FRONTLINE examines why the US went to war in Iraq, what went wrong in the planning for the postwar occupation, and what is at stake for both the US and for Iraqis.
“As the White House launches its latest PR blitz to convince Americans that all is going well in Iraq — no matter what the media say — along comes ‘Frontline’ to spoil things. PBS’s eminent investigative series kicks off its new season tonight with a devastating documentary on how the Bush administration sold the war and got rid of Saddam Hussein (well, almost) but seems to have overlooked the need for a plan after declaring victory. …
“Whatever your politics and opinions about the war, this documentary is must viewing for those who seek to understand why the early scenes of liberation have given way to nearly daily reports of attacks against occupying troops. …
“No doubt the administration would see this documentary as more media filtering to accentuate the negative. But the facts on the ground, as reported by Smith and his crew, are stubborn indeed.”
– Washington Post
“…along comes Frontline – measured and detailed and covering every base, mixing widely reported material from places such as Meet the Press and C-Span with exclusive reporting – to put the big picture in perspective. So few TV organizations even attempt journalism anymore, it’s a pleasure to see it so well-done. …
“‘Truth, War and Consequences’ is the kind of must-see TV that the folks at Frontline churn out year after year. When they set their sights on a story (coming up: terrorist sleeper cells, the Food and Drug Administration, alternative medicine), they report rings around other organizations. They deserve a wider audience.”
– Philadelphia Inquirer
“More incendiary than post-war Iraq … [a] very explosive report.”
– New York Post
“… a chilling, in-depth look at the war in Iraq. … The film is a methodical and a fair overview of the crisis so far, and brings perspective to an issue that has been clouded by rhetoric from the Bush administration.”
– Salt Lake Tribune
“Smith, who reported the excellent ‘In Search of Al Qaeda’ installment of ‘Frontline’ last season, scores again. ‘Truth, War and Consequences’ is another substantive, first-rate edition of PBS’s standout news journal. No network newsmagazine fluff allowed.”
– Detroit Free Press
“FRONTLINE remains indispensable for its seriousness and ambition. The PBS series again offers in-depth reporting on Iraq that most of television won’t, or can’t, tackle. … The program doesn’t say a lot that’s new, but it pulls together the information for a rare, comprehensive view. …
“The style of ‘Truth, War and Consequences’ is hard-hitting but low-key. It’s quite different from the furious partisan squabbling that dominates Iraq discussions on cable news channels. …
“‘Truth, War and Consequences’ represents another first-rate contribution from FRONTLINE, which has examined Iraq this year in ‘Blair’s War’ and ‘The War Behind Closed Doors’. Like the previous programs, the one tonight is sweeping and demanding; it’s not news served up in bite-sized nuggets.
“…If you want to be reminded what in-depth really means, Frontline will show you.”
– Orlando Sentinel
