Shock and Awe Movie Reaction

Shock and Awe 
Movie cover

The movie Shock and Awe perfectly depicts the powerful and important movement made of Journalist from the news service Knight Ridder that questioned the Bush administration's claim that Iraq had mass weapons of destruction in 2003. It was realized in 2017, over 14 years after the beginning of the war occurred.   

It all begins in 2001 when devastation strikes America as 4 planes are hijacked in a plan to cause major destruction and loss for our Country. This day was marked as 9/11 to remember the day that 2,977 Americans lost their lives to the ruthless acts of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. The entire country was left in horror that day, wanting answers and justice for all. 

In all of this aftermath of 9/11 the U.S. government was quick to decide to take action by pushing a war on Iraq on March 20th, 2003, due to the claims of mass weapons of mass destruction. 

Image of Iraq invasion 
2003

As anger and uncertainty swept all in the country, many news outlets immediately began to run stories feeding into the narrative that the Bush Administration had created. America was being fed with stories and answers from all major news sources, especially The New York Times. These stories were false, lacked reliable and creditable sources that created an unbalanced and scary government dynamic.   

Many news sources felt successful, like they were giving the people the answers they craved. All except for the journalist at the Knight Ridder news service. They decided to take a stand to truly uncover what information was true, and swore to only produce news that could be proven correct and didn't just go along with the ideas of the Bush Administration. 

With hard work, the Knight Ridder Journalist were able to prove the major flaws of the government's theories. Over time there stories were proven to be right as Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. 

Shock and Awe 
Movie Final Scene 

Anyone that watched this movie regardless if they are a journalist or not, is left with a powerful lesson. It teaches that regardless of the overpowering feel of emotions at times, that it is important to seek truth in every story than to just accept the view that is popular or "official". It is the job of the press to hold its individuality and freedom of speech in order to protect the democracy we have built in this country.