Hollywood and the Pentagon

The operation has sparked controversy with the official military version has been contradicted by several investigative journalists. But that matters little here. The script is top secret, and the film is already in production. On the set, a U.S. Army official oversees the operation and has direct control over the script.

The American army's involvement in Hollywood war films may surprise some. In fact, the secret services have had close ties with American filmmakers for several decades. "Top Gun," for instance, was filmed with the support and approval of the U.S. Army.

There is even a special bureau, the Film Liaison Office, that oversees these issues for the Pentagon and the Capitol. It has a clear mission: studying the scripts of American war movies, deciding whether to offer them support or not, depending on their relevance to the country's military leaders.

One director might be loaned combat jets and ships, and all their equipment, enabling him to shoot a film. Another director, whose script displeases, may be refused any kind of support. That was the case for instance with "Platoon," deemed overly critical of the Vietnam War. It is then up to the producer to look for shooting locations and equipment outside the United States. Often, at considerable cost.

In his Pentagon office, the head of the Film Liaison Office makes no secret of his goals: flattering the U.S. Army, winning support for its actions on the battle field, and encouraging more soldiers to sign up. In short: pure propaganda. Scripts are cut and watered down; characters are changed; the historical truth is fudged.

Few great war films have escaped the influence, or even the censure, of the U.S. Army. That has been even more true over the past two years. The recording of history has sped up considerably since Sept. 11, with the war in Afghanistan and the recent war in Iraq.

Certain filmmakers are in league with military officials. Just weeks after Sept. 11, the U.S. Army and secret services directly asked Hollywood directors to come up with ideas- in the utmost secrecy of course. Hollywood is now creating series based on information and ideas supplied by the Army.

http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/tv_guide/full_details/World_history/programme_2082.php