Review of Restrepo (2010) by Kenny K — 16 Dec 2010
Heartbreaking documentary about the kind of war we're fighting in Afghanistan and I have to admit, it doesn't look good for liberty. Unseen snipers picking off our soldiers, petty, changeable (and likely Taliban partisan) locals who care more about a dead cow than freedom, and rules of engagment that prohibit winning.
The establishment of an outpost named after a fallen soldier (Restrepo) WITHIN SIGHT (!) of the main US barracks in the Korengal Valley is somehow seen as a major achievement when they ought to evacuate every person in the valley and bomb the mountains into plains. That is if they want to win this war.
On the other hand, why do we care? The local village elders don't. The US soldiers don't speak Afghan and show little interest in understanding the people or their culture. What they're interested in is serving out their time in hell without getting killed. And I don't blame them.
This is an impossible situation where it's death by a thousand cuts, and if the soldiers were more than inexperienced teenagers, they'd rebel. "In it to win it" seems to be forgotten in such a place.
And all this for the stated purpose of building a road through the valley to connect to a town somewhere else. Why? The indigents apparently don't need or want such a road--they haven't had one in a thousand years so why do WE care?
My political views on this subject are why I gave this film four stars. It is so clear-eyed and relentless in its view of the situation that I cannot see the other side to this argument. In short, either we make the Korengal Valley unsafe for ANYONE--including the Taliban--or we go home.
After seeing "Restrepo," I vote for going home.
This review of Restrepo (2010) was written by Kenny K on 16 Dec 2010.
Restrepo has generally received very positive reviews.
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