It's seldom to have the opportunity to witness first-hand what occurs on a daily basis with U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The news media reports it everyday, but to visually experience the deadly firefights between infantry troops and the Taliban insurgents they're battling can numbingly put the perils of the war effort into perspective. And this video report accomplishes such a feat.
James Foley, a reporter for the GlobalPost--an international news outlet--gives this first-hand account while embedded with a company of infantry men from 101ST 1ST Brigade in Kunar Province, a mountainous region located in northeast Afghanistan. The company arrived to Afghanistan in May and has already lost nine troops to IED's, suicide attacks, firefights and rocket strikes.
On recent day in July, while preparing to patrol a small town prior to the upcoming elections, the company was ambushed in a coordinated attack from Taliban insurgents located on the cliffs near the road they were traveling. During this intense attack, Foley captured endless gunfire, explosions and bloodshed. At one point in the battle, Private Justin Greer, 19, manned the grenade launcher in the vehicle Foley was a passenger in, when suddenly he was struck by a bullet directly in the helmet. He survived, walking away physically unharmed, yet clearly he was visibly distraught from the ordeal. In more ways than one, the video report is a telling account of the fine line between life and death that U.S. troops must walk everyday while battling in Afghanistan.
Quotes
"It was only after this near catastrophe that we see the convoy's front truck is on fire, and, worse, the soldiers have pulled a casualty to the side of the mountain, as others frantically begin to work on him." --James Foley, Global Post
"Like, once we got hit and, like, we noticed there was a fire and smoke building up, we all wanted to get out. But we were taking small-arms fire, so we couldn't go anywhere, pretty much pinned down." --Private Jesse Townsend
Warm Up Questions
1. What is the Taliban?
2. In this video, where are U.S. troops fighting?
3. Define the term "infantry."
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you suppose it's rare that the military grants access, such as Foley's, to journalists?
2. What were some of your thoughts/feelings about war after watching this video?
3. Do you think more video footage like this should be released to the public? Why or why not?
Additional Resources
In Afghanistan, 14 U.S. Troops Killed in 3 Days
Aid Group Says It's Staying Put in Afghanistan Despite Deadly Ambush
