My friend got a screener for Charlie Wilson’s War recently, and I watched it last night. I was expecting a great movie, and I got it. It’s hard to believe America came so close to abdicating Afghanistan to the Soviets; here I thought our modern political class was uniquely feckless and dysfunctional.

UPDATE: I had to add some of my favorite quotes from the movie. I don’t think any of them are spoilers:

• Gust Avrakotos: Can we just take a moment to reflect on all of the ways that you are a douche bag?

• Charlie Wilson: You know you’ve reached rock bottom when you’re told you have character flaws by a man who hanged his predecessor in a military coup.

• Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?

  Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly.

• Charlie’s Angel #4: The Congressman has never been to rehab. They don’t serve whiskey at rehab.

• Charlie Wilson: You’re no James Bond.

  Gust Avrakotos: You’re no Thomas Jefferson, either. Let’s call it even.

• Charlie Wilson: All my constituents really care about are their guns and low taxes. That means I get to vote yes a lot.