Brand new U.S. President Barack Obama, shown standing in the above photo with ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ executive producer Kyle F. Hence, told Hence that he has in fact watched the movie and "liked it.”The story begins in early 2007 when Hence first presented then-Senator Obama with a DVD of the movie as part of an effort by the filmmakers to get copies to every member of the U.S. Congress.
Months later, in June 2007, Hence was in Seattle, Washington, to attend the movie’s showing as an official selection of the Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF) when he learned that Obama would be attending a photo op event at the nearby Westin Hotel. Though the event was supposed to be the privilege of big time donors who had given the maximum donation of $2,300, Hence slipped by anyway, apparently mistaken for a member of Obama’s staff, into a small room where he got into the Senator's photo line.
When his moment with Obama came, Hence took the opportunity to hand him another DVD of ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ and ask him if he remembered their previous meeting.
“Of course,” responded the future President.
Hence questioned further, “Did you watch the movie?”
“Yes, I did,” Obama quickly replied. After a short pause, he added, “I liked it.”
The photo was immediately taken, and Hence was ushered away.
Although President Barack Obama seems to be an honorable man, he is also a politician. Therefore, the possibility must be considered that he was lying.
Taking him at his word, however, he is therefore aware of the many important issues regarding 9/11 that the movie explores. One can only hope then that he will support a new, truly independent investigation of September 11th during his first term, as the "Jersey Girls" and others have advocated. If Obama's statement is to be taken seriously that transparency and the rule of law will be touchstones of his administration, this investigation is a must.
In fact, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' may have affected his thinking in some areas. In August 2007, just two months after talking to Hence, Obama got into some hot water over aggressive comments he made toward Pakistan. “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans,” said Obama. “They are plotting to strike again. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and [Pakistani] President Musharraf will not act, we will.”
He was so heavily criticized over that statement that some at the time suggested it might actually cost him the Democratic nomination. Obama retorted later at a debate, “We’re debating the most important foreign policy issues that we face, and the American people have the right to know.”
‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ presented a strong case that Pakistan’s intelligence service, or elements of it, was involved in the 9/11 plot, or at least had foreknowledge of it. The movie criticized President George W. Bush for the bizarre partnership he formed with the country despite their apparent harboring of Bin Laden and others. [Note: The movie did not necessarily advocate aggression against Pakistan. It did advocate getting to the full, unvarnished truth about 9/11 so as to allow the American people to make educated decisions about their foreign policy and how best to ensure their safety.]
The movie also went into great detail to show Al Qaeda’s too-easy escape from Afghanistan to the mountainous border region of Pakistan. Obama has made it a centerpiece of his foreign policy to refocus the War on Terror to this area in order to defeat the Taliban and round up Bin Laden and his co-conspirators.
It might also be mentioned that, in addition to closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay, President Obama appears ready to halt Bush's War Crimes Trials in favor of putting the accused 9/11 conspirators, the “Guantanamo Six” as they’ve been called, on trial in “open” civilian court, where the case against them can stand or fall on it’s own merits. Such trials were also strongly advocated in ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’. [It should be noted, however, that there are still apparently many additional co-conspirators that have not yet been arrested for their role in the attacks.]
Anecdotal evidence aside, there is no real reason to assume that ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ has had any effect on the thinking of the new President. Then again, who knows?
