John Pilger reports that, in spite of a history of repeated US-backed…
Human Terrain
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- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
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Human Terrain is two stories in one. The first exposes a new Pentagon effort to enlist the best and the brightest in a struggle for hearts and minds. Facing long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military initiates `Human Terrain Systems', a controversial program that seeks to make cultural awareness the centerpiece of the new counterinsurgency strategy. Designed to embed social scientists with combat troops, the program swiftly comes under attack as a misguided and unethical effort to gather intelligence and target enemies. Gaining rare access to wargames in the Mojave Desert and training exercises at Quantico and Fort Leavenworth, Human Terrain takes the viewer into the heart of the war machine and a shadowy collaboration between American academics and the military.
The other story is about a brilliant young scholar who leaves the university to join a Human Terrain team. After working as a humanitarian activist in the Western Sahara, Balkans, East Timor and elsewhere, and winning a Marshall Scholarship to study at Oxford, Michael Bhatia returns to Brown University to take up a visiting fellowship. In the course of conducting research on military cultural awareness, he is recruited by the Human Terrain program and eventually embeds with the 82nd Airborne in eastern Afghanistan. On the way to mediate an intertribal dispute, Bhatia is killed when his humvee hits a roadside bomb.
War becomes academic, academics go to war, and the personal tragically merges with the political, raising new questions about the ethics, effectiveness, and high costs of counterinsurgency.
'Human Terrain presents viewers with a curious axiom: the idea that 'empathy has become the new key weapon of war'...[The film] is well suited to conveying the layered ambiguity of the issue...Much of Human Terrain's strength, in this sense, lies in showing more than telling, and some of the most memorable moments are when the film's subjects' own words bring nuanced but striking contradictions to the surface...Anthropology, after all, is about knowing and dignifying the other, while war, in its essence, is about annihilating the other without question. Anthropology is curious and descriptive, while war is decisive and instrumental. Anthropology asks questions, war gets things done, often bloodily.' Kenneth MacLeish, Anthropology Now
'Human Terrain is a richly detailed, complicated, and probing investigation of debates surrounding an important subject--the U.S. military's attempts to recruit anthropologists and other social scientists to support counterinsurgency operations in what are increasingly being seen as failing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The film offers nuanced analysis of the ethical, political, and strategic issues involved from key actors in the debates, as well as a behind-the-scenes view of how social science is contributing to counterinsurgency and occupation.' David Vine, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, American University, co-Author with the Network of Concerned Anthropologists, The Counter-Counterinsurgency Manual: or, Notes on Demilitarizing American Society
'Human Terrain is useful for stimulating classroom discussion about the tension between the goals of war and understanding other cultures. Students looking for a deeper understanding will appreciate that the film presents multiple perspectives on the controversial Human Terrain System (HTS) program. In particular, the footage from Afghanistan and the personal story of HTS participant Michael Bhatia provided them with sharp insight into what the program entails, its challenges and its costs.' Dr. Misha Klein, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma
'Human Terrain collapses the barrier between academic and political worlds, revealing an unexpected and controversial role for the 'ivory tower' in the real world of 21st century counterinsurgency. Through the compelling and ultimately tragic story of late anthropologist Michael Bhatia's service with NATO forces in Afghanistan, the film portrays contending sides of a searing ethical dilemma of contemporary scholarship, in depth, nuance and with integrity.' Ned Lazarus, Visiting Professor, The Conflict Resolution Program, Georgetown University
'Presenting an even overview of the controversy about Human Terrain Teams in the US, the film provokes and engages rather than taking sides. U.S. military officials explaining their views about the goals and the importance of Human Terrain Teams are juxtaposed with live footage from HTT trainings; interviews with academic experts on security who contest the military perspective are interwoven with commentary from the academics who created the program; and the tragic story of one HTT member provides the film's narrative backbone. The point of the film is to raise questions--not only about HTT but about war as a tool of international engagement--rather than to preach conclusions.' Catherine Besteman, Professor and Chair, Department of Anthropology, Colby College, a Founding Member, Network of Concerned Anthropologists
'Absolutely worth seeing, very informative...We hear the staff members' and military leaders' rhetoric justifying the need for a program that equips the military to respond to conflicts that increasingly require understanding the human, as well as geographic, terrain...We see the training and deployment of young marines...We see social scientists being trained and performing in the field. And we hear, loud and clear, critics, some of them members of the Network of Concerned Anthropologists, pointing out the flawed ethics in the Human Terrain System's ideology...A hard-hitting and moving analysis of this highly controversial program, including the ideas and assumptions behind it.' Jean Jackson, Professor of Anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Founding Member, Network of Concerned Anthropologists
'Human Terrain avoids providing readymade answers...Rather, it invites viewers to make up their own minds...[and] allows us to think these major dilemmas through for ourselves...A compelling account of the current relations between socio-cultural knowledge and politico-military power and will be of interest not only to scholars and students in the Humanities and Social Sciences, but also to a much wider general audience.' Markus Kienscherf, 49th Parallel Journal
'An informative take on a phenomenon that's been largely overlooked by documentarians...Recommended.' Video Librarian
'A vivid, harrowing documentary...Human Terrain examines the fallout of blurring the line between academia and combat, giving the viewer access to wargames in the Mojave Desert and training exercises at Quantico and Fort Leavenworth...An extraordinary examination of the costs, ethics, and effectiveness of this program, and an absolutely invaluable addition to military, social science, public and college library DVD shelves.' The Midwest Book Review
'It is very welcome to see a film exploring the issue in a serious and objective manner...Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic is a valuable piece of filmmaking, and I applaud its production so soon after the implementation of the program. Anthropologists should watch and discuss it...Knowing your enemy is not a new goal in war, and as long as anthropology is or has a kind of knowledge, it will be called upon repeatedly to provide or obtain that knowledge by and for its political masters. There are obvious reasons to embrace and resist this call, and anthropologists individually and as a profession will need to struggle with it for many years to come...Suitable for high school and for college courses in cultural anthropology, anthropology of war, applied anthropology, and U.S. military studies, as well as general audiences.' Jack David Eller, Community College of Denver, Anthropology Review Database
'The documentary carefully and objectively outlines Human Terrain Systems (HTS), an initiative designed by the military to better understand native populations in hopes of reducing casualties on both sides...Highly recommended for ethics and social sciences courses, Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic illuminates the debate over whether noble intention can be reconciled with the brutality of urban warfare.' Douglas Reed, Ouachita Baptist University, Educational Media Reviews Online
'An absolutely fascinating look at the ever changing landscape of war...Riveting--my interest level was captured from the beginning and it never wandered. Perhaps it is because of the fact that we are still at war, or perhaps it is because the flow of information from the military regarding the situation in the middle east has been restrictive at best, this documentary has a very timely feeling to it. Highly Recommended.' Panic Manual
Citation
Main credits
Udris, David (film producer)
Udris, David (film director)
Der Derian, James (film producer)
Der Derian, James (film director)
Udris, Michael (film producer)
Udris, Michael (film director)
Santos, John Phillip (narrator)
Other credits
Camera/editing, Michael and David Udris.
Distributor subjects
Afghanistan; American Studies; Anthropology; Asian Studies; Ethics; Foreign Policy, US; Global Issues; Human Rights; Islamic Studies; Middle Eastern Studies; National Security; Sociology; War and PeaceKeywords
WEBVTT
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[ethereal orchestral music]
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♪ ♪
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- Yesterday I was going through
my notes,
00:00:31.967 --> 00:00:34.433
and I was like, \"Well, you know,
what are the objectives here?\"
00:00:34.467 --> 00:00:36.733
Like you said,
\"What is the why?\"
00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:46.167
These are just a series
of quotes.
00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.900
General Scales - he begins
by sort of saying
00:00:49.933 --> 00:00:51.067
the center of gravity
00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:53.900
is the now the perception
of civilians.
00:00:53.933 --> 00:00:56.967
And so victory is defined
as capturing
00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:58.633
the psychocultural high ground.
00:01:07.067 --> 00:01:08.333
\"As a consequence of this,
00:01:08.367 --> 00:01:11.567
empathy is the new
key weapon of war.\"
00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:13.133
They\'re proposing
a Manhattan Project
00:01:13.167 --> 00:01:15.233
for the human sciences.
00:01:18.267 --> 00:01:24.133
- Sir, be advised,
we have one urgent surgical.
00:01:24.167 --> 00:01:30.200
One urgent, three KIA.
00:01:30.233 --> 00:01:31.233
- [...].
00:01:31.267 --> 00:01:32.267
- Roger.
Good copy.
00:01:32.300 --> 00:01:33.500
Six out.
00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:43.733
- Thanks for inviting
the Marine Corps
00:01:43.767 --> 00:01:45.167
to come here today
and share with you
00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.967
how your marines
are transforming language
00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.867
and cultural issues within
the Marine Corps.
00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:55.333
In part due to our heritage
and our expeditionary nature,
00:01:55.367 --> 00:01:58.600
the Marine Corps has always been
very interested
00:01:58.633 --> 00:02:00.900
in languages
and cultural competence.
00:02:06.100 --> 00:02:09.200
But our experience since 9/11
as well as our assessments
00:02:09.233 --> 00:02:10.867
of the future operational
environments
00:02:10.900 --> 00:02:13.233
we are likely
to be employed in
00:02:13.267 --> 00:02:15.367
has only sharpened that interest
00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:18.933
and made us recognize
that we need to do more.
00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:24.167
We need to have marines
that are capable
00:02:24.200 --> 00:02:26.733
of navigating the human
and cultural terrain.
00:02:37.067 --> 00:02:40.067
[wind howling]
00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:46.533
- We\'re in a different war.
00:02:46.567 --> 00:02:51.533
We are in a war that is
as much a cultural struggle
00:02:51.567 --> 00:02:58.933
as it is a military struggle
that demands subtlety.
00:02:58.967 --> 00:03:02.067
And where in the case
of this sort of training,
00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:05.667
not only is the senior
leadership
00:03:05.700 --> 00:03:08.067
need to put on the mantle
of diplomacy,
00:03:08.100 --> 00:03:10.333
but so does the young corporal.
00:03:10.367 --> 00:03:14.600
And that is largely the intent
of this training.
00:03:14.633 --> 00:03:16.933
[helicopter blades thudding]
00:03:17.533 --> 00:03:20.967
Junior marines will
tend to ask me,
00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:23.100
\"Sir, why the hell do I care?
00:03:23.133 --> 00:03:25.167
We do kinetic ops really well.\"
00:03:25.200 --> 00:03:26.500
And my answer to them is,
00:03:26.533 --> 00:03:29.133
\"Because you want fewer problems
on the battlefield.\"
00:03:29.167 --> 00:03:30.900
I put up a really simple slide:
00:03:30.933 --> 00:03:34.700
\"supportive,\" \"non-hostile,\"
\"hostile.\"
00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:38.367
yeah, we can do it kinetically,
00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:40.400
but we can also do it
with a smile and a wave,
00:03:40.433 --> 00:03:41.833
is to take them from hostile -
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they\'re shooting at us;
00:03:43.100 --> 00:03:44.600
they\'re trying
to destabilize Iraq -
00:03:44.633 --> 00:03:46.200
to at least non-hostile.
