Shock and Awe

 

Shock and Awe is a movie about journalists who were questioning the Bush Administration’s claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; those claims turned out to be bogus. The film focuses on the reporters at Knight Ridder who were digging for the truth while everyone else was just repeating what the government said. Shock and Awe

The story starts after 9/11, when the U.S. was looking for someone to blame. The Bush Administration pointed at Saddam Hussein, saying he had weapons of mass destruction and was connected to Osama bin Laden. But the journalists—Jonathan Landay, Warren Strobel, and their editor John Walcott—weren’t buying it. They started investigating and found out the government was cherry-picking intelligence to justify invading Iraq. How One News Desk Got Iraq Right When Others Failed

What I like about this movie is how it shows the reporters fighting against the odds. Big media outlets were following the government’s narrative, but these guys stuck to their guns. It’s inspiring to see them chase the truth, even when it felt like no one cared.

The movie also dives into the human cost of war. There’s a scene with a young veteran in a wheelchair that really hits hard. It’s emotional and makes you think about the consequences of decisions made by people in power.

The movie title is a direct reference to the military strategy used during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It’s a fitting metaphor for the way information can be weaponized to sway public opinion. The film doesn’t just tell a story—it asks tough questions about the role of the media in a democracy. Should journalists simply relay what they’re told, or should they dig deeper, even when it’s unpopular? These are questions that feel just as relevant today as they did back then. Title Reference