Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (2006)

Robert Greenwald looks at war profiteering in Iraq by private contracting companies Halliburton, CACI, and KBR.

Director:

Robert Greenwald

Stars:

Katy Helvenston-Wettengal, Scott Helvenston, Donna Zovko

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Katy Helvenston-Wettengal	...	Self - Scott Helvenston's Mother
Scott Helvenston	...	Self - Blackwater Contractor (archive footage)
Donna Zovko	...	Self - Mother of Jerry Zovko
Jozo Zovko	...	Self - Father of Jerry Zovko
Tommy Zovko	...	Self - Brother of Jerry Zovko
Chris Lehane	...	Self - Crisis Communications Expert
Anthony Lagouranis	...	Self - Military Interrogator, Abu Ghraib
John Warner	...	Self - Senator, Virginia (archive footage)
Shereef Akeel	...	Self - Civil Rights Attorney
Hassan Al-Azzawi	...	Self - Abu Ghraib Detainee
Pratap Chatterjee	...	Self - Executive Director, CorpWatch
Janis Karpinski	...	Self - Former Brigadier General, Abu Ghraib
Al Haj Ali	...	Self - Abu Ghraib Detainee
Mark Benjamin	...	Self - Journalist, Salon.com
Joshua Casteel	...	Self - Military Interrogator, Abu Ghraib

Storyline

Documentary portraying the actions of U.S. corporate contractors in the U.S.-Iraq war. Interviews with employees and former employees of such companies as Halliburton, CACI, and KBR suggest that government cronyism is behind apparent "sweetheart" deals that give such contractors enormous freedom to profit from supplying support and material to American troops while providing little oversight. Survivors of employees who were killed discuss the claim that the companies cared more for profit than for the welfare of their own workers, and soldiers indicate that the quality of services provided is sub-standard and severely in contradiction to the comparatively huge profits being generated. Also depicted are the unsuccessful attempts by the filmmakers to get company spokesmen to respond to the charges made by the interviewees.

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Plot Keywords:

war profiteer | political superpower | political corruption | armed forces | shady | 

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Secular Talk: Bernie Ad DESTROYS Biden for Iraq War Support (2020)

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Soundtracks

Samra'u min Qawm Isa
(Brown skinned girl from the people of Jesus)
Written by Traditional
Arranged by Saadoun Al-Bayati
Performed by Saadoun Al-Bayati
Courtesy of Samar Enterprises

User Reviews

The Mighty Dollar

Iraq For Sale is a truly horrifying documentary about the state of war profiteering in Iraq as allowed or encouraged by Washington in the United States. Not to be misunderstood or understated, it is terrifying how reckless the companies mentioned in the film (Halliburton et al) act towards their customers (US Military) and their employees in pursuit of the mighty dollar. Sending out trucks on delivery missions empty because they can charge the government for sending them to the bases. Providing dubious contaminated water to the troops from their water treatment plants, and charging $100 to wash a bag of laundry to mention a few. What is even more terrifying is that the Pentagon just ignores the abuse or gives the companies a slap on the wrist for their trouble, all the while continuing to funnel billions or more dollars into their pockets. I used to accept that war was about ideology and defense, this documentary proved me wrong. War is about the pursuit of wealth and power!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ирак на продажу: Наживающиеся на войне

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brave New Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1