Ignorance displayed - Restrepo (2010) Discussion

[–] avnrulz 13 years ago

Many posters on IMDB seem to fall into one or more of several catagories:

1.) Fans of a film who want intelligent discourse
2.) Fans of the actors/characters who want intelligent discourse
3.) Folks who discover otherwise unknown films who want inteligent discourse
4.) Folks who don't like certain films/actors/characters and want to disparage them
5.) Folks who have never learned 'If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.'
6.) Folks who just like to display their ignorance and immaturity by posting unintelligent, uninformed, insulting, belligerent postings.

Unfortunately, most boards start with the intelligent posters, who are then subsumed by the unintelligent.

Restrepo's board seems to be a magnet for the trolls.

Fight the FOCA

reply

[–] Satan2016 13 years ago

You missed an important one:
7) Leftists who come to preach hate against anyone who offends their religion. (there are some Islamists/Christians who do the same).

Now Restrepo does not represent any political viewpoint, but leftists still manage to hate it. Perhaps war realism offends their hypocritical view of world peace thru global Marxism/Islamism. Or perhaps they are just *beep* insane.

Check out Terry Glavin's blog, he's one leftist who rejects the left\s alliance with every fascist "victim" group. http://transmontanus.blogspot.com/

reply

[–] a-nothing 13 years ago

I'm sick of living in a country that constantly bashes and puts down our military. My father has served in our military for 28 years, and both my grandfathers a combined 40 years of service. This country has no damn backbone anymore. If our country has to fight, then the country needs to be behind it, no matter what it may be. Sure, that sounds ignorant and I'm sure a bunch of you will come up with a million reasons why that is exactly the wrong thing to do, but it is true. We are so lucky to live where we are, and America despite what many might think is a very ethical and caring country. More so than most. If a country attacks my country, then I expect my country to go out and attack the enemy. If we didnt, where would we be?

So screw all you anti-Americans. I'm so sick of it. When 9/11 happened everybody was all patriotic and unified, but in America, things like 9/11 are just a thing on the news and easily lose their significance in a few short years. I swear I think people have honestly forgotten about it. If you don't like what America does, than get out of our country and let the real heroes and real patriots stay. That is all.

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] floatingrat 13 years ago

"If a country attacks my country, then I expect my country to go out and attack the enemy."

Given that most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals, and the money trail for the attacks leads back to disgruntled Saudis, when is the US going to invade Saudi Arabia?

BTW speaking out against these wars is not about being anit-American. It is about be anti-Imperialist. Those who support the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan invariably believe that these miltary incursions are what is best for the world. That sort of arrogance is enough to make some Americans 'anti-American'.

Also, I find it ironic that so many people can abide the extraordinary amounts of money it is taking to prosecute these wars, and yet the idea of funding healthcare for all Americans at a fraction of the cost is considered unthinkable, if not treasonous. I think that an America where everyone has access to basic health care is a stronger nation. It is the kind of national security that any amount of military action cannot deliver.

"When 9/11 happened everybody was all patriotic and unified, but in America, things like 9/11 are just a thing on the news and easily lose their significance in a few short years. I swear I think people have honestly forgotten about it."

No one has forgotten it. They are just beginning to understand that the official explanation of what happened on that day, which is the basis of these military actions, is not the whole story, nor is it even close to the truth.

reply

[–] JackBourassa 12 years ago

floatinggoat,

What a nonsense argument. Would you be any more supportive if America went to war against Saudi Arabia? I seriously doubt it.

Your argument is just a red herring, nothing more. Typical liberal position of deceipt. Just like you liberals who criticized Bush for going to war in Iraq and "costing us" Afghanistan only to oppose Afghanistan once Obama came to power.

You support nothing, you oppose everything.

Here's the thing you don't seem to understand: we're not at war against a *beep* nationality so who cares if the hijackers were originally from Saudi Arabia or Jupiter. We went to war against the Taliban and al Qaeda because the latter DIRECTLY and for NO REASON WHATSOEVER attacked us on September 11th 2001 and killed 3000+ innocent people. We attacked Afghanistan because the Taliban, which ruled the country at the time, not only allowed them to operate freely within their country but also directly supported them financially and provided training for them, etc. Al Qaeda existed at all because the Taliban allowed them to do so.

