I posted about this programme last week and there was significant interest. Unfortunately the original post is now in the archives and I can't link to it because Advanced Search is disabled until after the elections.
Here's some further info and a response I got from the BBC UK about the email I sent them about getting this fantastic programme out on BBC America.
The programme included unbelievable footage of Rumsfeld in the mid-70s doing what he still does now - maintaining that the US faced an imminent deadly threat and had to act now, despite all available evidence and the opinion of the CIA pointed to the fact that Russia was falling apart and harmless. Essentially, the Republican government had set up a group (called Team B) which had the job of making scary shit up and then claiming it was true (OK, I'm exaggerating, but to all intents and purposes this is how it worked).
Info:
"In the past our politicians offered us dreams of a better world. Now they promise to protect us from nightmares. At the heart of the story are two groups: the American neo-conservatives and the radical Islamists.
Both were idealists who were born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. These two groups have changed the world but not in the way either intended. Those with the darkest fears became the most powerful. Together they created today's nightmare vision of an organised terror network. A fantasy that politicians then found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. Those with the darkest fears became the most powerful...
The two movements..set out, in their different ways, to rescue their societies from this decay. But in an age of growing disillusion with politics, the neo-conservatives turned to fear in order to pursue their vision. They would create a hidden network of evil run by the Soviet Union that only they could see. The Islamists were faced by the refusal of the masses to follow their dream and began to turn to terror to force the people to "see the truth"'. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stmEmail I got back from the BBC:
"Dear Pert_UK
Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'The Power of Nightmares'.
Firstly, I am delighted to read that you enjoy the programme. We are
always delighted to receive feedback about our programmes, especially
when it is of a positive nature. I have recorded your kind comments and have registered them for the attention of the programme makers. I am sure they will all appreciate your praise.
A video or DVD is not commercially available for this programme and for copyright, contractual reasons we are unable to provide a one-off copy. However, please be assured that I have also registered your interest in such a release. For future reference, you may wish to contact BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC to check the availability of any BBC programme on video or DVD:
BBC Worldwide Products and Sales
PO Box 326
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME9 8FA
Telephone: 0870 600 7080
E-mail: bbcproducts@galleon.co.uk
Website: www.bbcworldwide.com
Also, if your friends would like this programme shown on BBC America,
they will need to contact BBC America for further information. They can find the 'Contact Us' section of their website at:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/about/contactus.jsp "
So go to it! Contact BBC America and see if you can persuade them to show this programme!