Outfoxed and Uncovered

Documentary

In the documentary feature, "Uncovered: The War on Iraq," filmmaker Robert Greenwald chronicles "the Bush administration's determined quest to invade Iraq following the events of Sept. 11, 2001." The controversial film deconstructs the administration's case for war through interviews with U.S. intelligence and defense officials, foreign service personnel, and U.N. weapons inspectors.

Greenwald is also the director-producer of "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," which examined Fox News and the role played by media empires in influencing public opinion. Robert Greenwald, producer-director of "Uncovered: The War on Iraq," was online Friday, Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the film.

"Uncovered: The War on Iraq" premiered at the 2004 Cannes March Du Film. It opens in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. on Aug. 20; in Los Angeles on Aug. 27 and in San Francisco on Sept. 3.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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washingtonpost.com: Robert Greenwald, welcome to washingtonpost.com. We'll cover both of your most recent films today. First, tell us about Uncovered. We understand it was originally released in DVD form in 2003 but then revised to include more information about the war in Iraq and an interview with weapons inspector David Kay. What have you "uncovered" in the film about the war on Iraq?

Robert Greenwald: The version that's in the movie theaters now is a very different version than the one that was on DVD. This one has a tremendous amount of additional material including this exclusive interview with David Kay, a section on the press role on the buildup to war, the role of the informers and the explanation if there were no weapons of mass destruction, the reason for the war, which I believe is the neocon advocating that this is the way to solve our problems in the Middle East.

What the 24 experts -- CIA, Pentagon, weapons inspectors --all agree on even though they don't agree on anything else is the reasons were given for war were not accurate. These are objective, provable facts that the experts in the movie all tell us about.

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Fairfax, Va.: Are you using the "documentary" as a forum for your own political belief? Michael Moore is doing that. Do you have a mission like him?

Robert Greenwald: I am not in the film "Uncovered." I have brought to the film 23 patriotic Americans with over 400 years of service to our government. I put no words in the mouths of these men and women who have dedicated their lives to our country. They speak for themselves. Some are Republicans; some are Democrats; some are Independents, but they all agree the reasons we were given for the war are not accurate.

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Lakeland, Fla.: My question regards the effect your films have on people who are either undecided on the issues, or who actually support President Bush. Are you getting feedback that your films are persuading these people to change their minds and support a more progressive agenda?

Robert Greenwald: Uncovered has had it strongest effect on people who have believed what their government is telling them. After the screenings, people have been visibly shaken and emotional because of the irrefutable evidence from experts and patriots that we have not been told the truth. How they choose to process and use that information is up to them -- not me.

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Eureka, Calif.: Has the Bush Administration or any government agency made any threats against you publicly or privately?

Robert Greenwald: No, they have not.

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Tampa, Fla.: No matter who presents evidence on either side of the political debate, it seems that someone is able to come up with counter-evidence to question it. What makes what you present anymore truthful or relevant than what others have or will produce to contradict your assertions?

Robert Greenwald: No sane or rational human being has come up with any evidence that there are WMDs in Iraq. No legitimate evidence has been presented that Iraq had active and dangerous chemical or biological weapons when we went to war. There is not evidence of any kind proving that Saddam Hussein was working with al Qaeda. The so-called aluminum tubes have been roundly discounted by virtually all engineers and experts working in the nuclear field. These are now objective, provable facts and those who supported the war have shifted their argument to the fact that Saddam Hussein is a bad guy, which of course he is, but that was not the reason we were given for going to war.

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Frankfort, Ky.: Considering all the documentaries that have surfaced this election year (more than I can ever remember), do you foresee documentaries playing a bigger roll in elections to come?

Robert Greenwald: I see documentaries playing a role in the ongoing debate in our country about issues of importance. The less information we get from the primary media the more important documentaries and books and alternative media become. But I don't see them specifically playing a role in elections but playing a role informing citizens in a democracy.

