Review of Battle for Haditha (2007) by Richard M — 17 Mar 2008

If you ever want to get a feel for what a complete f*@!ing mess war any kind of military intervention is, watch this film. Filmed like a documentary or reality series it is very realistic and believable and pulls no punches. It is brutal. It shows no fault on either side, just the tragedy of what happens in an environment dominated by fear and desperation. You don't blame the marines for snapping under such incredibly desperately dangerous and frustrating circumstances. You don't blame the locals for not telling anyone about the bomb. At the start it is hard to understand the motives of the bombers. At the end it isn't. You also get a feel for the dangerous psychology of the army.

The conclusion? The whole bloody mess should always be avoided unless required for defence.