Educational Media Reviews Online

The film opens with Afghan men forming a motorized convoy in preparation for a trip outside of Kabul. Their boots and new uniforms are courtesy of the United States while their weapons are from Iran. The leader of the group is a former United States Special Forces soldier. The trip progresses through scenes of devastation caused by drought and two decades of war. A stream of images of people living in poverty contrasts sharply with the well equipped bands of men serving under local leaders. Interviews with these leaders reveal that while women have received more freedom since the end of the Taliban regime, they still struggle for equal rights. Humanitarian aid, normally channeled through organizations, like the Red Cross, is provided to local leaders by American Special Forces. The leaders ration it to the local population, many of whom have to travel long distances to receive basic necessities. Leaders are shown in their territorial roles of administering to the local population while their armed men standby. It becomes clear that this is a land that is still under the rule of the gun, and that food is being used as a weapon. This documentary presents the realities of the current leaderhship in Afghanistan, and prompts the question has anything really changed in the way of governance in this long warlord dominated country?

Afghanistan: Back to the Warlords is recommended, particularly as a starting point for discussion of world politics.