00:03:46.233 --> 00:03:48.400
And I beg you to teach
your lance corporals
00:03:48.433 --> 00:03:51.067
on the ground
that concept.
00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:59.733
- When the 1st Marine Division
was preparing to return to Iraq
00:03:59.767 --> 00:04:02.067
in late 2003, early 2004,
00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:03.967
the division commander
at the time,
00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.533
Major General Mattis,
00:04:05.567 --> 00:04:07.533
who had led the assault
into Afghanistan,
00:04:07.567 --> 00:04:09.800
and then who had led
the assault into Iraq,
00:04:09.833 --> 00:04:12.233
recognized the need
for certain kinds of training
00:04:12.267 --> 00:04:13.967
that were not traditional.
00:04:13.767 --> 00:04:16.467
The earliest one was
at March Air Reserve Base,
00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:18.467
where we had mock Iraqi towns
00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:21.967
with buildings and firm bases
and things of that sort
00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:26.400
that evolved by 2005
to 29 Palms Marine Corps base
00:04:26.433 --> 00:04:28.033
where over time they have built
00:04:28.067 --> 00:04:30.367
a series of small
Iraqi villages,
00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:33.000
forcing commanders to have
to deal with issues
00:04:33.033 --> 00:04:34.467
in a more realistic way.
00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:37.500
[gunfire]
00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:49.333
- There are so many damn locks
over there.
00:04:49.367 --> 00:04:51.167
You know, their cabinets
are locked,
00:04:51.200 --> 00:04:53.200
their trunks are locked,
their closets are locked,
00:04:53.233 --> 00:04:54.267
their [...] are locked.
00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:55.433
Everything is locked!
00:04:55.467 --> 00:04:57.300
Okay, now if the head
of household is with us,
00:04:57.333 --> 00:04:59.100
he brings the keys along,
we can just,
00:04:59.133 --> 00:05:01.467
\"Hey, sir, would you please mind
unlocking this for us?\"
00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:02.900
All right, because if we don\'t,
00:05:02.933 --> 00:05:04.733
then we have to either
go get him
00:05:04.767 --> 00:05:06.567
and have him unlock everything
one at a time,
00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:07.867
or we got to break
the lock.
00:05:11.567 --> 00:05:14.567
- [speaking Arabic]
00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:23.467
- [speaking Arabic]
00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.867
- We try to articulate
what is the purpose
00:05:25.900 --> 00:05:27.433
of our program here.
00:05:27.467 --> 00:05:31.400
It\'s really to get
the marines familiar,
00:05:31.433 --> 00:05:35.067
proficient, and confident
in urban operations,
00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:37.300
operating in an urban
environment
00:05:37.333 --> 00:05:40.600
amongst a population
that they\'re not certain
00:05:40.633 --> 00:05:42.767
if they\'re all friendly,
if they\'re all neutral,
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.200
or if they\'re all unfriendly.
00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:46.633
And using our theme
00:05:46.667 --> 00:05:50.100
of, \"No better friend,
no worse enemy,\" learn,
00:05:50.133 --> 00:05:51.200
who can they trust?
00:05:51.233 --> 00:05:52.333
Who can they deal with?
00:05:52.367 --> 00:05:54.167
How do they deal
with this population?
00:05:54.200 --> 00:05:57.533
How do we create a program
that really trains marines
00:05:57.567 --> 00:05:59.167
to the current fight?
00:05:59.200 --> 00:06:00.600
You know, that
counterinsurgency,
00:06:00.633 --> 00:06:01.767
that urban fight,
00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.700
where tactical cultural
awareness is important.
00:06:03.733 --> 00:06:05.333
Dealing with
the population properly
00:06:05.367 --> 00:06:08.033
is mission essential.
00:06:08.067 --> 00:06:09.433
- [speaking Arabic]
00:06:09.467 --> 00:06:13.900
- I do welcome you here in town,
you and your staff.
00:06:13.933 --> 00:06:16.067
- [speaking Arabic]
00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:18.367
- But there is a few things
00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:21.167
that I would like
to mention to you.
00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:22.300
- [speaking Arabic]
00:06:22.333 --> 00:06:23.333
- What do we got?
00:06:23.367 --> 00:06:25.300
What do we got?
00:06:25.333 --> 00:06:27.133
- The man over here is part
of the insurgency.
00:06:27.167 --> 00:06:28.600
[all speaking at once]
00:06:28.633 --> 00:06:31.233
- Don\'t be vague
in the question.
00:06:31.267 --> 00:06:33.133
- Okay, he has information
about his neighbors.
00:06:33.167 --> 00:06:35.033
- Never pay money
for information.
00:06:35.067 --> 00:06:36.933
It might get a little bit edgy.
00:06:36.967 --> 00:06:38.600
Don\'t take immediate notes.
00:06:38.633 --> 00:06:40.200
You shouldn\'t crack a smile.
00:06:40.233 --> 00:06:41.967
You shouldn\'t giggle and laugh
at that stuff.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.567
So just strike up
that casual conversation,
00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.033
and you might get
a better answer.
00:06:47.067 --> 00:06:53.300
Never set up specific
future meetings.
00:06:53.333 --> 00:06:55.600
Avoid the temptation to go,
\"No, stop, stop.
00:06:55.633 --> 00:06:57.200
Just tell me where
the insurgents are.\"
00:06:57.233 --> 00:06:59.233
- Hey, let me know
what\'s going on out here!
00:06:59.267 --> 00:07:00.367
Is he down?
00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:01.800
- We will be here longer,
00:07:01.833 --> 00:07:05.300
and we are here to help
and improve the situation.
00:07:05.333 --> 00:07:08.333
- [speaking Arabic]
00:07:13.933 --> 00:07:15.733
- My name is Gabriel Durait.
00:07:15.767 --> 00:07:17.467
I am Iraqi.
00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:19.967
I live in the United States,
San Diego.
00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.633
We are playing role-player
Iraqis as back in Iraq.
00:07:23.667 --> 00:07:27.367
We give the idea, how does
the life look like over in Iraq?
00:07:27.400 --> 00:07:32.233
so we doing the same thing here
to get the marines trained good.
00:07:32.267 --> 00:07:35.000
So when they go back in Iraq,
00:07:35.033 --> 00:07:36.600
we make sure they know
what they are doing
00:07:36.633 --> 00:07:38.600
and how to deal with the people.
00:07:38.633 --> 00:07:41.500
We do culture class for them,
00:07:41.533 --> 00:07:44.467
teach them how\'s the Iraqis way,
what religion they have,
00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:45.900
what they respect
00:07:45.933 --> 00:07:50.233
and ways they not respect
and know about disrespect.
00:07:50.267 --> 00:07:52.633
[men shouting in distance]
00:07:54.467 --> 00:07:57.633
Right now they\'re setting up
their checkpoint operations.
00:08:00.033 --> 00:08:02.133
And then we\'ll give them more
than one thing to deal with
00:08:02.167 --> 00:08:03.367
inside technical operations.
00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:05.067
We\'ll give them a complex thing
to deal with,
00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:06.533
as in we\'ll have a vehicle
blow up,
00:08:06.567 --> 00:08:08.233
or we\'ll give them
a complex ambush,
00:08:08.267 --> 00:08:09.400
a small arms fire.
00:08:09.433 --> 00:08:11.033
- Hey, we got fire over here,
right here.
00:08:11.067 --> 00:08:12.100
- What do you see?
00:08:12.133 --> 00:08:13.500
Do you see anything?
00:08:13.533 --> 00:08:14.533
- Negative.
00:08:14.567 --> 00:08:15.967
- A common mistake, I think,
00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.100
inside checkpoint operations
is the escalation of force.
00:08:19.133 --> 00:08:21.367
When is it right for them
to actually engage a vehicle
00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:22.667
when it\'s done something wrong?
00:08:22.700 --> 00:08:24.700
Making sure that you can\'t just
shoot somebody
00:08:24.733 --> 00:08:27.033
because they didn\'t stop
at a stop sign.
00:08:42.733 --> 00:08:44.767
[indistinct radio chatter]
00:08:44.800 --> 00:08:45.933
- Loop around
to the north of that.
00:08:45.967 --> 00:08:46.967
- Roger that.
00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.833
- Don\'t fly into them.
00:08:49.867 --> 00:08:51.567
There goes one.
00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.900
- What we\'re giving them here
is muscle memory.
00:08:54.933 --> 00:08:58.200
Here I can go through
ten scenarios,
00:08:58.233 --> 00:08:59.233
one right after the other,
00:08:59.267 --> 00:09:01.167
where out in that field
00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.267
I would have only had time
to do one.
00:09:03.967 --> 00:09:06.867
you\'re taking the 18-, 19-,
20-year-old marine
00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:09.733
He\'s got his hands
on the butterfly trigger.
00:09:09.767 --> 00:09:11.867
He has life and death
in his hands.
00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:13.267
He\'s the one that has to decide,
00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:17.300
\"Is that a vehicle-born IED,
or is that a mama and five kids
00:09:17.333 --> 00:09:18.900
just scared
and driving erratically?\"
00:09:18.933 --> 00:09:20.667
If I show it to him enough
in here,
00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.767
which is the difference
between the two,
00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:24.133
then when he gets in country,
00:09:24.167 --> 00:09:27.533
we have less chance
of killing the innocent.
00:09:27.567 --> 00:09:28.567
We\'re not killers.
00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:30.067
We\'re professional killers.
00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:32.567
We don\'t kill women
and children.
00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.800
We kill those people
that are trying to kill us.
00:09:36.133 --> 00:09:37.367
- If you guys
aren\'t gonna watch -
00:09:37.400 --> 00:09:39.000
there\'s three of you
on there right now.
00:09:39.033 --> 00:09:41.300
If I\'m an insurgent and I got
some 500-pound bombs under it,
00:09:41.333 --> 00:09:42.867
I\'ll take all three of you out
in one shot.
00:09:42.900 --> 00:09:47.467
- At 1900, heavy fire
from the south.
00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:51.000
[indistinct radio chatter]
00:09:51.033 --> 00:09:52.400
- Heavy gunfire in the back.
00:09:52.433 --> 00:09:53.500
Do you need assistance?
00:09:53.533 --> 00:09:56.600
[indistinct radio chatter]
00:09:56.633 --> 00:09:58.300
- Be advised.
00:09:58.333 --> 00:09:59.367
We are green, green, red.
00:09:59.400 --> 00:10:01.900
- West to eastbound on Albany.
00:10:01.933 --> 00:10:03.667
How do you want me
to approach?
00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:05.067
Is the LT set up?
00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:09.233
- Now 300 to 400 meters ahead.
00:10:09.267 --> 00:10:11.033
- Is that the RPG gunner?
00:10:11.067 --> 00:10:12.200
- I copy.
Over.
00:10:14.433 --> 00:10:15.600
- I will guarantee you
00:10:15.633 --> 00:10:18.400
that if you come back here
this summer,
00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:24.567
when my next two battalions
are undergoing this experience
00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.033
prior to deploying,
00:10:26.067 --> 00:10:31.400
it will be that much
more complex,
00:10:31.267 --> 00:10:35.167
and that much larger
in scope,
00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:38.667
because we have just scratched
the surface
00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:43.933
as to what we can do
in this very complex challenge.
00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.333
- Essentially,
I went to the
00:10:49.367 --> 00:10:52.200
Cultural Competency Conference
at Air University.
