General William Tecumseh Sherman famously said, "War is Hell."
But in modern times, as one of the Marines who fought in the Iraq War and graciously answered questions following the screening of "The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah," (Manifold Productions) in Washiongton, D.C. put it, "War is work."
The documentary, directed by Michael Pack, has been powerfully fitted tongue-and-groove-style from war correspondent photos, bodycam footage, and subsequent interviews of the vets. Unlike earlier wars, the images are crystal clear.
I was honored to be able to attend the event held at the Burke Theater at the U.S. Navy Memorial. The sound in the 200-plus seat venue was crystal clear and there's not a bad seat. The hallway was adorned with the photos of famous Navy vets, including politicians like President Gerald R. Ford and actors, including the entire Bridges family.
The movie itself was made in 2004 under the auspices of PBS, but for 17 years, they refused to show it! They had declared the movie "too pro-military," indicative of a different era which we are currently trying to change.
But as I and others observed, it was clearly anti-war.
Nobody could watch the raw footage and be satisfied as to how we spend our country's finest youth and treasure.
This is definitely a film for mature audiences: featuring quite graphic scenes.
The two battles were considered the most dangerous of the Iraq War, with soldiers and Marines going from house to house and even tomb to tomb.
The area has complex above and below ground cemeteries, much like New Orleans, but going on for kilometers and more densely packed.
After all, Iraq was once the ancient civilization of Babylonia, where Jews were exiled in the sixth century B.C. and more finely honed the nature of their religion. In the hilly desert terrain that’s unfamiliar to Americans, the enemy could literally pop out anywhere.
Though the director pronounced that he tried to keep politics out of the film to make it more timeless, it was impossible for memories not to drift back to that time avenging the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Almost everyone in the theater, including veterans, could not help but draw comparisons to the quagmire of the Vietnam War.
Our troops in Iraq were not only under strict orders not to hit any mosques --- where people were clearly hiding --- but also not to aim anywhere near them, so as to not have bullets ricocheting into a mosque.
The powers that were didn't want to deal with any public relations fallout.
It was like fighting with one hand behind one’s back.
Military action would seemingly be arbitrarily halted at times, basically to give one Iraqi faction control of another.
As subsequent years would prove, the matter was not allowed to be settled.
The conditions were unfathomable.
Temperatures reached 130 degrees, with the inside of tanks even hotter.
Some walked around with fluid IVs, as if they were in the ICU.
They didn't get to shower for weeks.
What was patently clear throughout, was the American warriors' unflinching devotion to success in the mission and to each other’s well-being.
They knew all about each other’s families and homes. They would risk themselves entirely to "not leave a brother Marine behind."
Not only injured, but fatally wounded troops wanted to be put back into combat.
Even today, they work very hard to be there for each other.
One of the vets described how he's answered suicide calls in the middle of the night.
On November 10, PBS will finally be airing this important film, free for everyone.
This is the night before Veterans Day, a magnificent way to honor those who serve us.
Tamar Alexia Fleishman was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's youngest female solo violinist. She travels globally, providing readers with international flavor and culture. She's debated Bill Maher, Greta Van Susteren and Dr. Phil. She practices law in Maryland with a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and a B.A. in Political Science from Goucher College. Read Tamar Alexia Fleishman's Reports — More Here.
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