Operation Enduring Freedom: America Fights Back

Chronicling America's military response to the multiple devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001--from President Bush's initial unmet demands (to hand over rebel leaders, close terrorist training camps, etc.) to the mobilization and deployment of U.S. military forces in battle and in humanitarian assistance efforts, this one-year-after program details the myriad facets of Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition to providing extensive background information about why the U.S. was a target for Islamic extremists, buttressed with earlier examples of destructive incidents (such as the 1993 bombing of the WTC) and conflicts in areas such as Saudi Arabia, Kenya and Afghanistan, the video covers topics ranging from the roots of the al-Qaida "global conspiracy" and the anthrax scares, to the sweepingly successful Operation Anaconda, the Tora Bora cave bombings, and the step-up of homeland security. Utilizing exclusive, never-before-seen battle and strategic footage recently declassified by the U. S. Department of Defense, Operation Enduring Freedom--which, as its title suggests, is an uncritical look at the war in Afghanistan--is at times both disquieting and graphic. Still, excepting an awkward plea for Afghan women near the program's end (a badly scripted bit of voiceover narration full of suspiciously American-sounding encomiums concerning democracy, and more than a few trailing-off-to-nowhere non sequiturs), this solid overview is sure to be popular and is highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams)