I just saw Road To Guantanamo- what a sobering docudrama. The docudrama takes you into Pakistan and Afghanistan with amazing scenery.
Obviously, it is written from the particular viewpoint that the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan was unwarranted and reminds me of the old phrase, "America, the evil empire." What amazes me is that the film didn't make us look even worse.
The basic story revolves around three Pakistani British citizens who got caught up in being stupid. One goes over to Pakistan for his wedding, the others join him. They decide to go into Afghanistan to check things out and get there just before all hell breaks loose(the bombing starts) and eventually are taken prisoner by the Northern Alliance and then the Americans. They eventually wind up in the prison at Guantanamo.
The three men were manhandled, their korans were thrown around, and they witnessed physical abuse of another prisoner who was mentally disturbed. One Pakistani was put into a unventilated truck with a lot of other prisoners. The next morning, most of the prisoners were dead, but the Pakistani British citizen survived.
Even if just some of this is true, it passes the realm of disturbing. Obviously, American soldiers should not be abusing prisoners. (Where was the Chain of Command?)
But, I doubt the guys they profiled were innocents totally. Afterall, everyone hates America, but still, it was an awful thing from my standpoint.
Part of the film is a dramatization. The GIs and others are actors. At one point, one of my favorite guys(just kidding), "the Donald" (the other Donald) Rumsfeld says something like, we are treating people humanely and abiding by the Geneva Convention mostly. What the hell does that mean? If these guys in Guantanamo didn't hate us before, they surely do now.
I'm sure that there's some truth in this story, but given everything else, it is so anti-American. The film shows soldiers detaining people and treating them inhumanly regardless of what they've done. Like I stated before, "America, the evil empire."
One of the things that just baffles me is: Where are all the Christians? Wasn't this nation founded on Christianity? You can't read the New Testament without finding that Jesus's entire life centered on the downtrodden, the low-lifes, in other words, those without portfolio.
Jesus even gave specific instructions about visiting those in jail. I can just imagine Chaplain Yee or the other chaplains and how upset they must have been at seeing these caged terrorists who looked more like someone's grandfather, father, or brother. Sometimes it appears that, as a country, we have a carefully worked plan to screw up; and, in the process, we look bad, don't do any real good, create new terrorists, and worst of all appear anti-American and anti-Christian.
Now, I know I have upset many folks with my opinion of this film . I have also probably confused a lot of people because I am trying to look at both sides. Yes, the film is anti-American, but we can greatly improve our military policies so we have better relationships with other countries and peoples. If we do improve policies, maybe we will not see films and video footage depicting or alledging widespread prisoner abuse. Think Chain of Command. Yes, I know that will always be a Steven Green out there.
Remember, this film is a docudrama, not a documentary. Some footage is of actual events; and, of course some footage is dramatized. So, this film should spark a lot of discussion and debate. GEW
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