Too bad to check: Anti-US oil production film financed by … Middle Eastern oil producers?
posted at 10:41 am on September 28, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
Earlier this year, I had planned to write a movie review each week, but a back injury and surgery ended up derailing those plans. I’m pretty sure I would have skipped Matt Damon’s new effort, Promised Land, a look at American oil and gas drilling efforts that apparently had all of the reality and even-handedness that Hollywood usually puts into its political fare:
The creators of Promised Land have gone to absurd lengths to vilify oil and gas companies, as Scribe’s Michael Sandoval noted Wednesday. Since recent events have demonstrated the relative environmental soundness of hydraulic fracturing – a technique for extracting oil and gas from shale formations – Promised Landƒ’s script has been altered to make doom-saying environmentalists the tools of oil companies attempting to discredit legitimate “fracking” concerns.
Now, however, the Heritage Foundation has taken a look at the real politics of Hollywood — and followed the money. It turns out that Damon’s new didact-o-pic gets much of its financing from those disinterested third parties to the issues of American energy production … the United Arab Emirates:
A new film starring Matt Damon presents American oil and natural gas producers as money-grubbing villains purportedly poisoning rural American towns. It is therefore of particular note that it is financed in part by the royal family of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. …
While left-leaning Hollywood often targets supposed environmental evildoers, Promised Landwas also produced “in association with” Image Media Abu Dhabi, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media, according to the preview’s list of credits. A studio spokesperson confirmed that AD Media is financing the film. The company is wholly owned by the government of the UAE.
So what’s the problem? These guys just export glass figurines and live off of enviro-friendly tourism, right? Er …
The UAE, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has a stake in the future of the American fossil fuel industry. Hydraulic fracturing has increased the United States’ domestic supply of crude oil and natural gas in areas such as the Bakken shale formation and has the potential to increase domestic production much more in the foreseeable future. That means more oil on the market, and hence lower prices for a globally traded commodity.
Fracking is boosting the country’s natural gas supply as well. While the market for American natural gas is primarily domestic, the Energy Department recently approved Cheniere Energy’s plan to export about 2.2 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas per day from Louisiana. The Department is considering LNG export applications from seven other companies.
Looks like the UAE is getting their money’s worth from Hollywood, eh?
As usual, truth is stranger than fiction … but not by much. The brilliant film Thank You For Smoking anticipated this very outcome (NSFW – language):
The UAE ain’t exactly a democracy, either. I look forward to Damon’s next film, The Moneyed Land, in which Damon goes undercover to find Arab sheikhs laughing their rear ends off at limousine enviro-liberals in Hollywood. I’m pretty sure that it will have to be an independent movie, though.
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Except about the role an anti-muslim video had. Ironclad info. Till it wasn’t.
BobMbx on May 13, 2013 at 4:27 PM
Barry translated: “Hey, would I lie to you? More importantly, would an eletoral majority of you voters believe that lie? Okay then.”
Physics Geek on May 13, 2013 at 4:27 PM
Do you know of a good Canadian restaurant around here?
Akzed on May 13, 2013 at 4:27 PM
That’s not for you to decide, champ.
And, the timeline says otherwise.
Why did you fail to attend a Presidential Daily Briefing from 6 September 2012 to 13 September 2012?
Where were you after your meeting with Secretary Panetta and Chairman of Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey ended at 5:30 PM EST?
Who disobeyed the order to ‘make sure that we are securing our personnel and doing whatever we need to’ that you have claimed that you gave?
Why did the American Embassy in Cairo apologise for the YouTube video BEFORE ANY protest took place ANYWHERE?
Why did Secretary Clinton blame the YouTube video at @10:07 PM EST 09.11.12 AFTER she was told by then deputy chief of mission in Libya that the attack was a terrorist attack and the video played NO role?
Why did you refuse to call it an ‘act of terror’ in the Rose Garden and blame the YouTube video instead?
Why did you refuse to call it an ‘act of terror’ minutes after your Rose Garden speech in your interview with Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes on 12 September 2012?