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Washington, D.C.: I plan to see "Outfoxed" this week at a local theater -- I can't wait. Of all the Fox news commentators, I find Brit Hume to be the biggest cheerleader for the Bush Administration.

Other conservative commentators such as MSNBC's Scarborough aren't necessarily pro-Bush. Hume is pro-Bush to the point of providing irresponsible journalism. I don't recall him ever criticizing the president on anything and there's been a lot of criticism to be had by this president over the last four years. When he has his "round table" discussions he surrounds himself disproportionately with conservatives and then sticks a single lone left-leaning voice whom they all gang up on.

What is Hume's story? Did he work with people in this administration previously?

Robert Greenwald: You will find in Outfoxed a study we commissioned of the Hume show. For 25 weeks, FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) monitored the Hume show and found the guests, no surprise to you, 80 percent Republican, 20 percent Democrat and of the 20 percent Democrat more than half were centrist or conservative.

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Arlington, Va.: As a conservative who has spent his entire life being told what to think by the liberal news media, I have absolutely no sympathy for your complaints about Fox News. Fox is only successful because so many people are sick of hearing slanted news from liberal reporters who refuse to admit that their ideology affects their reporting. Why can't you just take it like a man like the rest of us have been doing for so long?

Robert Greenwald: As a conservative, I would think you would strongly object to Fox News excluding many conservative opinions and only presenting Bush Republican party line day in and day out. Conservative who I disagree with have some principled positions about deficit spending, prudent foreign policy, civil liberties, etc., etc. You almost NEVER hear these voices on Fox News when they are in disagreement with the Bush line of the day. My objection is to Fox News calling itself "fair and balanced" when they are Republican and proud.

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San Antonio, Tex.: How widely will your film go into distribution and when? There was one highly advertised "Outfoxed" party here in the Alamo City, and then I thought I read that your film would go into release into movie theaters. I thought I read that four cities would first receive the film. Where are you in the wider distribution process?

Robert Greenwald: Given the amazing response to Outfoxed we continue to add theaters and cities every week. Check your local newspapers, check our Web site (outfoxed.org) and call your local theater to encourage them to book the film.

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Parker, Colo.: Can you define "liberal media"? The word "media" is fairly simple, but when I check Webster's New World College Dictionary, I find "liberal" (when added to media) to be a proud definition for the Fourth Estate. How did "liberal media" become a slanderous term?

Robert Greenwald: Liberal media became a slanderous term because some very committed and open right-wingers have spent billions of dollars to tar liberals and the media. Consult Eric Alterman's brilliant book, "What Liberal Media?," for further information on this.

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Parker, Colo.: Would you consider doing similar videos of perceived bias in CNN and PBS? I find examination of the media (particularly the electronic media) to be enlightening, but I've yet to see one news outlet change their style of news entertainment for a more sophisticated approach to providing news information.

Robert Greenwald: PBS and CNN have their faults and limitations but they are in a totally different universe than Fox News and therefore, less interesting and crucial for a documentary. Fox News is trailblazing, partisan, Republican policy and that's why I have chosen to put a spotlight on them. Hopefully, the film will begin the process of creating change.

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Anonymous: I have one comment regarding my friend and neighbor Mr. Murdoch. He is a leading publisher of tabloid journalism in Great Britain. There is nothing wrong with that. What I find interesting is Americans take this tabloid journalism and filter it through outlets such as the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the Washington Times and then the rest of your media flocks together and takes it for verified truth. Perhaps the fault is within your own system of filtering hard facts versus tabloid gossip.

Robert Greenwald: That's a very good and valid point and part of that, however, is by design and Fox News leads the way in confusing opinion and fact. The film demonstrates how Fox News by design turns fact into opinion and therefore removes any standard by which to look at and judge the news -- a very troubling and dangerous trend for democracy.

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Robert Greenwald: Uncovered and Outfoxed are moving across the country right now. Please call,write and e-mail your local film distributor so that we'll be at a theater near you. And go to our Web site, outfoxed.org, in order to volunteer to spread the word.

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