What a revelation! I hope CBC broadcasts this as many times as possible - it is simply essential viewing. All the best to those who participated in the creation of this documentary.

I am deeply saddened by the story, the sheer brutality of war against all these young people and the victims in the countries we have invaded. The film did end on some positive note.

Makes me think about how differently - if any - our Canadian soldiers would speak of their experiences in Afghanistan.

I think we'd prefer to believe this is somewhat an American experience, born from aggressive policies and national ego to some degree - that it is partially a result from a betrayal of situations and attitudes. I just hope we provide some better services and support for our soldiers.

After watching the doc, I am reminded of the torture that I have gone thru over the past 20 years. One of my children is the victim of Agent Orange. I have fought long and hard to get benifits for him from the USA but I am still at a loss. His father did 3 tours in Nam and came back with the effects of AO and PTSD.

Now I look at these vets and I really wonder what will be done or will they all be swept under the carpet like the Nam vets, the Korean vets, the Persian Gulf vets, the Bosnian vets.

When will our governments step up to the plate and do the right thing?

How can we help these men and women get what they need?

As a veteran myself, who has not been in a war zone, I feel for these men and women, I can only guess what they have gone thru. I know my own trauma of going thru what I did when I was in.

Good feature-length doc, but also very depressing and didn't see much in the way of offering any signs of help/hope for these returning soldiers.

The lucky ones are the ones who were willing to speak on camera about their experiences.

However, makes it easier to understand why so many men sign on with private military companies and go back to Iraq (see excellent Canadian doc on PMCs called "Shadow Company" - www.shadowcompanythemovie.com).

A rivetting documentary, where are the broadcasters in the U.S. with the courage to air such programming.To hear Tom Delay on NBC accuse those opposed to Bush, and his war of treason is to realize how vital it is that the American public be exposed to documentaries such as this.

How come it takes a Canadian TV show to show the Amercians what is happening to their troops???

best thing yet on the Iraq war. show it again. make it available in DVD. let us know how to get it.

300 million copies of this documentary film must be distributed among the American, so that they know about the crimes their government and its soldiers are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American pandemic is their ignorance!

Powerful. Disturbing. Baffling. All those young guys changed, for what?

They're not the 9/11 first responders and in the eyes of the American people they'll never be, but these guys have done more, and suffered more for America than can ever be appreciated. These men, with all their hurts and troubles are real heroes. They show that in just going on.

God bless everyone of them, they're doing their penance, they should be told that they have already been absolved.

Just watched "Ground Truth". CBC should air this over and over again, perhaps Canadians driving around with their Support our Troops stickers would realise what it really means.

Again PTSD was included in this war documentary, good...because it is the number one casuality of war and has been since the dawn of man and warfare. Canada has forgotten its peacekeepers maybe Canada will wake and support current serving members in Afganhistan.

I found this documentary eye opening and painful to watch. It is so easy to turn away from the horrors going on in the world. I chose to watch and see the truth of war.

I have nothing but the deepest respect and the highest regard for these Men and Women who have chosen to come forward and speak their truth.

I am a Canadian and I have nothing but contempt for the Bush REGIME.!!!We must also place blame on our conservative government for contributing to this FARCE. We all need to wake up to reality, that this war needs to end.

That was an excellent and very frightening documentary. The soldiers who are speaking out should try and concentrate on their courage now rather than dwell on their lack of courage in the field. I worry about the ones who aren't able to see the folly and the horror of this war.

Is this documentary being seen in the U.S.? Where was it made? Who is Patricia Foulkrod?

Thank you and thank her and thank the hurt and wounded.

...a powerful documentary......I found the depiction of the training in entrain robot-like numbness to killing and gunsight video and voiceover of the strafing of already wounded people in battlefield to be horrific but perhaps
not surprising

.... should be shown in U.S.and also hope that a documentary with the same topics done on the Canadian
military presence in Afganistan would not result in the same conclusions

Yesterday there were news reports about the world-wide anti-war marches. In Canada too, and against our committments in Afghanistan! I wondered 'why'. Aren't we doing good there? Aren't our troops doing all the right things, and the Afghans glad that we are there to help them? We must do what we are doing there, because no other country has been as willing as we to help? Why would we Canadians protest our troops being in Afghanistan?

After seeing this film tonight I want to question it all. I want to ask our troops if what we here are hearing is actually as it is. Are they also coming home wounded as those US soldiers are?

I want to re-visit my opinion on the war in Afghanistan and our part in it. I wonder if our government is supporting those soldiers who come home wounded. I want everyone to see this film and also to question it all.
What a powerful film this has been!

I think more soldiers need to start speaking out and refusing to fight in Iraq, if its what they believe.

I pretty much knew that US soldiers killed civilians but I actually though it was accidental ,never in my mind could I guess that the soldiers were actually told to murder people because face it what the US army is doing in Iraq is murder thats pretty much border line genocide.

I only saw the last half hour and found it the most moving and really true or truly real film I've seen yet about Iraq!
Congratulations to CBC for showing it.
and to the film-maker for making it!

This was a very enlightening program. Ever since Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo, I have been disgusted with the behavior of the American government and the troops I would say they are acting like animals, but thank goodness, no animal acts quite so cruelly.

And I'm afraid that the Canadian troops in Afganistan are probably conducting themselves similarly, may not as viciously, but doing similar things.

The film shows clearly what wars do to the minds and emotions of the young people involved.

