Summary
Highlights
On July 2, 2009, 4,000 Marines landed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, facing immediate heavy fighting and roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Photojournalist Dan Fung documented the intense combat, including the death of Lance Corporal Charles Seth Sharp, highlighting the perilous conditions of the early deployment.
The Marines established Combat Outpost Sharp in an old schoolhouse, aiming to protect the local population and build relationships in an area previously held by the Taliban. Despite the focus on counterinsurgency, residents fled the area, making it difficult for the Marines to connect with them. General Stanley McChrystal noted that previous clearances of Helmand failed due to an inability to hold the territory, emphasizing the need for sustained presence.
The Marines attempted to convince villagers to return to the market and gather intelligence on the Taliban. However, locals remained fearful, intimidated by Taliban threats against anyone cooperating with American forces. Communication barriers and the constant threat of violence further complicated efforts to build trust and separate the population from the insurgency.
Helmand province is a major producer of opium poppy, which fuels the Taliban's operations, generating an estimated $100 million annually. This illicit economy also corrupts Afghan officials and undermines government support. While the Marines acknowledged the drug problem, their primary mission focused on the Taliban, treating opium as a secondary concern.
The documentary shifts focus to the political challenges in Kabul, where pervasive corruption undermines the Afghan government. President Karzai's administration is criticized for rehabilitating individuals with dubious records, including warlords implicated in brutality and drug trafficking. This widespread corruption alienates the population, driving them towards the Taliban who offer a semblance of order and justice.
In areas outside government control, the Taliban has established a sophisticated shadow government, complete with administrators and courts. They actively engage with the local population, seeking feedback and dispensing a form of rudimentary justice, directly challenging the legitimate Afghan government and international forces.
The film explores the complex and often contradictory relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan. Pakistan's tribal areas serve as a sanctuary for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Despite American efforts, elements within Pakistan's intelligence service (ISI) have historically supported the Taliban as a strategic asset, creating a paradoxical situation where the U.S. is fighting an insurgency indirectly supported by its ally.
The documentary concludes with an examination of the ongoing debate within the U.S. government regarding the future of the war. Options include increasing troop numbers as requested by General McChrystal or shifting focus to Al-Qaeda in Pakistan without occupying Afghanistan. The challenges of nation-building, the risk to American lives, and the unclear definition of success leave the path forward uncertain and highly debated.