Why did your Press Secretary, Jay Carney, blame the YouTube video on 13 September 2012?
Why did Secretary Clinton publicly blame the YouTube video on 14 September 2012?
Why did you, along with Clinton, Biden, and Panetta, tell the mum of Sean Smith and the father of Ty Woods, who were both killed in the attack, that the video was the cause on 14 September 2012?
Why did you blame the video in your Saturday morning weekly address on 15 September 2012?
Why did your Justice Department take Nakoula Basseley Nakoula in for an interview about possible probation violations related to the distribution of the film, ‘The Innocence of Muslims,’ on the internet on 15 September 2012?
Why did Ambassador Rice tell 300+ million Americans that the video was the cause on FIVE Sunday talk shows on 16 September 2012?
Why did your Press Secretary, Jay Carney, blame the YouTube video on 18 September 2012?
Why did you tell Letterman the same thing on 18 September 2012?
Why did your Press Secretary, Jay Carney, blame the YouTube video on 20 September 2012?
Why did you blame the video during the townhall on Univision on 20 September 2012?
Why did you and Secretary Clinton appear in ads on Pakistani television condemning the YouTube video at a cost of $70,000 on 21 September 2012?
Why did you tell Joy Behar on The View that Mr Nakoula’s film was responsible for Benghazi on 25 September 2012?
Why did you bring up the video 6 times in your speech before the UN on 25 September 2012 when you only brought up terror once and then only in the context of Iran?
Why did you, on 27 September 2012, have US Federal authorities arrest filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula in Los Angeles, charge him with 8 counts of probation violation (some of the charges relate to statements he made relative to the film and the alias ‘Sam Bacile,’ but none is for the use of the internet), deny him bail, put him in solitary confinement, and only give him his first hearing the day after the American presidential elections?
Why did your Press Secretary, Jay Carney, blame the intelligence community for misinformation on 2 October 2012 when it had not only warned on several occasions BEFORE the attack, but said that Benghazi was a terrorist attack that was carried out by Ansar al-Sharia and elements of al-Qaeda immediately and only revised the talking points at the direction of the White House and the State Department?
Why have you and your subordinates continuously claimed that neither the White House nor the State Department changed anything in the talking points other than to change the word ‘consulate’ to ‘diplomatic mission’ when emails and Deputies Meeting on 15 September 2012 prove otherwise?
Resist We Much on May 13, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Can we bring back voter tests?
Or at least some comprehension tests to have a job in the media?
All right! How about demanding test scores and transcripts before we allow some of the dim bulbs to take office?
Cripes! Read the speech!
http://www.forextv.com/forex-news-story/full-transcript-of-obama-s-rose-garden-speech-after-sept-11-benghazi-attack
IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Wasn’t there a live feed from Benghazi available to you ?
burrata on May 13, 2013 at 4:31 PM
I’m confused I thought Benghazi was a “bump in the road“, now it’s a “circus“?
I didn’t know that a shamectomy was possible, apparently I was wrong….
E9RET on May 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM
What a frickin’ liar! Watch Obysmal’s eyes throughout his talk.
He is a classic case of projecting motives on others that he and his administration have played throughout. The fact of the matter is that requests for increased security were ignored prior to the 9/11 Benghazi attack, and the administration was derelict.
Events in Cairo at the time featured the black flag of AlQaeda. It certainly was not on the run. Blaming a video for any of the rioting is absurd. The date itself was significant.
onlineanalyst on May 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Oh, C’mon!
Hillary? She was just showing that it didn’t make any difference to her what happened. Video, rodeo, Romeos, Dominos delivery guys or vampires.
Who cares?
Let us move forward.
They should start an organization and call it Move On or something.
IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2013 at 4:33 PM
Good point. I thought I heard that there was a drone and video feed during part of the attack. Where’s that evidence?
E9RET on May 13, 2013 at 4:33 PM
I’d settle for a $5.00 poll tax.
Linh_My on May 13, 2013 at 4:35 PM
Decent people don’t sacrifice 4 lives to stay in power.
Then lie about it continuously for 8 months.
