Customer Reviews

The Ground Truth

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This documentary shows several Iraq war veterans who are wounded or traumatised, and the relatives of some who died. These are mostly veterans and relatives who are disturbed by what they saw and did, or simply by the lack of treatment that they themselves received.

Some are motivated by opposition to the war, but not all, and the documentary focuses almost completely on the soldiers' experiences, not on politics.

Of course, there are many vets who support the war, but over 1,000 active-duty members of the US military have signed an Appeal for Redress of Grievances that calls for "the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq".

I had read about much of this elsewhere, so it was not such a surprise for me, but I still found the documentary moving.

In the opening scenes of Patricia Foulkrod's powerful documentary about our questionable military venture in Iraq and its effect on the psyches of the soldiers who fight in it, we're introduced to a number of young soldiers who speak candidly and powerfully about the motivations that led them to join the military. As their stories unfold, we hear their surprised reactions to boot camp and combat training as they were taught to dehumanize their enemy, to "kill hadjis and ragheads." Each soldier describes in tight, careful detail their transformation from idealistic civilian to highly-trained killing machine. One soldier states quite bluntly and without sentiment how he watched his own resistance to killing grow weaker and finally fade away as the indoctrination took place. Even more chilling is his later description of looking forward to taking his first human life. "I'd been trained for it," he said, "and I wanted to do it."

For most of the soldiers in this movie, their turning points and epiphanies arrive in the shocking moments when their worldview is shattered, when the solid black line between right and wrong suddenly turns to muddy, indistinct gray. In nearly every story, we hear of their complicity in the deaths of innocent men, women and children, people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. One soldier describes having an old woman in the sights of his rifle and being forced to make a split-second decision as she approached an armored US military vehicle. After firing two rounds himself, he watched in horror as the occupants of the armored vehicle opened fire as well, tearing her to pieces. As she fell to the ground, the soldier saw the white flag in her hand. He tells us that he threw his gun to the ground with tears in his eyes. As another soldier notes, "It's one thing to replace your worldview with a new one, but another thing entirely to have your worldview shattered and have nothing to replace it with."

What I found so amazing about this movie was the lack of obvious editorializing. It's a spare, lean movie without obtrusive direction. The soldiers simply tell their powerful stories to the camera. There are virtually no distractions or breaks save for a few brief "intermissions" that feature photo montages overlaid with music, and then it's right back to the soldiers. I've read other reviews that complain about the one-sidedness of the film, but what documentary isn't? That's what documentaries do... they present a biased (yet hopefully intelligent) point of view. They're made with bias and the hope that viewers come to embrace, or at least take into account, the point of view presented by the film.

Any good war documentary is made with a clear agenda, and this film's purpose is to show the madness of a war that lacks a clear objective, a notion that seems to have filtered down to the soldiers as well. One soldiers states that most of the soldiers he speaks with have no clear idea of the war's stated mission. "Something to do with 9/11" is a common response. Without a clear stated goal, the soldiers adopt the only one that makes any sense to them... kill or be killed. Kill so that you can eventually go home to the ones you love. Kill because if you don't, you're not a good soldier. It's little wonder that they return home with little or no idea how to readjust to civilian life. The Bush administration pitches the conflict in Iraq as part of the larger war on terror, yet the soldiers interviewed tend to see themselves as participants in an escalating body of terror rather than defenders of freedom.

And yet one of the most powerful things about this film is personal passion of the soldiers themselves. Even before we hear each soldier's entire story, we realize that they aren't a bunch of whiners. They are people we feel we can trust. Each was a patriotic young person who stepped forward to do his or her duty. Most went to boot camp with a sense of purpose and pride, and returned home disillusioned with what they learned. In the end, each made a very personal decision how to deal with what they discovered, a decision to either suck it up and put a cap on it, hoping it wouldn't blow, or confront it and be willing to speak the truth, no matter the consequences. The Ground Truth is the story of soldiers coming to terms with the reality of a misguided war, and dealing with their discovery with grace and courage.

The Ground Truth is worth watching. It provides much footage and commentary rarely encountered in other media. Rarely broadcast--for whatever reason. Certainly, the film's discussion touches both the mind and heart. And, it could be hardly more important. Many Americans have been awaiting the missing piece of the truth that this film provides.
I have one negative criticism of The Ground Truth. Responsibly, one must provide this "Spoiler." Most veterans interviewed are with Veterans Against the War; however, the film-makers provide this ethical information only in the denouement. Furthermore, one interviewed veteran pursues a Hollywood career. Perhaps, this document-ary contains biased hidden truths--perhaps not.
Perhaps appropriately, one could compare this documentary's legitimacy to that of Fahrenheit 9/11. The text provides a goldmine of hidden realities/truths, but it functions also as essayistic propaganda. Purchase this DVD if you navigate its mixed composition willingly. Otherwise, Gunner Palace provides a less-biased commentary. But, that documentary provides often information that would benefit from accompanying commentary--such as The Ground Truth provides.

