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

fraserdw said:
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.
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It was extremely well done, but I expected nothing less.. from the CBC or the Medical Professionals, both civilian and miltiary. Why would you expect a documentary to change anyones mind on their stand regarding the war? Do you think that anyone that supports the mission, changed their mind and now is suddenly against the war? hardly,so why would you expect the reverse? I know a lot of people that do not support the mission watched the entire program. The program wasnt about supporting or not support the war, it was about the operation of the hospital. There are a lot of people that support the military but dont agree with this particular mission including some of the medical team in this documentary. The segment on the small boy that was brought in by his grandfather was very touching, and I wonder what ever became of him.
 
sgf, as I peruse my over 1200 photos I took while in country, I often ask myself the same thing.. what has happened to these people and have we made an impact?  I always hope in my mind that we did, and that they appreciate the fact that we came all the way over to their country, on their request, voluntarily to help them rebuild and take control.
 
If you've given even 1 day of freedom, or opened their eyes to the outside world you've made a difference. Once they have that taste in their mouth or idea in their heads people can, and will, move forth with it.

Hate fears education, it prefer's fear as a tool which is why most of the middle east is in the state they are in.


 
Bzzliteyr said:
sgf, as I peruse my over 1200 photos I took while in country, I often ask myself the same thing.. what has happened to these people and have we made an impact?  I always hope in my mind that we did, and that they appreciate the fact that we came all the way over to their country, on their request, voluntarily to help them rebuild and take control.
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what struck me about this particular segement, was the care the child received at the hospital as opposed to his every day life. that contrast was almost too much to watch. Also another thing, the immense love the grandfather had for the boy and how he was not afraid of incurring the wrath of the Taliban in order to get care for his grandson.
 
sgf
On the Fifth Estate web site it said that the little boy was able to come back to the hospital for a followup check up and the he was doing well, except, that he had a small(1.5cm) wound under his left eye that hadn't healed and they cleaned it up for him and and gave him some antibiotics.  He has not come back to the hospital, (they live 7 hrs by taxi away)but his grandfather passed a message through an interperter that he was doing well and the wound had healed.
God speed to that little guy and his family.  It does the heart good to see stories like that.  I think we forget how easy we have it here in Canada.  I get frustrated when I can't get an doc appt. and have to go to the emergency room.  Can't imagine having to travel 7hrs just to go to the doc, much less, not being able to do it because it's either that or feed the rest of my family for a week.
Candian soldiers are making a difference and I appreciate them for that!!
 
To anyone that missed this, and would like to see it, I can very easily put it onto a DVD. I will do this for people that want to see it, but please be reasonable, I can't make like 100 copies.
 
Although I was out of the country on TD, I have now watched this show on tape.  I personally know many of the people who were profiled.  I found the edited storyline to be disjointed and the inflamatory questions to civilian doctors unfair.  These physicians are being paid between $5,000-$8,000 per day during their deployment, does CBC really expect them to bite the golden hand that feeds their wallet?

I find the timing of its airing to be indicative of CBC's real opinion of the mission and their chance to rock the boat.  IMHO, to run the show in the middle of the government's debate and the night before the House of Commons vote demonstrates an obvious attempt to stir the pot and show the people of Canada what they can continue to expect in the daily news.  I felt that CBC certainly made an attempt to sensationalize any sound bites reflecting criticism of the mission. 

IMHO, they focussed on the deaths, the detainee and the care provided to the little boy too much (keeping the Dutch role in his injury as a gotcha for the viewers) rather than providing any statistics to indicate the successes.  While trying to show the human side of medical staff, they felt it necessary to find them in compromising positions like just after a visit to the morgue to get those teary-eyed shots.  Probing Sandra with the 'mothering comments' until she walks away in frustration. 

I was very proud of the way in which the tireless 'Rat Man' (Maj Terry Ratkowski - Oral-Maxo-facial Surgeon), Dr. Sandra and Doug Libby handled the camera following their movements and being shoved in their faces at awkward moments.   
 
I look forward to speaking with them about how they felt about their profile presented versus that which ended up on the cutting room floor.
 
FE; I too was impressed, and would love to hear their answer to that question also. But also about how they feel about the fact that the piece basically ignores the role of the Med Tech and other support services (with the exception of the Big Lib). I know that my wife was interviewed and there is no use of her footage.

I could go on a rant about how PMed was totally ignored but nobody wants to follow around a PMed while he inspects a TH or take water samples...let alone watch it on TV.

FE, If you get a chance to see the people you mentioned pass on a BZ from me.

 
Hey Rat....its all about ratings my friendly Rodent Catcher...following and filming a PMed is not "sexy" like surgeons and ERs.
Another example...the guy that issues socks in KAF is not as viewable as the infanteer on patrol or the tanker in his Leo.
 
The name of the documentary "Life And Death in Kandahar" would indicate what it's all about. Life sustained by a top notch trauma team who do their best regardless of the  status of the patient and the fact that regretably here are some who are beyond help. That seems logical to me.
If it was Rat Catching in Kandahar viewers would no doubt expect to see the rat patrol in action.
They never mentioned it but maybe this is just the first in a series and rat patrols, sock squads and all of the rest will follow.
 
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