Charlie Wilson's War: History as Romantic Comedy

January/February 2008 Historically Speaking 47 Charlie Wilson's War: History as Romantic Comedy John Patrick Diggins A student of history should be reluctant to pounce on a film because of its historical misrepresentations and other defects of fact and interpretation. A cinematic production, after all, aims at theatrical effect and a dramatic pace, which leave little time for exploring the why of events. But one subject is too serious to allow Hollywood to have the last word. The end of the Cold War, the great surprise of the second half of the 20th century, was historically unprecedented . An empire exited from history without war or revolution. The sudden collapse of communism defied those intellectuals who were convinced that totalitarianism was "irreversible." Today the subject is debated by scholars who would like to know if the present struggle against terrorism may represent a continuation of the Cold War. The current film Charlie Wilson's War offers another perspective that seems to come out of nowhere, though the story has some basis in historical fact. A box-office hit that entertains audiences with humorous anecdotes and its treatment of politics as romantic adventure , it deals with serious issues of world significance. Directed by Mike Nichols, die film had as consulting advisor Alan Sorkin, of television 's West Wing (a popularization of the inner circle of White House politics and strategy), and is based on the 2003 book by George Crile, Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History (Adantic Monthly Press, 2003). In our era, when Christian fundamentalism blows hot across the prairie states and the Cold War is remembered as a mortal combat against the Evil Empire, the film seems shockingly secular . In it, politics is linked not to prayer and devotion but to pleasure and hedonism. An opening scene takes place in a swanky hotel with Charlie Wilson—Democratic Congressman of the Second Congressional District in Texas—and Playboy bunnies soaking in a hot tub. Soon we discover that the congressman is to be investigated for hanging out with call girls at cocaine parties. Yet reality intrudes into this democratic decadence, and vice gives way to virtue. In the hot tub with a glass of bourbon in his hand, Wilson finds his attention drawn to television's Dan Rather broadcasting the Russian invasion of Afghanistan on Christmas day, 1979. Somehow booze and the boudoir take second place to the call to duty. Even a Playboy cover girl and the popping of champagne bottles cannot compete against the cause of politics. Ben Franklin would understand. As Reagan prepares to take over the White House late in 1980, Wilson is persuaded by the beautiful, wealthy socialite Joanne Herring to make a trip to Pakistan, protest its leaders' insufficient support of their invaded neighbors, and visit an Afghan refugee camp. Wilson is distressed by the plight of the refugee children and moved by the determination of Afghans to fight the Soviets . The local CIA, however, wants to proceed cautiously and allow the Soviets to get deeper into The film neglects geopolitics and the tragic consequences of U.S. intervention. Many scenes take place in bedrooms as Wilson is seduced by statuesque beauties. the quagmire before taking up action that could possibly drive the invading army out of Kabul and the countryside. The frustrated Wilson, who serves on Congress's military and appropriation committees, sets out to round up support from politicians who think he is starry-eyed even when sober. But Wilson finds a solid ally is Gust Avrakotos , a blustering CIA operative, profane, paunchy, and violendy temperamental. Bypassing formal procedures, Wilson and Avrakotos come up with the funds to counter the Soviet's deadly aerial and helicopter strategy. The film shifts back and forth between documentary and digital treatment, showing shots of Soviet aviators laughing as they release bombs and rockets on innocent populations. Regardless of whether or not the Soviet military took a sadistic delight in devastating the Afghans, why did the Kremlin decide to invade in the first place? In America many conservatives interpreted Afghanistan as final evidence that détente and deterrence had failed and that Soviet Russia was resuming the "imperial...