Obama's War (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

In this 2009 documentary, FRONTLINE producers Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria travel across Afghanistan and Pakistan to see firsthand how President Obama’s strategy took shape, delivering vivid, on-the-ground reporting from the war's many fronts.
This journalism is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station here: www.pbs.org/donate​.
In “Obama’s War”, Correspondent Martin Smith interviews top generals, diplomats and government officials to understand the internal debates over President Obama's grand attempt to combat terrorism at its roots. With the brunt of the work falling on rank-and-file soldiers in the unforgiving landscape of Helmand province, the Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, FRONTLINE embedded with Echo Company of the 2nd Marines, 8th Battalion. Since the Marines' arrival that July, Helmand had become the most lethal battlefield in Afghanistan. But FRONTLINE found the Marines trying to act as armed diplomats, attempting to build the necessary trust for badly needed economic development.
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Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen.

[@beck3740]

"you have planes, tanks and guns. If you can't win, how can we?" the local guy is on point.

[@basedgodstrugglin]

Logic isn’t bound to any race, gender, religion, or creed

[@venicebeachsportsnetwork6677]

And it was such a simple way to state it the translator had no problems on that one

[@mwngtombing4970]

It's not about equipment's, money, power. It's about fighting religious ideology, radical Islamist extremism. Where it's clearly and plainly visible that there's no winning against extremists religious ideology....

[@Kurniawan-gn9sn]

Ask Vietnam

[@venicebeachsportsnetwork6677]

@@mwngtombing4970 these tribal regions been acting the same long before Islam

[@SpaceCowboy386]

20:52 "If you can't win, how can we?" I don't know why, but that line stuck with me.

[@s3505]

It was the finality in how he said it...

[@csb772]

Easy they normally only send a small team of Taliban to threaten them. Kill them bastards right then and there. Them act like you never got the message. The village stands against them.

[@georgeikinya2779]

Because it's the solid truth

[@bertbollen]

There it was. There was the line that made clear this was a war that was never gonna be won. Europe in 1944-1945 wanted to be free, these people don’t. It has to come from them, not us.

[@kennyc7260]

@@csb772 sounds easy until the Taliban line your streets with IEDs in the middle of the night or just kick in your doors and blow away your whole family.

[@williamsherman1942]

“You cannot defeat a enemy which looks at the scope of a rifle and sees paradise.” - Soviet saying about Afghanistan

[@heiftonheifton9412]

Lord, deliver you from :- the teeth of the tiger, Venom of cobra , and the Vengeance of Afghans (Old Afghani proverb)

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

*an *into

[@KRAKEN91O]

We were there to help people that didn't want our help. Only after complete chaos did some accept our help.

[@starter47990]

Yes you can

[@williamsherman1942]

@@starter47990 You can not.

[@Only1Noodle]

I served in the Corps from 2011-2019 and my first two tours were in Afghanistan and they were in Helmand, specifically at Camp Leatherneck. When I got there, our CO told us to not get too friendly or close to the locals because you don't know if they could be Taliban. When he said that they expected to get attacked is spot on, because it happened a lot. To be honest, I was excited to be sent there, but that changed drastically. In my first 3 months in Afghanistan, I went from "okay, let's get these Assholes" to "I hope to make it back in piece".

[@peveethegamer739]

Thanks for ur service man!

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

In one piece? Or in peace? Glad you made it. Hope you didn't shoot any non Taliban civilians.

[@dynamo1796]

The most ironic bit is when that US commander says "We'll leave under shades of grey". Its ironic because at that time, it probably would sound fairly benign, maybe even a little pessimistic. But the reality was the US left under no shades of grey - they were defeated, the same as in Vietnam War. They left with the Taliban nipping at their heels. The moment the US left, the Taliban were unequivocally in control.

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

They did leave on their own terms in that a decision was made to leave. The Taliban would not be in control if the US didn't remove their troops. Ultimately it was too costly, which begs the question, why start something that you can't finish. The Vietnam war is an ignorant comparison. There you could say that the US was beaten on the battlefield. That was never the case with Afghanistan, where the people were always against them. @@dynamo1796

[@Adamscartel]

​@@bhall4996For who? 😏 You dont livein Afghanistan .so for what reason he fought for

[@BGgungame]

Year 2060 "Grandpa, what did you do in the summer of decision in Afghan?"; Gramps: "We wasted time, money and lives."

[@deeperthantheabyss624]

Sadly this sh*t is cemented into the future.

[@hectorrosado7400]

"We fought an unseen enemy running around on sandals" Grandson: what..

[@M.S.K-es2cw]

Ha

[@Joseph-qb1es]

34:50 "in the end you'll have an Afghan solution. To an Afghan problem." Who would have thought.

[@izharulhaqmardan]

Welldone sir in few word you described whole things

[@busterbeagle2167]

and that’ll be good enough.

[@ericiidx]

The story of Cpl Sharp really hit the bottom of my stomach. I looked him up. He was 20 years old, and engaged. The couple wanted to go to college. Instead, he went to war. He wanted to be a positive part of history for his grandchildren to be proud of, but they'll never exist, because he wasn't allowed the opportunity to have any children at all. I don't see it happening in our lifetime, but I hope someday, there won't be a need for any of this lethality.

[@olechristianhenne6583]

pshhh he made that choice ah long time ago and besides its not his country afghanistan isnt His!!!!!!!!!

[@jeremybojorquez1548]

He was one of the best men I’ve ever met.

[@moosehead4497]

Thank god for Obama's war, where would we be without it

[@bleysmcnutt5500]

@@olechristianhenne6583 Fool.

[@buddy3852]

@@olechristianhenne6583 it wasn’t his decision to go to Afghanistan. It was his decision to serve his country. Americans aren’t defending their country anymore and haven’t in a long time. Afghanistan is very resilient. But by all the wrong people. You can’t win without wanting to take it all by force. That’s how the extremists in the 60s took over, that’s how the taliban took over. Afghanistan used to look like a small America back in the 50s

[@johnf120]

“Barry's first taste of battle was only a skirmish against a small rearguard of Frenchmen who occupied an orchard beside a road down which, a few hours later, the English main force wished to pass. Though this encounter is not recorded in any history books, it was memorable enough for those who took part.” - Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick)

[@felixf4378]

Man Frontline never fails to provide quality content. I've been watching them since I was 10 now I'm 25.

