Obama's War

Often called the “necessary war,” the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was launched in 2001—following the 9/11 attacks—with the aim of depriving Al Qaeda of terrorist sanctuaries. Eight years later, this PBS-aired Frontline documentary, written and produced by Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith, examines the 2009 “summer of decision,” when the conflict became “Obama's war” and field commanders and the new president struggled with a number of crucial questions: Can America really win this war? What defines victory? Will the U.S. be willing to stay the course and pay the price, both in human and financial terms? The program focuses on the Taliban stronghold in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, where soldiers deal with roadside bombs, a weak national government, a thriving drug trade, a wary local population, and widespread official corruption. Troops are too few, while the Taliban is ever present but rarely seen, effectively acting as a “shadow government” (a tainted national election and nearby sanctuaries in Pakistan compound the problem). As Obama's advisers try to come up with a revised military strategy that could be both effective and sold to a deeply divided American public, scenes from the field emphasize the difficulty in communicating with the locals, who often must deal with the Taliban after the soldiers leave. No solutions are offered, but the message here is that the terrorist threat witnessed on 9/11 will only continue to grow in ungoverned spaces, with global consequences. A timely report, Obama's War is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)