He is a deceitful megalomaniacal scumbag.
And utterly indecent.
profitsbeard on May 13, 2013 at 4:35 PM
Au Contraire, Drywall. Only an A-hole wants this president to succeed. For his success is to the country’s detriment. His failure, you ignorant fool, is to all of our benefit. Oh, and suck it. Your clown is going down and it will be sweet justice when he does.
Zetterson on May 13, 2013 at 4:35 PM
FUBO. You ran for office now start acting like the damn POTUS.
bloviator on May 13, 2013 at 4:36 PM
I literally felt like throwing up, watching this sickening performance today. Felt much better, later, when Megyn Kelly asked Lou Dobbs what he thought about it and he said “..the president stood there and lied to the American people.” (might not have the exact quote, but Dobbs did use the word “lie,” one of a few, but increasing number of people who are willing to tell it like it is.)
winfield on May 13, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Justice Dept. secretly obtains AP journalists’ phone records; top AP exec calls unprecedented intrusion: http://apne.ws/15GBzx9
Nixon did something like that, too…
Resist We Much on May 13, 2013 at 4:37 PM
I am stone Bruce Lee today!
I just slew twenty five or so liberals and O supporters with the dang transcript.
I am never this good.
I feel like a Jedi!
Make ‘em read it!
IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2013 at 4:39 PM
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/07/purported-benghazi-drone-operator-calls-sean-hannity-with-new-details-cant-be-armed-that-night-and-no-one-has-contacted-me/
burrata on May 13, 2013 at 4:39 PM
I make it clear for you Dave. Here is the still currently active WHITE HOUSE web page including the Video and Statement.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/09/12/president-obama-speaks-attack-benghazi
Statement by the President on the Attack in Benghazi
I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.
I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.
On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya’s transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.
The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.
Note: No word terror, terrorist, terrorism. This is what is to be considered the official statement. The introduction referring to 9/11 2001, and the ending do not make the cut on the White House’s own page. this is the official transcript of his prepared remarks concerning Benghazi.
He specifically calls Benghazi and outrageous attack, and links it directly to the video by, as bolded, claiming While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.
That’s not parsing. That’s understanding basic grammar.
can_con on May 13, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Creepy
Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Look out, Obama found a new video to blame Benghazi on!
profitsbeard on May 13, 2013 at 4:42 PM
“The day after it happened, I acknowledged, that this was an act of terrorism”
Lie. You lie. Look at the transcript. Despite Candy Crowley backing you up on this in the 2012 debate v Romney, you didn’t say that. You made some vague, general comment about how we won’t stand for terrorism. You didn’t acknowledge this was terrorism.
You lie. You lie. You lie.
Paul-Cincy on May 13, 2013 at 4:45 PM
Linh is not nuts…man,
He has been killing terrorists.
I think he has the chorus boys in the JCOS and CIA reigned in and developing excuses to “…first do no harm…” and THAT may have contributed to the lack of available assets.
But the terror he and Hillary had about the video was something else again.
You never let the other side make you bow and scrape and show fear.
Not as a POTUS!
He has to learn to handle the Muslims. Allah favors the bold.
IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2013 at 4:48 PM
If anyone had said that about George W. Bush Congress would have been drawing up impeachment charges.
How can anyone continue to protect and spin for this man? Are you seriously trying to convince us that he’s just a victim in all this?
E9RET on May 13, 2013 at 4:49 PM
Rather Nixonian don’t you think? Channeling old tricky Dick…”let me very clear…I an not a crook!”
Don L on May 13, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Here…
Benghazi: The Definitive Timeline
Resist We Much on May 13, 2013 at 4:50 PM
And now Obama is imploding on tapping the AP.
John the Libertarian on May 13, 2013 at 4:51 PM
Frankly, I don’t care how many times the talking points were changed. I simply want to know why they left over 30 people to defend for themselves. There is no excuse for the stand down.
There is a cover up for some reason that we don’t know yet. I suspect it has to do with the gun running to Syria…
The Truth will come out!
luckybogey on May 13, 2013 at 4:52 PM
Harry Reid? He said Bush had lost the Iraq War, while the Iraq War was still being fought. What an anti-American Patriot!
