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Argo: With Apologies to Britain and Canada

If Ben Affleck wants to take the high ground he would run a series of adverts stating that his film is fiction and identifying the real life heroes he ignored.

by
Abraham H. Miller

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February 26, 2013 - 3:00 pm
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I guess it’s fair to say that Ben Affleck is not doing a documentary … or is he? In a recent interview by Terry Gross with Affleck that I caught on National Public Radio, he notes how he studied the Middle East in college and wanted to include the information on Mohammed Mossadeg and the US intervention in Iranian affairs to bring Shah Palavi to power. Affleck left me with the impression that accuracy was very important to the project.

To underscore the film’s commitment to reality, Affleck included information in the film’s front cards that was important to him as a student of the Middle East. This consisted of the historical context concerning the violent overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddegh and the successful CIA plot to consolidate the power of the shah, Mohammed Pahlava. This coup ultimately, according to many observers, led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Is Argo a story that is fundamentally true but appropriately tweaked to create the successful commercial venture, or is it a dramatization that while inspired by real events is largely a work of fiction with a political message? And, if the latter, as Hillary Clinton might say, “Who cares?”

Obviously, I care because too many people, especially young people, go to the movies and are incapable of discerning fact from fiction, especially when a popular and entertaining movie seems to be sufficiently grounded in reality to provide historical context.

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All Comments   (15)
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The introductory background presented in the film about the US and Mossadegh is insidious. The narrative is presented without reference to the Soviet Union or the Communist Party of Iran, as if they had nothing at all to do with Mossadegh's government or the anti-US, pro-Soviet policies in progress at the time. If people want to make the argument that the USSR or its instrument in Iran were progressive forces, let them make it. But they refuse to make that argument. Instead, they erase them from history to suggest that the only two major players in Iran were the US and a democratic national movement.
The introductory background presented in the film about the US and Mossadegh is insidious. The narrative is presented without reference to the Soviet Union or the Communist Party of Iran, as if they had nothing at all to do with Mossadegh's government or the anti-US, pro-Soviet policies in progress at the time. If people want to make the argument that the USSR or its instrument in Iran were progressive forces, let them make it. But they refuse to make that argument. Instead, they erase them from history to suggest that the only two major players in Iran were the US and a democratic national movement.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:51:58 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:51:58 PST 2013 1
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Hardly anybody in Hollywood takes the high road. It isn't "cool" to question the liberal indoctrination. Here's one exception:

<a href="http://1389blog.com/2013/02/18/tom-hanks-defends-serbs-kosovo-is-serbia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://1389blog.com/2013/02/18/tom-hanks-defends-serbs-kosovo-is-serbia/</a>


Hardly anybody in Hollywood takes the high road. It isn't "cool" to question the liberal indoctrination. Here's one exception:

<a href="http://1389blog.com/2013/02/18/tom-hanks-defends-serbs-kosovo-is-serbia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://1389blog.com/2013/02/18/tom-hanks-defends-serbs-kosovo-is-serbia/</a>


11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:02:09 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:02:09 PST 2013 1
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'Affleck included information...concerning the violent overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddegh.' I'm sick of the way Iran and its Western friends always talk about the infamy of the US involvement in the death of Prime Minister Mosaddegh yet never, ever mention the Islamists' killing of Prime Minister Hasan-ali Mansur in 1965. Remember that name next time someone tries to use Mossaddegh to prove that it's the West that's fundamentally responsible for everything bad that's happened in Iran in our lifetimes.
'Affleck included information...concerning the violent overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddegh.' I'm sick of the way Iran and its Western friends always talk about the infamy of the US involvement in the death of Prime Minister Mosaddegh yet never, ever mention the Islamists' killing of Prime Minister Hasan-ali Mansur in 1965. Remember that name next time someone tries to use Mossaddegh to prove that it's the West that's fundamentally responsible for everything bad that's happened in Iran in our lifetimes.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 10:08:11 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 10:08:11 PST 2013 1
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A few people have commented that Affleck did thank Canada. What annoyed Canadians and Ken Taylor was Affleck's complete re-writing of a history that was only a few decades ago without realizing that we would be offended. He never even thought to apologize until it was brought to his attention. We also realize that both Mr. Affleck and Mr. Damon have political ambitions in the Democratic Party. This movie was obviously a way to enhance Mr. Carter's presidency given Obama has been compared to him.
A few people have commented that Affleck did thank Canada. What annoyed Canadians and Ken Taylor was Affleck's complete re-writing of a history that was only a few decades ago without realizing that we would be offended. He never even thought to apologize until it was brought to his attention. We also realize that both Mr. Affleck and Mr. Damon have political ambitions in the Democratic Party. This movie was obviously a way to enhance Mr. Carter's presidency given Obama has been compared to him.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:54:02 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:54:02 PST 2013 1
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Hollywood solipsism...everything revolves around THEM. It isn't just that nothing else matters; nothing else truly exists in their world.

Much like Washington DC solipsism - the Beltway disease.

Because of the latter, the US government has betrayed its existing allies (such as Canada and Israel) and disrespected its potential allies (such as Russia and India), that it soon will have no allies at all. The US has spent decades kissing up to Muslim nations and powers, when it is abundantly clear from Muslim doctrine that no Muslim government, ruler, or warlord - and in fact no Muslim at all - is allowed to befriend non-Muslims. The US will soon end up with the friends that it deserves, which is to say, none at all.

