Will They Ever Trust Us Again? : Letters From the War Zone

Rating:
Summary: Michael Moore is Michael Moore--say something new
Review: First off, I've ordered this book, but I haven't read it yet. I gave it 4 stars because that is the current average rating, and I didn't want to affect it.

I have read other books by Michael Moore, and I find them very interesting to read. He often exaggerates, or sometimes takes data out of context, but he still generally tells the truth. I find it interesting to compare him with Ann Coulter. As far as I know, Michael Moore has never gone so far from the truth as to say that "conservatives hate America", while Anne Coulter has said that liberals do. I'm not trying to attack conservatives, just to say that everyone knows that these elements of the political system--left or right, are writing for a political purpose, and as such, will be one-sided.

So please, don't write huge negative reviews of this book simply because it is written by Michael Moore....everyone on this page already knows that, and most of them know what it means--or will after reading one of many other reviews which say the same thing. Don't suggest that he faked all those letters--some of them do include real names, which can be checked--and if MM had faked them, someone could sue him for libel. I think even the most die-hard conservatives (who often say he does it all for the money) would agree that he wouldn't risk that.

Another thing I've noticed from these reviews is that a lot of people are saying that this constitutes a small part of the US military--of course it does! There are over 200,000 troops serving in Iraq right now (...), and if letters from all--or even just all those against the war--were included, the book would take a lifetime to read. But then look at all the polls taken before elections--you'll rarely find one which polls more than three thousand people, out of a country of nearly three hundred million! Now this is in no way a scientific poll, or even a poll at all. But the fact that so many servicemen bothered to write to Moore, shows that there is some serious dissent among the armed forces of our country. And that's the only point Moore's trying to make.

A final note on something slightly irrelevant that bugs me--to all those who are comparing this to the war with Nazi Germany...Germany declared war on the United States. (...) you'll see that Hitler decided to honor his alliance with the Japanese, and declare war on the United States, before the US even began thinking of declaring war on him. Saddam Hussein didn't declare war on the United States, he never intended to attack or declare war on the United States, nor was he in control of one of the most powerful countries in the world at the time. Saddam Hussein was surrounded, blockaded, and being bomnbed daily. Hitler controlled all of mainland Europe. Please stop the comparisons.

Anyway, this wasn't really a review of the book, so I expect a lot of negative responses. But I will write a better one once I've finished reading.

Rating:
Summary: A view of the war from the eyes of soldiers
Review: "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?" is a book that should be on required reading list for every high school student in America. This book is comprised of personal correspondence e-mailed to Michael Moore from soldiers stationed in Iraq and around the world, veterans, and family members of soldiers. Michael Moore opens our eyes once again to the reality of the Iraq war under the Bush administration, this time through the words of our soldiers and their families. Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" had the distinction of setting records in the box office by being the highest grossing documentary ever. His documentary received a passionate response from the world, inflaming some, and inspiring many others. What I love about Moore's talent at filmmaking is his ability to spark the interest of the average person in hard-hitting social issues. We may not always agree with his viewpoint, but we almost always become engaged in the topic. (...) His book, "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?", is the result of his talent at giving a voice to the unheard. He first gave a brave and public voice to our soldiers in his documentary. Many more soldiers and their families have since found a friend in Michael Moore which is evident in their touching letters. Through Michael Moore, they have found a way to make their own voices heard. Their letters speak of the hardships they endure on the warfront, the moral and ethical questions they find themselves pondering, their need for better equipment, their confusion and anger about the reasons for this particular war, their fear for their safety, and overwhelmingly their love for America, their patriotism, and their sense of duty and honor.

Rating:
Summary: Who does Mike think he is fooling?
Review: First my praise for anyone who can read this collection of 'letters' and read between the lines.

The war in Iraq has provided a bit that often is not seen in mainstream media. Despite Moore's opinion, polls taken by CNN, USA Today or The New York Times on whether one favors this war or not; the true indicator is re-enlistment rates. Since the war's beginning the re-enlistment rate has been historically high.

Now with this in mind, one can truly see what the worth is in this book and the respective content. Did anyone notice that the letters were very anti-Iraq war, anti-Bush and anti-Rumsfeld? Did anyone notice that these supposed letters were sent via-email and the names 'removed'? Some would say, 'if the names were removed those same people would face serious repercussions'. Well I doubt it since the US Constitution, an article that Moore's continues to hide behind and use like a piece of toilet paper, would protect them as well. The very fact these letters are supposedly anonymous should raise an eyebrow. In fact, given his manipulative nature, Michael Moore would lower himself to write or have some group write these themselves.

