American Sniper 2-7-2015

7, February 2015                   American Sniper

Movies and propaganda share a disturbing intimate relationship. The blockbuster movie, American Sniper, perpetuates the stereotype of Arabs dressed in sinister garbs battling a handsome sniper plucked from Middle America.  The real Chris Kyle was shown to be galvanized to action after being incensed at the 911 attacks and responding to the crude propaganda of Bush Cheney that Iraq was somehow responsible. Determined to seek vengeance he enlisted to wage war on the ‘savages’ and found himself and his buddies in a hell-hole, Fallujah. The movie shows soldiers kicking doors to find the elusive Saudi, Bin Laden (wrong city, wrong county).

Chris Kyle soon becomes a highly skilled sniper and becomes a larger than life persona to his buddies.   

Sadly, the film eulogizes the killing of Iraq insurgents ignoring the obvious fact that Iraqis were merely resisting an occupying force. “American Sniper” on one level is also a celebration of gun culture. The real Chris Kyle was shot to death while the script was being written. He had volunteered to help a troubled veteran, Eddie Ray Routh, who had a history of violent behavior and was an apparent victim of post-traumatic stress. Kyle felt the best way to get him to relax was to take him to a shooting range. While they were there, Routh turned his gun on Kyle, and one of Kyle’s friends, killing them both. War is so easily waged and plays havoc on veterans psyche and their families. A staggering 22 veterans commit suicide every day.