While at Camp Democracy a few weeks ago across from the White House, I met one of the guys who testified in this film--the day I ran across a reference to it on the web. Thanks to Amazon.com for having it available!

I continue to write on different "perspectives" on the war in Iraq. There's lies, corruption, oil, econmomics. But one of the primary perspectives is that of those who're fighting it! (That, I confess, I had forgotten!)

Logically, the film starts with the basic training of those entering the military. The text of the story clarifies that even in World War II, there were some who wondered what they were fighting and why. So training became more focused. One navy objector claimed they get up comically early every day thereby keeping the recruits tired all the time--and mor open to "influence." The word "kill" is repeated so much that it becomes like "eat." Then there's the "group dynamic" one of the Marines referred to: it seems to be normal to kill. (One testified that we ALL have at one time or another wanted to kill someone. But we don't, for any number of reasons. But in today's basic training, the concept of killing becomes so standard that we don't even question it. And there IS something wrong with that!)

Then there's the war itself. The guys--and women, remember they're in combat now too--commented that they were constantly under pressure. Anyone, women, kids, could be armed and dangerous. And the navy guy stated that they were seen as weak and inhibited if they DIDN'T kill someone. Body count became a badge of honor!

This is what caused many of those--and at least half of those who testified were Marines, the alleged cream of the crop of the killing machine, as I think one of them stated (I'm paraphrasing him.)--to challenge the rectitude of their being there. One shot a woman in a split-second decision, assuming she was either giving in or would blow up his comrades. He shot twice and the rest of his company opened fire. He went to the body, or what was left of it, and found she had a white flag in her hand.

That led to the story of those who returned. The one who'd shot the woman went to a counsellor who objected (!) to working with a "conscientious objector." He asked her, "Are you crazy? You won't work with me because I reject killing innnocent civilians?" And he was a Marine staff seargent!

Funny. I was talking with my father, a WWII veteran, recently. He said that if this were Vietnam, many more would be dead; new medical techniques and technology are keeping them alive. This film confirmed that. One who testified was an army specialist. The viewer doesn't know until later in the film that the young man lost his hand and the most effective use of his legs while in Iraq. Others were mangled, and one uses a forearm crutch for the rest of his life.

The point of all this is that neither the psychlogicaly nor the physically wounded are receiveing adequate care on their return. (One who testified was I think an army ranger, and officer, said the the psychologial effects on those who return from this war will be the most devestating.) First, they return without any acclimitizing, i.e., it's NOT normal to blow someone away because they cut you off on the highway, then some have gone so far as to commit suicide. The family of one Marine suicide victim comments several times throughout the film that they didn't even see the effects of the conflict on their son--to whom, incidentally, the film is dedicated.

I'm almost giving away too much. I find this film to be a gem. There are many conscientious objectors in the ranks of the troops there--one testified in the film that two thirds of the troops there want only to get home so, he asserts, the "support the troops" platitude is inappropriate. And many who've returned are objecting, to the pointless killing and the inadequate treatment once they return.

I encourage you to see this, and show it to others. I'm planning a showing or two at my house!

Seeing what our service members have gone through during the four years of the Iraq War and what they are still going through today is so painful that this DVD is difficult to watch. I wish all those who still support the Bush administration's policies in Iraq could see it -- but I doubt that they would be able to sit through it. It's a well-documented picture in the words of the service members themselves and should be required viewing for members of Congress.

I bought this DVD a month ago and it sat on my shelf till Christmas eve. I finally had some time by myself waiting for Christmas morning and decided to watch it. I am writing this review on Christmas eve immediately after watching it. I felt compelled to run to my computer and write this review down and hopefully be lucky enough to catch your eye, and tell you to buy this DVD and to show it to as many people as possible.

This film exposes what the military does to young people with hopes and dreams, and shows how any person who gets sucked into serving into Iraq, no matter how good of a person they were before their duty in IRaq, it shows that we all capable of turning into killing machines. GUnning down women, children and innocent men is all part of the game. These soldiers cannot turn off the way they have been trained to become killing machines when they come home to their loved ones.

This movie shows that the amount of guilt and aggression that these soldiers are filled with has caused them to kill themselves, pull guns on others, attack loved ones and become disconnected from reality. The military has thrown away these soldiers. They are nothing but a liability and their voices, mental and physical health are nothing but an inconvienience.