Michael Moore's previous 'works' can be analyzed with the same discerning eye and one can draw a probable conclusion that he is full of balderdash. The very fact he has risen to level of notoriety highlights the level of gullibility his fans possess. I laugh when I hear how the supposed 'sophisticated' audiences in Los Angeles and Manhattan bought into Fahrenhiet 9-11.

If anything one can see his desired intentions in the 2004 presidential election. Moore appealed to an audience, I am one of them in his target age group so I should know, that was too lazy to go out and vote. In the end Moore was a 'miserable failure'.

Moore has merely trivialized serious global issues to fit his agenda. The same agenda that is based on a false background, which supposedly identifies with a blue collar working culture and minorities. It is my hope, with over 50% of America given the 2004 election poll results, that Moore's 15 minutes of fame has ecclipsed. I am sure he wont go quietly nor will his audience forget him. The same audience who is so misguided, led by emotions and not fact, all the while being fooled by a few.

Is it possible that Amazon could institute a negative star?



Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and ineffective but has its spots of interest.
Review: I got to admit this Micheal Moore book did nothing for me and I am sure itll do nothing for some people out there. Some people may be surprised I say that since I have been a Moore supporter
but for a variety of reason the book is disappointing and ineffective. For one thing, Moore contradicts himself a bit here, now for a guy that has been so critical fo the government , the military and the administration to now side with the military is a bit of a contradiction. Guys like Moore and Noam Chomsky has said all the mlitary does is kill people.

His taken some heat for it and not backed down, until now, and now it seems his doing to win over those conversatives both in and out the military to get a big audience. In fact the early
pages of the book have a rant by Moore about all the complaints his gotten for criticizing Bush and the military. However to be fair most people know Moore and other outspoken critics of Bush
have been right.

However again it seems Moore is trying to win over those critics by now having them give their say to an opponent (the military) to which he has given his share of criticism to. Another thing
too that bug is that some of these letters are not even postmarked, that is their anonymous, so its very easy to forge the document and then say its from a soldier. Heck I oculd call
myself a soldier and send a letter blasting Bush, but their be no one to verify my identity.

The other thing as well is that some of these areas are nothing new, weve heard from Moore for many years, except Moore is largely absent from providing a good narrative or objective criticism , although he hands over that power to the supposed soldiers. The letters themselves are a mixed bag, some of them
are really detaialed and complex and others I admit dont deserve the right to be printed, since their just verbal attacks.

All in all though I admit this book is rather disappointing. Another area I disagree with is when Moore gives us that old lecture about how every woman and man who is in the military does
it to fight for our freedom, not so, theres lots of corrupt and abusive people in the military , just remember to what happend at the prison camp of Abu Gharab and you have your answer.

The title of the book too, "Will they ever trust us" also
doesnt help matters, I mean if your trying to portray the military in a different light, this title certainly does not
work, it will only solidify what critics have said
about the military.


Rating:
Summary: Fame is going to his head...
Review: I've been a fan of Michael Moore's since "Roger and Me". I have seen and own each of his documentaries and have watched all of his television shows in addition to reading the majority of his books. I think Moore's films have been getting better, but his books are getting worse. I hoped this book would contain lots of insights to the terrible things that are happening in Iraq from the people who are living through them each day. Instead, however, I found a book that could have been boiled down to two simple phrases: Bush bad, Moore good.

The letters that Moore chose to include don't carry much insight at all. Instead, they generally just blast Bush and praise Fahrenheit 9/11. My feeling is that Moore's growing fame and riches are starting to swell his head. Rather than taking an opportunity to gather inside information from an invaluable source, Moore strokes his own ego. This book isn't about the soldiers, it's about Michael Moore.

When Moore's career really started taking off I wondered if when he really started getting rich he would become anything like those white collar CEOs he's always after with the bullhorn--losing sight of his original mission in favor of lining his own pockets and putting himself on a pedestal. It seems like that's the direction he's heading. His picture keeps getting more and more prominent on every dvd and book cover that comes out.