[@simplethings3730]

I've been watching them since I was 23. Now I'm 60.

[@vatomalo68]

I remember my first episode, “The Hunt for Howard Marks”. I’ve been a avid and constant viewer ever since.

[@pausonwizmuller8098]

Me too am from uganda 🇺🇬 some love

[@mynameissbu6014]

Yeah. Yeah.

[@Joseph-qb1es]

PBS Frontline remains one of the best weapons in the arsenal of American soft power. I mean that in a good way. 8 year old me growing up in the middle of a desert didn't stand a chance! Without firing a single shot the Americans had conquered me. I am 40 now and still hooked to this phenomenal show.

[@rygardntemena1966]

I am not an American, I hate how politicians play with soldiers lives. I have respect for these soldiers!

[@Morpheus187]

This was not Barack Hussein Obama’s war This is a George Bush war. There was no need to go into Afghanistan. We kicked Their ass in Two months we should’ve walked out. No we stayed for 20 years.

[@scorch4299]

I used to think that way, but alot of the American soldier WANT to be there....theyre dying to enter combat....its why they join.

[@ajreinhardt2948]

@@scorch4299 bingo😁 thats y im choosing infantry

[@masterlightjames950]

@@scorch4299 exactly. They love to kill and rape. But they'll all meet their Waterloo.

[@m02shoaibabdullah60]

Nostalgia. Providing exclusive documentarys as always.

[@AJ-et3vf]

Great video. Thank you

[@SecretSquirrel987]

It’s heartbreaking to watch this after how it all ended in Afghanistan. All those lives lost and forever affected and for what? It’s tragic, but those in power that made these decisions will be fine and never held accountable for their decisions.

[@jaymalmodhvadiya3944]

You should think again🤔, i mean asking Islamic country to help fight Islamic extrimists which are try to make Islamic nation 👀🙄😵

[@Ner0mancer]

@@jaymalmodhvadiya3944 yeah it made no sense from the start, that's why the afghanistan security/army just laid down their arms when the US left and the Taliban came rolling in lol

[@TEMPLE7D]

US felt threatened then gave up lmao

[@thatwaseasy4065]

A total waste, dick chenny and bush got rich though, Haliburton

[@RStevenPage]

@@Ner0mancer I feel on some level the Afghan soldiers and Afghan men in general were scared of Western-style democracy. If "their" women could get education and good jobs and have rights and walk around unscarfed, where would this new world order leave the men?

[@jludo]

Best part of Frontline is they don't beat you over the head with it They just ask good questions trust the viewer to judge for themselves.

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

Sure, but there's an over-arching liberal guidance to the questions. It's not a bad thing, but to pretend there's no bias is naive.

[@homijbhabha8860]

@@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368 Yeah, but I guess it's better than most.

[@Alele883]

@old man doing high kicks only in black socks. Thank you, couldn’t have put it better myself.

[@808INFantry11X]

@@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368 true we all have biases but I give Frontline credit it keeps their particular bias in check.

[@dadikkedude]

Really, this is so biased

[@johnbarnett6924]

I am pleased to see this posting. John. Seller To Marines

[@mysticswordsman]

Hey I am the Marine looking at the camera behind the lieutenant @ 23:11. Yay 5 seconds of fame.

[@tomcotter4299]

It doesn’t take education or experience in military strategy to see that this plan to reform an entire nation is too ambitious, and the people charged with carrying out the mission don’t have the necessary skills.

[@mukkaar]

Core problem is that previous government, which was mujahideen warlords that took over the soviets, were allowed to stay in power when US came in. From the start whole Afganistan government was very corrupt so progress and money was wasted in absurd amounts. That along with many issues. Other problem was allowing Osama to escape, US basically had no elite forces like SEAL deployed at the time. Aside from few CIA operatives that went with local forces. This failure basically is what really started the whole show as it gave massive amount of political ammunition for the terrorists, and which ultimately started the cat and mouse game, slowly turning them into massive problem escalating the conflict.

[@jeb419]

Clearly it does take a high level of education to believe in this idiotic view that we can invade a country and instill American western values on a foreign place. Many of these generals and politicians are highly educated yet they don’t seem to have common sense. Very sad and I feel higher education should take a look in the mirror to figure out why so many of the “leaders” they create are such out of touch nitwits that get us into these situations.

[@tomcotter4299]

@@jeb419 I can understand why people who study war think it is possible to totally revamp another nation. The United States successfully demilitarized the culture and politics of Germany and Japan post-WWII. Clearly, something is different between now and then, be it the target country or the strategy/execution of the people charged with carrying out the task.

[@jeb419]

@@tomcotter4299 did you watch the video to see what the situation was like on the ground there? There are many other disturbing videos from journalists being embedded in Afghanistan, for instance a Vice piece showing that the local Afghan police we were propping up and assisting were using boys for sexual acts, and the US troops stationed there couldn’t do anything about it because it went against the rosy picture that the chain of command was perpetuating. Germany and Japan were completely different cultures with a population that had a firm desire to change, move on and build a functioning country. That was never the case in Afghanistan and under our directive it never would be, no matter how many troops, firepower, or humanitarian aide we give them. Perhaps like Vietnam before, the nation can rise up without our intervention and become more moderate and successful country, but this is Afghanistan. It’s a tribal place

[@neliborba101]

Why try to reform a foreign country? This is deeper than to try to reform a country, it is global. War makes some people rich, endless war brings money to deep pockets.

[@darshanv5200]

The best part about these PBS documentaries is the manually added closed captions. It's a great accessibility feature which I feel every KZbin channel should add.

[@toksybisbig]

Great video

[@GalactusOG]

Happy New Years!

[@bs2502]

Rest in peace Lance Corporal Sharp. Thinking about this guys bravery and selflessness here in Sydney in 2022. You will never be forgotten.