We remain in Afghanistan because if we leave the Taliban will once more retake that infested country and will likely continue to be a threat to us and others.

The war in Afghanistan is the very definition of self-defense. If even this war is unjustified in the eyes of the liberals then you must believe that it is never justified to defend yourself against any kind of aggression. This is exactly what the tyrants want.

It only takes one Hitler to start World War III, remember that.

reply

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] floatingrat 12 years ago

Is this Homer Simpson?

"Typical liberal position of deceipt. Just like you liberals who criticized Bush for going to war in Iraq and "costing us" Afghanistan only to oppose Afghanistan once Obama came to power."

Your argument makes no sense to me. As for opposing both Obama and Bush, I think that makes me something other than just a "liberal".

As for the statement: "We went to war against the Taliban and al Qaeda because the latter DIRECTLY and for NO REASON WHATSOEVER attacked us on September 11th 2001 and killed 3000+ innocent people."

That is certainly debatable. US actions in that part of the world over the last several decades could be seen as a justification for an attack. Americans are woefully ignorant of the darker actions of its government and military. I'm sorry that 3000 people died that day, but the blame for the attack lies with the successive administrations who maintained policies which were hostile to Arab/Muslim people. Violence doesn't happen in a vacuum.

America reaps what it sows, so as far as I can tell, America got what it deserved that day. Too bad innocent people had to pay the price instead of the likes of Nixon, Kissinger, Bush, Cheney, Clinton, Ford, Carter, Rice, Haig...

As for the statement; "Would you be any more supportive if America went to war against Saudi Arabia? I seriously doubt it." You are right. I used to live in Saudi Arabia and don't think the people there deserve the kind of violence we have rained down on Afghanistan or Iraq. No one does. I think war could have been avoided altogether, but people like you think that diplomacy is a sign of weakness and war is inevitable.

So here we are.

reply

[–] JackBourassa 12 years ago

You're a jihadist, nothing more. You perpetuate violence and are a complete hypocrite. It's people like you that bring about so much misery towards the Muslim people in that region, not America. You use America as a crutch.

People like you are the scum of the Earth, you're just getting what you deserve. That's what you Muslim jihadists want, that's all you know. Death and violence. You attacked America because you knew they would attack you back which would then allow you to claim victimhood.

You are psychopaths.

reply

[–] floatingrat 12 years ago

Your assumptions are beyond absurd.

I don't know why you assume I am Muslim, let alone a jihadist. I am a pacifist, a Christian (a WASP, to be more specific) who believes in turning the other cheek. I lived in Saudi Arabia because my father worked there. I also used to live in the USA for the same reason.

BTW since 2001, America has chosen to define itself through the 9/11 attacks. It has infected every part of your culture so you cannot see beyond it.

A clearer example of celebrating victimhood I cannot imagine.

reply

[–] sosa1412 12 years ago

Bravo. That's all I can say. To bad the people of our country are too brainwashed and manipulated by the rhetoric to even attempt to think for themselves or begin to realize the deceit they have been hand fed. But, I guess that is what makes America great. The right to be ignorant. Unfortunately, other people pay the price for those people's ignorance. Then they tell us we are UN-patriotic for questioning our countries actions because they are the reason those soldiers are in harm's way in the first place.

reply

[–] shurbanm 13 years ago

I dont think many people bash the military.
Most bashing is directed towards the government which uses the military for bogus and corrupt purposes (largely to support corporate expansion).

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] alejandrodeleon559 9 years ago

Leftist are usually against organized religion. I'd also say that leftist aren't anti-military or soldiers they're anti-war. I'm anti-war, and I took Restrepo as an anti-war documentary. At no point did I feel like anything they did was necessary or that they accomplished something. It seemed like we put a bunch of guys in the middle of taliban infested "no where" and got them killed. For what? It was a terrible thing to go through, and none of it needed to happen but the politicians push the military anywhere, and squeeze out every dime. It's criminal, and no one in the world likes America's position as world police. That's why we have NATO.
I don't consider myself Marxist but I've been called it many times before. I thought the soldiers in Restrepo suffered without reason.

reply

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] scottnangnben 13 years ago

Im not sure how it works in the US but i live in the UK and once went to join the army. I knew what was asked of me and that i may have to kill someone and yes i also knew that i could come home in a box and my family would be destroyed at such a thing. Hero's are the ones who lay down their lives to save someone else's life. They fight for freedom and for the protection of his family, nation and fellow comrade. Nobody is forced into the army, sure some people dont think things over properly and they think they are invincible but in the end every soldier knows what is expected. My mother worked in a hospital for a good 22 years, she met many WW2 vets and she told me when i told her i was joining up 'They can teach you how to kill, but they dont teach you how to live with it'.