I wish there were more programs showing the truth about the atrocities, instead of the melodramatic stuff one sees, yes, even on CBC on the nightly news..."our brave soldiers" etc.

The young men on the Passionate Eye surely exposed that untruth...the said that what w hat they did was not brave, but brutal, and they felt guilt and shame.

Very good...and the coverage was excellent. The men and women had a chance to talk in depth about their problems, and the shoddy treatment they receive...not the usual 10 second sound bytes...

I just watched filmaker Patricia Foulkrod's "The Ground Truth" This film has left me feeling so depressed with society and the world as a whole.

It's absolutely disgusting the government of the United States could get away with this for so long now. Why isn't the United Nations stepping in and telling the United States, your services are no longer required in Irag, now please leave.

To the men and women of the United States Military who have spoken out I applaud you!

My heart goes out to the veterans returning from Iraq with severe ptsd, and physical trauma. My own connection with ptsd, although only the trauma that i endured from growing up with my own father who was a ww11 veteran. His trauma became my trauma.

The sad truth that these wars inflict much more collateral damage than most people are willing to admit. It's not just the returning vet, but the families that they come home to are suffering as well.

All for what, I'm still not sure. Vietnam, Gulf War Kosovo, Iraq, Africa, Korea, Bosnia, Chile, wherever you turn, the insanity of war is going strong. Very Sad. Indeed. The only ones that benefit from these wars is the people getting rich off the manufacture of the weapons of war. Let's get rid of them, and get rid of the problem at the same time.

So many times during this documentary I wanted to switch channels and watch another program yet I was unable to. As hard as it was to watch it was harder not to.

The pain that these soldiers are experiencing is heart wrenching. After all they've been through you'd think that there would be no barrier to receiving any help they need by the powers that can. Watching them express themselves in such an honest, open and honourable way in spite of the risks of doing so I sensed that their need to speak their truth is paramount.

Their truths must be spoken, heard and acted upon in a way that will bring some honour back to a system that is broken. All I can say is that I thank them for their sacrifices and support their willingness to promote change. They and their families should be honoured. respected and nurtured. They show real courage. Safe hugs to them all.

I really did not know it was this bad. Being a ex wife of a military man, we have been divorced for 3 years now.

I understand what it is like to have your spouse sent away. My ex did 9 months in Bosnia a few years ago. It was difficult for us both, but things had changed also for us. I never got the whole story. And it was not something I pushed.

So many times I have heard our troops here in Manitoba say that this is what all the training has been for that they want to go to Iraq. Some people I know are there now. I also know a couple who have died in Iraq.

I will say that I am so very proud that these soldiers had the guts to speak up and let people like me who do not understand the effects of war. All I can say is that you need to keep speakingabout the truths of war and may you be able to find peace with yourself once again.

This is a very eye opening topic. It is a topic that Americans do not want to deal with because it brings up, the question that is the main theme of this documentary, "WHY IS AMERICA IN IRAQ."

This is a question that I am sure is in the mind of every Americans, but most of them do not want to admit it, because when the rest of the world told them that, this war should not be fought at this time, they were manipulated into thinking otherwise, and they sent their children proudly into a very dangerous situation.

However now it is too difficult for most parents to admit that they supported their children to go into harms way, for reasons that are still not fully disclosed. And for this, many people in America do not what to ask, or think of out loud about the main theme of this documentary, because the answer is not easy to accept.

It means for most parents that they have failed as parents to protect their children from harm, it mean for Americans that they have failed as citizens, to apply at a crucial moment, the democracy that they sent their children, friends, husbands, wifes, fathers, mothers, into IRAQ to protect .

I have been blessed not to have to face the bruitalities of war. My father and his generation fought a brutal war and returned home knowing their actions and sacrifices counted. History has clearly proved this out.

The young men and women of my generation fought and died in Vietnam for what? Nothing. The protesting students knew it at the time and history has proven it.

Today the soldiers in Iraq already know that if they are lucky enough to wake up the next day, what they sacrifice that day will not make a difference in the "freeing of Iraq". History is proving it already.

Your film is very moving and if it were played on US telivision perhaps during the time slot of "Deal or no deal", it might just motivate the American people to stop this waste of humanity. Send a copy to the wives of all the politians maybe they can influence things.

Disgust, sorrow, fury, sympathy, helplessness- these are just some of the emotions I felt during this documentary.
There was a truth- glaring and chilling- from these soldiers and families which is in sharp contrast to the weak, unbelievable comments coming from the American government about the Iraq war and the "justification" for it.

Should we be surprised when some of these veterans act oddly upon their return home? How can they possibly be the people they were previously? Where is the help they need?

These soldiers have answered their country's call and have been let down horribly when they return home, not only with broken bodies, but with fractured minds and souls as well.

I hope this program will initiate some positive action for those who need help.

Thank you

I am so proud of Jean Chretien and his refusal to support this war.
My heart went out to

Just watched the Documentary, very moving, can relate to it.

Takes a long time to get over it.

Thank you for airing this eye-opening documentary. I felt it very much reinforced the fact that the Iraq war was a mistake from the get go, and will not result in victory for either side.

I only wish every single American and Canadian person could have seen this film, and been more exposed to the harsh reality that I feel a lot of people are still denying. Sadly, this is a huge task, especially when governments are continuing to support the ongoing brutality.
My heart goes out to the many individuals that have been affected by this senseless war, whether directly or indirectly.

