Rethink Afghanistan

Rethink Afghanistan
Directed byRobert Greenwald
Release date
  • October 2, 2009 (2009-10-02) (M.U.C.K.)
LanguageEnglish

Rethink Afghanistan is a 2009 documentary by Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films, about the US military presence in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Produced and released eight years into the war,[1] at a time when Congress was considering sending tens of thousands of new troops to Afghanistan,[2] the film asks the American public to reconsider basic questions about the conflict, such as how much will it cost, in lives and money? How long will Americans troops be there? How do we know if we’ve won? What is our exit strategy?[1][3][4]

The film was initially made available for free, online,[5] in six consecutive chapters.[6] This staggered release allowed the filmmakers to stay atop an ever-changing news cycle.[7] Greenwald characterized it as "the first real-time documentary."[8]

  1. ^ a b "Rethink Afghanistan: Filmmaker Robert Greenwald Launches Film Opposing Escalation of War". Democracy Now. 2 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Congress Scrutinizes Cost of Afghan Surge". CBSNews. 2 December 2009.
  3. ^ Rubenfeld, Samuel (7 October 2009). "Robert Greenwald On His Documentary "Rethink Afghanistan"". Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ "Stan Karp on No Child Left Behind, Robert Greenwald on Rethink Afghanistan". FAIR. 1 May 2009.
  5. ^ Henderson, Stuart (30 November 2009). "Rethink Afghanistan".
  6. ^ Catalinotto, John (12 October 2009). "'Rethink Afghanistan,' a tool for anti-war activists". Workers World.
  7. ^ Stelter, Brian (22 March 2009). "Released on Web, a Film Stays Fresh". New York Times.
  8. ^ Sheehy, Gail (10 October 2009). "Can This Film Save Afghanistan?". The Daily Beast.