When you volunteer for something, you dont usually get paid for it. Soldiers do and they also have to gamble with their life for such a rubbish wage. This war makes no sense to me. The war in Iraq was illegal and George Bush and Tony Blair should be brought to justice for their war crimes. If you want to join the army to get a trade, wait till this crime against humanity is over. If you want to kill people you dont know what reason your killing them for, you belong in a mental asylum. I honestly believe in my heart that the heros in WW2 who fought the Nazis, Italiens and Japanese did a greater good. They are the real heros we should look upon with great pride and celebrate the freedom they gave us. The wars fought today by the so called good guys are only doing it for greed and power. Lets not forget who we are and where we come from. Lest We Forget.

"I used to be indecisive, but now im not too sure."

reply

[–] chuck11000 13 years ago

great post man...

reply

[–] jacobarnett 13 years ago

scott....

What's your point? There was absolutely no point made. You threw a few things out there with no clear direction where you were going. You did slag off the troops indirectly by saying "If you want to join the army to get a trade, wait till this crime against humanity is over. If you want to kill people you dont know what reason your killing them for, you belong in a mental asylum." which is absolutely a moronic statement. Not to mention that people like me who served upwards of 3 years in these wars joined well before 9/11. Sorry today's greatest members of their generation (and they are) aren't good enough to be mentioned along with those who fought those nasty "Italiens"

I now see why all my British mates slag off their clueless population. The U.S. Soldiers come home to mostly happy faces and congratulations for selflessly serving while those poor Royals, Paras, and Regs come back to people like you.

reply

[–] scottnangnben 12 years ago

jacobarnett, they come home to a hero's return. We have the odd idiot who call them disgusting names but the majority of us are proud that our soldiers make it back alive. Ive lost friends in Afghanistan, most of them volunteered with the Territoral Army and will be sorrowly missed. We dont jump on the bandwagon as easy as the US does, we have been in many wars and conflicts for hundreds of years and its with history you learn there are two sides to every story. Tell me just how its a moronic statement to say 'Wanting to kill somebody you dont know for no reason' is a moronic statement. You are fed a story by a corrupt government and then all of a sudden anyone Muslim is a terrorist. Ask yourself why 9/11 happened, why did the July 7th bombings in London happen? Did we ever do anything to these Muslims that drove them to do this, would you let somebody walk all over you, kill your people and steal your assets? I didnt think so. Every 'Action' has a 'Reaction' and we should have been more prepared to suffer the consequences. They will never surrender, they dont fear death and they have more to fight for than we do, its Vietnam all over again. In the end the small guy takes the fall while the fat cats reap the benefits, wonder just how much the arms trade have made since 2001?

Also my soon to be brother in-law served with The Royal Engineers during Op Telic in Iraq, he has told me many stories how news crews showed only a fraction of what was really happening, showing the 'All we need to know' footage to get the support of our nations. He even told me how soldiers were silenced before news interviews and were handed scripts to learn and read from. Although he is proud of what he has done, when he talks about it more he shows some real emotional pain, its heartbreaking to see. I dont see a way out of this total mess, who can forgive and forget all that has happened?

"I used to be indecisive, but now im not too sure."

reply

[–] franciscoredondo 9 years ago

Great!!

reply

[–] Larry-115 13 years ago

consider that they gave up a life of safety to voluntarily fight against people who stone women for being raped.

Way to beg the question, dude.

If you think these soldiers joined up to "protect women from being stoned," you're the ignoramus here. The average American soldier joins up based on a witch's brew of rationales:

to be part of a powerful army
to play with guns and go on missions like in Call of Duty
to show patriotism
because it will be cool
because they have nothing better to do/to get money for school

US soldiers are for the most part rightwingers and deeply uninformed. They overwhelmingly voted for Bush in 2004, but we are supposed to wring our hands over their "splendid sacrifice" anyway.