I look forward to seeing more similar programming, in hopes of spreading the anti-war message.

I am literally shocked by the extent of injustice on the part of the U.S. military. Americans should be ashamed of how they are represented abroad.

It is high time that we condemn the state terrorism of the Bush administration as we condemn the vigilante terrorism of Osama bin Laden. Both ideologies are perilous to our world. This is the political solution to put an end to the so called 'war on terror'.

Like JFK stated - 'we have to put an end to war before war puts an end to us'

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the CBC for airing such a powerful and inspiring documentary.

Absolutely deplorable what they have been witness to and how they were conditioned to treat fellow human beings.

Sunday report aired today an interview with Joshua Key's . After watching Ground Truth I have no doubt in my mind that what Joshua is alleging is the honest truth.

As I watched this documentary I thought yes this confirms what I had always thought was the case. That of mentally& physically wounded former military personal being dumped on the streets of the USA left to deal with the horrors that they took part in or witnessed . Left to deal with this completely on their own.

The question is how will they deal with it? Suicide, Uncontrolled anger, Acts of violence against whom ever are present at the moment that they explode. Yes all of that and more I fear.

What about the person that well suppress these feelings for years until it develops like a cancer inside them totally consuming them until one day they unleash on society. Society that has forgotten them or didn't even know they existed and has yet to act to help to diffuse this ticking time bomb, if in fact that can be achieved.

Will they be the next Timothy McVay or worse? Stay tuned.

I think everyone in America should watch this film. My heart ached all the way through. I found the film to be so respectful of what these men and women had to say. It didnt feel like propagande it felt like stories that need to be told.

The one thing that stood out for me in the movie was the message of society's view of what these people returning from combat are dealing with.

I as a psychologist would NEVER turn away a hurting soul.

Why does society blame the victim, isolate the victim, and ignor the victim.

Who cares if they killed or how many. Lets just help them.

If America can stick by the words of Chief Justice Jackson and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, then they will recoup what they have lost and regain the world's confidence. It is the only way that the USA will regain its dignity, its face, and its trust among nations.

To all the people who feel betrayed, lost, or depressed about the events that continue to unfold in Iraq and other places throughout World. Take hope and comfort in the words of Chief Justice Jackson's opening speech at the Nuremberg trials and also the farewell speech of General Dwight D. Eisenhower as the American President in 1961.

Both of these men were great Americans that gave America and the World hope. Compare the words of these two great men with the words of those in power today and the answer stares the World in the face. The conclusion can only be to put the US President and his Cabinet on trial for War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.

George W. Bush has also given license to any country in the world to wage war on others by declaring acts of terrorism...Russia has done it and more recently, Israel did it to Lebanon. The American people are the only power that can put its Government on Trial because the American Industrial Complex is considered a bully in our world today and would never recognize any other country that accuses them of War Crimes. It must be made by the American people.

The Ground Truth, was an extremely powerful, gutwrenching documentary.

But do the ctizens of the US see these types of documentaries also? I know that these young men & women are speaking out at home at rallies etc. but their voices are heard by so few in comparison to the audience that can be reached via television.

I am so thankful that we in Canada, have a Parliamentary democracy, because in most instances, unless a party has an incredible majority, a Govt. can be ousted and a new election called, if a Govt. gets "out of hand". However, the US can use the tool of impeachment. Sad isn't it, that Nixon and Clinton were going to be impeached for far lesser crimes than the criminal who currently holds the name of President and yet he is allowed to continue on. I wonder how he can live with himself!

I am a great fan of the CBC and enjoy greatly the documentaries you show--------please continue to bring we the public, the kind of informative television that so many of us appreciate.

This was incredible... and terrible sad, and maddening... little wonder the Iraqi's hate the Americans... they came into their country on false pretenses... blow up their houses... kill their women and children... and expect them to shower them with flowers as Cheney once put it?

My gawds! Come on America... sack that monster you call a "President" and save the world before it's too late for all of us!

A copy of this documentary should be sent to every member of the US Congress. Pronto.

This doumentary was excellent and I applaud you for broadcasting it. However, I wonder why something of this caliber wasn't shown before. We have an independent radio station in Nanaimo which has publicized these facts about the Iraq war and the American marines a year or two ago.

Is it because, like most, non independent stations,you have to rely too much on your advertizers?

Wow, powerful stuff! One can only think - what kind of government can allow this sort of thing to start in the first place, let alone continue on with it! Is this all about money and the profitability of the global (read this as American) war machine. How can the American military and the American people let this continue or is this the price they must (no, we all must) pay for the american way of life and their standard of living?

I am a single parent and union member in the local film and television industry and want to say it is a relief to see you playing the exceptional documentaries you have been playing lately on such subjects as the war in the Middle East and Global warming.

As you said at the end of your literary description of 'The Ground Truth' it is not at all like the sanitized crud we are usually fed on the nightly news or through the corporate media.

You are the leading source of real t.v. news in Canada in my opinion and I'd encourage you to increase your broadcasting of the most critical topics and threats facing life on Earth.

If you were to do so I would enthusiastically give up all of the frills and thrills of working on major motion pictures, series tv, commercials, videos and video games to contribute my energy, artistic talent and creativity to helping educate the public on the most critical social justice and ecological issues.

Please keep up the good work!

