American Sniper * *

Talking of war and winning here’s a film about a bloke who is very good at fighting - or killing people from a considerable distance with a sniper rifle (is that fighting or heroic?) It’s  a true story apparently and although his sentiments were good I just wish his cause had been more noble. Just as America lied to itself about the value of invading Iraq (what a bloody mess), the principal character lies to himself about their right to be there.  I don’t know if  it was Clint Eastwood's intention (I doubt it) but the ironic outcome of this film is a reminder of what a pointless, useless unnecessary mess George Bush and Saddam Hussein gave us when they had their dick fight over non-existent “weapons of mass destruction” . Seriously, that’s all I could think when I saw these destroyed towns, homeless people, and American Soldiers driving through it all with their guns and their screaming at everyone, frightening the hell out of children and  using ridiculous confusing  terms (stand down!!!) rather than speaking clearly and politely to anyone.  In a way The Hurt Locker told a similar story - the addiction of war.  For some returned soldiers, after living in such an intense arena, the quiet of home just seems unnatural, so they constantly volunteer to go back again.  A bit like straightened out junkies.  Does that make you a hero?