"The troops" are the third rail of US political discourse. Even Michael Moore played this whole "weepy weepy, the poor, poor troops" game when looking at the BS reasons why Bush went to war. This country is so deeply militarized that the soldiers, who frankly have not truly defended America since 1945, are above all criticism.

Frankly, they wanted Bush and his war, they got it, they volunteered, and they do not fight for me or in my name. I have very little sympathy for them, as they helped enable the whole aggressive enterprise which, if anything, makes America less safe than it was before -- so much for them "sacrificing themselves to defend America." Not to mention the 100,000+ Iraqis and Afghanis who got to die because America and it's rightwing youth wanted to play soldier.

reply

[–] Lidocaineus 13 years ago

While you do have some points, I have to disagree where you say that they enabled "the whole aggressive enterprise." The military does what its leaders tell it to do. That ultimately lands in the hands of Washington, as well as the voters. It's less the fault of a soldier that he's causing negative views of America from abroad than it is the civilian who voted a certain way or another.

I find it somewhat disturbing that you're placing the blame on the end result, and not actually looking at the cause. I may not support certain policies we have in place, but that doesn't mean I won't support the troops. In the end, it's utterly futile to change a car's direction by holding on to its bumper - you have to affect change with the people in control.

reply

[–] dayofdefeat 13 years ago

I'm a Soldier in the United States Army. Most members of the Military serve to support their country and those who live in it. So that people can enjoy the freedoms that we all take for granted. So your welcome, for being able to express yourself on this board and wherever else you choose. But show a little gratitude and respect to your fellow man and above all for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who fight and die so that you can live in peace and harmony. And so that you and your family can live in a country where you can live in freedom, and not in tyranny.

reply

[–] dgannati 13 years ago

With respect to you and KillerMoose23 for defending your country and your values and freedom, the cost of your way of life is putting an ever increasing toll on other peoples around the world.

The thousands of dead you so conveniently call for collateral damage are entire families or family members who’s dead cause enormous pain for those families. The millions of refugees who were forced to flee to other countries are another massive hell on earth, left without being mentioned.

I am deeply sorry your country had to experience the 9/11 and all the around 3000 dead. But Bush and his extreme group had no right to burn down countries in revenge. The USA is better than and above that and that is what has shocked people around the world.

And also you got to taste some of the dictatorial conditions other less fortunate people live under during those 8 year. They forced the Patriot Act on you and other anti constitutional measures.

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pierceagnew 12 years ago

I agree with you that the US military is trying to protect other nation’s freedoms. Though the Monroe Doctrine was focused on protection of Central America, those values are still present. America was founded on a principle of freedom and understands the pain of having the freedom oppressed. I actually just finished watching a documentary about the Afghan War called Hell and Back Again (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hzz4iTwSsI ). There is a great monologue by a soldier talking about bringing freedom to others. I highly recommend watching this documentary; it is on Netflix Watch Instantly.

reply

[–] biggusdickus76 13 years ago

I'm an Army recruiter and I disagree with the reasons you listed for young people who join. You're not totally amiss, but you're far too simplistic. People don't risk their life "to go on missions like call of duty". I would rethink or rephrase some of the reasons in the following way:

To be part of something greater than your self.
To earn money for school.
To learn leadership skills, enhance your mental and physical aptitude.
To learn specific skills that will translate into a civilian career field.
To help those that cannot defend themselves (not just women from being 'stoned' :-)
For adventure, to travel, meet new people, experience camaraderie, etc.

These are the actual reasons I've observed in the people I've enlisted. And I do want to say that the people I've put into the Army are A LOT more intelligent than many civilians estimate them to be. Many of these kids are college educated or have at least begun educating themselves before enlisting. They're not people "with nothing better do to," as you put it.

reply

[–] scottnangnben 13 years ago

biggusdickus76, if half those reasons were true then why arnt the US and British forces fighting people like Robert Mugabe? There are no resorces in Africa that appeals to our countrys finances. Games like Call Of Duty glorify combat and warfare, they dont give out the full details of what is actually involved and the mental issues that soldiers have to cope with after their tour of duty. I have alot of friends who have served in Iraq and currently in Afghanistan and all of them have come back a former shadow of themselves. They tell me of the horrors they have seen, the disregard for life that some soldiers have for others, the scripts military leaders hand out to troops when the news crews turn up. The war in Iraq was a lie and the the war in Afghanistan has no meaning. As long as the arms companys are making the money and governments are getting the spoils of war, a soldiers life is worthless.

