Berlin 20 – 02 -2010
The American film ‘S.O.S./State of Security’ – a documentary that explores gaps in U.S. security from the point of view of an insider who had spotted problems before the 9/11 attacks- made its world debut in Berlin yesterday at the ‘Berlinale’ film festival.
The movie deals with the trials and tribulations of a Kennedy-era idealist and former White House security adviser whose detailed recommendations go unheeded. He criticizes the over-reliance by intelligence experts on technology and not enough on foreign expertise and human intelligence gathering abroad which leaves the US exposed – despite vast amounts of money thrown at the sector.
Making its world premiere at the Berlinale festival, the documentary makes it very clear where its political sympathy lie and that is very far from the bellicose and feeble-minded former US administration Bush/Cheney.
The film makes the point that successful security requires open social debate and discussion to defeat extremist ideology in public debate – a debate where tolerant, liberal and open societies have the advantage.
‘S.O.S./State of Security’ also argues to combat terrorism successfully it will first have to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is the greatest cause of the US being alienated by Muslims worldwide
The film describes weaknesses in airport and other infrastructure security in the US – a lack of foreign expertise and human intelligence – which leaves the US over exposed despite massive investment in the sector.
The film makes the point that successful security requires open social debate and discussion to defeat extremist ideology – a debate wherein tolerant, liberal and open societies would have the advantage.
The director of the film Michele Ohayon – who grew up in Israel – said the movie is about those who think the best way to fight terrorism is in a more effective and intelligent manner than relying on purely military means.
Ohayon argues -logically and astutely- that to combat terrorism successfully there will first have to be a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is the greatest cause of the US being alienated by Muslims worldwide.