Rating:
Summary: Kind of Puts Things in Perspective
Review: I've read it. All I could think about was the fools who threw themselves against Mare's Heights, the idots that sacrificed themselves at Cold Harbor and the imbiciles who stormed the beaches at Normady.

Soldiering sure has changed since my day. Used to be "when the going gets tough, the tough got going." Now its "When the going gets tough, [...]

Does Moore or these [...] have any idea what the difference between low and high intencity warfare is and what our forefathers had to contend with?

Rating:
Summary: Liberal,... A Mental Disease?
Review: It always amazes me that the people that vote for candidates that will not represent their interests usually are the candidates to win an election. Just look at Ohio. The steel industry collapsed, unemployment is the worst in the nation. Yet George supposedly won Ohio? People don't remember that it was Ronald Regan who fired the Air Traffic Controlers in the early eighties, that created the chain reaction of union busting policies by republicans, leading to such unemployment, and economic terrorisim. Or that Regan laid the wreath at the grave of the Nazi soldiers in the early 80's. Or that Strom Thurmond comes alive, when there is an ex-first-lady around to grope. Try listening to some of the vile views of Sean Hannity of Ann Coulter, or Michael Regan. They hate gays, blacks, and jews. Yet the religious nuts in this country seem to forget, that Bush is violating the seperation of church and state in our constitution. A sure win in the election. Pandering to Christian conservatives just to get votes, then going against the grain after the election. Fool Proof! Or starting a war based on a lie, with no end, because as we all know, most presidents who are in office during war time never get booted out of office. "I'm a war president!" "I make decisions in the oval office and in foreign policy, with war on my mind!" -George W. Bush Or Newt Gingerich bounced 22 checks during the house banking scandal, while being so quick to the draw to tell us what to do with "our" money. Is being liberal a mental disease? I think not. What me worry? - George W. Bush


Rating:
Summary: A dispiriting view from the battlefield
Review: Mike Moore always shows us the neglected side of issues. There is no rock so heavy or so insignificant or so well-guarded that he will not try to lift it up for a look at the critters scurrying about beneath.

"Will they ever trust us again?" is a line Moore used in "Fahrenheit 911." He was referring to the willingness of our armed forces to encounter danger, injury and death in order to defend our country. All they ask in return is that when we send them, it's for a good and noble reason.

Moore's book is a compilation of the letters and e-mail he has received from service men and women who have returned from service in Iraq or are currently serving there. It's also from their families and friends and from retired servicemen. The letters express many common themes: the Iraq war is not about freedom for the Iraqi people; the Bush Administration lied about the reasons for going to war; soldiers would rather face jail than going back. Many letter thank Moore personally for his work publicizing the truth about the war. It's clear from the letters that the anti-war view is far from the majority opinion of many soldiers. Still, it is extraordinary that so many would risk a letter to Michael Moore; never mind the many who courageously allow their names to be published.

Those against the war will no doubt see these letters as justification for their views: that Iraq is becoming another pointless war, like Vietnam; that Bush and his cronies don't care about the troops or the nation, but about their own economic and political interests. Those who support the war will doubtless be annoyed that soldiers so openly question the motives of their commander-in-chief; that Michael Moore has made it easy to do so; that Moore is self-servingly (and seditiously) offering free copies of his movies to any soldier who asks.

Like Vietnam, the Iraq conflict will require time before a consensus emerges on its value. For now, people die, our nation and world may or may not safer, and soldiers are wondering why their lives are being risked for questionable motives.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Stater
Review: Mr. 'Words to Big for You to Understand', its JOSEPH Goebells. Yeah, us in the blue states know what the USO is; do you guys in the red states know who Darwin is? Just because some of our guys and gals over in Iraq are concerned about the reasons behind a war that benefits an elite few, doesn't justify anybody to label them 'whiners'. They have more right to complain than you on your couch. Sure you support the war in Iraq, you don't have to fight it. And as for you who are naive enough to think that the Constitution would protect our troops from being blacklisted for speaking out against our policies in Iraq... maybe it works that way in Mayberry, but not in the real world.

Rating:
Summary: Disagree with this Book? Then You Hate American Troops
Review: This book contains the words and thoughts of America's troops, who don't appreciate being misled into a war of choice by an unfit commander. To blow this book off as "b.s." or "opinion" is to deny the experiences of America's men and women serving in Iraq. I can't think of anything more unpatriotic than that. Buy this book.