00:10:52.233 --> 00:10:54.300
Now, the objective
of the conference
00:10:54.333 --> 00:10:57.733
was to address at what level
should cultural training occur?
00:10:57.767 --> 00:11:00.733
What should the content
of cultural training be?
00:11:00.767 --> 00:11:04.533
There weren\'t
the discussions over,
00:11:04.567 --> 00:11:08.500
\"You know, we need to learn
culture in order to learn
00:11:08.533 --> 00:11:10.900
how to better target
our opponents.\"
00:11:10.933 --> 00:11:13.933
[no audio]
00:11:21.067 --> 00:11:25.633
There were almost no references
to the weaponization of culture.
00:11:25.667 --> 00:11:28.500
- I think there is
a tremendous tension
00:11:28.533 --> 00:11:33.200
between old-fashioned thinking
about war and modern conditions.
00:11:33.233 --> 00:11:35.533
I won\'t even say
\"battlefield conditions,\"
00:11:35.567 --> 00:11:39.367
because wars are not fought
on battlefields anymore.
00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:41.467
And this is very difficult
00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:43.867
for traditional armies
to figure out.
00:11:43.900 --> 00:11:45.900
The United States
is grappling with it
00:11:45.933 --> 00:11:47.600
in Iraq and Afghanistan,
00:11:47.633 --> 00:11:53.367
as it did in Vietnam
with very limited success.
00:11:53.967 --> 00:11:55.733
- By the year 2005,
00:11:55.767 --> 00:11:57.800
the U.S. military has run
in to big trouble
00:11:57.833 --> 00:12:00.833
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
00:12:00.867 --> 00:12:02.700
And there\'s a realization
at that time
00:12:02.733 --> 00:12:04.200
that there needs to be
a new approach
00:12:04.233 --> 00:12:06.567
to fighting these wars.
00:12:07.467 --> 00:12:11.367
- All of the programs
and all of the initiatives,
00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:14.267
changes the training environment
at 29 Palms
00:12:15.067 --> 00:12:16.567
the change to curriculum
00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:19.067
within the war colleges
and the staff colleges,
00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:22.067
all of these things
are part of a reform movement
00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:24.400
inside the Department of Defense
00:12:24.433 --> 00:12:26.467
that grew out first
of this discourse,
00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:29.067
this critical discourse,
on culture.
00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.733
- We started looking
into aspects
00:12:30.767 --> 00:12:34.000
of cultural awareness
in the military back in 2004.
00:12:34.033 --> 00:12:37.367
It was prompted by,
really,
00:12:37.400 --> 00:12:41.667
a reaction to the press coverage
of operations in Iraq
00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:45.933
marines going in with
the idea that a wave
00:12:45.967 --> 00:12:48.100
would be more effective
than a gun,
00:12:48.133 --> 00:12:51.367
handing out footballs,
growing mustaches
00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:54.933
in order to develop rapport
with Iraqis.
00:12:54.967 --> 00:12:56.633
All of this stuff struck us
as interesting,
00:12:56.667 --> 00:12:57.900
because we were interested
00:12:57.933 --> 00:13:00.067
in how the military
were thinking about culture
00:13:03.867 --> 00:13:05.067
- Each one of these balls
00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.900
has a fallen soldier\'s
name on it...
00:13:06.933 --> 00:13:11.033
- [speaking Arabic]
00:13:11.067 --> 00:13:15.100
- That have came to Iraq...
00:13:15.133 --> 00:13:17.800
- [speaking Arabic]
00:13:17.833 --> 00:13:19.200
- Trying to help kids
just like you.
00:13:19.233 --> 00:13:21.467
- [speaking Arabic]
00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:27.500
- Culture was becoming
the killer variable
00:13:27.533 --> 00:13:29.100
with a military
that was being tasked
00:13:29.133 --> 00:13:30.300
to have war among the people,
00:13:31.533 --> 00:13:33.100
Would this somehow pacify
the military,
00:13:33.133 --> 00:13:34.933
to bring culture into it?
00:13:34.967 --> 00:13:37.567
Or the other -
the corollary of this,
00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:41.533
would it somehow or another
militarize peacemaking?
00:13:41.567 --> 00:13:44.467
- My sole purpose is to get you
down range,
00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:47.533
let you whoop some butt,
set you up for success,
00:13:47.567 --> 00:13:50.300
bring you back up range,
and debrief you.
00:13:50.333 --> 00:13:51.600
All right?
00:13:51.633 --> 00:13:54.067
Don\'t be the platoon
that I do this to.
00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.200
Don\'t make me call time-out.
00:13:56.233 --> 00:13:58.400
If I call time-out,
that means you just get ate up.
00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:02.167
It\'s mind over matter, right?
00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.333
[all grunting]
00:14:03.367 --> 00:14:04.567
You don\'t mind it, what?
00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.733
all: It don\'t matter.
00:14:06.767 --> 00:14:08.900
[indistinct radio chatter]
00:14:08.933 --> 00:14:09.933
- How you doing?
00:14:09.967 --> 00:14:14.000
[indistinct radio chatter]
00:14:14.033 --> 00:14:16.033
- Be advised, I\'m hearing
heavy gunfire in the back.
00:14:16.067 --> 00:14:20.667
Do you need assistance?
00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:22.300
- The enemy was always
the enemy,
00:14:22.333 --> 00:14:24.200
and that\'s what they taught us
to believe.
00:14:24.233 --> 00:14:26.967
And certainly to be
in the military
00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.567
and to be a soldier,
a good soldier,
00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.433
as they want you to be,
00:14:31.467 --> 00:14:33.900
there\'s an indoctrination
process to that.
00:14:33.933 --> 00:14:36.867
And in order to storm the hill
and risk your life,
00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:40.567
you need that sort
of binary decision making.
00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:42.200
You need to have
00:14:42.233 --> 00:14:44.033
sort of a black-and-white
attitude about it
00:14:44.067 --> 00:14:45.500
where, \"That\'s the enemy.\"
00:14:45.533 --> 00:14:50.667
If you have a moment to think
in tones of gray,
00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:53.167
\"Well, that guy has a kid
and this.
00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:55.067
\"You know, well,
maybe he\'s not so bad.
00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.600
I understand why he hates us,\"
00:14:56.633 --> 00:14:58.133
I mean, we\'ll never fight.
00:14:58.167 --> 00:14:59.167
It\'ll never happen,
00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.767
and we\'ll never storm the hill,
00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:02.500
and we\'ll probably get shot
ourselves.
00:15:02.767 --> 00:15:04.067
- The question then becomes,
00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:06.067
can you take guys
like the marines
00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.267
and our airborne soldiers,
00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:09.467
who everyone knows
are tough guys,
00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:11.100
and you can sort of say,
00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:13.400
\"We want you to be kinder
and gentler
00:15:13.433 --> 00:15:17.133
and culturally aware.\"
00:15:16.167 --> 00:15:18.100
Yes, you can,
to a certain extent.
00:15:18.133 --> 00:15:19.833
You can tell them,
\"Don\'t be bullies,\"
00:15:19.867 --> 00:15:21.867
and they\'ll get that concept.
00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:24.800
But can you turn them
into diplomats or something?
00:15:24.833 --> 00:15:28.367
No, they\'re fundamentally
killers.
00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:30.633
They\'re professional killers,
00:15:30.667 --> 00:15:33.700
because they do it
for the sake of the country.
00:15:33.733 --> 00:15:37.100
But when you say,
\"Every marine is a rifleman,\"
00:15:37.133 --> 00:15:39.167
what do you do with a rifle?
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.533
You shoot somebody else.
00:15:40.567 --> 00:15:43.567
[gunfire]
00:15:45.267 --> 00:15:46.267
- Let\'s go.
00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:47.933
[men shouting]
00:15:47.967 --> 00:15:49.567
[gunshots]
00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.467
- Shoot back.
You\'re down.
00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.500
- It\'s a casualty drill.
00:15:52.533 --> 00:15:53.667
What\'s going to happen
00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:55.433
is that there will be
a role-player out there
00:15:55.467 --> 00:15:56.467
who shoots at them.
00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.300
And then, basically,
00:15:58.333 --> 00:16:01.133
the lieutenants will enter this
building where they find us.
00:16:01.167 --> 00:16:02.433
They were briefed in their order
00:16:02.467 --> 00:16:04.133
that they are looking
for two lost marines.
00:16:04.167 --> 00:16:06.567
We\'re the lost Marines.
00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.633
The marine in there
has got a head trauma
00:16:08.667 --> 00:16:11.033
they\'ve got to treat.
00:16:11.067 --> 00:16:13.100
And then I\'ll have
an open tib-fib fracture
00:16:13.133 --> 00:16:14.467
with arterial bleeding
00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.567
and a gunshot wound
through and through.
00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:19.367
Basically, they have to
come in here.
00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:21.200
They have a shoot/no shoot
scenario in there.
00:16:21.233 --> 00:16:22.300
They go in there.
00:16:22.333 --> 00:16:23.967
The prisoner
is being interrogated.
00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.133
They have to decide
whether to shoot that guy
00:16:26.167 --> 00:16:29.167
or to take him EPW.
00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.333
Then they have to treat us
00:16:30.367 --> 00:16:32.600
and get us medevaced
out of here in time.
00:16:32.633 --> 00:16:35.900
- Let\'s go!
Open the window.
00:16:35.933 --> 00:16:38.933
- Open the window.
00:16:48.833 --> 00:16:51.267
- Every area of operations
is different.
00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:54.533
Every town, every village
has a different mix.
00:16:54.567 --> 00:16:56.967
And we need to find what\'s
the truth
00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.933
and what\'s the perception there,
00:16:58.967 --> 00:17:00.933
because frequently perception
is more important
00:17:00.967 --> 00:17:02.300
than actual truth anyway,
00:17:02.333 --> 00:17:05.600
and particularly
in the society there.
00:17:05.633 --> 00:17:09.667
We need to base our actions,
on the truth that we find,
00:17:11.333 --> 00:17:12.467
not the truth we find
00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:14.833
from talking to each other
as Americans
00:17:14.867 --> 00:17:16.933
but on the truth we find
from talking to Iraqis
00:17:16.967 --> 00:17:19.333
about what they see
and what they think.
00:17:21.867 --> 00:17:24.867
- If you talk to the young men
and women
00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.933
who want to be officers
00:17:25.967 --> 00:17:27.367
in the United States
armed forces,
00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:29.200
you will find an extraordinary
number of people
00:17:29.233 --> 00:17:32.833
who pay very close attention
to the language, the culture,
00:17:32.867 --> 00:17:34.033
the history, the geography,
00:17:34.067 --> 00:17:39.533
the makeup of Iraq
and of Afghanistan,
00:17:39.567 --> 00:17:41.000
who could serve
as anthropologists,
00:17:41.033 --> 00:17:43.200
many of them,
as well as teachers
00:17:43.233 --> 00:17:44.867
as well as they could
as soldiers.
00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:46.533
It\'s not just a military
question.
00:17:46.567 --> 00:17:50.067
All our cultural
and intellectual sinew
00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:52.967
will be required in this battle.
00:17:52.567 --> 00:17:53.967
It\'s better to do it
than not to do it,
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:57.533
so practice and train so that
when we\'re out there,
00:17:57.567 --> 00:17:59.167
we can do better stuff.
