The Fifth Estate: "Life And Death In Kandahar" airing 12 Mar 08

[The_Falcon]

Watching it right now, and of course the CBC can't just document the excellent work of the medical staff, they have stir up the political stuff, and the why are we here/should we be here (especially with the civy doctors).

 

[Yrys]

and the why are we here/should we be here (especially with the civy doctors).

I'm wondering why the civy doc weren't appraise of why we're there and "not in Darfur or Burrma",
like one of them said.

 

[Bzzliteyr]

That's okay.. I am watching it in HD right now and it's looking great.. sad to see our young trooper having passed through the doors there.  However, I missed it all as I was on leave when it happened.  It is/was great to see so many familiar faces as I watch!! 

 

[RatCatcher]

I have only one comment... too much Doc and Nurse... They are not the only ones in the unit....

 

[Kilo_302]

Just watched it, and I though it was very well done. Although the main story was the hospital itself, I don't have a problem with a journalist asking someone's opinion of the war. It's their job. I saw a similar  American program, I think it was called "Baghdad ER" and it lacked any discussion of the war at all. I thought it was a sham, because you KNOW people talk about it. As for the civilian doctors, one had an opinion, the other didn't. BOTH were there however, and BOTH were saving lives. Good for them (and the patients they treat) . I am sure their political views aren't affecting their performance.

 

[Maelstrom]

Being a civilian who has started the process of joining the CF, I found this really interesting. Especially so because my first choice is Med Tech and I was really looking forward to some more insight about the career/ current operations. But overall, still a great look at what our medical team is doing at the hospital.

 

[xo31@711ret]

Good show, but as ratcatcher, not enough on enough on the Troops (med techs, Pmed, lab, etc) except for Doug L, the MWO, who looked like he hadn't changed much in the last 15 years.

 

[Flip]

As I expected, I was bustin' with pride at what The medical people were doing.
They seemed to extrapolate on M*A*S*H a little. Not in a good way either.

I did feel like I wanted to give the One doctor a bit of a shake but the career
Army surgeon more than made up for it.

All in all, not bad.
The images were a rather stark. I'm a little concerned that some people might consider that "reality" to be a reason to pull the plug on the whole mission.

It was a good day to be Canadian.

 

[observor 69]

I thought the whole program was well done. Good on the CBC. As said some docs had questions about the mission but they had also accepted and were meeting the challenge of working under a stressfull situation.
My major thought is as one person remarked it has been 50 ? years since Canadians have seen this kind of combat and casualties.
Bringing home the reality of the price members of our military have to pay as our government proceeds with this mission.

 

[MarkOttawa]

Damian Brooks let you know what he really thinks of the Global programme in a post at The Torch:

On the promotional video for "Unexpected War Canada In Kandahar"
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-promotional-video-for-unexpected-war.html

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Redeye]

I was pretty impressed - this almost seemed like it would have been a doc that would have showed up on Rough Cuts or Panorama - well done though I can understand the thoughts about not enough focus on the troops - but it was overall pretty impressive.  My wife opted not to watch it as she knows I'm trying to get everything in order to get a slot on TF 1-10 and I guess the idea of what can happen there isn't something she wants to dwell on.  I was particularly impressed with the civvies - their ability to focus on the job and have a apolitical role - it was impressive.  I wish I had written down the quote about how awful war is - "but if they are to be fought, they're to be won."  I thought that was a great line.

 

[RatCatcher]

Doc Neil was the one who said it on the show. He is very well read and verbose to boot. If only I had written down some of the things he said I would be able to laugh for a long time....

 

[Eye In The Sky]

A some people pointed out, the reporters did ask questions on what the civilian doctors had to say about the political aspect, but, IMO, the overall answer to that was "we are not concerned about that, we are here to help save lifes" or that was the message I pulled out of the comments overall.  I guess its all perspective.

As for the comments on the amount of the troops that were showen, agreed but CBC had an hour to get whatever point they wanted to get across, and whether its fair or not, the high end help usually get the exposure in the media.  Thats normal, although I do not agree with it.

Maybe the footage was 'sanitized' some for those that know what war really looks like, but this show was not for Army News, it was for the average Tim and Tina Taxpayer who would be watching.

Either way, BZ to the STARLIGHT folks that proudly wear the same uniform as you and I do. 

 

[Pea]

Our Sgt told our course about the documentary in class yesterday, so a group of us Med Tech's-in-training sat down together and watched it last night. We were glued to the screen for the entire time, and we were all pretty proud of those doing the jobs we aspire to do in the near future. It was eye opening and interesting for our group for sure. (pretty cool to learn something in class that day and then see it being done on TV, over there)

 

[medicineman]

I managed to watch it last night - 9D was almost in tears through most of it.  It was nice to see some old faces, some I hadn't seen in years and didn't even know got back in (Dr West for instance).  Dave Evans was one of my (many) attending trauma surgeons when I was in Vancouver - he had just gone through the application process if I recall and was getting ready to go over.  Definitely glad not to see any friends coming through those doors as customers.  The only negative I have to say was that they started trying to politicize the why's and wherefore's of the mission a little too much. 

MM

 

[PJOsborne]

I watched it in HD last night with my father. I thought it was well done program, and I came away with a renewed appreciation for the amazing job our medical personnel do for us all.

 

[RTaylor]

Got home from work, tired as hell. Saw this post and thought "Sounds interesting", then I watched the video on the site.

People that think that military is nothing but hate inspired war mongers should be put in a room and made to watch shows like this. It's a definite eye opener.

Another great bit I've seen is the National Geographic show on the American Green Berets...find it on a torrent site if you can, probably one of the best American documentaries I've seen lately on their military.

 

[fraserdw]

Personally, I thought it was well done, although I doubt a single opponent to a successful mission in the 'Stan watched the whole thing or had even a slight change of opinion.  The local anti army group here was blogging a boycott of episode and program for it's members.

 

[RTaylor]

Yeah I hate people that refuse to understand something and try to change everyone else's minds through uneducated petitioning, attacks and so forth. I see alot of it where I live. It's funny where I am because hte people literally have no clue and they aren't "in your face", but in other places...well...

Great episode is all I gotta say, and it's up on the web to watch again and again which I may do.

 

[OldSolduer]

My troops are going to watch it in about 45 minutes....I taped it.