Rory Stewart is an experienced diplomat and has knowledge of both the language and history of Afghanistan. Make what you will from this two part historical documentary but please, please ignore the previous reviews of it as they are total and utter right wing crap that somehow imagine the US has been a success in Afghanistan. Just look at the facts. it's enough to say the Taliban is resurgent after the loss of so many lives, but to lamely justify the simple crass objectives against the loss of life is an insult to those American soldiers who gave EVERYTHING for NOTHING, just like British soldiers have across the centuries.
5 Reviews
Well done piece of brainwashing
macpet49-129 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Historically, the British sent their imperial armies into foreign lands mainly to seize booty. After they were conquered, as Brits are want to do, they fell in love with the people they'd just subjugated and robbed. They like their food, adopt their dress while living there and play pretend the vanquished adore us. Basically, this documentary does the same. The writer/producer immediately starts showing us the error of our ways (those superpowers from Alexander on)in thinking one could ever succeed in defeating Afghanistan and its people. As an American, my head is still reeling as to why on earth anyone wants to? It's a barren, bleak land with some grand vistas if you look far away to the horizon and keep your eyes away from what's around you. The people are belligerent and basically like 'townies' or country folk. You'd find the same in Appalachia or small villages everywhere. There's nothing there except ignorance and life as it was just post cave dwellers. These people like it that way and want to keep it. Let 'em! The only reason I can imagine America or Britain or anyone else is there is for the drugs. With super nuclear weaponry, who needs to actually physically be anywhere anymore as long as you have a keyboard, drones or push buttons? The real tragedy is that these people refuse to learn that you cannot help or think of helping people who do not want to change. Islam is full of examples of stubborn ignorance and intolerance. Why go there? The producer peppers the doc with Afghani loyalists (sporting British accents and living btw in London et al) who hate the Brits but love the money and ease of living in England instead of the desert. Send 'em back! Herd them all into that horrible area of the world and let them have their country and their desert. Who would want it? The minerals can lay buried in the mountains. If the Russians want them, fine. Who would want to be around Afghani people after watching this? One would have to hang out one's sanity on the line to wither. The maker would like to have us believe these people are kind and worth cherishing. I assume he's into them in some way we cannot discuss here.
On the whole very informative but US gets a whitewash
hwppqph25 August 2021
A very interesting and informative documentary but it does seem to have let the US off the hook. It's pretty well known the the US goaded the Russians into invading Afghanistan in order to give them their Vietnam, this documentary paints their involvement as almost benevolent and maybe Vc a little naive.
Afghani Propaganda
mudplayerx15 June 2017
It's painfully evident that the narrator has some sort of overzealous admiration for Afghanistan. Every chance to shore up Afghanistan's 'reputation' is taken, while facts that diminish the country are omitted or altogether manipulated.
He goes to say that every nation that has gone there has been 'humiliated and defeated' and that they are 'unable to get back out.' I am sorry sir, but America entered Afghanistan for two reasons, to topple the Taliban and to kill Osama Bin Laden. Both of those were achieved and we got out afterwards to boot.
The documentary has some decent history facts. However, the comments made by all of those interviewed are appallingly political in nature. No attempt is even made to hide the pro-liberal slander. It really hurts the integrity of the documentary and completely drives away a conservative audience
He goes to say that every nation that has gone there has been 'humiliated and defeated' and that they are 'unable to get back out.' I am sorry sir, but America entered Afghanistan for two reasons, to topple the Taliban and to kill Osama Bin Laden. Both of those were achieved and we got out afterwards to boot.
The documentary has some decent history facts. However, the comments made by all of those interviewed are appallingly political in nature. No attempt is even made to hide the pro-liberal slander. It really hurts the integrity of the documentary and completely drives away a conservative audience
A ludicrous retelling of history.
RT Firefly1 April 2021
I can only imagine this movie was paid for by Afghanis or someone that has it in for the West. How the makers of this documentary feel they can get away with it is beyond me. Are people really this stupid? I guess if you don't think and just "feel", the film making is high enough quality that it works on some people. This documentary is tantamount to painting the Nazis as victims in WWII. I'm not saying there isn't blame to spread around with all parties involved, but this film tries to make the slaughter of women and children look virtuous.
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