by the CIA-backed Iraqi democratic opposition that failed when the Clinton White House decided to withdraw its support at the last minute; the Clinton Administration decision to allow Saddam to invade the so-called "safe area" of Northern Iraq in August of 1996, enabling him to crush the CIA supported Iraqi opposition coalition. Includes interviews with CIA field operatives, Iraqis recruited by the CIA and leaders of the Iraqi military and political opposition. VHS 4924

Spying on Saddam. 1999. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Chronicles the UN's dramatic, thwarted eight-year long effort to find and dismantle Saddam Hussein's secret weapons of mass destruction. Central to the story is Scott Ritter, former U.S. Marine and UNSCOM inspector, who claims that U.S. Intelligence destroyed UNSCOM's credibility when American spies penetrated and compromised UN arms inspection teams. VHS 5786

Three kings. orig. 1999. 1 videodisc (115 min.). Absurdly comic tale set after the end of the Gulf War. Three restless American foot soldiers left out of Operation Desert Storm's high-tech warfare go on a renegade mission to plunder $23 million in Iraqi gold stolen from Kuwait and become involved in a democratic uprising that spins their lives out of control. DVD 89

The Black giant; War and oil. The Prize. 1992. 1 videocassette (120 min.). The black giant: describes the oil boom in the 1920s from Texas wildcatters to Calouste Gulbenkian in Iraq. -- War and oil: discusses the importance of oil resources on the military strategy and outcome of World War II. VHS 1962

Frontline World stories from a small planet November 7, 2002 . 2002. 1 videocassette (57 min.). In the first segment, reporter Sam Kiley faces government intimidation and censorship in Iraq as he investigates charges of brutal repression. In the second segment, Saira Shah reports from the front lines of Colombia's civil war, where an 800-kilometer pipeline that transports oil owned by the state and Occidental Oil Company is a target in the battle between the army, left-wing guerillas, and right-wing paramilitary groups, resulting in environmental damage, murder and disappearances, and other costs to the civilian population. Due to graphic imagery and descriptions of brutality, viewer discretion is advised. VHS 7382

Grass, a nation's battle for life. 1991. 1 videocassette (70 min.). A documentary in which Merian C. Cooper, Ernest Schoedsack, and Marguerite Harrison travel through Asia Minor and Iraq to reach a tribe of nomads in Iran known as the Bakhtyari. They follow the tribe on its forty-eight day trek across deserts, streams, and mountains to reach  pasture for their flocks. These three people were the first Westerners to cross the Zardeh Kuh Pass and the first to make this migration with the tribes. VHS 1817.

In the name of honour. Life. 2000. 1 videocassette (24 min.). Part 21 of a series on how the globalized world economy affects ordinary people. This program explores how oppression of the minority Kurds in the disputed enclave of Northern Iraq has unleashed a chain of violence and crimes often directed at Kurdish women and how Kurdish women are fighting back for their own protection and working for human rights in Iraq. VHS 7177

Iraq: the cradle of civilization. Legacy. 1991. 1 videocassette (57 min.). The program describes the beginnings of civilization in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the long tradition of absolute rulers, many of whose policies have brought disaster on what was once the first "Garden of Eden". VHS 1691

Iraq: voices from the streets. 2002. 1 videocassette (23 min.). Joins a U.S. congressional delegation that traveled to Iraq in September 2002 to discuss with Iraqi officials the readmission of UN arms inspectors in the hope of averting war. The documentary also features numerous man-in-the-street interviews with Iraqi citizens, commentary from international politicians and peace activists. Offers a rare chance to hear the views of ordinary Iraqi citizens about the United States along with shocking views of the impact of UN sactions and U.S. bombing on the Iraqi economy and the restrictions of the 'oil for food' program. VHS 7316

Journey of hope. 1991. 1 videocassette (111 min.). Based on a true story. A poor Kurdish family with seven children living in Turkey dream of "paradise" in Switzerland. They decide to sell their possessions and emigrate illegally for a better life. When they set off on their journey, they are at the mercy of the smugglers and by the time they reach the Swiss border, they have lost most of their possessions and all of their money. Now they must cross by foot the cold and dangerous mountains that separate them from paradise. VHS 4835