"I used to be indecisive, but now im not too sure."

reply

[–] realbullet 13 years ago

if half those reasons were true then why arnt the US and British forces fighting people like Robert Mugabe?

You're kidding, right? This post is wrong on so many levels:

1) The troops, even up to the General level, make no decisions about where to fight.
2) If US and British troops went in to fight Robert Mugabe, there would be an international outcry the likes of what you have never heard. Politically, the US & UK could never get away with a strategy like that -- regardless of how awful this man is.

They tell me of the horrors they have seen, the disregard for life that some soldiers have for others

Of course there are people like this, but these are the vast minority. Don't generalize this behavior across the entire population.

As far as scripts for reporters are concerned -- I know football teams and corporations that do the same thing. Is it a surprise the military does it?

It unnerves me that people have any of these attitudes.

"It's too late. Always has been, always will be. Too late."

reply

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

Let me look at this and take it in order, my dear Army recruiter,
============================================
"1.To be part of something greater than your self.
2.To earn money for school.
3.To learn leadership skills, enhance your mental and physical aptitude.
4.To learn specific skills that will translate into a civilian career field.
5.To help those that cannot defend themselves (not just women from being 'stoned' :-)
6.For adventure, to travel, meet new people, experience camaraderie, etc. "
===================================================
1. I call *beep* on this one, for at least 90% of people who sign up.
2. Most definitely true
3. Yes, most likely
4. Kind of falls together with the others, unless you count how to disassemble and reassemble a gun in 10 seconds as a skill that translates into a civilian field
5. Some of them yes, but again 90% I'd have to say don't care two squirts about women being stoned
6. Hey you sound like the recruiter I had when I was considering joining years ago....Hey wait aren't all these just the standard lines that recruiters hand everyone?

Sounds like an Army recruiter being an Army recruiter here to me. I sat right there in that recruiting office all those years ago and heard the exact same thing. Sounds like as much bull now as it did then, when I was young, interested in the military, and there were no wars. All that wind was what talked me out of it. Instead of explaining the need for a military and what I would bring to it, and how I would benefit, (at the time there was no war to be afraid of being shipped off to, and I could go to college without it), they blew smoke up my butt, and it seems like nothing has changed.
Can't go to college when it's all over if you're dead.
Travel? To a mountainous desert, where it's uncomfortable and people are shooting at you? Sounds like fun!
But you can learn skills....skills like how to pray I make it out alive when I'm fighting a war our government never should have started, and if I get home I am not so traumatized that those skills are meaningless?
But you can help that woman getting stoned for being raped.....Ah, ok you sold me. And you are promising that thousands of years of that going on will be stopped forever by this, even after we leave?.........
Leave, who said anything about leaving? This land is now annexed and named America East.

reply

[–] maxohkc 13 years ago

I joined the Army to be apart of something bigger, and if your not able to do that you will not last long, I'm not saying you will die, but instead your experience will be ruined. We work together and that makes the day go on.

Please don't talk about something you don't know anything about.

Also many people enlist in the Army because they do enjoy the adrenaline or think they will. Trust me you have no idea what your talking about and talking on the behalf of soldiers is very rude.

I'm not going to insult you, because I understand many people are in the same position as yourself, you do not support the war, so your judgment is a bit clouded by what an American Soldier is.

We signed up knowing the risk, these brave men signed a dotted line saying 11x (Infantry) meaning they want to be front line infantry, and want to fight.

reply

[–] biggusdickus76 12 years ago

Hooah!

reply

[–] blaine3-2 12 years ago

I had to put up with all this self-righteous *beep* from both civilian and military right wingers during the Vietnam war era and thought that this was the imperialist war to end all imperialist wars. Boy was I fooled.

