Mike Farrell reviews HBO's "Baghdad ER"

[MethuenProgressive]

Found this on "Crooks and Liars"
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Mike Farrell, who most of you know from the TV series "Mash," allowed C&L an exclusive to publish his review and feelings about HBO's documentary, "Baghdad ER."
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I saw "Baghdad ER" on HBO last night (Sunday, May 21). I'd heard that the Defense Dept. had issued warnings urging servicemen and women back from Iraq to be wary of watching as it might trigger PTSD symptoms. Perhaps they hoped those about to go wouldn't watch as well, for fear they might not show up.

"Baghdad ER" is a documentary about a "CASH," a Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. I recommend it for every American, but the queasy be warned: it is excruciating. I cringed at the gore, was sickened by the death, wept at the frustration and resignation of the medics, at the faith of the chaplain, at the simple, shocked, blank expressions on the faces of kids younger than my son – victims of this fool's war. Listening to the bravado of some, aching to comfort those who came in knowing they were hurt but not how badly, made me want to scream. Watching this horrifying, endless process, the tears on my face kept drying from the heat of my anger. Glorious, generous, talented, dedicated human beings forced to be part of this circus of carnage made me so furious I couldn't speak at the end.

I loathe the people who have created this monstrosity. I want the criminals who lied and cheated and pretended and twisted and perverted reality - and those who rationalized their crimes - so they could send over 2400 servicemen and woman to their death, nearly 18,000 to come home torn - some never to be whole again - thousands more to suffer mental damage, and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians to be swept into the garbage can of "collateral damage," to pay. These bastards and their apologists should be stripped naked and forced to walk the main streets of America, allowing every city and town that has lost a loved one to injury or death in this shameful catastrophe to heap on them the scorn they deserve.

John F. Kennedy said America would never start a war. Well, it has now, and its architects have damaged our character, poisoned our standing in the world and soiled the soul of what was once the greatest nation in the history of the world.

---by Mike Farrell

[KyndCulture]

1. WOW!!!

k n r

[Supersedeas]

15. i'll second that

[MSgt213]

2. Mike is the Man!!! Well said.

[IndyOp]

3. Mike is holding back - he knows the US has started many wars...

Mike Farrell is a long-time outspoken activist against US military and CIA adventures and their impact on our world.

Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II.



If you flip over the rock of American foreign
policy of the past century, this is what crawls out ...

invasions ... bombings ... overthrowing
governments ... suppressing movements
for social change ... assassinating
political leaders ... perverting
elections ... manipulating labor unions ...
manufacturing "news" ... death squads ...
torture ... biological warfare ...
depleted uranium ... drug trafficking ...
mercenaries ...

It's not a pretty picture.
It is enough to give imperialism a bad name.

[welshTerrier2]

4. nice one Beej ...

this is the kind of tone i've been seeking from our "representatives" ... they're a whole lot too polite for my tastes ...

on the other hand, i'm not all that sure i'd want to see them walking nude on my street ... especially cheney ... ewwwwwwwww ...

[robbedvoter]

5. Farell - always uncompromising activist, always the good guy!

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. Closing sentence packs one heck of a punch.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. But it'll fall...

...on deaf ears. You know the MSM will neither note nor comment.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. Indeed. That goes without saying. *sigh*

[IndianaGreen]

8. Baghdad E.R. stands on its own merits

I highly recommend it!

[MethuenProgressive]

17. I'll tivo it the next time it comes on - BUT

BUT it's really George W. Bush who should see it. (Right after he screens Al Gore's "Truth")

[Vidar]

9. Wow!

[file83]

10. I clicked on the link to Mike Farrell's website - WOW!! I had no idea he

was such an activist!! He is a great man.

[progressoid]

13. Yep, RWers hate him as much as Alec Baldwin and Sean Pean

[Hardrada]

18. Is that pronounced Sheen Peen?

Just kidding.

& Hooray for Mike Farrell!

[ReadTomPaine]

11. Eloquently living up to his fine reputation! n/t

[truebrit71]

14. Good stuff from B.J......

...not sure if I have the stomach to watch it though.....The stuff in Fahrenheit 9/11 was pretty bloody awful too...

[bluefish]

16. Wonderful He speaks for a lot of us against war

Thanks Mr. Farrell