[@crand20033]

Here is another one. Pat Tillman, turned down a three-year, multi-million-dollar deal with the NFL Arizona Cardinals and instead joined the Army. He was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. The news that Tillman, age 27, was mistakenly gunned down by his fellow Rangers, rather than enemy forces, was initially covered up by the U.S. military.

[@ahmedsamir6330]

What's brave about invading other people's countries turning them to war zones?

[@williamsherman1942]

@@crand20033Friendly fire is a cost of war, sadly

[@scorch4299]

the sad part is those deaths were pointless. We shoulda never been there to begin with.

[@mikewatt8706]

and the band played waltzing matilda

[@Ayyaz711]

Us Army: we have man power, modern warfare machinery, top notch technology etc. Taliban: we have time

[@itzjxcksxn2209]

U.S Marines not army

[@souravghosh3310]

And the truth is America lost it. Now Afghanistan is ruled by Taliban only.

[@abdullo3720]

талиби говорять. с нами время и Аллах. 😁😁😁

[@abdullo3720]

талиби говорять. с нами время и Аллах. 😁😁😁

[@Truthbomb918]

The saying is, you have the watch but we have the time

[@hakryt6457]

❤ for reporters and marines

[@pedrop5957]

Assistir a tudo isso, ter tantas vidas perdidas e ver que hoje o Talibã retomou tudo, é frustrante e assustador.

[@Ravidist]

We accomplished our mission: making Raytheon rich 🇺🇲🌎🦅

[@Mortimer_Duke]

And ensuring no future potential ally ever will trust the US again thanks to one idiotic decision by a President whose entire platform is undoing his predecessor’s signature achievement.

[@Devinn504]

@@Mortimer_Duke bush should’ve never invaded the middle east at all, if you gonna blame one blame them all.

[@FJTx10]

@@Devinn504 Colin Powell with his vile of mustard powder...WMD's ..knowingly lied to the world.

[@Devinn504]

@@FJTx10 once again blame bush and every other president and cabinet members, not just one.

[@larryg5698]

@@Mortimer_Duke - What” signature achievement “are you referring to ?

[@georgecoull1883]

The combat journalist is basically a soldier filming American history and I think that's galant and courageous

[@HomeAtLast501]

You liberals always use such stilted language when you talk about politics. How do you feel about wars? I voted for Obama because he promised to end this shit, then he broke the promise and became Bush on steroids.

[@Truthbomb918]

Afghan history

[@thegrayyernaut]

The Director of Afghan Intelligence seems like an interesting character. He was so concise in his answers. He made short but sharp remarks, no space for any confusion.

[@KKE1978]

I really feel sorry and sad for all those families who lost loved ones in these wars "Iraq and Afghanistan" I truly hope they didnt die in vain.

[@hammadhashmi8463]

I feel sorry for the US marines. They were dragged into the battlefield with zero understanding of local customs & values. How unfortunate

[@kadmd03]

I thought I was watching a Vietnam documentary with updated tools...

[@sweetiepie4328]

that's what happens when you decide to sign up to kill for a living. i mean to protect people.

[@dankwon100]

@@kadmd03 really nothings changed. Just upgraded armor and weapons. Sad.

[@itsok682]

You went there to change the customs and values and you lost. So what ?

[@broflo3875]

@N D You've obviously never been in combat, nor does it sound like anyone else in this thread has either. Marines, in general, are extremely organized and meticulous in the way they conduct themselves and their "operations". probably more so than any other branch. The yelling that Marines do is also part of their culture as training to be the warriors they are requires them not only be effective, but also aggressive and violent. You can look through American history and find extremely few instances where the US Marines were out fought or defeated on the battle field. What you see here is a mix of organized chaos, adrenaline, and excitement. There's plenty of NCO's, Staff NCO's, and an officer or two around that I'm sure of. But hey, what do I know. The guy on the couch probably knows better.

[@nabeelahmedkhanofficial]

Well, USA and NATO fought 20 years in Afghanistan to replace Taliban with Taliban.

[@ID-8491]

Pakistan should stop interfering with Afghanistan's affairs.

[@adeenbenyasharal5412]

I don't think they ever truly cared about winning as much as they did fulfilling their monetary goals. Stretch the war long-term, make money long-term.

[@Truthbomb918]

Oh stop, America invaded and occupied Afghanistan

[@Truthbomb918]

And then invaded and occupied Iraq, causing yet another insurgency

[@35t10b]

And the Russians for 10 years from 79-89

[@user-tr4lg4pg2q]

Very interesting

[@wazir3647]

22:52 that epic reply from locals made my day😄

[@aribosch9064]

Proud of those marines ....disgusted how politicians use them for their ambitions.......

[@troybayard2963]

My sentiments exactly

[@fthishandleshit]

Proud he's ill equipped/trained. Can't even talk to the people properly, no quality translation. Has so little power in the land that he can't make them go to their local market. It's all around pathetic from the US.

[@t33nyplaysp0p]

Proud that they killed civilians and inspired new generations of jihadists? Nice...

[@atf8721]

@@t33nyplaysp0p get off cnn

[@BrickworksDK]

@sxpr33t "Your proudness is one of the main enabler for the politician to send them half the world away to kill brown people & burn dollars" Exactly. The US population needs to be much more critical of both the politicians and the soldiers who willingly serve the military industrial complex. These men are not heroes. They're pawns in a big game that benefits the few while causing untold suffering to many.

[@Pfromm007]

Shout out to the journalists & camera man for bringing us all of this.