00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.467
- The Arabic language
and some of the Arabic culture
00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.433
helps you not to offend
the people over there.
00:18:04.467 --> 00:18:06.133
It helps you to be able
to tell them,
00:18:06.167 --> 00:18:07.967
you know, \"Hey, we\'re friends.\"
00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:16.167
- My name is Sergeant
Jason Elsjon.
00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.767
- Lance Corporal Nicholas Tift.
00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:21.033
- My name is Carl Alves,
rank lance corporal.
00:18:21.067 --> 00:18:24.067
- My name is PFC [indistinct].
00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.500
My first name is [indistinct].
00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:28.333
I\'m ready.
00:18:28.367 --> 00:18:29.933
I\'ve got a bunch of good guys
around here.
00:18:29.967 --> 00:18:33.267
Everybody, everybody that we\'ve
been with so far is real good.
00:18:33.300 --> 00:18:37.100
And I\'ve got good thoughts
of coming back home.
00:19:22.667 --> 00:19:25.700
[horn honks]
00:19:29.867 --> 00:19:31.367
- That\'s me sort of saying,
you know,
00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.967
the shortcomings now
are all human.
00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.333
World War I
was the chemists\' war.
00:19:34.367 --> 00:19:36.167
World War II
was the physicists\' war.
00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:38.067
World War III was -
00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:40.600
I guess this is the cold war,
the information war.
00:19:40.633 --> 00:19:42.533
And World War IV marks
00:19:42.567 --> 00:19:45.600
the end of information warfare
and a return to Clausewitz,
00:19:45.633 --> 00:19:48.600
where the focus is again
human beings, not technology.
00:19:50.133 --> 00:19:53.133
[no audio]
00:20:00.633 --> 00:20:02.500
- The Pentagon
has a new strategy
00:20:02.533 --> 00:20:04.233
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
00:20:04.267 --> 00:20:06.667
An experimental
$40 million program
00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.300
called the Human Terrain System
00:20:08.333 --> 00:20:11.267
has begun enlisting recruits
of a different kind
00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:13.200
to win the battle
of hearts and minds.
00:20:13.233 --> 00:20:15.233
They have graduate degrees
in anthropology
00:20:15.267 --> 00:20:18.400
and serve as cultural advisors
to the U.S. military.
00:20:18.433 --> 00:20:20.633
Some military analysts
have hailed the program
00:20:20.667 --> 00:20:23.600
as the 21st-century equivalent
of a Vietnam-era
00:20:23.633 --> 00:20:25.800
military project called CORDS,
00:20:25.833 --> 00:20:27.533
or Civil Operations
00:20:27.567 --> 00:20:29.867
and Revolutionary
Development Support.
00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:32.167
But the move has
anthropologists up in arms.
00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:34.300
They point to the ethical
implications
00:20:34.333 --> 00:20:36.100
of renewing a program like CORDS
00:20:36.133 --> 00:20:40.267
that assassinated over 26,000
suspected Vietcong.
00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:43.067
In September, a group
of scholars formed a network
00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:46.133
of concerned anthropologists
inspired by physicists
00:20:46.167 --> 00:20:49.000
who opposed the
Reagan-era Star Wars program.
00:20:49.767 --> 00:20:53.500
[wind whistling]
00:20:53.533 --> 00:20:59.333
- We were created from an urgent
need in the middle of a war,
00:20:59.367 --> 00:21:00.567
five years into it.
00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:03.433
It was something
that was needed now.
00:21:03.467 --> 00:21:05.233
The focus is humanity.
00:21:05.267 --> 00:21:07.733
The focus is on the population.
00:21:07.767 --> 00:21:13.067
Terrain, when you talk
about terrain, military people,
00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:15.133
military professionals
are very comfortable
00:21:15.167 --> 00:21:18.667
with the idea of terrain.
00:21:19.133 --> 00:21:21.033
When you put the two together,
00:21:21.067 --> 00:21:25.200
it gives them a picture
of the new environment
00:21:25.233 --> 00:21:26.667
that they\'re operating in.
00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:29.000
In other words,
a human terrain
00:21:29.033 --> 00:21:30.700
that you have to understand
00:21:30.733 --> 00:21:33.267
the intricacies
and the details of,
00:21:33.300 --> 00:21:36.567
just like you understand that
of geographic terrain,
00:21:42.667 --> 00:21:46.133
- The goal of the program
really is to use the knowledge
00:21:46.167 --> 00:21:49.233
and wisdom and methodologies
of social science
00:21:49.267 --> 00:21:53.767
to enable the military
to complete their mission
00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:58.233
more effectively
with less loss of human life,
00:21:58.267 --> 00:22:00.767
both military and civilian,
00:22:00.800 --> 00:22:05.433
and to help the military
to think about things
00:22:05.467 --> 00:22:06.967
from somebody else\'s
point of view
00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:11.800
so that their activities
are harmonized,
00:22:11.833 --> 00:22:13.867
so that they are operating
in conjunction,
00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:16.733
in partnership,
with those local communities.
00:22:16.767 --> 00:22:19.067
- Team one, Mike Williams,
team leader, here, sir.
00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:20.967
And we\'ve got two others.
00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.067
Moran, who is an analyst,
00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:25.233
and Steve,
who is a research manager.
00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:28.067
- The U.S. military is expanding
a program in Iraq
00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:31.267
to send teams of anthropologists
and social scientists
00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:32.467
across the country
00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:35.500
acting as cultural analysts
for U.S. forces.
00:22:35.533 --> 00:22:38.100
- So we go out to the villages
and to the cities
00:22:38.133 --> 00:22:40.033
and talk to the Iraqis,
00:22:40.067 --> 00:22:42.533
get an idea of their
perceptions, their feelings,
00:22:42.567 --> 00:22:45.267
you know, basically what they\'re
thinking about their culture.
00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:46.933
And then we take that back
to the military
00:22:46.967 --> 00:22:48.400
so they have
a better understanding
00:22:48.433 --> 00:22:52.867
of the local population.
00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.733
- The Human Terrain teams
have been portrayed
00:22:54.767 --> 00:22:57.367
by proponents as nothing more
00:22:57.400 --> 00:23:00.133
than a kind of hearts and minds
campaign.
00:23:00.167 --> 00:23:02.100
If you look at internal
discussions in journals
00:23:02.133 --> 00:23:03.467
like Military Review,
00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.467
you find that they\'re
more candid
00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.900
about what the aims
00:23:06.933 --> 00:23:09.267
of the Human Terrain
program are.
00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:11.433
And according to those sources,
00:23:11.467 --> 00:23:14.433
Human Terrain is really
about counterinsurgency,
00:23:14.467 --> 00:23:16.600
really about finding out
who the bad guys are
00:23:16.633 --> 00:23:19.433
and relating that information
up the chain of command.
00:23:19.457 --> 00:23:22.466
You know, the strongest
argument that people have made
00:23:22.490 --> 00:23:24.490
who want to convince
anthropologists
00:23:24.514 --> 00:23:26.514
to help in this endeavor
00:23:26.538 --> 00:23:28.538
is that anthropologists\' help
00:23:28.562 --> 00:23:30.562
will create a more
humane approach
00:23:30.586 --> 00:23:33.386
on the part of the U.S. military
towards the Iraqi people,
00:23:33.482 --> 00:23:34.682
And my argument,
00:23:34.706 --> 00:23:37.006
and I think the argument
of many anthropologists, is that
00:23:37.030 --> 00:23:39.030
that is a very seductive idea,
00:23:39.054 --> 00:23:41.054
that you would be able to help
in a situation of crisis.
00:23:41.078 --> 00:23:43.078
What I think one has to step
back and ask is, \"Help what?
00:23:44.102 --> 00:23:46.102
\"Help whom to do what?\"
00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.967
While the practice of deploying
anthropologists
00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:51.467
is still considered
counterinsurgency,
00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:53.400
commanders here say
their information
00:23:53.433 --> 00:23:55.167
is not being used
for traditional,
00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.900
kinetic military fighting.
00:23:56.933 --> 00:23:59.500
Anthropologists like Jean
and Nancy are able to bring
00:23:59.533 --> 00:24:02.600
a uniquely humanist touch
to understanding Iraqis.
00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:06.267
I think it\'s very appropriate
00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:09.800
that if academics believe
that they understand a culture,
00:24:09.833 --> 00:24:11.367
that they help out,
00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:14.067
because we\'re all under attack
by Al-Qaeda.
00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:15.233
And for some Americans to say,
00:24:15.267 --> 00:24:16.467
\"Oh, I\'m an academic,
00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.067
and therefore I\'m not involved
in this,\"
00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.400
is a lot of baloney.
00:24:19.433 --> 00:24:23.100
Al-Qaeda will kill an American
in an academic setting
00:24:23.133 --> 00:24:25.600
as fast as he\'ll kill
an American anywhere else.
00:24:25.633 --> 00:24:29.300
So I am all in favor of people
who are anthropologists,
00:24:29.333 --> 00:24:33.300
social scientists,
helping our military.
00:24:33.333 --> 00:24:34.700
And it makes things better,
00:24:34.733 --> 00:24:37.400
because we\'re not out
to oppress anybody,
00:24:37.433 --> 00:24:39.767
but we don\'t want them
killing Americans.
00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:42.633
- I\'m sure that there are plenty
of senior military leaders
00:24:42.667 --> 00:24:44.567
who perfectly well understand
that the Americans
00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:47.167
are involved in an
imperial venture in the U.S.,
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.600
that they\'ve stepped
into the shoes
00:24:48.633 --> 00:24:50.700
of the British and the French
in that region,
00:24:50.733 --> 00:24:53.300
and that they\'re trying
to subjugate another country,
00:24:53.333 --> 00:24:56.100
because they want to secure
American access to resources,
00:24:56.133 --> 00:24:57.367
especially oil.
00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:59.267
And they need military bases
in that region.
00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:03.233
And they\'re
quite pragmatic realists
00:25:03.267 --> 00:25:05.367
who know perfectly well
what the U.S. is up to.
00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:07.833
But there is a certain kind
of rhetoric
00:25:07.867 --> 00:25:09.900
that\'s used to gild the lily,
00:25:09.933 --> 00:25:12.867
about how Americans have
a mission to spread democracy.
00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.933
Americans only have
00:25:13.967 --> 00:25:17.333
the well-being
of other people in mind.
00:25:17.367 --> 00:25:21.200
How could anyone possibly oppose
what the Americans are doing?
00:25:21.233 --> 00:25:25.667
So I think once you go down
that second track,
00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:28.100
you start to assume that
the Americans are beneficent.
00:25:28.133 --> 00:25:29.600
Then instead
of reading resistance
00:25:29.633 --> 00:25:32.933
as inevitable resistance
to foreign occupation,
00:25:32.967 --> 00:25:34.500
you start to think of it
as some kind
00:25:34.533 --> 00:25:36.767
of cultural miscommunication.
00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:40.133
And you start to ask naïve,
misshapen questions.
00:25:40.167 --> 00:25:42.400
You know, \"If we only understood
their culture better,
00:25:42.433 --> 00:25:43.600
\"how could we make them like us?
