Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a veteran of the Iraq War, defended attacks on the movie "American Sniper" on Sunday, saying that troops depend on snipers to keep them safe.
"It was the most realistic at just capturing that essence of what the Iraq war felt like, like really bringing me back to Iraq," Kinzinger said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." http://www.cnn.com/shows/state-of-the-union
Just like Chris Kyle, whose story is told in the movie, Kinzinger said he constantly feels drawn to return to the battle to help his comrades he left behind.
"You miss the brotherhood of it. You think about all the things you could have done," he said.
Kinzinger is an Illinois Republican and a member of the Armed Service Committee. He was critical of people such as documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who has said snipers are cowards because they hide on rooftops and shoot people from a distance.
Kinzinger revealed a bracelet he wears with the name of a sniper killed in Afghanistan.
"They're fantastic people," he said. "Here's one that wasn't (a coward.) Here's one that was killed. They all are brave men and women."
Moore has somewhat backtracked on his initial comments, which have sparked controversy, saying he wasn't referring to Kyle or "American Sniper," directed by Clint Eastwood.
He sent an email to CNN, saying, "There are only two movies about the Iraq War that have grossed over $100 million: mine and Clint's. Now that would be an interesting discussion to have."
Moore apparently was referring to his 2004 film "Fahrenheit 9/11."
Kinzinger responded to Moore's email, saying "Your movie is no comparison to 'American Sniper.'"
"We all know his tweet was referring to this movie, even if he says I didn't have the name it there," Kinzinger said. "We're not that stupid."
In a society where sports figures and singers are considered heroes, Kinzinger said young people need people like Kyle to look up to even if they never enter the military.
"It’s the idea that life is about something bigger than you," he said. "And that’s why I think this story resonates.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego, and Arizona Democrat, who was a Marine in Iraq, agreed, saying, snipers are "warriors. They're a totally different breed."
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.