Still crying in your Labatt’s about Les Candien being knocked out of the Stanley Cup in 5 games, Uncle Red? And how about those Vancouver Canucks! 0-4!
P- (P for Puck)
Del Dolemonte on May 13, 2013 at 4:53 PM
RUH ROH!
Govt obtains wide AP phone records in probe:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/govt-obtains-wide-ap-phone-records-probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative’s top executive called a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into how news organizations gather the news.
The records obtained by the Justice Department listed incoming and outgoing calls, and the duration of each call, for the work and personal phone numbers of individual reporters, general AP office numbers in New York, Washington and Hartford, Conn., and the main number for AP reporters in the House of Representatives press gallery, according to attorneys for the AP.
can_con on May 13, 2013 at 4:53 PM
“There is no there there!” -Barack Obama
“It depends on what the meaning of the words ‘is’ is.” –Bill Clinton
Anyone ever notice that it seems to be a trait among liberal Democrats to play with words?
pilamaye on May 13, 2013 at 4:53 PM
To me Ho Chi Minh and Pol Pot were decent persons, With a mistaken world view, who were just in miles over their heads.
LegendHasIt on May 13, 2013 at 4:55 PM
Also, he went to the UN and threatened in true Chicago thug style to kill all those who slander his prophet ! He put out a hit on American people .
He yapped about youtube video on that rapist Lettermans show as well as with the screeching hags of The Shrews.
He acted stupidly. AND HE LIED .
burrata on May 13, 2013 at 4:56 PM
“Tin soldiers Obama’s not sending,
You all are on your own,
No help for you is coming,
four dead in Benghazi,
four dead in Benghazi”
bloviator on May 13, 2013 at 4:57 PM
Can anyone guess what these two statements have in common?
There Goes the Neighborhood on May 13, 2013 at 4:57 PM
Imagin what they would do if the AP and the other major news gatherers weren’t completely in The Punk’s corner
LegendHasIt on May 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM
You’re thinking about the issue like somebody who has served in the military or has the warrior ethic. Now close your eyes and think like a radical rat-eared coward who was raised overseas by socialists, was educated by communists, and pals around with terrorists.
Those 30 people were expendable when there was a myth about growing democracy in the region that had to be maintained.
Happy Nomad on May 13, 2013 at 5:01 PM
I’d even go for the G’vt giving everyone a coupon that says, “if you turn this in at the polls you can vote.” Otherwise you can redeem it at your local store for cigarettes or whatever else you want for $5.” That’d get rid of a majority of low info voters…
And Drywall is a Canadian anyway…they are doing better up there now because they have moved to the right!
kirkill on May 13, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Heh. Good idea. I’d kick in a few bucks myself.
LegendHasIt on May 13, 2013 at 5:09 PM
When the president is trying to cover up a scandal where people were left to die at the hands of terrorists, then I want him to fail. Coverups are not good for our country.
When the president is trying to cover up a scandal where the IRS was targeting his political enemies, then I want him to fail. Government intimidation of political adversaries is not good for our
country.
When the president is trying to take guns away from the people in violation of their 2nd Amendment rights, then I want him to fail. The loss of Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms is not good for our country.
When the president attempts to bypass the Senate’s power to confirm his nominations by unilaterally declaring that they are in recess, then I want him to fail. Ignoring checks and balances is not good for our country.
When the president is trying to consolidate his grip on power by winning control of the House for his party, then that’s a perfectly respectable political goal. But I still want him to fail, because it’s not good for our country.
There are many more things the president has tried to do that are very bad for our country. In all those cases, I hope he fails.
Do you see a pattern yet?
Yep.
Yay!
There Goes the Neighborhood on May 13, 2013 at 5:15 PM
awesome post, i love it… obama should answer each question one by one.
…but he will just say “present” each time!!
i want this to happen, so much…
Sachiko on May 13, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Tears? Nah. More likely spring allergies or an earlier smoke-got-in-his-eyes.