00:25:43.633 --> 00:25:44.900
Why do they hate us so much?\"
00:25:44.933 --> 00:25:46.967
They hate us because we\'re
occupying their country,
00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.967
not because we don\'t understand
their hand signals
00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.000
and because occasionally
we mistreat their women.
00:25:51.033 --> 00:25:52.567
So if you ask
the wrong question,
00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:53.667
you get the wrong answer,
00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.900
and more people
on both sides will die.
00:25:56.600 --> 00:26:00.433
I want to know why they hate us.
00:26:00.467 --> 00:26:01.467
And I haven\'t been given
00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:03.200
satisfactory answers
to that.
00:26:03.233 --> 00:26:05.233
Can you tell me
why they hate us?
00:26:05.267 --> 00:26:10.600
And don\'t tell me it\'s because
we\'re rich and free.
00:26:10.633 --> 00:26:12.033
I don\'t know anybody
in the world
00:26:12.067 --> 00:26:15.633
who wouldn\'t like to be rich
and free, by the way.
00:26:15.667 --> 00:26:17.733
Is there another answer?
00:26:17.767 --> 00:26:20.033
- Hey, you!
00:26:20.067 --> 00:26:22.067
Put the weapon down!
00:26:28.367 --> 00:26:30.533
- Military strategists would say
that public relations
00:26:30.567 --> 00:26:32.933
is the primary weapon
of modern war,
00:26:32.967 --> 00:26:36.467
and to be able to convince
the U.S. public
00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:41.900
that this war is being fought
humanely and in a smart way
00:26:41.933 --> 00:26:44.533
without repeating the mistakes
of the past
00:26:44.567 --> 00:26:46.900
is very, very important
to the U.S. military.
00:26:46.933 --> 00:26:48.867
Whatever anthropologists
do in the field,
00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.300
they will be doing that,
00:26:50.333 --> 00:26:52.567
which is to say,
they will be helping
00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:56.900
to convince people
that smart PhDs with knowledge
00:26:56.933 --> 00:26:58.367
of local societies
00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:03.167
are out there making this war
a better, kinder war.
00:27:03.167 --> 00:27:06.800
- And so what you have is,
on the one side,
00:27:06.833 --> 00:27:11.000
an argument that this
is unethical,
00:27:11.033 --> 00:27:15.067
that it is enabling
flawed policies,
00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:20.000
and it is immoral
to let it continue.
00:27:20.033 --> 00:27:23.033
And on the other side,
you have a group of people
00:27:23.067 --> 00:27:26.133
who are saying this is
completely within
00:27:26.167 --> 00:27:28.400
the realm of professional
ethics -
00:27:28.433 --> 00:27:31.133
especially those
non-anthropologists -
00:27:31.167 --> 00:27:34.433
that this is about
changing policy.
00:27:34.467 --> 00:27:37.667
It\'s not about deciding policy,
00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:43.233
and that this is
my moral obligation.
00:27:43.267 --> 00:27:46.167
- I kept wishing
that I could take each soldier
00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:49.867
who talked to me to some
of the places that I had gone.
00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:52.567
And at the same time I thought,
00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:56.400
\"Could I be a warrior,
a fighter,
00:27:56.433 --> 00:28:00.033
if I had seen some of the things
that I have seen?\"
00:28:00.067 --> 00:28:05.000
Their mission is to basically
capture and secure territory
00:28:05.033 --> 00:28:06.800
and win as much as they can.
00:28:06.833 --> 00:28:09.667
We talked about the soldier
diplomat idea, hearts and minds.
00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:11.500
It\'s a real challenge for them.
00:28:11.533 --> 00:28:13.333
I have a great friend in Tehran
00:28:13.367 --> 00:28:16.267
who said at the beginning
of this war,
00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:19.667
\"Remember, Jackie,
culture is not like Nescafe.
00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:22.600
It\'s not something you can just
add water and stir.\"
00:28:22.633 --> 00:28:25.633
[people shouting]
00:28:29.533 --> 00:28:32.700
- Well, there is an Arab culture
thing that they really,
00:28:32.733 --> 00:28:34.267
really don\'t like to be
stripped naked
00:28:34.300 --> 00:28:35.667
and paraded in front of women
00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:38.533
who jeer at them
for being naked.
00:28:38.567 --> 00:28:39.733
Last I looked,
00:28:39.767 --> 00:28:41.967
it applies in our culture
as well.
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.467
But the fact that it was
being presented
00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:48.233
as some peculiarity of the Arab,
Muslim, Iraqi
00:28:48.267 --> 00:28:49.400
cultural sensibility,
00:28:49.433 --> 00:28:51.967
this was sort of a kind
of PSYOPs
00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.400
and that it was exploiting
00:28:53.433 --> 00:28:56.933
a vulnerability and using
everything against your enemy
00:28:56.967 --> 00:28:58.067
that you could,
00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.567
including their fear
of nakedness,
00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:01.100
their fear of dogs -
00:29:01.133 --> 00:29:02.833
Arabs don\'t like dogs.
00:29:02.867 --> 00:29:04.933
Well, nobody likes to be
stripped naked, hooded,
00:29:04.967 --> 00:29:06.600
chained to a wall
and have a lunging
00:29:06.633 --> 00:29:08.967
German Shepherd snapping
at his crotch.
00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:12.033
That doesn\'t seem to me to be
a peculiarity of the Arab mind.
00:29:12.067 --> 00:29:13.967
And so it was all about just
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.700
creating some idea
of difference,
00:29:15.733 --> 00:29:18.133
vulnerability,
and therefore license
00:29:18.167 --> 00:29:19.667
to do things to them
00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:22.733
that you would not properly
be able to do to us.
00:29:23.633 --> 00:29:25.267
- There used to be a time
in the \'50s
00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:26.800
when academic anthropologists
00:29:26.833 --> 00:29:29.700
thought that you could write
a sort of cultural grammar book.
00:29:29.733 --> 00:29:31.100
Now I think the reason
the Pentagon
00:29:31.133 --> 00:29:32.600
has become interested
in culture
00:29:32.633 --> 00:29:35.967
is that they subscribe to that
1950s version of culture.
00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:38.100
If culture is complex,
multilayered,
00:29:38.133 --> 00:29:39.233
shifting, contradictory,
00:29:39.267 --> 00:29:41.600
it\'s really not much use
to them.
00:29:41.633 --> 00:29:43.367
They want culture in a wallet.
00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.833
They want culture that you can
put into a computer program.
00:29:45.867 --> 00:29:47.333
So the irony is, I think,
00:29:47.367 --> 00:29:49.467
that the military is interested
in a version of culture
00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.900
that doesn\'t exist.
00:29:50.933 --> 00:29:52.433
They\'re on a fool\'s errand.
00:29:52.467 --> 00:29:57.967
- Welcome to Tactical Language
& Culture Training Systems.
00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:00.167
The courses teach how
to communicate
00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:02.467
in foreign languages
and cultures
00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:06.800
by playing immersive,
interactive, 3-D video games
00:30:06.833 --> 00:30:09.500
that simulate real-life
communications
00:30:09.533 --> 00:30:13.667
involving spoken dialogues
and cultural protocols.
00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:17.567
The game does not follow
a narrowscript.
00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:22.833
Its dialogue evolves
based on what you say and do.
00:30:22.867 --> 00:30:25.667
If you develop rapport
with the Iraqis,
00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:28.467
they cooperate with you.
00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.633
If you are rude,
00:30:29.667 --> 00:30:31.833
they are hostile
and uncooperative.
00:30:31.867 --> 00:30:35.600
- [speaking Arabic]
00:30:35.633 --> 00:30:40.600
- [speaking Arabic]
00:30:40.633 --> 00:30:43.367
- [speaking Arabic]
00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:46.867
- Green pluses indicate
that the Iraqis\' opinion of you
00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:48.100
just went up,
00:30:48.133 --> 00:30:53.800
because you showed
cultural sensitivity.
00:30:53.833 --> 00:30:55.667
- [speaking Arabic]
00:30:55.700 --> 00:31:01.733
- [speaking Arabic]
00:31:01.767 --> 00:31:08.267
- [speaking Arabic]
00:31:08.300 --> 00:31:11.500
[speaking Arabic]
00:31:11.533 --> 00:31:14.533
- [speaking Arabic]
00:31:17.300 --> 00:31:20.300
- [speaking Arabic]
00:31:24.533 --> 00:31:25.767
- Bad move.
00:31:25.800 --> 00:31:28.767
You did not have any reason
to detain this man.
00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:30.900
He had no connections
to militias,
00:31:30.933 --> 00:31:34.367
but he may now consider joining.
00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:40.100
- [laughing]
00:32:15.067 --> 00:32:19.900
- We wanted to show that we were
good people,
00:32:19.933 --> 00:32:21.800
and we\'re here to help rebuild.
00:32:21.833 --> 00:32:23.367
And look what we\'re doing
for you.
00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:28.200
And we brought a duffle bag
full of money
00:32:28.233 --> 00:32:29.500
that we were going
to distribute
00:32:29.533 --> 00:32:32.600
in order to build
or to refurbish initially
00:32:32.633 --> 00:32:34.667
a children\'s school building.
00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:37.733
And of course we were doing
a good thing.
00:32:37.767 --> 00:32:39.567
Now you, if you\'re the person
00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:42.067
that I was trying to do this
good deed for,
00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:46.800
I expected some gratitude,
00:32:46.833 --> 00:32:48.933
again, to reinforce
that I\'m a good guy,
00:32:48.967 --> 00:32:50.800
because I am trying to help you.
00:32:50.833 --> 00:32:53.033
Well, we got
the opposite response.
00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:57.300
- I have a close friend
that was in Abu Ghraib.
00:32:57.333 --> 00:33:01.433
We served in the army together,
00:33:01.467 --> 00:33:04.333
and he\'s got a lot of problems.
00:33:04.367 --> 00:33:06.833
He\'s suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder.
00:33:06.867 --> 00:33:09.333
He\'s on 100% disability now.
00:33:09.367 --> 00:33:12.267
And I\'ve watched him crumble
as a person
00:33:12.300 --> 00:33:17.067
and never be the same.
00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:19.167
It\'s sad.
00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:21.300
I think he knew it would happen.
00:33:21.333 --> 00:33:23.167
I knew it would happen.
00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.933
He was a great interrogator,
00:33:24.967 --> 00:33:26.400
and he wasn\'t a great
interrogator
00:33:26.433 --> 00:33:29.433
because he knew how to,
you know, twist a person\'s arm.
00:33:29.467 --> 00:33:30.567
He was a great interrogator
00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:32.300
because he understands
human nature,
00:33:32.333 --> 00:33:38.767
and he understands what you
feel like on the other side,
00:33:38.800 --> 00:33:41.200
and therefore he has
a great sense of empathy.
00:33:41.233 --> 00:33:44.900
And it was that empathy that\'s
destroying him as a person,
00:33:44.933 --> 00:33:47.967
because he was put
into a situation
00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:51.767
where he felt bad
for the Iraqi people,
00:33:51.800 --> 00:33:55.033
he felt bad
for the American soldiers,
00:33:55.067 --> 00:33:57.100
and he wanted
to fix everybody,
00:33:57.133 --> 00:33:59.100
and he couldn\'t fix anybody.
