STARWARS DREAMS

The history of America’s multi-billion dollar Star Wars missile defence system

Star Wars Dreams traces the 50-year epic search to put a “roof over America” – from President Eisenhower’s Cold War commitment to anti-Soviet missile defence, through President Reagan’s obsession with Star Wars, to President George W Bush’s imminent deployment of a Son of Star Wars defence against “rogue states”. This is also the story of a powerful national mythology – a heady mix of deep faith in high-technology solutions, fundamentalist Christianity, political isolationism and a yearning for security.
Key witnesses include pro-missile defence super-hawks Richard Perle and Dr Edward Teller; crucial historical figures including JFK Defence Secretary Robert Macnamara; whistle-blowing scientist Professor Ted Postol who accuses his government of “fraud”; and historian Frances Fitzgerald who insists that the Star Wars missile defence program is “surrounded by wishful thinking, fiction and downright lying”.

Release year:

2003

Director:

Leslie Woodhead

Co production:

BBC, ARTE, CBC, SRC, NRK & TV2 Danmark

Running length:

52 minutes

Production company:

Antelope

 

Categories:

• People & Culture
• Social, Political & History