At the end of the Viet war more members of our armed forces had developed a political consciousness far beyond the military aged people of this generation.
Thanks to a conscious effort by our corporate government to develop a generation that is ignorant and uncaring of geo-political concerns (and the lack of a draft)raised up on violent computer games (which are sometimes used to train actual soldiers in the military) well the imperialists in our government have honed a military machine that can unquestionably go into one of the most advanced countries in the middle east and turn it into a third world hell. (Iraq) I know I chatted with members of the armed forces on the ground in Iraq online and they thought Iraq had always been a poor starving destroyed war racked country!

For some perspective see the Russian made "9th company" As the Russians make a last stand against overwhelming odds of the US armed and advised Taliban. Also everyone should know the US created armed and advised Al-Quida to fight the Russian. So the blame for 9/11 lies with our US government.

The Russian people were told the Russian Army was fighting a backward terrorists that threatened the great Communist workers state and our government told us the evil communist military was killing men women and children to impose a communist dictatorship.

I see films like "Restropo" as propaganda that deliberately ignore the context of the situation and on the other had a sort of violence porn so some viewers can obtain vicarious adrenaline rushes in the safety of their theaters and living rooms.

But this film sometimes had unintended consequences because as one viewer I talked to said "those village elders were obviously not buying the US military officers presentation"

So what is/what the objective in Afghanistan? control of the heroin trade? Plenty of historical precedent for that from the wars the British fought against China for the right of Britain to sell opium to China addicts. Or hegemony in the middle east... bases right up to the Russian border? Oil pipelines, probably all of the above.

reply

[–] FourthIVY 12 years ago

I had to put up with all this self-righteous *beep* from both civilian and military right wingers during the Vietnam war era and thought that this was the imperialist war to end all imperialist wars. Boy was I fooled.

At the end of the Viet war more members of our armed forces had developed a political consciousness far beyond the military aged people of this generation.
Thanks to a conscious effort by our corporate government to develop a generation that is ignorant and uncaring of geo-political concerns (and the lack of a draft)raised up on violent computer games (which are sometimes used to train actual soldiers in the military) well the imperialists in our government have honed a military machine that can unquestionably go into one of the most advanced countries in the middle east and turn it into a third world hell. (Iraq)

It's always imperialism and fascism, isn't it?

Yes, and computer games like the Operation Flashpoint engine are used to train soldiers, because they're realistic. And it's not particularly violent either.

I know I chatted with members of the armed forces on the ground in Iraq online and they thought Iraq had always been a poor starving destroyed war racked country!

And they probably know better then you. Iraq had been a poor, starving, destroyed and war-racked country long before the U.S. became involved. Blame Saddam and the Baathist party for creating a fascist dictatorship that got the country bogged down in the stalemate with Iran.

For some perspective see the Russian made "9th company" As the Russians make a last stand against overwhelming odds of the US armed and advised Taliban. Also everyone should know the US created armed and advised Al-Quida to fight the Russian. So the blame for 9/11 lies with our US government.

The Russian people were told the Russian Army was fighting a backward terrorists that threatened the great Communist workers state and our government told us the evil communist military was killing men women and children to impose a communist dictatorship.

The Soviet Union was the real imperialist regime, pal. They ruled Eastern Europe under an Iron Fist and sponsored communist regimes worldwide. The Soviets spend a lot of money aiding and advising Communism in third-world countries. Why do you think so many guerilla units use Soviet equipment?

And the U.S. didn't directly create the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. This is an easily refuted myth. The Reagan Doctrine gave arms to the Mujahideen, whom later splintered after the Soviet withdrawal, with the more extremist members becoming the Taliban, who then fought a Civil War against the moderate Ahmad Shah Massoud and his loyalists. The U.S. never did direct business with OBL; he served in much the same function as the U.S., giving aid and arms to the muj.

I see films like "Restropo" as propaganda that deliberately ignore the context of the situation and on the other had a sort of violence porn so some viewers can obtain vicarious adrenaline rushes in the safety of their theaters and living rooms.

But this film sometimes had unintended consequences because as one viewer I talked to said "those village elders were obviously not buying the US military officers presentation"

It's not propaganda, it's supposed to be apolitical. Show the lives of everyday soldiers without making judgements. If you want propaganda that ignores the context of the situation, watch Michael Moore. The violence isn't even like Saving Private Ryan, etc, it's got random and short firefights where you don't even see much, because the cameraman obviously isn't going to go around like Steven Spielberg.

reply

[–] KillerMoose23 13 years ago

I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it no matter how ignorant/stupid you sound. Some people today will never understand the need for this fight.

