restrepo

[TSD]

anybody watch this documentary on national geographic tonight? Fucking amazing. If you really want an up close and personal look at the war in afghanistan, and the personal sacrifice, rent it or catch it when it plays again.



http://restrepothemovie.com/

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DjqR6OucBc[/media]

 

[bookjones]

Anyone interested in the film should IMO also check out Sebastian Junger's book War that came out in the first half of 2010 and which documents the same events of his film. I highly recommended the book when I read it at the time and still do as one of the best pieces of non-fiction I felt I read in all of 2010. It was wholly excellent writing/reportage about the futility of the ground situation in Afghanistan and the human tolls it exacts. More importantly, the servicemen he writes about are equal parts fascinating and amazing character studies.

War

 

[Ton]

I watched it, its incredible.

 

[MassHavoc]

What does the name mean?

 

[bookjones]

What does the name mean?

It's the last name of one of the platoon Privates that is central to Junger's story.

 

[MassHavoc]

It's the last name of one of the platoon Privates that is central to Junger's story.

Interesting, it looks good, I'll have to look it up and find it, maybe nextflix will stream it soon.



It reminds me a bit of that real long real time video that someone posted a bit ago that was of a group of soldiers attacking a position. I thought that was interesting, I like when it's real, and real-time and no punches pulled. The rocket launcher guy just went crazy and kept standing up and firing.

 

[Ymono37]

Interesting, it looks good, I'll have to look it up and find it, maybe nextflix will stream it soon.



It reminds me a bit of that real long real time video that someone posted a bit ago that was of a group of soldiers attacking a position. I thought that was interesting, I like when it's real, and real-time and no punches pulled. The rocket launcher guy just went crazy and kept standing up and firing.

Pretty sure it already is - I can swear I've seen the title when searching for movies.

 

[bookjones]

Interesting, it looks good, I'll have to look it up and find it, maybe nextflix will stream it soon.



It reminds me a bit of that real long real time video that someone posted a bit ago that was of a group of soldiers attacking a position. I thought that was interesting, I like when it's real, and real-time and no punches pulled. The rocket launcher guy just went crazy and kept standing up and firing.

So then if you like the film you'll check out the book (which I would think will probably be coming out in paperback soon enough)? LOL.

 

[MassHavoc]

Pretty sure it already is - I can swear I've seen the title when searching for movies.

It's funny, since I stream through my TV now I always forget that I can check my account with my COMPUTER. OOOoOo they have the internet on computers now...



So I just checked, and yes it's on streaming, added it to the queue.

So then if you like the film you'll check out the book (which I would think will probably be coming out in paperback soon enough)? LOL.

HAhAH i think you may know me slightly better than that.

 

[bookjones]

HAhAH i think you may know me slightly better than that.

Well maybe your book reading will go better for you in 2011 if you borrow the wifey's Kindle from time to time---see if that difference in media delivery changes any of the attention difficulties. Mind you, not that I necessarily think Mrs. Havoc is gonna willingly let you put your grubby man paws on her Kindle and perhaps develop a cult-ish love for it like so many Kindle users have.

 

[TSD]

In my opinion the toughest scene to watch is when they lose one of there platoon sergeants and his body is laying on the ground and the one guy is crying screaming who is that.





Bigggest ***** of it all, they and many others went through the same shit in that place and the US withdrew from the valley in 2010.

 

[MassHavoc]

Well maybe your book reading will go better for you in 2011 if you borrow the wifey's Kindle from time to time---see if that difference in media delivery changes any of the attention difficulties. Mind you, not that I necessarily think Mrs. Havoc is gonna willingly let you put your grubby man paws on her Kindle and perhaps develop a cult-ish love for it like so many Kindle users have.

Hahaha I do find the hardest part of reading is being in a comfortable position to hold the damn book. Maybe the kindle would help, but I'm too broke to become obsessed with something new. Plus they don't seem to do graphic novels well yet.



Now back on topic... I agree with you TSD... I always hated that part, losing is the worst part of war, fighting for a position, taking casualties, maneuvering, only to later give it up. That's gotta be so hard on the psyche.

 

[bookjones]

Bigggest ***** of it all, they and many others went through the same shit in that place and the US withdrew from the valley in 2010.

Now back on topic... I agree with you TSD... I always hated that part, losing is the worst part of war, fighting for a position, taking casualties, maneuvering, only to later give it up. That's gotta be so hard on the psyche.