Hollywood solipsism...everything revolves around THEM. It isn't just that nothing else matters; nothing else truly exists in their world.

Much like Washington DC solipsism - the Beltway disease.

Because of the latter, the US government has betrayed its existing allies (such as Canada and Israel) and disrespected its potential allies (such as Russia and India), that it soon will have no allies at all. The US has spent decades kissing up to Muslim nations and powers, when it is abundantly clear from Muslim doctrine that no Muslim government, ruler, or warlord - and in fact no Muslim at all - is allowed to befriend non-Muslims. The US will soon end up with the friends that it deserves, which is to say, none at all.

11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:08:53 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 16:08:53 PST 2013 1
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Affleck could have easily used the truth in that scene where the CIA guy said the Brits and Kiwis turned them away. The actual facts would have done nothing to diminish the sense of urgency and need for action. I think it is basically a contempt for American audiences that drive these sorts of decisions. They think we are too dumb to understand anything but simplistic situations.
Affleck could have easily used the truth in that scene where the CIA guy said the Brits and Kiwis turned them away. The actual facts would have done nothing to diminish the sense of urgency and need for action. I think it is basically a contempt for American audiences that drive these sorts of decisions. They think we are too dumb to understand anything but simplistic situations.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:45:56 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:45:56 PST 2013 1
Link To Comment
I appreciated the blog too, but am very worried about our media-directed future. See <a href="http://clarespark.com/2011/10/24/turning-points-in-the-ascentdecline-of-the-west/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://clarespark.com/2011/10/24/turning-points-in-the-ascentdecline-of-the-west/</a>. We have got to get real history and its turning points right.
I appreciated the blog too, but am very worried about our media-directed future. See <a href="http://clarespark.com/2011/10/24/turning-points-in-the-ascentdecline-of-the-west/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://clarespark.com/2011/10/24/turning-points-in-the-ascentdecline-of-the-west/</a>. We have got to get real history and its turning points right.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:45:21 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:45:21 PST 2013 1
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I haven't yet seen Argo but I suspected its purpose was another attempt to rewrite Carter's appalling legacy. Thank you for the heads-up.
I haven't yet seen Argo but I suspected its purpose was another attempt to rewrite Carter's appalling legacy. Thank you for the heads-up.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:42:52 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:42:52 PST 2013 1
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First, let me suggest that you read the book, and then other works by Tony Mendez. It will certainly give you an excellent understanding of what tradecraft actually involves.

As to Turner, ADM Moorer who was CNO in my day said: "Turner is a man educated beyond his capabilities". To be fair he was put in the job specifically to destroy the covert part of the CIA.

That action was 'pay back' for CIA misbehavior and lying about the use of Cambodia for NVA material transhipment, but that is a story for another day.
First, let me suggest that you read the book, and then other works by Tony Mendez. It will certainly give you an excellent understanding of what tradecraft actually involves.

As to Turner, ADM Moorer who was CNO in my day said: "Turner is a man educated beyond his capabilities". To be fair he was put in the job specifically to destroy the covert part of the CIA.

That action was 'pay back' for CIA misbehavior and lying about the use of Cambodia for NVA material transhipment, but that is a story for another day.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:42:25 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 09:42:25 PST 2013 1
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I don't think people have trouble distinguishing fact from fiction in film in the larger sense. No one thought the artistically brilliant but depressing film "The Last Picture Show" was real in the same way they took Robert Frank's photos in "The Americans." Frank's book, in no less of a cynical but scripted artistic narrative, was taken as "documentary" and "truth." I have more subtle worries about media.
I don't think people have trouble distinguishing fact from fiction in film in the larger sense. No one thought the artistically brilliant but depressing film "The Last Picture Show" was real in the same way they took Robert Frank's photos in "The Americans." Frank's book, in no less of a cynical but scripted artistic narrative, was taken as "documentary" and "truth." I have more subtle worries about media.
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 08:17:45 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 08:17:45 PST 2013 1
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Affleck thanked Canada at the Oscars, which Ken Taylor said he appreciated. I'm sorry, sir, but in your zeal to bash Affleck, you're much too glib in saying, "It wasn’t Tony Mendez or the bashed CIA that got the Americans out, but the Canadians who arranged the vital Canadian passports and the airline tickets through Swiss Air and two other airlines. The Argo cover was unnecessary..."

Tony Mendez was crucial to the plan. Sure, in retrospect it's easy to say the cover was largely unnecessary. But they didn't know that at the time. They didn't know it would be unnecessary. Mendez risked his ass just as much as anyone.


Affleck thanked Canada at the Oscars, which Ken Taylor said he appreciated. I'm sorry, sir, but in your zeal to bash Affleck, you're much too glib in saying, "It wasn’t Tony Mendez or the bashed CIA that got the Americans out, but the Canadians who arranged the vital Canadian passports and the airline tickets through Swiss Air and two other airlines. The Argo cover was unnecessary..."

Tony Mendez was crucial to the plan. Sure, in retrospect it's easy to say the cover was largely unnecessary. But they didn't know that at the time. They didn't know it would be unnecessary. Mendez risked his ass just as much as anyone.


11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 05:41:22 PST 2013 1
11 weeks ago Wed Feb 27 05:41:22 PST 2013 1
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