Thank you for the counterpoint. I did watch the entire thing.
While I disagree with you on some points, I did make some similar observations. Notably the ironic similarities between Donald Rumsfeld’s “lightfoot” strategy and the desire to pull out by some Democrats. I also found the omissions interesting. Plus the fact that the main reason for me watching it was to warm up for coverage of the events during 2007, as much of this material had been covered in a previous Frontline episode and general media coverage.
The underreporting of the media on this war is an understatement. Basically, they grab a camera, stand in front of a building, and start blabbing. Then you get a clip or two of a guy on the street.
This series has shown me how little most Americans, including myself, know about the war, and it makes me angry. Very little depth and understanding about the political, infrastructural, religious, economic, historic and sociological complexities of leveling a country and building it back up is hardly, if ever, discussed in the various media outlets.
It just goes to show what a waste of time watching the headline news is. One needs to pick up a book or two in order to begin to truly understand.
How did we ever expect to build a country without understanding its history, its religion, its diversity, and without working up from a grass-roots level before a single shot was fired?
This tragic war is a result of our ignorance, and the perpetuation of our ignorance by the media and the political spin of both parties.
