|
|
Post by supersimonstainrod on Aug 3, 2020 4:24:01 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night.
Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian.
The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising.
Anyone else watching it?
|
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Aug 3, 2020 9:11:37 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night. Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian. The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising. Anyone else watching it? No I think it is just you Simon.....are you mentioned in the credits? |
|
|
|
Post by thehartshillbadger on Aug 3, 2020 9:19:45 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night. Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian. The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising. Anyone else watching it? I shall be getting around to watching it after hearing some good things about it. |
|
|
|
Post by Rednwhitenblue on Aug 3, 2020 9:57:00 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night. Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian. The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising. Anyone else watching it? Excellent use of the word coruscatingly -  I think I will try to use that when describing games in future - a coruscatingly shit display by Jack Butland in goal, for example.... |
|
|
|
Post by Timmypotter on Aug 3, 2020 13:15:48 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night. Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian. The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising. Anyone else watching it? This is well worth watching. The second episode focussing on Sassaman is especially interesting. How did anyone ever imagine that the army would have the know-how and manpower to successfully fill the power vacuum that was created. It's totally baffling and you can understand how easily he was turned from a model commander into a bit of a psycho. That 'Mosul Eye' fella from the last episode must have balls of steel. Imagine what ISIS would have done to him if they'd ever caught him. The infuriating thing for me about the whole thing is that in 2003 a million people marched in London and the vast majority of people could have told you that it would be a complete shit show. No hindsight was required. I was in Italy at the time, and there were rainbow 'peace' flags hanging from windows in every town. No one really thought Saddam had any connection to 9/11 and we'd never seen any evidence of WMD. The chance to oust him was after the Kuwait War but Bush blew it. But we went in anyway. Heartbreaking. |
|
|
|
Post by lordb on Aug 3, 2020 16:52:08 GMT
Watched the second episode of what seems like a fascinating documentary about the conflict last night. Very difficult to view the troubling and coruscatingly honest testimony of Lt Corporal Sassaman without a lump in the throat and much anger as he wrestled very visibly with his conscience and descent from optimistic career soldier and inspirational leader into darker psychological territory,almost Kurtzian. The dichotomy between the idealized reconstruction posited by politicians Bush,Bremer et al,and the realities faced by coalition forces on the ground at the time is pretty jaw-dropping if not unsurprising. Anyone else watching it? This is well worth watching. The second episode focussing on Sassaman is especially interesting. How did anyone ever imagine that the army would have the know-how and manpower to successfully fill the power vacuum that was created. It's totally baffling and you can understand how easily he was turned from a model commander into a bit of a psycho. That 'Mosul Eye' fella from the last episode must have balls of steel. Imagine what ISIS would have done to him if they'd ever caught him. The infuriating thing for me about the whole thing is that in 2003 a million people marched in London and the vast majority of people could have told you that it would be a complete shit show. No hindsight was required. I was in Italy at the time, and there were rainbow 'peace' flags hanging from windows in every town. No one really thought Saddam had any connection to 9/11 and we'd never seen any evidence of WMD. The chance to oust him was after the Kuwait War but Bush blew it. But we went in anyway. Heartbreaking. George Bush senior didn't go after Saddam in 1991 as he knew he wouldn't get support for such action from rest of the region. He was correct. |
|
|
|
Post by The battheader chronicles on Aug 4, 2020 0:47:15 GMT
It’s a fascinating watch this
|
|
|
|
Post by raythesailor on Aug 4, 2020 10:05:24 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread. I have just watched the first two episodes and will certainly watch the whole series.
I can only describe it as a POWERFUL insight into what went, and continues to go on in this decimated country and society. It was extremely well made and excellent TV Journalism.
Throughout I found myself wondering “ Will they show this in the US”, and if so how will the flag waving patriots react to it ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Timmypotter on Aug 4, 2020 11:07:04 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread. I have just watched the first two episodes and will certainly watch the whole series. I can only describe it as a POWERFUL insight into what went, and continues to go on in this decimated country and society. It was extremely well made and excellent TV Journalism. Throughout I found myself wondering “ Will they show this in the US”, and if so how will the flag waving patriots react to it ? Maybe there's a different edit for the US with a lot more of that Rambo type character. You'd never believe people like that existed. They'd maybe focus less on his obvious alcoholism and more on his 3 week murder bender. |
|
|
|
Post by serpico on Aug 4, 2020 15:58:30 GMT
This is well worth watching. The second episode focussing on Sassaman is especially interesting. How did anyone ever imagine that the army would have the know-how and manpower to successfully fill the power vacuum that was created. It's totally baffling and you can understand how easily he was turned from a model commander into a bit of a psycho. That 'Mosul Eye' fella from the last episode must have balls of steel. Imagine what ISIS would have done to him if they'd ever caught him. The infuriating thing for me about the whole thing is that in 2003 a million people marched in London and the vast majority of people could have told you that it would be a complete shit show. No hindsight was required. I was in Italy at the time, and there were rainbow 'peace' flags hanging from windows in every town. No one really thought Saddam had any connection to 9/11 and we'd never seen any evidence of WMD. The chance to oust him was after the Kuwait War but Bush blew it. But we went in anyway. Heartbreaking. George Bush senior didn't go after Saddam in 1991 as he knew he wouldn't get support for such action from rest of the region. He was correct. Heres Dick Cheney to explain why. |
|
|
|
Post by lawrieleslie on Aug 4, 2020 17:44:42 GMT
This is well worth watching. The second episode focussing on Sassaman is especially interesting. How did anyone ever imagine that the army would have the know-how and manpower to successfully fill the power vacuum that was created. It's totally baffling and you can understand how easily he was turned from a model commander into a bit of a psycho. That 'Mosul Eye' fella from the last episode must have balls of steel. Imagine what ISIS would have done to him if they'd ever caught him. The infuriating thing for me about the whole thing is that in 2003 a million people marched in London and the vast majority of people could have told you that it would be a complete shit show. No hindsight was required. I was in Italy at the time, and there were rainbow 'peace' flags hanging from windows in every town. No one really thought Saddam had any connection to 9/11 and we'd never seen any evidence of WMD. The chance to oust him was after the Kuwait War but Bush blew it. But we went in anyway. Heartbreaking. George Bush senior didn't go after Saddam in 1991 as he knew he wouldn't get support for such action from rest of the region. He was correct. The Iranians were building up forces on the Iraq-Iran boarder ready to mop up if Saddam was completely defeated so coalition held back too prevent complete destabilisation. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2020 16:22:18 GMT
Just watched all 5 over the last couple of days. Excellent documentary, what a total fuck up from start to finish it’s been.......
|
|