[@grifyn882]

I was a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-1969. Hard year. Lost too many good Marines killed and wounded. We operated in different types of terrain that included sandy pine forests near the coast, rice paddies, elephant grass, jungle, and the mountains. It was physically and mentally exhausting. It was stinking hot in the dry season and it rained constantly during the monsoon season. I was a company commander in Hawaii 1975-1976. Hawaii didn't have a jungle course in those days, rather it was OJT taking the company on training exercises on both Oahu and the Big Island. I can confirm that the terrain really sucked in both places, especially keeping control of a rifle company. I did nearly freeze to death at the Army's Arctic Warfare Course at Ft Greely, Alaska in 1977 while I was the 1st Marine Brigade G-4 Operations Officer because one of our contingency plans was in the event of another Korean War. The commanding general wanted me to advise him as to how to prepare for that mission in the event we had to deploy to Korea during the winter. So he sent me to the Arctic Warfare Course. I also spent two years in Latin America supporting a host nation's counter-insurgency effort. I wasn't as dangerous as Vietnam, but it was dangerous work. It was a designated combat zone and so I received combat pay and fitness reports. The country also had some serious terrain challenges. Retired after 21 years. Greatest honor in my life was leading Marines, especially in combat.

[@reza_dc2]

Thanks for your service boss ~ glad you made it out.

[@grifyn882]

@@reza_dc2 thx

[@illuminat-i1911]

And u all killed too many civilians the world wont forget

[@elgmichoacan818]

You volunteered so quit bitchin

[@Pfigueira78]

Brazil?

[@redrum1701]

Winning hearts and minds cost lives,but in the end you can't expect people to protect their own country when not everyone wants change and aren't on the same page...I knew from the start with my first deployment to Afghanistan that it was a pointless effort.

[@Truthbomb918]

American troops aren't capable of hearts and minds, their loathing of the local population, their ignorance and arrogance of the culture and people. Just like Iraq, Somalia, Vietnam. Americans are only good at turning the population against them in an insurgency

[@RayMarzFilms]

How does a man that lived to come back home cope with the realization It was all for nothing... I can't imagine.

[@Morpheus187]

Ask all the Vietnam veterans that question you 💩

[@gabeprice3333]

Imagine all the vaxxed and boostered people. When they they're now have an expiration date because they were lied into being scared of coof and now it's a matter of time untill whatever aliment the vax gave them will rear it's ugly head.

[@freedomisnotfree3536]

AMEN! To fight on the battle field, watch your Marines die and later find out that all that was for an empty political cause. That's not a good feeling.

[@Truthbomb918]

Just like every American illegal war so

[@freedomisnotfree3536]

@@Truthbomb918 Unfortunately it is true starting from Vietnam War an on.

[@fafafooey8776]

"Spread the word. Tell your friends that live in other places, tell the Taliban to stay away." It's truly unbelievable that was even a thought in the mind of a soldier 8 years after the war began. Just Say No.

[@silverhawkscape2677]

In order words, the people accepted the Taliban. Now they will suffer Taliban rule.

[@carknower]

Say no to drugs

[@hdxsilversnowcontent4262]

@@carknower say yess to weed & no to drugs!🤣😂 lmao

[@4Dwooorld]

General David Petraeus has a long-simmering affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, who gets jealous of Petraeus’s acquaintance Jill Kelley and sends her threatening, anonymous e-mails. Broadwell also dials in General John Allen, another acquaintance, sending him e-mails that describe Kelley “as a ‘seductress’ and warn[ing] the general about being entangled in a relationship with her,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Then Kelley gets an anonymous FBI agent on the line, intending that he only hear Broadwell’s attacks. But while he’s eavesdropping on that interaction, he overhears dirt that Kelley didn’t mean to expose - namely, that she was exchanging her own sexy e-mails with Allen. Oh, and that anonymous FBI agent was hot for Kelley and had sent her shirtless pics of himself. As the Plastics would say, “OMG.”. The Cut PENTAGON OF LOVE NOV. 15, 2012 How Mean Girls Explains the Petraeus Scandal By Ann Friedman

[@kartalpencesi2000]

escape vietnam, flee afghanistan. he attacks weak countries like an aggressive dog and then runs away without looking his ass , we watched these scenes a lot vietnam iraq afghanistan . I hope if you fight CHINA you won't flee the pacific😂😂😂

[@JeremyMeredith-uy5dl]

Awesome communications.

[@nervouswreck392]

GRATE‼️💪

[@Mr--_--M]

Love documentaries that make you think in hindsight about the outcome.

[@TheJimprez]

Yeah. EASY to pre forecast when you know the outcome..

[@darkness595]

Outcome is US army & mercenaries take control of the puppy fields to give u a reason to go to that rave party your friends are throwing. An other thing is that American armies, spies, cia etc use Afghanistan as a guard tower so that they can easily punish any state which disobeys them or refuses to pay “the protection money’. America is a godfather.

[@oweldefreitas241]

Ok

[@mannyortiz1256]

Hits a blunt:

[@avyghn5324]

@@TheJimprez BuT trUmP knEw iT BefOrE tHIs!

[@Kurniawan-gn9sn]

" you have planes , tanks and guns . if you can't win , how can we ? " My advice for them , ask Vietnam .

[@marcoantonioretamoza]

Uno de mís programas favoritos 🤫

[@vtheman1850]

i think the main issue and what I gathered from all these recordings and shows is that the US strategy assumed the locals were stupid...

[@NitsP2208]

This really opens viewers eyes on how things look like on ground,. How it's like you're walking down fields, villages, speaking to locals who don't understand your language. The situation is so messed up 😒

[@charleslaine]

I feel sick watching the news about Afghanistan. All those years, all that investment in lives and treasure... for nothing.

[@AS-yo2xz]

Not for nothing depends who u ask

[@azamaziz8379]

Thanks

[@Nitestalker65]

Love the American Marines!!! So proud to be American 🇺🇲!!!!

[@HavingDinna]

Rip sharp. No I didn’t go to school with him or know him while we were growing up, but he was one of our soldiers. And not every soldier needs a sob story.

[@asaventurasderobson]

Well, his grand children would not study his battle in school. They will study how the president was so wise at that time. They will study the same kind of lies that Sharp studied.

[@andersonmike9733]

Straight to hell pal.

