Don't Keep Hollywood from Helping DoD Fight Propaganda

For decades, the U.S. military has cooperated with filmmakers working on movies and shows featuring military themes and equipment. Without this partnership, powerful films telling the American story and honoring the bravery and sacrifice of U.S. servicemembers like Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down could not have been made.

But some in Washington would undermine this important national tool in an otherwise admirable effort to eliminate Chinese Communist propaganda and censorship from Hollywood. The defense authorization bill now pending in Congress contains proposed changes to the DOD’s partnership with film makers that would almost completely outlaw cooperation on any movie that might seek release in China.