The JVC video anthology of world music and dance Middle East & Africa I : Turkey/Iran/Iraq/Lebanon/Qatar. JVC Video Anthology of World Music and Dance. 1988. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Presents examples of music and dance from the Middle East and Africa documented by text. VHS 7775

The JVC video anthology of world music and dance Middle East & Africa II : Egypt/Tunisia/Morocco/Mali/Cameroon/Zaire/Tanzania. JVC Video Anthology of World Music and Dance. 1988. videocassette (56 min.). Presents examples of music and dance from the Middle East and Africa documented by text. VHS 7776

Lord of Asia. In the footsteps of Alexander the Great. 1998. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Series looks at one of the pivotal events in human history, the creation of the Greek empire stretching from the Balkans to India. Michael Wood hosts a journey that stretches across 20,000 miles, 16 countries and four war zones, retracing Alexander's expedition that first joined East and West. This segment recounts the epic struggle between Alexander the Great's Macedonian army who defeats the Persian army. Documentary travels from a battle site in northern Iraq to the ancient capital of Persepolis, where Alexander seized a cache of gold, and culminates on the shores of the Caspian Sea, where Alexander, already declared Lord of Asia, readies his army to invade Afghanistan. VHS 5542

Marooned in Iraq. 2003. 1 videodisc (100 min.). During the Iran-Iraq war, an aging Iranian-Kurd musician hears that his wife, a singer with a magical voice, who deserted him for his best friend and fled to Iraq, is in trouble. He cons his two sons into accompanying him on the search and they embark on an adventure filled with music, romance and danger. DVD 75

Mesopotamia, return to Eden. Lost civilizations. 1995. 1 videocassette (ca. 50 min.). The roots of the world's major religions lie in the river valleys of Mesopotamia's Fertile Crescent. Here in this ancient "Eden" archaeologists are digging for physical clues that may help tell the truth behind many Biblical stories and also unearthing clues to the dawn of civilization itself among the first cities of ancient Sumer. VHS 517

Oil in Iraq: Curse or blessing? 2003. 1 videodisc (52 min.). The film explains Saddam Hussein's rise to power from being the oil minister, the role of the Ba'ath party in modernizing Iraq with the help of oil profits; and the conflict with its neighbors Iran and Kuwait over control of the oil. It shows the excesses of power and curtailment of personal freedom inflicted by Saddam, and the greed of Iraq and Iran regarding Kurdish oil. DVD 1606

Paying the price: Killing the children of Iraq. 2000. 1 videocassette (ca. 75 min.). John Pilger "investigates the effects of sanctions on the people of Iraq." Contends that ten years of extraordinary isolation, imposed by the U.N. and enforced by the United States and Great Britain, have killed thousands of people. Also discusses illegal bombing campaigns conducted by the U.S. and Great Britain in "no-fly zones." VHS 6454