Patricia Foulkrod has done an excellent job of showing the Bush administration's atrocious lack of regard for the lives of others, including their own military personnel. In doing so she has become an important part of the growing documentary film movement.

Thank you and thank her.

I had to wipe my eyes before I could type anything. It's all over again, no lessons learned from previous experiences by the US military and the extreme money grubbers.

I was instrumental in turning the tide of the Vietnam "Conflict" as a major broadcaster in Los Angeles by blowing the whistle on Lt Calley and the My Lai incident. One of the first returning soldiers picked me to "spill the beans" about My Lai. I was already a US Naval veteran and realized what he was doing was an "act of treason" but he had to get it off his chest. I don't know his name but I have incredibly clear recollection of his emotion, and it affects me tremedously whenever I think of him. I'm sure he was on his way to suicide. It caused the end of my broadcast career (in a democratic country which professes freedom of speech). I fled to Canada and here I am.

I'm 70 now and feel so sad that "Brute Mentality" can't step up and defeat those war mongers in Washington DC. What an incredibly stupid era of human civilization we are involved with at this time.

I was squelched, and there is very little honour in checking out to stay alive but there was great honour in standing up for human principles even at the sacrifice of ones career. I can hold my head high for my actions in 1969 ~70 but not so proud of fleeing with my life intact and laying low for over 30 years.

Let those current soldiers know about the feelings of honour, it's not killing the enemy (who is that anyway?) but it's being true to your thoughts and taking a stand, no matter what the consequences. That one guy sure was right in saying the honour of speaking out and standing up was much higher than taking an oath of allegiance to the US military. He was right on and I would hug him good if I could.

I have lived the life of a self exiled political refugee from the US for 36 years now. I could say so much more but time is limited and who's listening anyway.
Capt Ralph ~ it's a sad moment.

This was an excellent documentary, but very Dark.

Black is all the unsaid, unshowable stuff inside and outside the men and women who go and fight these wars - and the one going on in Iraq is strikingly Grey. . . It vividly reminded me of another great modern warrior documentary whose name I can't recall: It ended with a reading to some veterans of a sad Native American "War Lament to Those Who Return From Battle" (I don't know what it's real title is).

I think maybe it was a Navajo poem, very powerful, disturbingly accurate in telling the returning warrior exactly how [broken] things will look to him when he has returned from the battle. If anyone knows the proper title of this Lament for the Warrior, and can tell me the title of the documentary it was shown on, I would much appreciate it.

Better still if you could transcribe this Native American "poem" so all can read it. This is a timeless Dark {yet healing} poem that held up an obsidian mirror for the battle-scarred natives coming back from the Wild West to reflect upon, and will continue to apply to the Middle East, Afghanistan, and anywhere else as long as War continues to send back Those Who Return....

First the facts: The war in Afghanistan was planned months before 911, and it is also proven that Iraq did not have anything to do with 911. Both wars started violating the International laws and even in violation of the US Constitution. It is a war crime, plain and simple, calling for a new Nuremberg trial.
The worst tragedy now is that too many people believe that we can go away with this crime without consequences - which is simply impossible. The evil brings the punishment automaticaly. The soldiers who cry today in front of the cameras are a kind of victims, but they also know what they have committed, although they are using the argument of the Nuremberg defendants: I was just following the orders. We have to stop this madness each in our own position. It is simple: nobody can do evil and live.
As Canadians we must stop the Canadian participation in these wars. Our soldiers are equally wounded as the americans by the evil they are committing, and with every bullet they shoot, they are also killing the image of Canada as a nation of peace and security.

This Documentary clearly shows what the "Social Contract" should be between a country and its forces. These soldiers are now lost and disillusioned.

I think it is because of the fact that there is no purpose besides monetary gain for their government. This can really drive home the reason that it should be illegal not to vote.

I am a member of the Canadian Forces. I have seen some similar themes here in Canada. We have yet to fully set up a medical system for the returning injured military from Afghanistan. Our department of VA is going through major growing pains. My thought is because they have been known to treat the Vets as the Insurance Company. It is similar to when you put a claim in for banging up you car and you have soft tissue damage.

I watched in disgust when the young man said he was asked," Is that war still on?" I know that in this country have similar problems. Most Canadians think we are in Iraq also. People let the media drive their thought processes. While they half listen to the six O'clock news or to the radio in their cars. Then they go to a polling station (maybe) and think what difference this will make anyway.

It is my opinion that, it needs to have a just cause in order for the soldier to make what a soldier needs to do to make this as Ok as they can in their minds when they go to war,.

We went to Afghanistan because there were some thirty people killed in the Twin Towers. We needed to protect our own interests to diminish the possibility of an attack on our own soil.

Also to try and right the social injustices that prevails in that country. They have fought for 2000 years not just during the last 50 years of US foreign policy. It was not for oil. They have none. Some of this was to keep drugs off our own streets, because they have tonnes of that. The other Question for those that think it popular to just pull our troops out, answer me this, then what?

People in this country let Clooney or Bono or Rodd Black for that matter, tell you that we should help out (again I might add) all of the poor starving African countries. The next thing on the peace loving people's agenda will be "send our troops to help there!" Once again when it takes bullets to stop the mass killings their chant will start again. Bring them home. Oh, by the way, every time we feed them and get them healthy they go to war because then they have the strength to fight.

When a major financial institution gets blown up and you have to pay higher rates for insurance or bank fees so they can recoup their losses, remember you wanted your troop's home.

