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Scene where Colonel Reed orders the murder of wounded Iraqi insurgent

posted 12 years ago by New_York_Confidential
8 replies | jump to latest

Probably the most chilling scene of the movie. When the medic says about the wounded Iraqi insurgent something like "we can save him" and Colonel Reed says "He's not going to make it" and gives the nod to one of his lieutenants to execute the Iraqi. Very disturbing. I understand that situations like that happen. But to see a Colonel give an order like that in front of so many others soldiers, I was surprised it was put in there.

So you think Bigelow was trying to say that commanding officers are sometimes the ones that set the example that soldiers get court marshalled and condemned for.

[–] natbmw2-161-449157 12 years ago

Not only is it weird to see a full bird colonel walking around with a strangely low amount of personel (ie: Regiment of guys hanging around) but it is weird to see him approve of that. Any company grade officer remotely concerned about his career and his future would probably not do this, that kind of *beep* will come back to bite you, especially in front of so many others but I guess given he was a Colonel he was probably in charge of the Regiment/Brigade in that area. The actor traditionally plays a similar type of bad guy in other movies...good actor. It was 04' 05' though and stuff like this DID happen.

[–] MightyTiki 12 years ago

The movie takes place around 2005-2006, that's when Camp Victory South became Camp Liberty, not during 2004-2005.

For what it's worth, there were incidents where orders were issued from higher and subordinates executed without thinking twice even when it's clearly a violation of LOAC or ROE. War isn't a black and white scenario where your actions are simply "good" or "bad" but rather a million shades of grey.

It's a movie, not a documentary. From my personal experience, I never saw any military psychologists/psychiatrists above the rank of O-3 (Captain) when I was downrange.

"Toto, I've [got] a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

[–] huwdj 11 years ago

I didn't see an order to execute the wounded man. I think the nod indicated he didn't care and it was ok to let him die. You could even argue that in the situation they were in it was a simple decision to hold thier position and protect his men.

[–] anne0 11 years ago

wrong - watch it again. The shot followed the order. It was disturbing and shown for reason.

But was the victim an insurgent for sure? I thought he was a civilian in the area.

[–] huwdj 11 years ago

You're right, there is a gun shot which does change the understanding of the scene. I don't think it ever stated if the wounded man on the ground was involved with the attack. The security guard does state that the car was parked illegally and aroused suspicion, not that they caught someone running away.

[–] Strings101 11 years ago

Since one of the goals of the M-I-Complex is to *create more insurgents*, one suspects that everyone at the rank of full-bird colonel and higher implements policies to achieve that... never miss a chance to alienate and enrage the occupied peeps, seems to have been S.O.P., oui/non?

But yeah, as far as that scene goes, seems like another cheap (and unrealistic) shot in what is obviously an anti-war/anti-US-policy movie.

[–] P-K-One 11 years ago

I found it less chilling and more stupid.

That guy was out, he was no thread and he was a potential source of information. What kind of moron orders the execution of a guy who can be interrogated?

[–] Redux006 10 years ago

My thoughts exactly. A lot of things in this movie were totally illogical like that.