00:34:13.633 --> 00:34:15.133
- I think this was
part and parcel
00:34:15.167 --> 00:34:18.600
of the general tone
at the conference was,
00:34:18.633 --> 00:34:20.033
their goal should now be
00:34:20.067 --> 00:34:25.367
about making better human beings
and how this applies to warfare.
00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:27.133
They\'re proposing
a Manhattan Project
00:34:27.167 --> 00:34:28.967
for the human sciences.
00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:30.333
And I think -
00:34:30.367 --> 00:34:31.967
[laughing]
00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:35.833
- Michael first came
to my office,
00:34:35.867 --> 00:34:37.333
and he already had started
00:34:37.367 --> 00:34:40.033
with the Humanitarianism
and War Project.
00:34:40.067 --> 00:34:43.133
He - and I suppose like me,
00:34:43.167 --> 00:34:46.300
we\'re both people who came
from mixed backgrounds,
00:34:46.333 --> 00:34:47.967
mixed cultures.
00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:51.833
And when you\'re a child,
you have different options.
00:34:51.867 --> 00:34:54.933
You have the option of choosing
one culture over another,
00:34:54.967 --> 00:34:57.000
which is the simpler option.
00:34:57.033 --> 00:34:58.267
Or you have the option of trying
00:34:58.300 --> 00:35:00.667
to reconcile
very powerful forces.
00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:02.833
And from the earliest stages,
00:35:02.867 --> 00:35:05.667
in a way not rejecting either
your mother or your father,
00:35:05.700 --> 00:35:08.933
you have to contend
with bringing things together.
00:35:08.967 --> 00:35:12.600
And I think out of that you get
a seriousness of purpose,
00:35:12.633 --> 00:35:16.033
and more importantly, really,
a curiosity.
00:35:16.067 --> 00:35:19.100
- When we started the Military
Cultural Awareness Project,
00:35:19.133 --> 00:35:21.300
he was the first guy
I reached out to,
00:35:21.333 --> 00:35:22.700
because he was one
of the few people
00:35:22.733 --> 00:35:24.767
who had the expertise
in Afghanistan
00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.667
but also had
the theoretical chops
00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:29.433
to understand why
this was something new
00:35:29.467 --> 00:35:31.067
and something that needed
to be studied
00:35:31.100 --> 00:35:33.533
to understand this
transformation of the military.
00:35:33.567 --> 00:35:35.967
He was working against
two different codes.
00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.933
One, the code he had learned
as a scholar,
00:35:37.967 --> 00:35:40.033
of objective distance,
00:35:40.067 --> 00:35:44.000
and then one he had learned
as a concerned activist,
00:35:44.033 --> 00:35:46.000
that you need to get in
and get dirty.
00:35:46.033 --> 00:35:49.733
You need to get up close
to the war machine.
00:35:49.767 --> 00:35:51.467
- What\'s essentially
happening is,
00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:53.633
is people are adopting
anthropology\'s methods
00:35:53.667 --> 00:35:55.100
for studying the other
00:35:55.133 --> 00:35:58.333
without adopting either their
ethics or their perspectives.
00:35:58.367 --> 00:36:00.900
If you are involved,
00:36:00.933 --> 00:36:05.033
to what extent can you
dictate a freedom
00:36:05.067 --> 00:36:08.233
or an ability not
to provide information?
00:36:08.267 --> 00:36:09.567
And what I mean by that is,
00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:11.867
if you are engaged with military
actors on the ground,
00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:14.733
and that space between
reducing otherness
00:36:14.767 --> 00:36:17.333
and potentially being involved
in targeting
00:36:17.367 --> 00:36:19.833
starts to get blurred,
when can you say,
00:36:19.867 --> 00:36:22.700
\"I\'m not simply going to provide
that information to you,\"
00:36:22.733 --> 00:36:28.400
and whether that\'s a space
that can actually be negotiated,
00:36:28.433 --> 00:36:30.700
or is that just naïve?
00:36:30.733 --> 00:36:32.767
- And then we know the rest.
00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:37.567
He became less of a researcher
and more of a practitioner.
00:36:49.400 --> 00:36:50.933
- Yesterday I was going through
my notes,
00:36:50.967 --> 00:36:53.367
and I was like, \"Well, you know,
what are the objectives here?\"
00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:57.800
Like you said,
\"What is the why?\"
00:36:57.833 --> 00:36:59.633
The center of gravity
is now
00:36:59.667 --> 00:37:02.467
the perception of civilians,
00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:04.300
and so victory is defined
00:37:04.333 --> 00:37:06.767
as capturing the psychocultural
high ground.
00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:09.000
As a consequence of this,
00:37:09.033 --> 00:37:11.200
empathy is the new key weapon
of war.
00:37:14.233 --> 00:37:15.867
- \"JC, So I\'ve been asked
00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:17.567
\"to go out to Afghanistan
with the army
00:37:17.600 --> 00:37:20.600
\"as part of a \'Human Terrain\'
advising unit.
00:37:20.633 --> 00:37:23.033
\"I indicated I wasn\'t available
until September,
00:37:23.067 --> 00:37:24.833
\"finishing the dissertation.
00:37:24.867 --> 00:37:26.600
\"Instead, they\'ve asked me
to serve
00:37:26.633 --> 00:37:29.800
\"as a Subject Matter Expert
while here at Watson.
00:37:29.833 --> 00:37:32.833
Thoughts?\"
00:37:32.867 --> 00:37:35.433
- He had a sense
of romantic history.
00:37:35.467 --> 00:37:36.667
At the same time,
00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:38.967
he didn\'t particularly want
to hurt anybody,
00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:43.200
and peacekeeping offered a very
good solution to that dilemma.
00:37:43.233 --> 00:37:46.533
In his case, there was
the possibility of a transition
00:37:46.567 --> 00:37:50.033
from a peacekeeping context
into another context.
00:37:50.067 --> 00:37:51.600
There was a path already laid,
in a way.
00:37:51.633 --> 00:37:57.100
And, in a sense, that romantic
history of his
00:37:57.133 --> 00:38:02.200
enabled him to accept
doing this particular job.
00:38:02.233 --> 00:38:04.133
And I think that played into it,
00:38:04.167 --> 00:38:10.600
the ability to put on
a uniform and join a side.
00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:14.800
- \"Bhatia, sorry I\'ve been
out of contact
00:38:14.833 --> 00:38:16.267
\"since we were last in contact.
00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:19.500
\"The army option you passed on
is an interesting one,
00:38:19.533 --> 00:38:23.200
\"though it is helping
a disastrous process.
00:38:23.233 --> 00:38:26.467
\"I had the same problem
at the end in Israel-Palestine,
00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:28.033
\"work with the U.S. military
00:38:28.067 --> 00:38:30.100
\"to take sides amongst
Palestinians
00:38:30.133 --> 00:38:33.667
\"and contribute to the conflict,
or not.
00:38:33.700 --> 00:38:35.033
\"I didn\'t.
00:38:35.067 --> 00:38:37.500
\"So if one can get over
the moral qualms,
00:38:37.533 --> 00:38:40.767
\"at an operational level,
it would be interesting.
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:44.433
\"Do have a sense of what they
would do with the information?
00:38:44.467 --> 00:38:45.967
\"As for the army,
00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:48.267
\"it would be in Afghanistan
rather than Iraq.
00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:50.700
\"I would not go to Iraq.
00:38:50.733 --> 00:38:53.200
\"Afghanistan is
a quasi-just war,
00:38:53.233 --> 00:38:55.633
\"often unjustly conducted.
00:38:55.667 --> 00:38:57.233
\"The parliament
and the presidency
00:38:57.267 --> 00:38:58.433
\"are beginning to push back
00:38:58.467 --> 00:39:00.767
\"in trying to limit coalition
operations
00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:04.000
\"and to induce negotiations
with the Taliban.
00:39:04.033 --> 00:39:06.933
\"I think the army is beginning
to question the use of force
00:39:06.967 --> 00:39:08.833
\"but not entirely.
00:39:08.867 --> 00:39:12.167
\"Do you think Afghanistan
is as morally suspect?
00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:13.967
\"They will use the information
to understand
00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:15.300
\"the negative effects,
00:39:15.333 --> 00:39:17.733
consequences,
of their operation.\"
00:39:18.833 --> 00:39:22.833
- He and I had like an eight-,
nine-month email exchange
00:39:22.867 --> 00:39:24.200
after he discovered us,
00:39:24.233 --> 00:39:25.867
before he ever committed to
00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:29.100
or ever even asked
to join the program.
00:39:29.133 --> 00:39:31.733
It took him to help me
understand
00:39:31.767 --> 00:39:33.933
just how complex it was.
00:39:33.967 --> 00:39:35.567
- He didn\'t necessarily say
00:39:35.600 --> 00:39:41.133
that he was going to be embedded
with military.
00:39:41.167 --> 00:39:44.033
He sort of spoke of it
as a desk job
00:39:44.067 --> 00:39:46.600
and that it was research.
00:39:46.633 --> 00:39:48.500
My concern was that it was -
00:39:48.533 --> 00:39:51.100
he was going there not
as an independent researcher,
00:39:51.133 --> 00:39:53.800
not with an NGO
as he had done in the past.
00:39:53.833 --> 00:39:55.367
And this time it was military,
00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:59.300
and again, I just deferred
to his judgment.
00:39:59.333 --> 00:40:01.600
- Well, there\'s no substitute
for being there,
00:40:01.633 --> 00:40:02.700
which, I think, is something
00:40:02.733 --> 00:40:07.467
that Michael understood
completely.
00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:11.133
Culture at a distance is -
it\'s second best.
00:40:11.167 --> 00:40:14.800
It\'s not something
that you want to do.
00:40:14.833 --> 00:40:17.033
It\'s something that
the situation
00:40:17.067 --> 00:40:19.967
sometimes makes you do.
00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:21.100
- \"Hello all.
00:40:21.133 --> 00:40:23.233
\"My greetings from Fort Benning,
Georgia.
00:40:23.267 --> 00:40:25.733
\"After two intense months
at Fort Leavenworth
00:40:25.767 --> 00:40:29.267
\"and a brief foray down
to the JRTC at Fort Polk,
00:40:29.300 --> 00:40:32.700
\"I head out this evening
for Kuwait and then Afghanistan.
00:40:32.733 --> 00:40:34.333
\"I\'ll be joining
the Human Terrain Team
00:40:34.367 --> 00:40:37.433
\"in Khost, Afghanistan,
as a social scientist.
00:40:37.467 --> 00:40:39.233
\"I will be spending
a good amount of time
00:40:39.267 --> 00:40:41.533
\"over the next several days
in what the military calls
00:40:41.567 --> 00:40:43.067
\"\'hurry up and wait.\'
00:40:43.100 --> 00:40:46.800
\"I expect I\'ll be in Afghanistan
for at least nine months.
00:40:46.833 --> 00:40:48.000
\"While the program has proven
00:40:48.033 --> 00:40:50.267
\"to be controversial
and widely reported,
00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:53.233
\"I am optimistic that
given the right participants,
00:40:53.267 --> 00:40:54.667
\"the program has a real chance
00:40:54.700 --> 00:40:58.067
\"of reducing both the Afghan
and American lives lost.