This will not even cover the mental health epidemic that this will touch off with the soldiers already affected. It will make SARS look like walk in the Park.

Please always remember and never forget if you have a difference of view politically then the democratically elected government it is your social responsibility to get enough people to change back your view/vote during the election in order to effect change. Get educated, vote and vote responsibly.

kudos to the cbc.I hope Canada will cut military spending and use it for social necessities.

I also would like the cbc to air pertinent documentaries on time and without fear of corporate intervention.

Americans are able to view this documentary, and Americans do care. It was at sundance, and one can see it on googlevideo.

Just because the outrage of the American people does not make NBC nightly news, does not mean it doesn't exist.

Americans are neither a stupid or apathetic people by nature. This sort of information has been coming out on the alternative media for years. The effect of this sort of alternative media is evident in the growing number of people joining "truth" and "anti-war" movements of which there are hundreds originating in the States.

All the greedy global elisists responsible for this stupid war, including Bush's buddy Harper, should be in jail for using human life like toilet paper.

The sad truth is that our CBC has no real equivalent in the US, from what I can see. Americans are so ill-informed about what's really happening in the world. Perhaps it is because there are so many of them who are struggling to survive in a very unequal and unjust society.

On second thought, as far as Canadians are concerned, I will probably not find more than one or two of my friends and acquaintances who actually will watch this kind of documentary....too sad...not our problem...can't do anything about it...and so the problems are undoubtedly ours as well, and the same might be said of our soldiers and our 'wars'.

Did our politicians watch it??

Profound...validated what I always suspected.

The Marine who was labelled a "Conscientious Objector" because he was emotionally troubled about murdering innocent civilians will remain in my forethoughts for a long time.

My sadness, anger and disgust with the Bush administration was re-ignited last night.

More people need to see this, and I am going to try to make that happen.

I wonder if CBC has the courage to do a similar story on Canada's Treatment of their own Troops. The people above might do well to turn that pointing finger around and see what is happening to the troops who have been deployed in all areas.

Ground Truth, another CBC documentary of excellence and our reality. The portion that I can't remove from my mind is the boot camp's required chanting of horrible names to completely de-humanize the society and instill such hatred for them as they sing the songs like, burn m.f. burn and mowing down the children that are in schools, etc. What monsters we are making.

The worst injustice to our military is that they are not informed of what to expect in boot camp, on the ground, if they are wounded and the after math. They are enticed to think it's education, protecting their country, life long benefits to the family, seeing the world, etc.

I hope your next documentary is on Afghanistan and why we are there. Most Canadians think it was because of 911. I'm sure it isn't and it goes way back before '91 war. Why is Canada playing ignorant and the easy way out when Afghan's are handed over to Afghan authortiy, knowing full well that some, if not most, will endure some type of torture.

What exactly is Canada's position on torture and how much room is there for interpretation.

Thank you for all your documentaries and for CBC that enlighten us about such important issues that governments cover up.

First of all, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to all of those who have faced hardhsip through war. The doc' itself was well done, full of truth and to say the least, powerful.

However, viewing some of these comments, I am shocked. Of course people die in war. Of course civillians will die in war. Wars are always fought for unjust reasons. Or at least in someone's eyes. And some times bullets and the silence of dead humans will cry far louder than any protest or documentary.

The real eye opener should come from within ourselves . Why are we letting this happen? As democratic society why did we choose this?

Apathy is the real killer here. Wars are started by those who are in power and fought by those who gave them that power (voting). I'm tired of hearing the bush bashing. Ok, you don't like him. Is it an original thought or a trend? But being the president of the most powerful country in the world, I'm pretty sure he knows that he's not popular. And He doesn't care. So rather than just saying how digusted you are, take some action towards it. For godsakes vote and vote carefully and bring those boys home! That's it for the american side of things.

As for myself I am in the canadian forces. It breaks my heart to hear canadians (youth mostly) who think afghanistan and iraq are the same place and the same battle. When they are not. Civillian deaths are much less in afghanistan. Many of the civillian deaths come from local suicide bombers (that were a problem in these countries long before we got there, we only hear about it now).

I guess in closing-what I want to say is, Iraq and afghanistan are different places and different kinds of conflicts. Please as canadians do not judge our troops and our government based on this "AMERICAN" documentary. Otherwise you are just another canadian pawn being moved by the american hand of the media.

Kudos to filmmaker Patricia Foulkrod, the Passionate Eye and the CBC. I am a Vietnam era U.S Army deserter who knows every day of my life that I made the correct decision.

This documentary should be shown in every High School in the U.S., Canada England etc. to help the young men and women make the "right " decision which is not to participate in these illegal for profit wars that our political leaders are forcing on us all.

My hope is that one day soon George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Tony Blair and yes, our own Stephen Harper will be tried and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity like the Nazis of WW II. These men are truly our modern day 'Adolph Hitler's' posing as 'patriots'.

It would serve well for Bush, Harper and Howard to see this documentary. Better still, to go to Iraq and see first hand what they are cheering about.

As they say truth is the first casualty of war and I thank you for broadcasting this moving documentary which speaks out with courage, honesty and integrity.

Perhaps it is time that we turn the cameras upon ourselves to explore the reason we are supporting the American Government in this cruel and senseless war of hidden agendas.