Life is a journey, not a destination.

reply

[–] zipdraw 13 years ago

much respect to ya bro

reply

[–] crashdummy35 9 years ago

US soldiers are for the most part rightwingers and deeply uninformed. They overwhelmingly voted for Bush in 2004, but we are supposed to wring our hands over their "splendid sacrifice" anyway.

You're a *beep* idiot.

reply

[–] blameline 13 years ago

Thanks for an excellent post. I think that Restrepo is one of the best documentaries about war ever. The people who are out there are faced with more difficulties than many others their age, yet they volunteered for this duty; sure, many may have thought it would be like a video game, but when you're out in the Korengal Valley for a year, staying alive to get home is going to be top priority.

Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle. You've gotta tell them. SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

Since you brought up the fact that Afghanistan was where the terrorists who perpetuated 9/11 were trained, let's also ask ourselves who perpetuated that. The U.S. pumped a lot of money, and weapons, into that country and had a big hand in putting those people in charge.
So thanks to our troops for fighting against people who stone women for being raped, but also thanks to our wonderful government for allowing it, and perpetuating it, for such a long time until it bit them on the rear, then asked these kids to go in and risk their lives for mistakes that never should have happened in the first place.
Come and talk to me about these things when our government cares as much about us as they care about themselves. Wanting to look good in that area of the world, and wanting them to help us in a fight against an enemy who is no longer our enemy, caused more problems and more enemies, that people who had nothing to do with those stupid decisions now have to lose their lives for.
The soldiers are brave, and they are to be respected for doing their job, but I would like to see them be able to defend freedom when it means something, not just when there is something in it for our government.
I'm sure Cambodians would have liked U.S. intervention before Pol Pot killed A WHOLE GENERATION of their people. I'm sure Yugoslavia would have been happy to have seen a stop to violence before Milosevic wiped out so many. I'm sure many African nations would still like to see dictators and warlords stopped before the next genocide attempt. I'm sure Europe, and the Jews of the world, might have enjoyed the U.S. helping out a little earlier in WWII, instead of waiting until it reached us, then saying "ok, now we'll help you try not to get wiped off the face of the planet".Why did we not care about North Korea until they got nuclear weapons?
So stop with the crap....these soldiers are being put through this because our country has a faulty government. Until the people we "elect" take that more seriously and work together to make changes instead of trying to make themselves look good, and cover their own asses we are in trouble. This country that rose so quickly to prominence, and greatness is headed for a sharp downturn, and those who are brainwashed into thinking everything is ok need to wake up.

Now to the movie.....I thought it was a good portrayal of what is/was happening over there. It is the current reality, and I thought the filmmakers did an excellent job of presenting it to us as such. I saw no one trying to preach to us, no one telling us what we should believe, just a presentation of the war through the eyes of those in the middle of it. I enjoyed this film for what it was even though I disagree with it's subject matter.

reply

[–] AtheistRevolution 13 years ago

While i agree with your points on the government(military industrial complex). US can't just walk into any country and remove their leaders.Look what it took to justify the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.Remember black hawk down in Somalia?That was the last time US intervened in African nations.People started questioning why we were in other countries business.

And then blamed US when genocides happened and nobody came to help.US shouldn't need to be police of the world. But other countries don't do anything without US leading.And we did fight a Korean war.After the Chinese joined it became a stalemate with thousands killed.Invading Korea now would destabilize the region.Plus taking on a third war would be insane.

So its not as simplistic as US only invades countries with oil,resources,etc.Africa has a bunch of resources and China is investing billions into Africa.But there are complex issues why US can't just invade every dictatorship,despot,etc in the world. Which includes international opinion being against it and calling US imperialistic for taking such actions. The bigger problem is the military industrial complex and its war profiteering that keeps US in constant conflicts and wars.

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.

reply

[–] johndewhitt 13 years ago

*beep* YEAH!! YOU WIN BUDDY!