00:40:58.100 --> 00:40:59.700
\"Contrary to some
of the criticism,
00:40:59.733 --> 00:41:02.767
\"I am not involved in covert
research or activities
00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:05.767
\"or in lethal targeting
or interrogation.
00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:08.800
\"To no doubt, I will confront
many challenges there,
00:41:08.833 --> 00:41:10.033
\"as I am already preparing
00:41:10.067 --> 00:41:13.333
\"for both the real
and ethical minefields.
00:41:13.367 --> 00:41:14.567
\"I look forward
00:41:14.600 --> 00:41:16.333
\"to hearing from everyone
over the next year
00:41:16.367 --> 00:41:17.700
\"and welcome any message
00:41:17.733 --> 00:41:22.100
of criticism, inquiry,
or support.\"
00:41:22.733 --> 00:41:24.300
- Most people become
anthropologists
00:41:24.333 --> 00:41:29.600
because they want
to reach out to the other.
00:41:29.633 --> 00:41:31.267
They want to understand
the other.
00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:32.833
They think that understanding
the other
00:41:32.867 --> 00:41:35.867
enhances the dignity
of the other, right?
00:41:36.967 --> 00:41:39.167
Once cultural knowledge
becomes commodified,
00:41:39.200 --> 00:41:41.067
once it becomes objectified,
00:41:41.100 --> 00:41:43.733
it becomes a way of manipulating
those cultural others,
00:41:43.767 --> 00:41:45.933
you\'ve moved away
from the original motivation
00:41:45.967 --> 00:41:48.800
that most anthropologists have
for understanding culture,
00:41:48.833 --> 00:41:52.100
and you can only feel ambivalent
about that.
00:41:52.133 --> 00:41:54.133
- \"Just arrived in Bagram
last night,
00:41:54.167 --> 00:41:57.333
\"trying to catch a C-130
down to Khost today.
00:41:57.367 --> 00:41:59.233
\"Will be off on the first
long-term
00:41:59.267 --> 00:42:00.967
\"research mission shortly.
00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:03.800
\"The commander really
gets it here, minimum force,
00:42:03.833 --> 00:42:06.000
\"extending the reach
of the central government,
00:42:06.033 --> 00:42:08.400
\"negotiating away the Taliban,
00:42:08.433 --> 00:42:11.233
\"supporting the police
and the rule of law, et cetera.
00:42:11.267 --> 00:42:13.133
\"All the more reason
to join up right now
00:42:13.167 --> 00:42:14.567
\"and support those commanders
00:42:14.600 --> 00:42:17.233
\"who are trying
to change strategy.
00:42:17.267 --> 00:42:19.267
\"Hard day for the 82nd.
00:42:19.300 --> 00:42:21.600
\"Yesterday a company commander
and driver
00:42:21.633 --> 00:42:24.300
\"were killed by an IED attack
in Paktika.
00:42:24.333 --> 00:42:27.133
\"Anyway, I don\'t think
I\'m expected to duck,
00:42:27.167 --> 00:42:31.100
but to protect myself.\"
00:42:31.133 --> 00:42:34.300
- We had come back
from a mission in Zormat.
00:42:34.333 --> 00:42:36.200
We\'d come back from Chura.
00:42:36.233 --> 00:42:39.400
Here was a small team,
individual Michael,
00:42:39.433 --> 00:42:42.300
you know, that\'s sitting
on the ground
00:42:42.333 --> 00:42:47.300
with elders in this open space,
00:42:47.333 --> 00:42:50.167
trying to find out what
the root of the problems is,
00:42:50.200 --> 00:42:51.700
you know, how can we fix it?
00:42:51.733 --> 00:42:53.533
How can we make things better?
00:42:53.567 --> 00:42:55.500
- Hello.
00:42:55.533 --> 00:42:58.533
- [speaking Arabic]
00:43:19.633 --> 00:43:24.567
- [speaking Arabic]
00:43:24.600 --> 00:43:25.833
- So we were talking about
00:43:25.867 --> 00:43:29.367
the controversy
around the program
00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:34.033
and how we just couldn\'t
understand how people
00:43:34.067 --> 00:43:37.133
could make a decision about us
and not be a part of us,
00:43:37.167 --> 00:43:39.633
you know, not even be in country
with us,
00:43:39.667 --> 00:43:42.533
you know, not do any research
on that to see what we are.
00:44:17.367 --> 00:44:20.367
- [speaking Arabic]
00:44:23.467 --> 00:44:26.433
- \"My greetings
from FOB Salerno.
00:44:26.467 --> 00:44:30.367
\"It\'s been an interesting almost
two months out here so far.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:33.200
\"While I do not take the
professional, ethical dilemmas
00:44:33.233 --> 00:44:35.200
\"in participating
in the program lightly,
00:44:35.233 --> 00:44:37.967
\"and in fact appreciate
any discussion of dilemmas
00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:40.733
\"in order to ensure
ethical practice,
00:44:40.767 --> 00:44:43.667
\"I\'m struck by the fact
that the strong response
00:44:43.700 --> 00:44:45.967
\"to this program partly reveals
00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:49.833
\"an exercise in anthro
\'group formation.\'
00:44:49.867 --> 00:44:51.200
\"In doing so, some academics
00:44:51.233 --> 00:44:53.800
\"have created a polemical
enemy image,
00:44:53.833 --> 00:44:56.067
\"focusing on naming, labeling,
00:44:56.100 --> 00:44:59.467
\"rather than actual learning
what the HTT does.
00:44:59.500 --> 00:45:03.333
\"We\'re not involved
in lethal targeting at all.
00:45:03.367 --> 00:45:05.233
\"I\'m more involved in SSR,
00:45:05.267 --> 00:45:08.000
\"governance,
and development issues.
00:45:08.033 --> 00:45:09.733
\"Those issues directly related
00:45:09.767 --> 00:45:15.700
to what we\'ve been studying
for all of those years.\"
00:45:15.733 --> 00:45:18.200
- Michael said he never served
in the military
00:45:18.233 --> 00:45:20.733
and that on some level
he sort of regretted that.
00:45:20.767 --> 00:45:24.500
And I told him,
I looked at him and told him,
00:45:24.533 --> 00:45:26.433
I said \"What do you think
you\'re doing now?
00:45:26.467 --> 00:45:31.900
\"You know, you may not be
a sworn soldier,
00:45:31.933 --> 00:45:33.367
\"but you\'re right
in the middle of it,
00:45:33.400 --> 00:45:34.867
and you\'re with everybody else,\"
00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:37.400
And I said,
\"Talk about being dirty.\"
00:45:37.433 --> 00:45:39.500
I said, \"You\'re getting dirty.\"
00:45:39.533 --> 00:45:44.533
- I\'ve spent my career both
in academia and in the field,
00:45:44.567 --> 00:45:46.800
and I\'m not sure the need
00:45:46.833 --> 00:45:52.967
to get one\'s hands dirty
explains away intentions
00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:55.867
and what you are
setting out to do,
00:45:55.900 --> 00:45:57.500
whether in the academic world
00:45:57.533 --> 00:46:00.100
or whether in
the practical world.
00:46:00.133 --> 00:46:03.033
And I think that you find
in both worlds
00:46:03.067 --> 00:46:06.500
good people and people
who are poorly intentioned.
00:46:06.533 --> 00:46:08.600
And whether you\'re getting
your hands dirty
00:46:08.633 --> 00:46:13.100
or not getting your hands dirty
is not the difference.
00:46:13.133 --> 00:46:17.033
To me the difference is,
what are you out to achieve?
00:46:17.533 --> 00:46:19.400
- He felt that,
00:46:19.433 --> 00:46:24.633
\"Why am I different than
any other young American man
00:46:24.667 --> 00:46:27.300
\"and young American woman
that is serving?
00:46:27.333 --> 00:46:30.867
\"And I have this knowledge
that they don\'t have
00:46:30.900 --> 00:46:34.267
\"or the military doesn\'t have
or someone doesn\'t have
00:46:34.300 --> 00:46:35.500
that I can help.\"
00:46:36.267 --> 00:46:40.967
He probably was pursuing
what I would know of him
00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:44.500
in terms of trying to do good,
I mean, essentially.
00:46:44.533 --> 00:46:47.000
How he reconciled that
00:46:47.033 --> 00:46:50.000
with being part of a forward
unit with all of the things
00:46:50.033 --> 00:46:52.333
that go along with being part
of a forward unit,
00:46:52.367 --> 00:46:54.967
I don\'t know.
00:47:10.267 --> 00:47:13.267
- [speaking Arabic]
00:47:27.700 --> 00:47:30.700
- [speaking Arabic]
00:47:33.733 --> 00:47:36.733
- [speaking Arabic]
00:47:53.800 --> 00:47:56.800
- [speaking Arabic]
00:47:59.400 --> 00:48:01.033
- \"Hello, everyone.
00:48:01.067 --> 00:48:02.900
\"My apologies
for the mass email.
00:48:02.933 --> 00:48:05.800
\"I\'ll be back for 15 days
of leave in July,
00:48:05.833 --> 00:48:08.833
\"spending my time between
upstate New York, Toronto,
00:48:08.867 --> 00:48:11.400
\"and Massachusetts, Providence.
00:48:11.433 --> 00:48:14.133
\"Thought I\'d forward
the now departed 82nd Brigade
00:48:14.167 --> 00:48:16.100
\"Commander\'s Congressional
testimony
00:48:16.133 --> 00:48:20.000
\"on the impact of this team
on U.S. activity in Afghanistan.
00:48:20.033 --> 00:48:22.800
\"Some of the statement
may be a bit exaggerated.
00:48:22.833 --> 00:48:25.733
\"Other parts don\'t fully account
for what our impact has been
00:48:25.767 --> 00:48:28.100
\"over the last six months.
00:48:28.133 --> 00:48:30.133
Looking forward
to seeing everyone soon.\"
00:48:33.700 --> 00:48:38.033
- I guess it was around 10:30
in the morning, I suppose.
00:48:38.067 --> 00:48:39.700
We had all gotten our mission
assignments,
00:48:39.733 --> 00:48:42.400
so we had each of us staggered
throughout the trucks.
00:48:44.467 --> 00:48:46.700
We were coming up the -
00:48:46.733 --> 00:48:49.667
kind of the back road
to an area that we felt,
00:48:49.700 --> 00:48:51.000
everybody felt, I think,
00:48:51.033 --> 00:48:54.400
was the root of a lot
of the problems and violence
00:48:54.433 --> 00:48:56.900
in that particular location.
00:48:56.933 --> 00:49:00.000
And as we were coming up,
00:49:00.033 --> 00:49:05.033
there was a -
just this horrific explosion.
00:49:07.633 --> 00:49:10.500
After the IED exploded
00:49:10.533 --> 00:49:14.500
and we were waiting
for the helicopter to come,
00:49:14.533 --> 00:49:17.933
you know, it turned really cold.
00:49:17.967 --> 00:49:23.367
The wind started blowing,
00:49:23.400 --> 00:49:24.633
and it just started -
00:49:24.667 --> 00:49:26.500
it kind of started raining
from out of nowhere.
00:49:28.300 --> 00:49:30.200
- Sir, be advised.
00:49:30.233 --> 00:49:34.500
We have one urgent surgical,
00:49:34.533 --> 00:49:40.200
one urgent, three KIA.
00:49:40.233 --> 00:49:41.367
- [...].