The soldiers can't live with the guilt of what they have seen and done on the battle-front but we are all morally implicated. To register your views with our government write to Stephen Harper directly at: pm@pm.gc.ca

I think we need to step back and understand that the reason so many of those soldiers on the documentary were in great pain is because they realised that they had no real, justified purpose in Iraq. The eye-opening realisation was painful, for various reasons (seeing the children, killing civilians, and so on), but the most painstaking reason was that it came too late.

The realization took too long, and by the time it hit, the damage had already spread through their minds and psychologies. The documentary was truly phenomenal in its portrayal of what the war is really like, from the eyes of soldiers who lived the experience and paid a heavy price. Well done, and congratulations on such a respectable achievement.

I've seen this film already "Downloaded it via the net awhile ago", and I have to say I was surprised to see this documentary available. I guess that's why I respect the guys at CBC for at least pushing the envelope a little further.

This was a very moving documentary and we got to see "The Ground Truth" of the troops, nothing says it best like that of actually experiences.

I'm sure many viewers hearts sank at what these men had to go through. But it is just a fraction of truth, These men lives will be changed and some have even taken there lives at the horrors they had to experienced, but they were not the true victims of such horrors in many cases they were the instigates who were distraught with guilt of there wrong doings.

I have sympathy and I understand that none of these men knew or expected what kind of trouble they were getting into when they signed up there life to following orders from the rich elite who plan wars for self gain.

But who weeps for the Iraqi victims, many of which aren't terrorists but are people who have lost there homes there wives there children who live every day in the hell that is Iraq, people who will never be able to go home or to the home that they once knew. These are the untold story's of other humans no different from us or some of these troops in this documentary they suffer the same painful emotions without help or recognition of there strife.

War is nothing new, human suffering corrupt government usery of the troops. this will never change and we will be doomed to repeat it over again and our children and children's children will all suffer the same fate so long as we remain ignorant and are unable to properly communicate the truth of WHY we are at war, and less on WHAT, HOW and WHERE.

"Peace can only come as a natural consequence
of universal enlightenment" - Nickola Tesla

Thank you very much.
this channel is the most honest channel of all.
thnx guys

Patricia Foulkrod's "The Ground Truth - after the killing ends" is profoundly disturbing as the film examines the lives of soldiers returned from Iraq and struggling to return to normal in the United States.

We showed this documentary and followed it with a showing of a Global TV film called "Breaking Ranks". This one gives the Canadian perspective as it follows the lives of four war resisters who have fled here raher than return to duty in Iraq.

While we welcomed thousands of Viet Nam draft dodgers in the sixties, we must feel shame now as our government and immigration department refuse refuge to men who looked to Canada for understanding. Their lives have been broken by their experiences in Iraq, and they need help now.

Seeing the two documentaries together is a powerful way to convince an audience that "war is not the answer". Suggest you broadcast them both many, many times.

I caught only part of this doc., and after a short time I felt sick to my stomach and had to turn it off. The thoughtlessness for human life was incomprehensible. Mocking another person for not killing someone yet that day?? Slowing down to pretend you are stopping to help a child and then running them over?? Where is the bravery?

I agree that people should not confuse the military force in Iraq and Afghanistan. From reports that I have heard Canadian Troops are living up to their name in terms of diplomatic and unorthodox reconstruction aid in Afghanistan, a country caught literally in the middle of war for decades.

I am proud of the entrustment our country is given in these siuations, it is a reflection of wise people who have served this country in the past. Of course, I am not naive to assume that the Canada has an anything but immaculate record, however, I do stand by their efforts of peace in Afghanistan. I pray it is with more respectability than the atrocity of the Iraq war documentary.

I understand the need to standup to insurgents, but I can't believe that these actions are the intent of Americans when they wage a "war on terrorism", and agree that they want to see civil rights and freedoms restored to Iraqis. Who is terrorizing who? I don't think that a foreign military superpower is the only answer to rebuilding an independent society.

I feel sorry for the citizens of Iraq, and the American men & women who's lives are forever changed by this ruthlessness.

The "Ground Truth" is the best documentary I have ever seen. It broke my heart watching how this war has ruined so many young lives...and for what? I never really thought about how lives were affected once these heros returned home. All of these people that were in the documentary should be applauded for their courage to do this show...and the same goes to CBC for broadcasting it!

I too would love to buy the DVD if it came on sale!

The POWER OF TRUTH is profound and comes through, loud and clear, in this film. The last comment is so hopeful. I found the doc deeply disturbing, yet once I finally fell asleep, I had a better sleep because of hearing someone apologise for the butchery and decide, on camera, to be true to his conscience. I hear many brave and courageous voices. My urge is to console the many grieving parents.

The true American spirit has been given its opportunity to shine; to fight against the utter absurdity of this war.

The blood of the dead children of Iraq cries out for justice. The masters of war must be stopped. We know that is the illegal, invisible and elite banking cartel that has created this and so many other ridiculous wars so that money/debt will increase, exponentially. Perhaps it is their swan song and they are desperate. It sure looks that way, after watching this documentary.

Must see the doc: The Money Masters at wtfmatrix.com.

The solutions are always simple when it comes to integrity and grassroots efforts. We need monetary reform.

Educate by sharing the film and let's work hands across the Can/US border, like we've done in the past, to end this brutal status quo. I protested the war in Vietnam, in Canada, when I was a teen. I protested the war in Iraq with my grandaughter on Feb 15 2003.