(To Athiest revolution).

reply

[–] r-birch 13 years ago

I'm sure all the people in the nations of which you gave examples of would have also appreciated it if the rest of the industrialized world would get off their collective a$$'s and actually make some sacrifices to protect the helpless from oppression rather than look to the US to do all the work and then protest that work when its not up to their standards. (and yes, i realize their are other countries in afghanistan, but its a paltry effort besides the UK)

reply

[–] Mr_Deltoid 13 years ago

Camcgee97:

I applaud your efforts to bring some education to the overwhelming amount of ignorant buffoons that log onto IMDB to prove to the online community how unlearned they are (and most likely will remain for the rest of their lives).

HOWEVER, I sort of want to smack you in the head, my man. Do you think you can seriously change these people? They're idiots. It's shocking they have the intellectual capacity to log onto IMDB and post anything at all. You're not going to change that. As the comedian Ron White stated, "You can't fix stupid."

I visit the IMDB message boards to find interesting view-points and neat facts and back-stories to the movies I enjoy; sometimes I check out movies I do not enjoy to see if I can find a way to better appreciate them. I find some interesting stuff on here. But what I find most of all are ignorant, immature children who know nothing of the real world, nothing of art, nothing of having an open mind, and nothing of respect for others in a discussion. This is particularly true for this documentary. Oh, well.

IMDB is the biggest hotbed for moronic trolls on the internet next to youtube. It goes with the territory. Just forgive these people, and try to sift through their mindless babble as quickly as possible to find some substance.

reply

[–] Niador 13 years ago

So the 22 Australian dead and 2 Victoria crosses (Like the Medal of Honor, first since Vietnam, also a US war) is a paltry effort? We're not exactly a nation with a giant population but we've been there in pretty much every US war. I'm an ex-serviceman and all I want to say to you is F-you and read a damn paper. Besides, we've done plenty of work in malaya, Borneo, and more recently East Timor, and have had medical teams in Africa for decades.

reply

[–] malakar_is 13 years ago

Vietnam was not really a US war...it was a French Colonial war the US was dragged/drawn into entering due to larger Communist geopolitical fears. It was these same fears that pushed Australia (and Australian sentiment) into supporting an Australian war effort there. The implication that the US started a war in Vietnam and that Australia jumped into the war to aid its buddy and the choice of its buddy is not correct. Australia (and the Australian people) mirrored the sentiment felt in the US and by the American people at the start of the war. Australia did not want a Communist spread into Southeast Asia. The US and Australia had mutual sentiments and fears as it concerned the threat of Communism spreading. It was joint effort not follow your friend. When the war dragged on and became more and more unpopular; it became convenient in Australia to call and identify the war as "an American thing"; this being all part of the opposition narrative and the exit strategy...but that wasn't where Australia started from. It isn't reasonable to think of Australia in Vietnam as generously helping Americans out... as if Americans owe Aussies a thanks for believing in the same things they did or something. The US and Oz had common goals, beliefs and sentiments at the time.

Americans do owe Australians a thanks for Afghanistan I estimate, because the US was attacked (even though Australians died on 9/11-- Ian Thorpe was nearly one of them actually) and not Australia, and because the UN did not authorize the war effort. Australia entered this one to support the US, and the sacrifice wasn't "paltry". nor fair to note as "paltry". France, Germany and several others also sent over a noteworthy force(often against the wishes of their people); though they are a part of NATO and perhaps more obligated in ways.

Naturally, it isn't going to go over well when you identify something as "paltry" when someone's countrymen/woman died in reference to it. Poor word choice to use on an international board...even though I doubt disrespect was intended.

"Cheese--milk's leap toward immortality"

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] timlin-4 11 years ago

Eh, you've got to do something with the damaged goods.

I agree that the soldiers come across fine, they are grunts, but it's just moronic to occupy a hellhole like Afghanistan

reply

[–] nickm2 9 years ago

it's just moronic to occupy a hellhole like Afghanistan

Makes no sense to try to control all of the 'Stan'. Most people who've tried to control the whole country usually fail because the nation is too fragmented & mountainous. At best you control the Capital, most of the large cities & co-opt a few of the larger 'tribes/clans' & pay them to keep them loyal. If that means abandoning 'valueless' regions (They're too remote, too hard to get to) to the tallywhackers then so be it.

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

reply