Frontline Season 21 Episode 14 The Long Road to War: A FRONTLINE Special Report

The Long Road to War: A FRONTLINE Special Report is an investigative piece of journalism that delves deep into the events leading up to the Iraq War. This episode provides a comprehensive and detailed explanation of how the Bush administration, with the help of the media, sold the United States on a war that had devastating consequences.

Through interviews with insiders such as former CIA analysts and White House officials, along with extensive research of government documents and previously classified information, The Long Road to War uncovers the flawed assumptions and decision-making processes that led to the decision to invade Iraq.

The episode begins by examining the aftermath of 9/11, and how the Bush administration, eager to respond to the attacks, set their sights on Iraq as a potential threat. It then traces the road to war, beginning with the misinformation campaign pushed by the White House and their allies in the media, which portrayed Saddam Hussein as an imminent danger to the United States.

The Long Road to War highlights the role that faulty intelligence played in the decision to go to war, as well as the pressure that was put on analysts to conform to the administration's stance on Iraq. It shows how the Bush administration cherry-picked intelligence to support their pre-existing beliefs, while ignoring or discrediting information that contradicted their narrative.

The episode also sheds light on the impact that public opinion had on the decision to go to war. The Long Road to War reveals how carefully crafted speeches and language used by the Bush administration created a sense of fear within the American public, and how this fear helped push the country towards war.

Throughout the episode, viewers will be taken on a journey through the events leading up to the Iraq War, including the United Nations inspections, the build-up of troops in the Middle East, and the final decision to invade. The Long Road to War shows how the consequences of the war included the destabilization of the Middle East, the loss of American and Iraqi lives, and the rise of extremism in the region.

Overall, The Long Road to War: A FRONTLINE Special Report is incredibly in-depth and illuminating, providing viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the factors that led to the Iraq War. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in American politics, foreign policy, and the consequences of war.