Behind enemy lines

Image courtesy: PBS

I just finished watching PBS Frontline's new documentary, 'Behind Taliban Lines.' Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi risked his life to obtain footage of a terror cell in northern Afghanistan, Hezb-i-Islami, that is affiliated with both al Qaeda and the Taliban. The footage, while extraordinary, is difficult to watch, as it centers around terrorist efforts to plant roadside bombs to kill U.S. troops. After writing so many stories about brave Americans killed and maimed by IEDs, and speaking with some of their families, this documentary caused a lot of pain, angst, and frustration.

Despite my mixed emotions, I have to conclude that this documentary is important to our dwindling national discussion about the war in Afghanistan. Naturally, the piece contains a lot of troubling footage, since the journalist spent ten days interviewing enemies of the free world, as well as documenting their cowardly actions. In a key segment, a terrorist identified as Arif clearly states his murderous goals.

Arif: "We split Russia into 25 pieces, and God willing, now we'll split America into 54 pieces."

Quraishi: "Which do you think is stronger, Russia or America?"

Arif: "Russia was stronger, and they were defeated."

Immediately following the interview, which is embedded below and can also be watched online on the PBS website, Arif is shown slapping a teenage recruit who fails to correctly recite a verse from the Qu'ran.

The documentary explains that Hezb-i-Islami operates primarily in the north, for which security is mostly the responsibility of German troops and other NATO forces. One fighter interviewed said while Afghans make up a big part of the militant group, al Qaeda is sending terrorists from Yemen and Saudi Arabia to fight alongside them. The film also shows a school, built and paid for by the United Nations, which has been seized by the enemy. Local residents have been forced to pay taxes to the terrorist group instead of the government in Kabul, and several civilians interviewed give obviously rehearsed answers about their support for the insurgents.

Thankfully, the improvised explosive devices the terrorists are shown assembling, planting, and monitoring do not strike an American tank the group believes will be driving down an important northern artery. Had the enemy succeeded, at least one more tragic story about devastated parents flying to Delaware to meet their son or daughter's flag-draped casket likely would have been posted here.

The group's lack of coordination and ultimate failure leads Seattle Times columnist Bruce Ramsey to conclude the overall enemy may not be a threat worth facing. In closing, Ramsey writes:

"Watch the movie. You tell me why my country's soldiers are halfway around the world having a war with these people."

It is important to note that this footage, while bravely obtained by an Afghan journalist who would have been beheaded if one militant had his way, was shot over a short period of a war that has lasted over eight years. We should be relieved the group's deadly mission failed, but not dismissive of the threat posed by foreign terrorists the documentary proves are streaming in from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Many of the 9/11 hijackers were born in Saudi Arabia, while the attempted 2009 Christmas Day bomber trained extensively in Yemen. While it may be easy to downplay one poorly planned plot in Afghanistan, we cannot ignore attacks on our homeland.

A commenter on Frontline's 'Behind The Taliban' site named C.V., who identifies herself as the mother of a Marine about to deploy to Afghanistan, has a different view than Ramsey.

"I found this program very disturbing. It was propaganda for the Taliban. How convenient that the bombs didn't go off when it was being filmed - it made them appear inept when in reality they have been able to kill or injure hundreds of our servicemen and women."

The commenter is absolutely right that the documentary is disturbing. However, I would argue that while the piece undoubtedly contains enemy propaganda, it does not serve as a tool for the Taliban in the end. Instead, seeing terrorists claim "infidels" have invaded Afghanistan to force pornography and western culture upon the Afghan people shows us how the Taliban continues its efforts to brainwash the population. Most Americans know we invaded Afghanistan not out of imperialistic lust, but because Mullah Omar's brutal regime harbored Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants before and after they planned the unprovoked attacks of September 11, 2001.

While good Americans can disagree on the way forward in Afghanistan, I believe dialogue about what our troops are fighting for and who they are battling against helps form an important discussion worth having. At the very least, this PBS piece seems to be reigniting debate, and reminding a society distracted by a sensationalistic, ratings-driven press that we have thousands of brothers and sisters in harm's way. To me, that alone makes this project worthy, and shows that PBS is one of the few national media outlets committed to consistently covering this historic conflict.