I pray to the gods and the goddesses that the Iraq vets get help and understanding and peace in their souls. I pray that they show the world a different America through their coming together and healing together.

You do have a valuable purpose, it is noble and pure; keep on telling your truth to the world. Truth Power.

When Rick Hillier goes public with statements like "we're killing the murdering scumbags" regarding the Taliban, one can tell he was trained in Texas and now leads our troops in Afghanistan and one can also conclude that our military is being used in the same repulsive way that the USAmerican military is being used.

They are being used as mercenaries. They are not protecting us from "terrorists" and if the government is going to change our lives with too much security and fighting wars "over there" so they aren't fought here I would rather take my chances with a terrorist taking my life than our own government joining the military industrial complex and taking my freedoms, wasting my tax dollars and sacrificing our military for their own politcal arses.

This documentary is essential viewing from anyone that thinks war is a solution for any conjured up problem. Wars are always driven by the greedy and the criminals in and around our governments.

Vote for only those that believe peace can be on earth.

The filmmaker has an excellent website for the documentary at:

thegroundtruth.net

with loads of extra information on it. You can also purchase a DVD there.

I was in Quebec on business and saw the broadcast. In 1966-7 I was in Viet Nam as a US Marine and it took decades to come to terms with my experiences there. Your show was as accurate a depiction of what my experience was like as I have seen. Thank you. It should be mandatory viewing for those who feel the ware in Iraq is noble and worth while.

the CBC and the Passionate Eye give me hope. Thank you so, so much. A disturbing story and yet full of hope. Hope in the sense that their truly is something planted within humanity which binds us together and thus makes the taking of other life seem "wrong."

In a world full of questions, let us be sure of one answer, that human life is sacred, and that is something we can all rally around.

Watching this documentary has to make people around the world wonder how the USA, a country that claims to care so much about wanting to keep Americans free and strong seems to care so little about the people doing the fighting.

These people have put their lives on the line so serve their country and yet they are given nothing to help them after the fact. The people in America that are on welfare seem to get more money then someone who served and have been injured in battle or that is suffering depression due to living in a war zone.

Not to bring up an off topic but the people that survived Hurricane Katrina have still barely gotten anything to start their new lives. Not to totaly discredit the US but can't you at least try to help your own people instead of trying to help people of different countries first? isn't that why your in war to begin with?

It is truely sad how a so called "hero" in america is so easily forgotten. It is shows like this that need to be aired more often so we as human beings can change and show these vets that we do care and they do deserve our help. The money that these vets are given is so little life in jail would be comfortable.

Living on the street or in your car because your government that you have fought for, doesnt seem to care at all about your sacrifice that you have made to your country is disgusting.

Americans and Canadians will have to make sure that after this war these vets are taken care of. Because after all if nothing happens what message are you putting out to the people of the future who would want to enlist? "Join now and fight and fight and fight and fight." Because as things are now the fighting is far from over for the vets of this long and dragged out war.

For the vets in this doc and the rest of the men and women still fighting I hold the utmost respect to you, you have seen and lived and are living through things that no person should ever witness or live through and you deserve justice.

This is an amazing documentary, the filmmaker and the brave soldiers who spoke so honestly of the reality in Iraq have all my gratitude and respect.

If you didn't catch the doc 'ER' Baghdad: A Doctor's Story', (which was aired in February) try to get a hold of it: it shows the amount of devastation suffered by Iraqis.
If you thought this was a dark sad doc brace yourself for 'ER Baghdad', it will rip you up inside.

A lot of people are saying that this documentary should be shown to Americans. As it happens I just finished watching a broadcast on PBS Frontline called "The Soldiers Heart". It was an almost identical show with a lot of the same people and stories. What interested me was the subtitle at the beginning saying the show was originally broadcast on March 1, 2005. I am not sure when the Ground Truth was made, but one was definately influenced by the other. I guess it is a good thing to have shows covering the same ground on issues as important as this.

Maybe someone about to enlist will view it and question their reason. If you are going into the Military you had better be prepared to kill, because that is what they want you for. The ads look great, with guys jumping out of helicopters and rescuing people and building things. Don't let them fool you. You are wanted as a killing machine and you had better know that what you are killing for is justified. Because if it isn't, great suffering will ensue.

I marched against this war from the very beginning because I didn't listen to the warmongers and the profiteers. It seemed wrong, and research and listening to other voices in the wilderness solidified the resolve to continue protesting. People that got their news from the Corporate stations thought we were crazy. We have been vindicated, but far too late.

Gratitude to the fact that we have the CBC to keep us informed, and let us beware of losing it. Politicians do not want us to hear the truth, and we could so quickly become brainwashed by the corporate media as happens to our southern neighbours.

When we all feel the pain of the soldiers and civilians and detainess, and realize we are no different than any other loving human beings - parents and children, we will find the way to non violent solutions to world problems. To train us to be barbarians in boot camps or through video games and degrading songs, is a tradedy too many of us accept. We have a long way to go.

I lost my husband as he suffered from PTSD and in the end took his own life. None of the soldiers who go on those tours will ever return the same person. My heart goes out to every soldier....and the families of those soldiers.

1. I am amazed reading how short a memory the people have. Those who blame Stephen Harper should check the truth: our soldiers were sent to Afghanistan by the Liberal government of Jean Chretien. Once a mess is created, it is not so easy to run away.

