Iraq conflict isn't Charlie Wilson's war

Movie about former congressman from Lufkin comes out on DVD Tuesday

LUFKIN — Former East Texas congressman Charlie Wilson, the inspiration for the major motion picture "Charlie Wilson's War," has enjoyed promoting the film's DVD but is ready for the excitement to end.

"I'm looking forward to getting home to Lufkin," Wilson said, speaking by phone from New York on Monday. "I've been on the road for 10 days already."

"Charlie Wilson's War" is about how Wilson, a hard-partying Democratic congressman, helped launch the most successful covert operation in U.S. history by giving the Afghan Mujahideen the opportunity to drive the Soviets out of their country.

Wilson said that although most East Texans did not have a special interest in what was happening in Afghanistan, he had his constituents' support.

"They didn't really know about it until the end and one of my opponents tried to make an issue of it, saying I needed to be working in East Texas, not Afghanistan," Wilson said. "But nobody paid attention to him. People in East Texas were certainly supportive of fighting Communists. They supported it as much as they knew about it. Since it was a covert operation, we didn't talk about it any more than we had to."

Despite his opponent's claim, Wilson's accomplishments had a strong effect on East Texas. He is most proud of his work with the Big Thicket National Preserve. It was Wilson's bill in 1974 that created the Preserve to protect the animal and plant species in the forest.

"I'm proud we could preserve a unique crossroads of ecological systems," he said. "We need to preserve more, not less."

Wilson is also proud of his work in establishing a local VA outpatient clinic in Lufkin. That clinic was renamed after him in 2005 and a new, improved facility is being erected today.

Wilson is now working with local officials in expanding a transit system so veterans in rural areas have a way of getting to the VA facility in Houston. Right now, the Temple Foundation funds a transit system that picks veterans up at the Jennings Station in Lufkin every day at 7:30 a.m. About 30 veterans use that transportation, Wilson said.

"But we've got to get more buses out to the rural areas like San Augustine and places like that," he said. "We have a certain amount of resources going to it now, and I have reason to think we're going to get some money earmarked for it."

While serving in the U.S. Congress, Wilson said, he did consider a run at the U.S. Senate, but said it "wasn't in the cards."

"Texas became more Republican," he said. "And with the Afghan war, my last few years in office were spoken for. I made four trips a year to that area. That's 35-40 trips."

Wilson still holds strong opinions on politics. He says the United States should not have invaded Iraq and thinks the government should withdraw the troops immediately.

"I regret (the Iraq situation) very much," he said. "I'm very sorry they did that. It distracted us from Afghanistan and is bad for our image. Bad for our army, really. They should begin to withdraw in a planned, methodical way.

"I think it will get rougher and rougher over there. I'd be interested in seeing a poll in what people think about it. That's something I may have looked at if I was in office. Somehow I have the idea they're tired of this."

Wilson expresses concern about the United States' reputation with the rest of the world.

"We were always recognized as the leader of the West," Wilson said. "But we alienated our European allies and our friends in the Middle East. We no longer have the prestige and influence that we built up over decades.

"We have made other countries doubt our intelligence — not our knowledge, but our intelligence apparatus — and we're known for being trigger-happy. You can't lead from those positions. The U.S. for 250 years has been the beacon of democracy and we enjoyed prestige from other countries and that's temporarily on hold."

Wilson underwent a heart transplant in September and said he still struggles with the recovery.

"I have had a really good three weeks," he said. "But it's a struggle. I have a certain amount of clumsiness and I have to keep working on it. I need to get back home and back to walking. That's what helps me the most."

Wilson said he has done a little work for donor organizations but plans to do more.

"I have done work to encourage fund-raising with the Methodist Hospital," he said. "I'll generally do anything people ask me to do except attend formal galas. Unless there's really a reason for it, I don't much like black-tie events."

Wilson was in New York to promote his film's release on DVD, which will be released today.

"Everybody seems happy with it," Wilson said. "Universal is pushing it and they had a really good box office with the movie in the states and overseas."

The DVD retails for $29.98. It advertises two features — "The Making of Charlie Wilson's War" and "Who is Charlie Wilson?", featuring interviews with Wilson, Joanne Herring, Tom Hanks, Aaron Sorkin and Mike Nichols.

Unfortunately for Wilson, his favorite Lufkin coffee shop, the Texas Baking Company, will not be open much longer as its owner, April Didrikson, will be leaving for Europe.

"I am sick about it," Wilson said." I am really sick about it. I would give anything if she would change her mind, but I know this is what she wants to do. My wife's sick about it, too."

As for his wife, Barbara, he said she has enjoyed the attention the couple has received since the film has been released.

"She's enjoyed it," Wilson said. "She's a private person who can do without the attention but likes the positive attention. Everything we've heard about this movie has been so positive. I've had dozens of people tell me they haven't seen it yet, but will watch it on DVD."

NAME ASSOCIATION WITH CHARLIE WILSON

Charlie Wilson gives some thoughts on some of today?s political leaders.

Barack Obama: "I voted for Obama. I like him and wish him success."

Hillary Clinton: "I like Hillary. I've known her forever. I can't wish her success in the same breath but can wish her a life of happiness. I'll be happy when we get this primary over so we can get the party organized."

John McCain: "I love him. He was at the Naval Academy when I was. I served in the House with him and worked with him some when he was in the Senate. I wish him well, but not in November. John has a lot to offer and he always will."

Rick Perry: "I don't know much about him. He had never made much of a splash. I haven't heard much about him. I don't know him"

Kay Bailey Hutchison: "Love her. One of the very few Republicans that I consistently vote for."

John Cornyn: "I like him. He's done a good job. I wish he were a Democrat. He's helping with the transit for the veterans."

Louis Gohmert: "Nice guy. Been very nice to me and solicitous of me. He too will help us on the transit for VA."

Jim McReynolds: "Great state representative. He's really creative. That's evidenced by the fact that he often doesn't have an opponent. He stays in touch with constituents and is really well liked."

Vladimir Putin: "I see he's got him a new girlfriend, a Russian gymnast. That's biting off a big chunk and I don't know if he can handle that. He's been getting a little bit of bad press because of it."