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"The Ground Truth"

PM Howard, and many in his Cabinet, were more than sceptical, if not scathing, of Al Gore when he visited Australia late last year to promote his movie "An Inconvenient Truth". Ministers like Joe Hockey actually "rubbished" Gore.

Whether any of these intellectual pygmies ever ended up seeing the movie we really don't know. However, no doubt prompted by political considerations, the issue of climate change is now on the Federal Government's agenda.

By the sounds of this piece on Common Dreams, there is another compelling movie which ought to be compulsory viewing for PM Howard and at least his little "echo" Defence Minister Nelson.

"Last night, I attended a MoveOn event, one of more than a thousand nationwide. Our principal agenda was to view the film, "The Ground Truth." The movie focused briefly on the recruiting, training and deploying of U.S. military troops to Iraq. It did not shy away from deaths - ours, theirs, calculated, accidental. However, the film's main focus was on women and men who physically survive the Iraq War, with or without all of their limbs, facial features and internal organs intact.

The "lucky ones" look much as they did when they left for war. But they're not. To some extent, they're soul-scarred humans who are sent home after their literal involvement in the killing stops. They are forever changed. They're also trained killers who have seen and participated in the worst the world has to offer. They must attempt to distance themselves from all of that when they come "home," however that is defined.

Just so you know, I'm not going to do a synopsis here. "The Ground Truth's" message is a visual thing, which is why it's a film and not an IPod broadcast. Click here and here for more information and to view a trailer.

It's not the best movie ever made, Oscar nod notwithstanding. But its message is profoundly important. Shortcut: "What the hell are we doing?"

"The Ground Truth" combines live footage of carnage and chaos in Iraq, interspersed with commentary from multiple military vets and a few mental health experts. The troop commentary was very moving. As was the additional commentary from some of their spouses and parents. Lives upside down and hind-side to. This is sacrifice that is rarely if ever mentioned, and certainly not by the Bush administration or the DOD."


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