The walls are tumbling down, sport. You are no match for the American patriot. We stand with our countrymen, not with our “Muslim brothers.”
onlineanalyst on May 13, 2013 at 5:24 PM
The kind of a-hole, who is against lying, incompetence, arming drug cartels, persecuting filmmakers, going to war without the consent of Congress, using the IRS as a weapon against your enemies, using the power of the HHS to shakedown healthcare companies, using the DOJ to tap the phonelines of the press, etc.
The kind of a-hole, who finds it disgusting that an American President believes he should ‘punish his enemies’ and tells his supporters to do the same.
THAT kind of ‘a-hole’ wants an ASSH0LE PRESIDENT TO FAIL.
Resist We Much on May 13, 2013 at 5:32 PM
You are correct sir. I spend almost eight years going back and forth TDY while living in those alert hangars in Aviano and Incirlik. I pray that the people responsible for leaving our folks behind go to hell.
luckybogey on May 13, 2013 at 5:45 PM
“You number 10 GI.” ;)
arnold ziffel on May 13, 2013 at 5:59 PM
What kind of a-hole goes to blog sites and lies about their accomplishments and doubles down?
That would be you Admiral Dave.
arnold ziffel on May 13, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Gotta admit. Barry knows how to ‘stay on script’.
Even if it’s a script no one is buying any more.
GarandFan on May 13, 2013 at 6:07 PM
Is that similar to whoopi’s “it’s not rape, rape”?
can_con on May 13, 2013 at 6:17 PM
ObamaCare is crumbling.
The recovery is the worst on record and we now have record poverty.
His foreign policy has been a failure.
Now we have Nixonian scandals breaking regularly.
Obama needs no help from us, pal.
Chuck Schick on May 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Actually, it’s more like a moral/spiritual problem.
Cleombrotus on May 13, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Between 1969 and 1972, I spent three tours in that AO. I also returned as a civilian 1974-18 Apr 1975. been there, fought that War, smelled the bodies and saw the rotting corpses. If you can’t understand the difference, may God show mercy for your soul.
19k30 retired
Linh_My on May 13, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Translation: I am really f**king worried this is going to blow up in my face.
Chris of Rights on May 13, 2013 at 6:44 PM
Zero knows he’s in trouble. Remember this? “I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinski.”
“I am not a crook.”
dogsoldier on May 13, 2013 at 6:57 PM
I just listened to this and still don’t know what he said.
JellyToast on May 13, 2013 at 6:57 PM
Obama lied when Benghazi occurred and for eight months after, so why should we be surprised that he’s lying now?
“Barack Obama has shown himself to be an incompetent president, an ineffectual Commander in Chief and most of all a pernicious politician.”
Barack Obama and Benghazi: What is the body count that separates a president from a candidate?
http://www.imperfectamerica.com
imperfectamerica on May 13, 2013 at 7:10 PM
Oh and I forgot, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
dogsoldier on May 13, 2013 at 7:21 PM
05B20PV / later 31Z40PVS,
BTDT
And if you think 0bama wouldn’t do the same thing given the chance, with no repercussions, may God have mercy on your soul too,..
LegendHasIt on May 13, 2013 at 7:42 PM
THIS is the speech of the most eloquent speaker?
The kid giving his teacher a lecture spoke better than this punk-in-chief.
This guy did not care about this country and its issues/businesses. If he did/does, he would have been able to speak on the topics, any topic, by heart, clearly and with details, like Benjamin Netanyahu did on Israel’s affairs.
How in hell did this punk get to be US president? Mind boggling.
vnohara on May 13, 2013 at 8:56 PM
The Democrats, these days, are better about getting dead people and others to vote several times than the Republicans are. The last real “Old Style” politician the Republicans was Dick Nixon. If you study history, you learn that todays politics is a kindergarten girls “patty cake” game compared to the old days especially in the late 1700′s and 1800′s.
Linh_My on May 14, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Well darn. First I had to look up the meaning of “is”—now it’s “there”.
Portia46 on May 14, 2013 at 3:22 PM
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