Assuming this is a frame-based animation or swf, when you load the swf you can get the total number of frames using MovieClip(mySwf).currentScene.numFrames. So the way you would shave off 3 seconds would be to work out how many frames 3 seconds would be based on the current framerate, then inside an ENTER_FRAME callback check the currentFrame and act when you detect it is equal to (totalFrames less 3 seconds worth of frames). The code looks like.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.