After watching this film, I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I had to go out and show this film to anyone who I could get to sit in front of a screen. I have decided that everyone I know must see this film it is their patriot duty to know what we put these soldiers through and to know the true meaning of "supporting the troops" I hope that my review can convince others to buy this film, watch it and show it to others. Host a screening at your house, and show people the truth about Iraq. I plan on doing this myself. Thank you for reading this.

With well-funded pentagon PR firms like the Rendon Group, militarist radio hosts like Hugh Hewitt and Sean Hannity, and an array of movies, tv dramas, and video games that glorify war - "The Ground Truth" is a welcomed dose of hard reality. Featuring the words of veterans from Iraq and Vietnam, and military psychologists like Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, this important documentary reveals the hidden truth of the slaughter taking place in Iraq.

I just shared a copy of it with a friend of mine at work whose daughter signed up for the ROTC. The military is an institution that gives many people a career and a sense of identity, but after viewing this documentary, the daughter decided the military is not the path she wants to take. Hopefully, more adults will start to advocate for the sort of spending this society really needs; that is, spending on renewable energy, convenient mass transit, lowering college tuition rates, hiring librarians/art teachers/elder care specialists, fair wages for labor, and other investments that will give young people other opportunities than going off to war to raise the stock values and revenues of Halliburton, Exxon, and Lockheed Martin.

There's plenty of work to be done in our country and in the rest of the world that doesn't involve dropping depleted uranium and cluster bombs, the destruction of foreign cultures, and brain-washing the youth of America into thinking they are "serving" our country by joining our imperial forces. Our troops are serving corporate elites and the cause of neoliberal economics, we need to be honest about that.
For a deeper understanding of how "war is a racket" (to quote General Smedley Butler), see other excellent DVDs like "Why We Fight" and "Iraq for Sale."

"The ability and inclination to use physical strength is no indication of bravery or tenacity to life. The greatest cowards are often the greatest bullies. Nothing is cheaper and more common than physical bravery. Common experience shows how much rarer is moral courage than physical bravery. A thousand men will march to the mouth of the cannon where one man will dare espouse an unpopular cause."
-Clarence Darrow, "Resist Not Evil"

A necessary glimpse into the ugly face of war. Courageous Americans tell it like it is. Professionals need to take this into consideration.

I came across this show on the Sundance channel and I couldn't stop watching it. I think everyone in the US should watch this video. It was so amazing to hear the stories from troops that have actually been in combat and come home. They ALL have injuries, whether they have lost their limbs, or are mentally scarred due to what they have seen and have had to do. Many of them are in a state of turmoil and angst because of what they have seen and done to protect their country. They are making the biggest sacrifice and we owe it to them to become politically aware and involved. To know what they endure in Iraq would make everyone think twice about this war. To understand what they face when they come home would make everyone think twice about their government. It was truly an eye opener and I am seriously considering sending this to everyone I know (especially the one's who support the war).

The information contained in this movie is somewhat familiar to many who have been paying attention to the news over the years. The Walter Reed scandals show a small part of the fact that we are not doing a good job taking care of our injured heroes when they return.

For much of its first half, "The Ground Truth" is a documentary in search of a theme, with director Patricia Foulkrod leveling cursory criticisms against the Iraq war's execution, the armed forces' marketing campaigns and xenophobia-laced basic training procedures, and the media's soft-peddling coverage of non-combatant fatalities, all in the hope that one will stick. Midway through, one does, as Foulkrod focuses her gaze on the neglectful mistreatment of returning GIs - many now severely handicapped and/or suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - by the military that asked for and accepted their service.

Through interviews with former soldiers struggling to reintegrate into mainstream society because of either physical or psychological traumas, the director paints a portrait of abandonment in which the powers-that-be seem to have deliberately ignored the far-from-inconsequential problems (depression, violent and suicidal tendencies) of their discharged comrades. That Foulkrod's primary thesis is often undercut by semi-related tangents and a standard-issue ugly non-fiction aesthetic leaves The Ground Truth feeling frustratingly uneven and far from cinematically inspired. But as a document of our military's shameful disregard for its own, it's nonetheless a vital reminder of the monumental, lingering toll war takes on its participants, and the moral obligation a country has to care for them once they've come home.They are not just changed or affected, they are different people and most do not know how to deal with that as they do not know themselves.

We have over 3000 dead soldiers in the four years of this invasion; but we have many tens of thousands that will suffer lifelong physical and psychological trauma because of this war. It doesn't matter what side you are on, it behooves you to know the cost of war to decide if we should be in that business. This film illustrates the costs to the men and women entirely.