[@eliahumoreno2651]

Marine

[@4Dwooorld]

General David Petraeus has a long-simmering affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, who gets jealous of Petraeus’s acquaintance Jill Kelley and sends her threatening, anonymous e-mails. Broadwell also dials in General John Allen, another acquaintance, sending him e-mails that describe Kelley “as a ‘seductress’ and warn[ing] the general about being entangled in a relationship with her,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Then Kelley gets an anonymous FBI agent on the line, intending that he only hear Broadwell’s attacks. But while he’s eavesdropping on that interaction, he overhears dirt that Kelley didn’t mean to expose - namely, that she was exchanging her own sexy e-mails with Allen. Oh, and that anonymous FBI agent was hot for Kelley and had sent her shirtless pics of himself. As the Plastics would say, “OMG.”. The Cut PENTAGON OF LOVE NOV. 15, 2012 How Mean Girls Explains the Petraeus Scandal By Ann Friedman

[@4Dwooorld]

@@asaventurasderobson General David Petraeus has a long-simmering affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, who gets jealous of Petraeus’s acquaintance Jill Kelley and sends her threatening, anonymous e-mails. Broadwell also dials in General John Allen, another acquaintance, sending him e-mails that describe Kelley “as a ‘seductress’ and warn[ing] the general about being entangled in a relationship with her,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Then Kelley gets an anonymous FBI agent on the line, intending that he only hear Broadwell’s attacks. But while he’s eavesdropping on that interaction, he overhears dirt that Kelley didn’t mean to expose - namely, that she was exchanging her own sexy e-mails with Allen. Oh, and that anonymous FBI agent was hot for Kelley and had sent her shirtless pics of himself. As the Plastics would say, “OMG.”. The Cut PENTAGON OF LOVE NOV. 15, 2012 How Mean Girls Explains the Petraeus Scandal By Ann Friedman

[@mindelo23]

I remember right as we started bombing Afghanistan in 2001 they interviewed a old afghan man who was fleeing to Pakistan to escape the bombing with his family and he said "We have defeated every country that has invaded Afghanistan now here come the Americans. We will defeat them just like we did the Russians" Boy was he right.

[@amolkhobaragade]

Bullshit! Pakistan had defeated Afghanistan and install their allies as rulers (Taliban)

[@whodat9198]

lol Afghanistan has been beaten many times in history. that is all mythology. the best country at beating the USA is the USA and everyone knows it. Just have to wait for the right democrats to ruin everything

[@Ayyaz711]

@@amolkhobaragade u must be living under the rock for 20 years

[@admiral2588]

@@whodat9198 Wrong, many empires have invaded Afghanistan but have never been able to control the Pashtun tribes. Just ask Alexander the Great, the Mongols and the Persians.

[@whodat9198]

@@admiral2588 Most of those examples controlled the territory and the people in them for long periods of time. Many of those empires receded or ended for reasons that had nothing to do with Afghanistan. The graveyard of empires trope is just a myth. Many have controlled the area thru history when they felt it was in their interests until it wasn't for decades and centuries or even multiple times. At some point other internal issues take precedent or the effort isn't worth the bother. Using the same graveyard myth one could make the same argument about most independent nations that threw off any colonial power multiple times. I guess Brazil is the graveyard of empires too!! LOL! As for 'control' of various tribes and factions that don't even have borders or national ideology, not sure how you even care to define or try to measure that. I'm sure if any imperial power remotely cared enough they'd give the Pashtuns blankets with smallpox, kill all their goats and build railroads, forts and settlements everywhere suffocating them out of space. Been done repeatedly thru history to people who no longer exist. It's not magic.

[@user-ne3tl3le3n]

War is crazy man

[@Hoireabard]

The generals will all have fine retirement homes.

[@Stoneface_]

And the politicians who are sending young men and women to never-ending wars

[@jambro1583]

Yep America is 🗑 never flight always cutting and 🏃‍♀️

[@Ddub1083]

"I know much more than all of the generals" Trump

[@VincentIrkallaOfficial]

@@Ddub1083 And look at Afghanistan now. Yet his ever-loyal cult followers place blame on the incumbent (Biden) for a decision he wasn’t in office to make. Ironically enough, the disgraced, seditious traitor and Q nut Michael Flynn happens to be in this doc. My, how people fall.

[@bluecollarhispanic]

including every president, Obama as well...

[@bigtex9836]

PBS is the best reporting group of all time. Always insightful because of where they report from. Inside the lines !!!

[@cuiperindy2120]

That's called "embedded journalism". Google the term. They are basically embedded journalists

[@thekidwhodraws]

This is incredible war reporting

[@ambarishudta6291]

Amrulla saleh is spot on....he was gem of Afghanistan...God bless him.

[@nufh]

Just after 5 min, my heart already breaking apart. RIP Corporal Sharp.

[@t33nyplaysp0p]

*shrug*

[@MrTripsJ]

@@t33nyplaysp0p So you'll move to the taliban run Afghanistan ?

[@whotube88]

@@MrTripsJ so you'll go fight them to live your way? How did that go?

[@MrTripsJ]

@@whotube88 I’m not American lol

[@brodyherrera2354]

@make a wish bro a man died… your just plain evil at the point, yeah he was invading but he was just serving his country. A cog in a machine not the person who actually ordered the invasion. Your just a bad person and at this point you deserve what ever comes your way

[@felixf4378]

19:42 well there's the problem. Sending in a bunch of young arrogant soldiers to talk down to afghan elders. Then people wonder why the Afghanis end up siding with the Taliban. You can't be talking to the local population like that and expect them to support you. Specially talking down to older people while you're just a young man.

[@bertbollen]

Arrogant? I saw frustration and misunderstanding. He was told those Afghans wanted his help.

[@theycallmeGUN]

@@bertbollen His attitude doesn’t really matter. It’s deeper than that. Why would local afghani’s trust a foreign occupying force, even if they put on a nice face. Especially when compliance basically guarantees death or torture when the Taliban eventually return.

[@bertbollen]

@@theycallmeGUN I totally agree.

[@biggtv8584]

And they know that our government will just abandon them in the end smh lets face it our government is a lying piece of shit that only destroys and takes

[@kurtlovef150]

Yea he didnt do a good job at all

[@roserouge3791]

Exactly

[@kyvanthrone]

Impressive work, spooky as hell, but very informative.