A People and its music. 1999. 8 videocassettes (235 min.). (1) Israel: Film looks at the questions of what is Israeli music and are there any uniquely Israeli melodies and rhythms. -- (2) Sepharad: Over 500 years have passed since the expulsion of the Jews from Spain but Sephardic Jewry has managed to preserve its rich musical heritage. Film allows the viewer to hear and learn about the beautiful Ladino tunes of the  Middle Ages, as well as lullabies, wedding tunes, music of the synagogue and songs of mourning. -- (3) Ashkenaz: Features Yiddish folksongs, the liturgical music of the synagogue, Klezmer melodies as well as Yiddish theater tunes. Features vintage archival footage of life in Eastern Europe as it existed prior to World War II. -- (4) Teiman: Mourning for the destruction of the Second Temple resulted in the prohibition of using musical instruments. Stringent in their observance, Yemenite Jews accepted this ban literally, and instead of developing the playing of musical instruments, they perfected singing and rhythm, drumming and dancing. (5) Morocco: The Moroccan Jews of North Africa created their own unique musical form of expression by borrowing tunes from their Arab neighbors and adding Hebrew texts to them.  Film focuses on the unique character and flavor of the poetry, messianic songs and tunes that evolved into the basis of authentic Moroccan Jewish music. -- (6)  Hassidut:  Music plays a central role in the daily life of the Hassidic community. Filmed within the Hassidic community, film showcases Hassidic melodies, sung in prayer, at celebrations and at many other significant events in the day to day life of Hassidic Jews. -- (7) Toward Jerusalem: Film focuses on the varied musical work of seven ethnic groups of instrumentalists and singers from around Israel, who gather together in order to perform for and meet one another.  Film shows them in their own surroundings as they prepare for their trip to Jerusalem. Israeli rock star Ehud Banai joins the musicians. Features music ensembles from Persia, India, Iraq, Ethiopia, Kurdistan, Georgia and Tajikistan. -- (8) One Day The Heart Opens: Seven music ensembles from Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Iraq, Kurdistan, Persia, and Tajikistan gather at David's Tower in Jerusalem for a concert, presenting authentic instruments and melodies characteristic of their communities. VHS 6405

Robbing the cradle of civilization: The looting of Iraq's ancient treasures. 2004. 1 videocassette (ca. 42 min.). "It has been said that the first casualty of war is truth; the second casualty of war is history. The war in the 90's and the Second Gulf war were an occasion for 7000-year-old treasures to be pillaged from sites such as Babylon, and most recently, the Baghdad Museum. Organized gangs of criminals have systematically looted the treasures, finding escape routes across borders and managing their transport into the hands of wealthy collectors and museums in New York, Canada, Switzerland and Norway, and wherever else the money is to be made. This documentary takes us into the Baghdad Museum to see the shards and broken glass which remained from seven days of pillage." -- Container. VHS 7718

Shi'ism: waiting for the hidden Imam. 2005. 1 videodisc. Adherents of Shi'ism comprise less that ten percent of the more than one billion Muslims in the world today, but ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, with its indelible images of blindfolded hostages seized at the American Embassy in Tehran, Shi'ism has been perceived by most Westerners as a religious sect characterized by violence and fanaticism. The ouster of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the continuing U.S. occupation of Iraq have led to a resurgence of Shia political activity after decades of oppression by Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime, providing Shi'ism with newfound political influence as well as an opportunity to improve its image. This film discusses the history of Shi'ism, its origins, mythology of martyrdom, the centuries of perscution and discrimination of Shi'ism as a minority faith, and its basic tenets including the belief in the twelfth, or 'hidden' Imam, who will appear on the Last Day as the Mahdi. Filmed in Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, this film interweaves contemporary and historical footage, and introduces Muslim scholars, philosophers, writers, politicians and religious leaders discussing a wide range of issues. DVD 781

The survival of Saddam. 2000. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Presents an intimate portrait of Saddam Hussein's life and the secrets behind his leadership. The film examines Saddam's uncanny ability to outmaneuver his enemies, exploit their weaknesses and, against all odds, to remain in power. Film is an in-depth look at Saddam -- from his days as a young hit man in the Ba'ath Party, to his rise to power with CIA help--from his successful exploitation of superpower rivalry in the 1970s, to his miscalculations in invading Kuwait 20 years later--from CIA-backed coup attempts and internal rebellions against him throughout the 1990s, to his successful stand-off with UN weapons inspectors. Featuring an interview with biographer Said K. Aburish, as well as interviews with Iraqi opposition leaders, CIA officers, U.S. Middle East diplomats, and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, report reveals how, like many dictators, Saddam's rise to leadership can be attributed to a unique mixture of intelligence and brutality--he eliminated every potential rival, including in some cases, his closest allies. The film also details Saddam's tactical brilliance inside Iraq in dividing the opposition and keeping a grip on the population through an Orwellian police state. [Summary from PBS website]. VHS 6340