I just located the Talking Head show where Ritter defended himself:
>>> I made a movie to explain to the American public what had been achieved in regards to disarmament of Iraq and why inspectors aren't in Iraq today and detailing the very complex, murky history of interaction between Iraq, the United Nations and the United States. It is most definitely not a pro-Iraq movie. It is a pro-truth movie. It is a pro-U.N. movie. It's a pro-American movie. It's a movie people should be watching and not denigrating.
Four hundred thousand dollars is not an unreasonable budget for an hour-and-a-half, full-length documentary. What does CNN spend on a documentary of that nature? The fact is, I sought funding from other sources. No one provided the money, because it's too controversial and no one wants to take on the U.S. government. Thank God, an American citizen of Iraqi origin put money up, his money, his own personal money with no links to Saddam Hussein.
ZAHN: Who paid for your last trip to Baghdad?
RITTER: I paid for it, together with donations from American anti-sanctions movement, the Institute for Public Accuracy -- the Iraqi government had nothing to do with funding this trip, or even organizing this trip.
ZAHN: Not a single cent.
RITTER: Not a single cent.<<<
cnn.com
By the way, RollCast, how much does it cost to make a documentary-type movie? Seems like the film was in a reasonable budget line to me? You implied he was paid off. This doesn't appear the case at all. |