[@360Nomad]

"Can America win?" Well, I guess that question has been settled...

[@captainkenscoff]

Huzzah indeed

[@BrickworksDK]

Was there ever any doubt?

[@carknower]

Sleepy Joe

[@monham5041]

This was more about the Afghanistan country winning. But corruption and fear of the Taliban meant that there was never going to be a good outcome. I feel for the afghan people. No win for them. Poor bastards.

[@tjenle]

The politicians and big corps won. Always.

[@JayBryce916]

We can’t afford another foreign war… we need to be worried about the welfare of our own people in America. After this I will not support foreign intervention🙏🏾

[@nemesis1291]

I'm almost willing to bet that within the next 6 months the US will be in another country waging war, its an economy of its own.

[@anikeshmidya4882]

@@nemesis1291 10 bucks it will be Venezuela or Cuba

[@KK-cl6ki]

Fighting wars is actually done in the name of welfare of the citizens of America.... multi billion dollar US defence contractors are the direct benefactors and it trickles down as jobs to Americans....

[@ThatFire9oNe6]

Honestly, I'm really not liking China and their policies. Not only that, but their constant saber rattling isn't helping either. Other than that, I agree. We need to start investing more in America/Americans.

[@gold9ja]

It’s to late for that, especially the way the world is going, it’s inevitable. When it will happen I don’t know. In the end of the day I understand your sentiment but America has so much investments worldwide that I doubt America will avoid foreign intervention.

[@mummysonanddaughter]

Thanks for helping them

[@toostoned9409]

One thing we all know for a fact camera man never dies

[@planetcaravan2925]

You can pass the camera foward if its not damaged

[@Protagonistt]

20 years of fighting for what? The US should feel ashamed of the mess they created and then left behind just to run like cowards in the middle of the night.

[@MeAndDad_1723]

The silence to vote for this purpose, allowed it.

[@uglyjordanuglyjordan1744]

Yes ur right 20 yrs of help from u.s. not sure how many u.s. soldiers died & they 1 trillion dollars spent ovr there just to leave it a mess or run lie cowards in the mid of nite. But didnt trump announce last yr he was pullin troops out. Yes he did then he bragged that he made impossible to back out of it known fact he said himself. But that's really nothin. My main question is out of 20 yrs the afghans wouldnt couldnt or dint want to fight 4 themselves so y is evry1 cryin ovr it, their grown azz adults & if i dnt wanna defend urselves then live under the dictatorship that they just received. So quit cryin & whinning 4 nothing

[@beachesandhose2374]

Cowards? The Afghan army should be the ones to call cowards since they decided to not fight back and let the Taliban do whatever they want.

[@Protagonistt]

@@uglyjordanuglyjordan1744 it basically means 20 years of fighting and spending almost a trillion dollars was for nothing but just to see the taliban capturing the kabul without any bloodshed. Another defeat in the books of history for u.s. saigon 2.0

[@Protagonistt]

@@beachesandhose2374 i guess it were americans who "trained & thought" them how to fight and use their weapons only to be seen in taliban hands later.

[@rjo8500]

LCPL Charles S. Sharp, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment - Thank You For Your Brave Service And Ultimate Sacrifice.

[@stormcloakrebellion609]

Hey what song was playing around 7:30

[@yammified4079]

Stone Sour-Through Glass

[@midwesttraveler2674]

21:00. Sums everything

[@juanvasquez8616]

I remember when this first came out a long time ago. People back then would call you a racist just because you were criticizing a black president for acting like bush.

[@helloyall4355]

I spoke of the same thing this evening.

[@juanvasquez8616]

@John Covington Yup, unfortunately, I think we are here 20 years later not because of our politicians but the lack of informed Americans to make the right decisions... The politician knows what they is doing....

[@t33nyplaysp0p]

@@juanvasquez8616 and the military and private contractors profit off of this greatly. They need to be highly examined

[@alwillk]

If you knew anything about history the afghan war was going on long before bush and Obama and can be traced back to carter.

[@epic6434]

It is amazing, how many people would have thought that the Taliban would be the best cooperation for the people and the U.S.

[@ilshyf]

One thing is certain: Afghanistan is not just a graveyard for the great powers, this whole country is A massive graveyard for everyone involved. I feel sorry for the ordinary people there having to live in this hellhole called "Afghanistan"...

[@Zov631]

It's also a massive graveyard for its own people

[@vincentlavorgna2867]

There are a lot of people who's life is about to change for the worst because of the US withdrawal so we must have done some good but at what cost?

[@sugang225]

But exception of pakistan . They win from Soviet union and also US

[@destroyerarmor2846]

No, a couple of WW2 style firebomb would have ended the war. War is not fought for total destruction as per now

[@sullivanl3305]

​@@destroyerarmor2846 no it wouldn't... stop living in fantasy land and start living in the real world.

[@arwenverdeflor943]

😢😢😢

[@hulkhulk6765]

Crypto currency has gone beyond a mere currency and has become the world Pushes

[@kimleonard332]

Don’t trade with any experts that can not afford to show off their governmental credentials such as National ID, Drivers license ID, Passport. If your experts can’t provide any of this means of identification then you know you are risking your money all in the name of trading Crypto

[@michelleakerman1435]

I will recommend one expert that has been able to provide her means of identification. Her name is Gleichman Victoria.

[@michelleakerman1435]

+1 👈

[@michelleakerman1435]

867 👈

[@michelleakerman1435]

292 👈

[@iankatusiime227]

My jaw dropped when I saw that US Marine talking down to Afghans about cooperating with implied threats. For me, that offered a snapshot into the colossal failures of America's mission in Afghanistan. US forces need to learn from what Ugandan troops did in Somalia: the peacekeeping mission in Somalia led by Ugandan is an eye-opening experiment of what winning over hearts and minds of people is about.

[@Truthbomb918]

American soldiers have always been their own worst enemy. Easy to invade countries, then they treat the locals as sub human animals. Create an insurgency they can't win

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

Can you lead me to further information concerning that peacekeeping mission?

