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Alright, just wondered if anyone had seen this BBC3 series - it's a series of documentaries offering unprecedented access to British troops as they fight the Taliban on the frontline in Afghanistan. A fascinating and often extremely moving account of the work UK armed forces personnel are undertaking in the efforts to secure the future of the Afghan people. Clips of the show are available on BBC iPlayer, but some of the full episodes have been uploaded on youtube if anyone fancies taking a look? I know that iPlayer isn't available outside the UK.
Here is an episode which follows the chaos and confusion which ensues when a Royal Anglian patrol is ambushed in Now Zad. Gripping stuff, but be warned, it's helmet-cam footage, so:
NSFW - Extremely strong language, and scenes which some may find upsetting.
I watched it, much the same feelings. It's moving in a lot of parts, the difficulty they have trying to earn the trust of the townspeople. I think it may be the first one, about the guy who set up a school in the town, nearly moved me to tears.
Kilkrazy wrote:A very good programme. Thank you for drawing it to our attention.
It's great, isn't it? Just another reminder that, despite occasional grumbles from certain quarters, the BBCs standard of programming is truly without equal. Their factual programming is the best in the world, bar none.
Ahtman wrote:If you liked this, you may also enjoy Restrepo.
Absolutely, 100% recommend Restrepo. Fantastic look at how razor thin the line between trusting the Coalition and backing the insurgency is--and the kinds of individuals that are fighting the wars we have now.
Im sitting down to watch this, i spent 8 weeks with the Anglicans in Kajaki in 2007, so m pretty sure ill be on here somewhere.
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
Was it just me or was it hard to feel sympathy for the mother in Alb's first post? She seemed focused on saying the military lied to her, even though they hadn't. As her husband pointed out towards the end of the programme.
I found it quite disingenuous of the BBC to show those scenes.
Yeah, some of the parents do piss me off, i know its callous to say it because grief obviously unmans people, but still.
I remember when Ken Bigley was captured, his family were pissing me off. I was in Baghdad at the time and I phoned my dad and said "dont be fething embarrassing me and act like a gakker if I ever get captured. Just on the telly and go
"I dont want you to worry about rescuing him, he gave me strict instructions to tell you to drop a 2000lb bomb on his heed as long as you get the bastards who took him while your at it!"
Suits me. I cant imagine what its like for a mother to lose a son, but ive seen so many mothers deal with it so stoically and acting so dignified, it annoys me when they piss and whine so incessantly. Im aware that makes me sound somewhat callous, but hey. Whinging squaddies piss me off as well, were not conscripts, we know what we sign up for. I think its childish to behave as if some part of you wasnt prepared for the worst.
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
Yeah I remember, and that fething sailor bint got to sell her story for a 100k apparently.
Sailors...
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
Medium of Death wrote:Watched the final 2 last night.
Was it just me or was it hard to feel sympathy for the mother in Alb's first post? She seemed focused on saying the military lied to her, even though they hadn't. As her husband pointed out towards the end of the programme.
I found it quite disingenuous of the BBC to show those scenes.
Her son was killed in the line of duty. Isn't she allowed to be distraught?
To be totally accurate, the military did lie to her, though clearly it was done from ignorance rather than malice.
They didn't lie. He died instantly. There was an inquest and it was found to be the case.
Because they would never fudge a report to look better! I mean, theres yet to be a single account of that happening . Not that I'm saying that was the case, but the lack of real on site validation makes post act confirmation difficult and invites questions of motive. Someone died, their loved ones are going to be pretty pissed when there are any questions at all as to why or how, regardless of the objective truth.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2011/07/10 20:33:26
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Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad
I dunno man, I think it's perfectly possible that the lad was dead when they got to him - the guy is heard to comment that he's dead (a poignant part of the film - he half-whispers it), and comments in his interview that his eyes were lifeless and he wasn't breathing, IIRC.
Anyway, good show either way. FWIW I think the mother is in denial as a coping mechanism. In fact, doesn't she refuse to believe that the army officer at her door is genuine? Or am I getting that mixed up with another episode?
The sergeant calls him in as alive because he wants to give him every possible chance.
While I commend his compassion, I felt, as a senior officer he should have been able to face reality instead of putting enormous pressure on his troops.
Pvt. Chris Gray suffered wounds to his heart and both lungs.
As for the mum you are correct sir, she doesn't accept the news at first. Believing it a hoax. She was clearly distraught at the time.
I reckon they should show some discretion and not show grieving mothers on television in that way. Though in fairness I haven't watched the show yet. But I think grief should be private.
Da Boss wrote:I reckon they should show some discretion and not show grieving mothers on television in that way. Though in fairness I haven't watched the show yet. But I think grief should be private.
Thats how conflicts and deaths get ignored and pushed under the rug.
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Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad
. Not that I'm saying that was the case, but the lack of real on site validation makes post act confirmation difficult and invites questions of motive. Someone died, their loved ones are going to be pretty pissed when there are any questions at all as to why or how, regardless of the objective truth.
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