Alas, hindsight is 20/20 eh? It's the bitter rub that can not be rationally applied to deconstructing warfare or else it will drive a sane person insane thinking of the human, economic, geographic, and social tolls it exacts. Better that the U.S. with new commanders in place and a new Administration was finally willing in 2010 to concede that occupying the Korengal was a mistake from the beginning rather than soldiering on in a futile and bloody endeavor IMO. They went in with decent enough practical intentions but just SO severely and naively underestimated both the terrain and more importantly that the people in the valley are just far too entrenched in centuries of clan warfare mentality and also that they want to basically be left alone to their extreme isolation and suspicions. It's a relief that after five years the U.S. decided to finally leave well enough alone---the possibility of insurgency taking complete viral hold of the valley will just have to be an acceptable risk while the U.S. troops are better deployed elsewhere.

 

[MassHavoc]

Alas, hindsight is 20/20 eh? It's the bitter rub that can not be rationally applied to deconstructing warfare or else it will drive a sane person insane thinking of the human, economic, and social tolls it exacts. Better that the U.S. with new commanders in place and a new Administration was finally willing in 2010 to concede that occupying the Korengal was a mistake from the beginning rather than soldiering on in a futile and bloody endeavor IMO. They went in with decent enough practical intentions but just SO severely and naively underestimated both the terrain and more importantly that the people in the valley are just far too entrenched in centuries of clan warfare mentality and also that they want to basically be left alone to their extreme isolation and suspicions. It's a relief that after five years the U.S. decided to finally leave well enough alone---the possibility of insurgency taking complete viral hold of the valley will just have to be an acceptable risk while the U.S. troops are better deployed elsewhere.

Talk about a ridiculously reoccurring theme that in my mind should never happen. Intellegence wins wars as much as everything else.

 

[sth]

I just watched this. Great, great, show. It is amazing the amount of shit those guys took in the Korengal. They were fighting on the side of a mountain. Operation Rock Avalanche is intense especially the part TSD mentioned with the KIA. They mention it, but a nearby base got hit with a massive attack that killed 9 soldiers. It eventually forced the whole area to be abandoned. I also found the tension between the guys and the translators interesting.

 

[TSD]

Had to discuss this I was talking to an army buddy saturday night for about 2 hours, who is leaving home from afghanistan in 3 days, He is a platoon leader in a combat engineer company.



Fortunately, hes only had a few of his guys get injured and no deaths. Their job is to basically go out searching for IED's. He said he's been hit multiple times by IED's but fortunately the Hummers are far better armored than they used to be which is why you dont hear about as many IED casualties of late. He was telling me how fucked it is over there and he doesn't think the afghani govt. will be able to hold onto the country after they leave, he said those people simply don't give a crap who's in power they just want the fighting to stop.



Heres a pic of him:

 

[sth]

That is true. Also add to the fact that the Taliban has sanctuary in Pakistan and they are hard to stop. I don't know what our guys can do to win. We had to invade there unlike Iraq which was a choice. It is a tough situation, I hope your buddy is ok over there.

 

[jakobeast]

Had to discuss this I was talking to an army buddy saturday night for about 2 hours, who is leaving home from afghanistan in 3 days, He is a platoon leader in a combat engineer company.



Fortunately, hes only had a few of his guys get injured and no deaths. Their job is to basically go out searching for IED's. He said he's been hit multiple times by IED's but fortunately the Hummers are far better armored than they used to be which is why you dont hear about as many IED casualties of late. He was telling me how fucked it is over there and he doesn't think the afghani govt. will be able to hold onto the country after they leave, he said those people simply don't give a crap who's in power they just want the fighting to stop.



Heres a pic of him:

Godspeed to him and his charges.

 

[MassHavoc]

WOW, just finished this. Amazing. 5 stars, watched it with the wife and even though it was a bit tough for her to watch, she thought it was amazing. We had to watch happier stuff after it. Like Law and Order SVU...... then had to recover with Conan.



Everyone should be mandated to watch this movie.

 

[bookjones]

WOW, just finished this. Amazing. 5 stars, watched it with the wife and even though it was a bit tough for her to watch, she thought it was amazing. We had to watch happier stuff after it. Like Law and Order SVU...... then had to recover with Conan.



Everyone should be mandated to watch this movie.

And/or read the book.