Baghdad ER: Required Viewing

It's no secret. I am not a fan of the president nor his administration, and I am particularly not a fan of the mess he created in Iraq.

In the unending effort to keep tabs on the Iraqi debacle, I struggle to find unfiltered nuggets of news and insight, or even glimpses from the front lines to color the horror of war that is otherwise too often presented to us in diluted and plastic soundbites.

If you are like me, look no further than HBO's devastatingly honest documentary from a Baghdad Army hospital, Baghdad E.R.

I have seen this piece three times now and each time is moves me to tears. There is but one politically oriented criticism uttered during the entire film. Instead, the footage speaks for itself. In contrast to the sterile portrayals we catch on newsreels, this movie pulls no punches. Just raw footage from the E.R. setting forth in horrible,  cathartic detail the unadulterated tragedy of war.  In fact, the military has issued warnings that this documentary could trigger post traumatic stress disorder among those who have served in combat.

Everyone in the United States should have to watch this film. Twice.

Comments

[Brian]

Check out Jesse James: Iraq Confidential. Also very moving and polictically neutral.

[EDO]

Very powerful...and very moving - saw it twice...interestingly, i was sad and then very very angry - pissed that i still could not come to grips with why all these young soldiers were dying...
and to see how true team players act was gratifying - interesting excerpt where a soldier who had just survived an IED attack had an incredulous tone when he was told he was being shipped 'home' to the VA hospital in the US - 'home' for him was going back to his squad, blackened-by-IED face and all...that was truly impressive.

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