[@andypoon8176]

Because Somalia is so peaceful lmao

[@Cbd_7ohm]

​@@andypoon8176lol

[@dolienaldoza9586]

Martin Smith 🙏 PBS🙏. Thank you for this documentary. What my take to this war is it's hard to win. Because you don't know who is really an ally. Even the biggest player that you're helping cannot be trusted. Even in the tribes with the common people, you will never know who are friendly or else you are talking with the enemy ready to take the fall. It is just the sad part falls to thr demise of the people who wants peace. 😢

[@eng.mohammed8445]

What is the US military doing in Afghanistan? You are occupying! Go to your country and do not interfere in the affairs of other countries!! Is it permissible for another country to enter America and impose control on the American people?????

[@LowTempDabr]

Just remember, without these wars we wouldn't have things like CoD MWIII to play after a long day at work.

[@syxxpoppin8830]

@22:52 🎉 love it 🇺🇸

[@faithford9143]

20 years, a waste of life, man & woman’s lives. Money is behind this.

[@themaestro9527]

Oil too

[@FJTx100]

Don't forget Iran/Contra, the Clowns In Action use drug trafficking to fund their hidden agendas. Poppy fields galore.

[@s3505]

Greed is a demon

[@lissaleggs4136]

@@FJTx100 You mean Donald Trump and Don Regen

[@mattfarley4996]

Sucks for the vets... especially if their reading mean comments. They are.

[@doghouse010]

I would never volunteer for the US military. The most hillarious part is the "counterinsurgency strategy" of having a 19 year old shout at a village "When the Taliban come, do not work with them. When we come, you need to help us. ok got it?" What a joke.

[@lan8854]

Agreed, it’s fucking insulting.

[@novadream1184]

I mean you have to be of a certain type of intellect to join a pointless war

[@exlibrisscientia6741]

Amazing how you guys speak on shit you know absolutely nothing about. You're absolutely right, fucking insulting.

[@robyg7037]

Local farmers know the BS !

[@generalripper7528]

@@novadream1184 They invaded Afghanistan, because the Taliban government were harbouring Al Quaida terrorists, responsible for the 9/11 Terror Attacks. I think joining this war and fighting for the country you love, is actually very courageous and intelligent. They have more grit than you'll likely ever have - (probably cowering behind your keyboard and eating Doritos all day long).

[@user-ds7ib1eb6x]

😢

[@user-yi5oc7ou1q]

The world is not blind to see the service and sacrifice the American marines ,in keeping the world at peace, fighting for for those who can't fight back for themselves,

[@rm26367]

I have never been in the military but I am a victim of a civil war. In my opinion, nothing good ever comes out of war except more devastation, distraction, poverty, hunger, and ultimately overwhelming refugee flow no country wants to take. I really hope this is the last war we engage. The word “American Project” stuck with me the most. Judging from our exit, this was indeed a project.

[@stansmith4054]

Not always. The American Revolution led to a better independent country, the U.S. Civil War led to the abolishing of slavery, etc.

[@sashalove83]

@@stansmith4054 Both wars you used as a example where bullsh*t The American Revolutionary led to a better what? Independent from who? What about the people who where kidnapped? the native Americans who country was stolen? Did the war help them? Ended slavery then what?What did the Civil War seriously change for the kidnapped African American? Neither one of those wars helped the majority of people in America.

[@davidflitcroft7101]

@@stansmith4054 In genral, I agree with your assessment. The American victory in 1783 over Imperial Britian didn't just give rise to a new Nation, but changed the History of the world for the better. The World War victories were also positve [but costly] for humanity. Korea led to the free state of South Korea, an Asian success story. It also gave the World as fair a contrast between two systems as ever there has been; the Communist state in the North is a dismal failure. Kosovo, Kuwait, and hopefully Ukraine are NOT wasted Wars. Finally, my opinion of the Civil War differs from almost anyone I know. If it had never been faught slavery would have ended with the cotton gin and the invention of farm machinery, which was all only a decade or two away. We may have had two searate Americas, but we virtually do, anyway. We'd still be incredibly strong. . . So I question if this, the bloodiest American War [the loss of ~ 650,000 lives] was worth the trouble. Your thoughts?

[@JustinAEgan]

@@davidflitcroft7101 ....Your opinion - assumes 'everything else would have NOT changed'... However it neglects that "western" expansion would likely would not have been possible without the fallout from repression of "Slavery"! Spanish interests were much further advanced than you realism: California, New Mexico, the whole Pacific coast - would not so easily been "Stolen" nor would Alaska been sold to the USA at such a discount - if the aftermath of remnants of slavery made it possible for Yankee;s to pull up stakes and "Go West" - because US soldiers were massacring, Indians or putting them on shrinking "Reservations"! The Plains Indians had seen what happened to East coast "Civilized Indian".... there was rising consolidation ...by Indians... to organize resistance. against "Encroachment" by Americans. "Sea to shining Sea" was beginning to be plainly viable. What if the Indians had become "Woke"?, joined together...made a treaty with Mexico, Spain, "France",China, Japan - America was a prize, waiting to be divided - By The "Entire Old World Order"! Keeping de facto "Slavery" allowed USA government to concentrate. on "Indian Fighting"... Consolidation - instead of being distracted by Nation Building. Once again...no Full credit is assigned to the true "Debt" This country owes the unsung presence of "African-Americans"! Whether they were "Legally" Enslaved or Not".

[@themeadowlarkminutewithpau8184]

99% of the time I agree.

[@jeb419]

Absolutely amazing reporting. Incredible that journalists were embedded getting the real story on the ground, while being in a bitter war zone. Always interesting to see the out of touch generals and politicians in Washington and then see the actual story on the ground and realize how absolutely incongruous it always is in America’s idiotic wars.

[@silverhawkscape2677]

We'll be in another war but sadly a Necessary one. If the CCP invades Taiwan. And you can't say no to Taiwan. They LITERALLY control most of the world's semiconductor manufacturing. China controls that, it'll affect everyone. And don't even get started on Defense deals with the Philippines and Japan.