00:49:41.400 --> 00:49:42.500
- Roger.
Good copy.
00:49:42.533 --> 00:49:43.533
Six out.
00:50:15.300 --> 00:50:17.467
[gunshots]
00:50:23.900 --> 00:50:26.700
- He was always doing something
greater than himself.
00:50:26.733 --> 00:50:28.933
Why this as opposed
to the other things?
00:50:28.967 --> 00:50:32.567
That\'s the difficult question
we\'re having to answer.
00:50:32.600 --> 00:50:33.767
And I think this also relates
00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:36.700
to how other people see
this death,
00:50:36.733 --> 00:50:38.367
the politicization of his death,
00:50:38.400 --> 00:50:40.567
because a lot of people
will say,
00:50:40.600 --> 00:50:42.833
\"Another fallen comrade
on the front lines
00:50:42.867 --> 00:50:44.633
in the War on Terror.\"
00:50:44.667 --> 00:50:48.933
But he was not a nationalist.
00:50:48.967 --> 00:50:50.333
He was an internationalist,
00:50:50.367 --> 00:50:54.300
ideologically, philosophically,
culturally,
00:50:54.333 --> 00:50:55.733
and it would be
a misunderstanding,
00:50:55.767 --> 00:50:58.033
a misinterpretation
of what he stood for,
00:50:58.067 --> 00:50:59.667
what he was about
00:50:59.700 --> 00:51:03.033
if he is viewed through the lens
of nationalism.
00:51:20.433 --> 00:51:22.900
- \"In that empire,
the art of cartography
00:51:22.933 --> 00:51:24.900
\"reached such perfection
00:51:24.933 --> 00:51:26.633
\"that the map
of one province alone
00:51:26.667 --> 00:51:28.400
\"took up the whole of a city,
00:51:28.433 --> 00:51:32.200
\"and the map of the empire
the whole of the province.
00:51:32.233 --> 00:51:36.433
\"In time those unconscionable
maps did not satisfy,
00:51:36.467 --> 00:51:38.533
\"and the colleges
of cartographers
00:51:38.567 --> 00:51:40.400
\"set up a map of the empire
00:51:40.433 --> 00:51:43.033
\"which had the size
of the empire itself
00:51:43.067 --> 00:51:46.067
\"and coincided with it
point by point.
00:51:46.100 --> 00:51:48.767
\"Less addicted to the study
of cartography,
00:51:48.800 --> 00:51:51.067
\"succeeding generations
understood
00:51:51.100 --> 00:51:53.867
\"that this widespread map
was useless
00:51:53.900 --> 00:51:55.633
\"and not without impiety.
00:51:55.667 --> 00:51:57.633
\"They abandoned it
to the inclemencies
00:51:57.667 --> 00:52:00.600
\"of the sun and of the winters.
00:52:00.633 --> 00:52:02.100
\"In the deserts of the West
00:52:02.133 --> 00:52:05.267
\"some mangled ruins
of the map lasted on,
00:52:05.300 --> 00:52:07.867
\"inhabited by animals
and beggars.
00:52:07.900 --> 00:52:09.267
\"In the whole country
00:52:09.300 --> 00:52:13.233
there are no other relics
of the discipline of geography.\"
00:52:16.767 --> 00:52:18.167
- Armed conflict involves
00:52:18.200 --> 00:52:23.400
both physical violence
and also a negotiation,
00:52:23.433 --> 00:52:25.433
a sort of war over words.
00:52:25.467 --> 00:52:28.833
And that partly is over
the legitimacy of violent acts
00:52:28.867 --> 00:52:31.267
and a legitimacy
of violent actors.
00:52:31.300 --> 00:52:33.867
- To achieve our goals,
we need a stronger,
00:52:33.900 --> 00:52:37.867
smarter,
and comprehensive strategy.
00:52:37.900 --> 00:52:41.200
I\'ve already ordered
the deployment of 17,000 troops
00:52:41.233 --> 00:52:43.333
that have been requested
by General McKiernan
00:52:43.367 --> 00:52:45.033
for many months.
00:52:45.067 --> 00:52:46.433
These soldiers and marines
00:52:46.467 --> 00:52:47.900
will take the fight
to the Taliban
00:52:47.933 --> 00:52:49.233
in the South and the East.
00:52:49.267 --> 00:52:51.333
- Our efforts in Afghanistan
00:52:51.367 --> 00:52:54.967
have appropriately focused
on protecting the population.
00:52:55.000 --> 00:52:57.900
This is, needless to say,
of considerable importance,
00:52:57.933 --> 00:53:00.033
for in counterinsurgency
operations,
00:53:00.067 --> 00:53:03.100
the human terrain
is the decisive terrain.
00:53:03.333 --> 00:53:06.233
- How do you make war
less likely
00:53:06.267 --> 00:53:07.933
rather than more humane?
00:53:07.967 --> 00:53:09.667
When you start
with that question,
00:53:09.700 --> 00:53:12.500
then you proceed to some
very different conclusions
00:53:12.533 --> 00:53:14.400
about where we should put
our research efforts.
00:53:14.433 --> 00:53:16.367
- For me personally,
what I should do
00:53:16.400 --> 00:53:18.067
as an anthropologist
in the military
00:53:18.100 --> 00:53:19.667
is ask questions
about the culture
00:53:19.700 --> 00:53:21.133
within the national security
state
00:53:21.167 --> 00:53:24.067
that enabled us to get into
this mess in the first place.
00:53:24.133 --> 00:53:25.700
So for me personally,
00:53:25.733 --> 00:53:27.600
the interesting questions
have to do
00:53:27.633 --> 00:53:29.400
with investigating the hubris
00:53:29.433 --> 00:53:30.800
and mistaken cultural
assumptions
00:53:30.833 --> 00:53:33.267
of American military planners,
rather than helping
00:53:33.300 --> 00:53:35.033
to sort of grease the wheels
for occupation.
00:53:35.067 --> 00:53:37.233
- After the Vietnam War,
00:53:37.267 --> 00:53:40.067
the Joint Chiefs of Staff
dismantled a lot of programs
00:53:40.100 --> 00:53:42.100
and capabilities that they had
created for Vietnam.
00:53:42.133 --> 00:53:45.300
And I am personally concerned
00:53:45.333 --> 00:53:48.900
that the same thing
might happen now.
00:53:48.933 --> 00:53:52.233
In which case,
everything we\'ve done now,
00:53:52.267 --> 00:53:55.000
not just HTS, but I mean across
the Department of Defense,
00:53:55.033 --> 00:53:56.833
will simply be dismantled.
00:53:56.867 --> 00:53:58.600
And then next time
00:53:58.633 --> 00:54:00.967
we\'ll have to build it all
again from scratch
00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:02.467
during the middle of a war.
00:54:02.500 --> 00:54:03.633
[chuckles]
00:54:03.667 --> 00:54:06.100
You know, too little
too late.
00:54:06.133 --> 00:54:07.400
- This is a growth industry.
00:54:07.433 --> 00:54:09.933
This is not something
that\'s going to drop off
00:54:09.967 --> 00:54:14.133
the face of the military\'s
to-do list
00:54:14.167 --> 00:54:16.033
because of a change
in administration.
00:54:16.067 --> 00:54:19.233
The U.S. won\'t be out of Iraq
and Afghanistan
00:54:19.267 --> 00:54:21.333
as quickly as a lot
of people want.
00:54:21.367 --> 00:54:24.733
So we\'re going to have to deal
with it as best we can.
00:54:24.767 --> 00:54:27.433
- I think the idea
that there can be a kinder,
00:54:27.467 --> 00:54:31.733
gentler counterinsurgency war
is a myth.
00:54:32.067 --> 00:54:34.033
It\'s a kind of dream
00:54:34.067 --> 00:54:37.800
that they can somehow
do things differently.
00:54:38.567 --> 00:54:40.567
- The road ahead will be long,
00:54:40.600 --> 00:54:42.800
and there will be
difficult days ahead.
00:54:42.833 --> 00:54:44.333
But we will seek
lasting partnerships
00:54:44.367 --> 00:54:46.433
with Afghanistan and Pakistan
00:54:46.467 --> 00:54:48.700
that promise a new day
for their people.
00:54:48.733 --> 00:54:51.633
And we will use all elements
of our national power
00:54:51.667 --> 00:54:52.867
to defeat Al-Qaeda.
00:54:58.167 --> 00:55:01.700
- I wrote in a memorial
to Michael
00:55:01.733 --> 00:55:03.667
that just because you can\'t
change the world,
00:55:03.700 --> 00:55:06.433
it doesn\'t mean that the world
has to change you.
00:55:06.467 --> 00:55:07.633
When you\'re young,
00:55:07.667 --> 00:55:11.300
you think everything
is up for negotiation,
00:55:11.333 --> 00:55:12.767
up for change.
00:55:12.800 --> 00:55:14.833
And when you look back,
00:55:14.867 --> 00:55:20.833
it feels like
00:55:20.867 --> 00:55:22.833
the rules of the game
are set.
00:55:22.933 --> 00:55:26.467
And as we\'re unable
to change the rules of the game,
00:55:26.500 --> 00:55:29.433
does that mean that what we
aspire to do ought to change?
00:55:29.467 --> 00:55:31.967
I think that\'s precisely
the test.
00:55:38.100 --> 00:55:41.067
[Wolf Parade\'s You are a Runner
and I am My Father\'s Son]
00:55:41.100 --> 00:55:49.100
♪ ♪
00:56:01.433 --> 00:56:04.367
- ♪ I got a number on me ♪
00:56:04.400 --> 00:56:07.133
♪ I got a number ♪
00:56:07.167 --> 00:56:12.700
♪ Won\'t make it through
the high noon sun ♪
00:56:12.733 --> 00:56:15.500
♪ I am my father\'s son ♪
00:56:15.533 --> 00:56:18.333
♪ And I am my father\'s son ♪
00:56:18.367 --> 00:56:22.767
♪ His bed is made ♪
00:56:22.800 --> 00:56:28.633
♪ But I was a hero
early in the morning ♪
00:56:28.667 --> 00:56:35.600
♪ I ain\'t no hero
in the night ♪
00:56:35.633 --> 00:56:40.700
♪ ♪
00:56:40.733 --> 00:56:46.367
♪ I am my father\'s son ♪
00:56:46.400 --> 00:56:49.000
♪ And I\'ll build a house
inside of you ♪
00:56:49.033 --> 00:56:51.733
♪ I\'ll go in through
the mouth ♪
00:56:51.767 --> 00:56:57.500
♪ I\'ll draw three figures
on your heart ♪
00:56:57.533 --> 00:56:59.967
♪ One of them will be me
as a boy ♪
00:57:00.000 --> 00:57:02.933
♪ And one of them will be me ♪
00:57:02.967 --> 00:57:07.500
♪ And one of them will be me
watching you run ♪
00:57:07.533 --> 00:57:13.067
♪ Watching you run
into the high noon sun ♪
00:57:13.100 --> 00:57:18.733
♪ Watching you run
farther than guns will go ♪
00:57:18.767 --> 00:57:20.600
♪ You are a runner ♪
Distributor: Bullfrog Films
Length: 84 minutes
Date: 2010
Genre: Expository
Language: English
Grade: 10-12, College, Adults
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
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