November 24, 2009
In late 2007, correspondent Elizabeth Rubin embedded with U.S. troops
in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, a remote area close to the Pakistan
border and a known hide out for insurgents. She spent two months
with Battle Company under the command of Capt. Dan Kearney, and
wrote a seminal
piece about the experience for the New
York Times magazine. Nine months later Rubin returned to the valley
and, on both trips, captured some extraordinary video scenes,
including a deadly ambush on Kearney's men after U.S.airstrikes on
a nearby
village.
It is the first time any of this footage has been seen by the public
and it offers an unflinching look at how tough the war has become
on the ground and why it's a critical time for U.S. military strategy
there.
In a recent interview with FRONTLINE/World, Rubin describes some of the raw moments and their effects on soldiers and the Korengalis. Also, below, watch additional uncut scenes.
The following videos contain graphic language and violent imagery. Viewer discretion advised.
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After an airstrike on the village of Yaka China that killed women and children, Capt. Kearney meets with villagers to explain why he ordered the bombing.
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These chaotic scenes shot on a steep ridge show Battle Company soldiers pinned down in a deadly ambush.
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About to hand off responsibility to a new commander, Capt. Kearney asks the Korengali elders if the U.S. has made progress in the valley.
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