[@4jai2brons0n]

I completely agree with you. The recent fall of the US implemented Afghanistan government came as no surprise to people who payed attention to the real boots on the ground reporting. I was honestly shocked at how surprised the average person was to its inevitable outcome.

[@4Dwooorld]

General David Petraeus has a long-simmering affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, who gets jealous of Petraeus’s acquaintance Jill Kelley and sends her threatening, anonymous e-mails. Broadwell also dials in General John Allen, another acquaintance, sending him e-mails that describe Kelley “as a ‘seductress’ and warn[ing] the general about being entangled in a relationship with her,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Then Kelley gets an anonymous FBI agent on the line, intending that he only hear Broadwell’s attacks. But while he’s eavesdropping on that interaction, he overhears dirt that Kelley didn’t mean to expose - namely, that she was exchanging her own sexy e-mails with Allen. Oh, and that anonymous FBI agent was hot for Kelley and had sent her shirtless pics of himself. As the Plastics would say, “OMG.”. The Cut PENTAGON OF LOVE NOV. 15, 2012 How Mean Girls Explains the Petraeus Scandal By Ann Friedman

[@chetanphadake4174]

Not to support any countries when there is a war better to stay neutral. If it comes to your country then not to leave that countries.

[@declanmurphy6427]

The real story is Uncle Sam is the Worlds No 1 terrorist organisation if Wasters Losers💩💩💩

[@Investigatiion]

Those citizens spittin🔥

[@traininglime5559]

20:48 it was at this moment the marine new he had no answer for these people. That’s sad it could be that bluntly stated.

[@francisphillips53]

Rip..corporal Sharp. (God bless his fellow marines, and his family.) 😢

[@martinignaciodefeo9235]

Did he lose his life for a good cause? Was his relatives´ sorrow worth anything? Does the American people still believe that the US Army should fight other countries civil wars? Wasn`t Vietnam enough of a lesson learned? Rest in Peace Corporal Sharp. May his relatives find peace and strenght. I bet right now they must feel very dissapointed with the result. I`ll believe in the war effort the same day when warmongers stop fighting until the last drop of other people`s blood... and grab the assault rifles and do the job themselves. Sorry Jerry... I`m not even American... just can`t accept how evil mankind can get in order to sacrifice young people like Corporal Sharp and secure the Military Industrial Complex gains.

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

That's why the USMC pays so well...

[@itsolivier]

@@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368 has ductape ever saved a life in the afghan war ?

[@m3gAnac0nda]

Keep your fake sentiments to yourself.

[@pocong8017]

😂😂😂

[@dividedconquered3784]

"They have money for war's but can't feed the poor" -Tupac 🌷💚 I remember being 10 years old and Bush scaring the shit out of me, not the terrorism but the fact he was using the war to get away with murder and total authoritarian actions without any fight! He fear mongered the people and placed his cabinet into power, money and resources are always the reason for "Democracy"!! Bush is a huge reason I observe politics!

[@FJTx11]

Defense Authorization act, spying on the entire world with impunity..including every single American.

[@dividedconquered3784]

@@FJTx11 Yup! Get "invaluable" data from AMERICANS while distracting them with shinny things, while taking all the resources in Afghanistan!

[@harold3287]

Bush -yeah- how bout Biden? --Drain the swamp

[@DaleKallio-jk9wo]

So many men of deep conviction trying for something better. Thank you all.

[@thecanadiancaribou]

Stop... invading... Other... Country's....

[@W_Bin]

Great documentary, but why and how did they go in the first place? Missed off.

[@KK-et6br]

Obama: "the American people deserve a straight forward answer on our purpose there." Proceeds to not give an answer at all

[@geraldboykin6159]

He did better than Trump!

[@nunyabidness976]

@@geraldboykin6159 OMG Best joke Ive seen today.

[@mbtravel7294]

Bush's war

[@JustinAEgan]

@@nunyabidness976 Best "Cartoon" is Trump "still" - trying to Steal the Presidency... This ain't Hollywood or a game Show. Face it, you didn't get the VOTES? You are Fired! Live with it...deal with it! Even your cronies are embarrassed.

[@nunyabidness976]

@@JustinAEgan He's only got a couple more years to be on par with Democrats denying the election for 3 years... but hey... 4d chess is a biscuit.

[@vsboy2577]

Frontline does the best docs.

[@jessegibbons3562]

It helped me

[@kritikasukan8731]

Itu lah perlu Adanya subtitle Agar bisa mengerti

[@camorraII1]

Probably, in fact, absolutely the best documentary ive seen on the subject!! It all makes perfect sense now, in 2022!

[@Jeremy-kq5bs]

Lmfao. This is pure propaganda. And bullshit. I hope you're being sarcastic.

[@camorraII1]

@@Jeremy-kq5bs LOL. 'MERICA does not do propaganda! We have FREE press!

[@planetcaravan2925]

​@@camorraII1rusbot. Does putin allow free media in your country? Thought so

[@adamp9348]

11:45 wow, remember when Mike Flynn was respected?

[@SoufianeDepp]

Too bad he lost his marbales to wild conspiracy theories, and also ended up advocating for a military-coup in the US.

[@Strelokos666]

Now I kind of getting why leaving afghan felt devastating to some people. also very weird to watch footage of that time in 1080p

[@abdushakoorjamalmokalane1719]

You can never defeat an army which does not wear uniforms, no matter how powerful you are

[@annacanas4895]

Thank you for the stunning video.! I am so sorry for all those American's lifes who never get the opportunity , to survived 😓 the terrible mess. And get back to land with their families. And for the mental state situation suffering after the whole deal. Which will leave with them always.

[@roberts1572]

Incredible documentary.

[@CyrilGonzales]

❤

[@CJCurry-ql8cq]

I can vividly remember that nap at 6:05 . Every grunt has felt that

[@vatomalo68]

I’m beginning to understand that these rebroadcasts are actually reaction videos

[@ClockinLoot]

Important reflection on how we got to where we are currently.

[@harold3287]

@@ClockinLoot hind sight 20-20