2. About the "american" atrocities: how many times we have seen on CBC our Canadian soldiers breaking into houses, kicking the doors and terrorizing the civilian population. I strongly believe that the CBC wants to wake us up ... but it is evidently taking too much time.

3. And finally, about Iraq: there is a suspicious silence about our participation, but I recall that long ago a Canadian military ship went to Persian Gulf, quite obviously not for a luxury cruise. Will we ever know the whole truth about what is done in our name and for our money?

I was lucky to watch this documentary last night - and im' chocked! I knew things in Iraq was bad, both for the US soldiers and the Iraqi people. But the systematic violence, killing and torture of the Iraqi people really surprised me!

Before watching this doc I really didn't like the US administration and the US military apparatus - but now - i really, really hate them!

This reminds me of an recent CNN interview with Mr. Donald Trump, where Mr. Trump expressed his fear, that the rest of the world hates the US, because of the war in Iraq. One thing that comes to my mind, thinking of his words, is how we all feel about the Nazis and WWII. To me there is no difference between nazis and the US adminstration anymore, and Im' sure history will agree. I base this on the fact, that the evil that we saw during the WWII is repeated in the War in Iraq;

The US administration/military has systematic implemented evil in the war with the kind of training and the brainwashing of the US soldiers before they are send to Iraq and the fact that the soldiers is forced to pretty much have the same view on muslims, that the Nazi soldiers had towards Jews. Every Jew was an enemy and now every muslim is an enemy. Men, women and children are all treated as such.

Im' sure, that the US will have a harder time healing these wounds in the minds of the rest of the World, than they have struggling in Iraq.

A long time ago president Kennedy said, that today "Ich bin ein berliner"... after watching "The Ground Truth" I can surely say, that today... "Im' an Iraqi"!

For Curtis Walker

... who asked about a Native American Poem that described the effect of war on soldiers ... it is called "The Elders Thoughts"... some say it is "an address passed down for hundreds of years among the Nez Perce people of the Western Plains, in which an elder speaks to young men going to war and tells them how they will be changed" ...

an internet site says :"Elder's Thoughts" was written by a Native American Veteran who went through the North Chicago VA Combat Trauma Program back in 1991."

The Elder's Thoughts

They said I would be changed in my body. I would move through the physical world in a different manner. I would hold myself in a different posture. I would have pains where there was no blood. I would react to sights , sounds , movement and touch in a crazy way , as though I was back in the war.

They said I would be wounded in my thoughts. I would forget how to trust , and think that others were trying to harm me. I would see danger in the kindness and concern of my relatives and others. Most of all , I would not be able to think in a reasonable manner , and it would seem that everyone else was crazy.

They told me that it would appear to me that I was alone and lost even in the midst of the people...that there was no one else like me.

They warned me that it would be as though my emotions were locked up , and that I would be cold in my heart and not remember the ways of caring for others. While I might give soft meat or blankets to the elders or food to the children , I would be unable to feel the goodness of these actions. I would do these things out of habit and not from caring.

They predicted that I would be ruled by dark anger and that I might do harm to others without plan or intention.

They knew that my spirit would be wounded.

They said I would be lonely and that I would find no comfort in family , friends , elders or spirits. I would be cut off from both beauty and pain. My dreams and visions would be dark and frightening. My days and nights would be filled with searching and not finding. I would be unable to find the connections between myself and the rest of creation. I would look foward to an early death. And....I would need cleansing and healing in all these things.

Author unknown

Also, for Chirs.. the title of a documentary he was reminded of .. it might be "War Wounds and Memory" directed by Brian McKeown. It told the stories of four Canadian Vietnam War Veterans who, 30 years later, struggle to survive the devastating effects of combat-based PTSD. It aired in 2001. The poem is recited by the men, at the end of the documentary.

This documentary only strengthened my belief that there has to be some other alternative to war. I can't understand how political leaders can send men and women into this hell. What seems like common sense to some of us, isn't that clear to others, and I have to reconcile myself to that. My heart, soul, mind and body aches for other solutions to the conflicts in the world.

My sentiments run about the same as everyone else posting here. To Capt. Ralph Hull, about half way down the page, (quote "and who's listening anyway"), we are listening and we do hear you.

There was one statement that totally blew me away by the soldiers that went to jail, for being a conscientious objector I think.

"After being in jail, I discovered, there is no higher freedom that can be achieved than the freedom we achieve when we follow our conscience."

America, wake up and follow your conscience just as this courageous young man did.

How can governments anything but severely disturbed individuals returning from war. They take loyal, conscientious men and turn them into killing machines? Do they expect they will return to "civilized" society and resume their lives as if nothing had happened?
Governments owe it to their soldiers to care for ALL their needs.

excellent doc. gw bush should be forced to watch. I wonder about his indifference, incompetence or lack of capability to comprehend the reality of his mistake.

Iraq was a peaceful, viable existance under Saddam Hussein regardless of the bush propaganda retoric.

He murdered his 2 sons (or did we forget that) then him and has devistated an entire culture. Ask yourself, if your child was run down, or your wife gunned down, would you become an American hater. I would.

Just saw the documentary, and I was deeply disturbed by it. I know that the CBC was trying to profile some awareness on how traumatizing it was and still is for those soldiers involved in the war in Iraq, but I felt that American patriotism was still being subtly sensationalized.

To be honest when I sat through watching it, I felt no sympathy for any of the american soldiers who came back with their post traumatic stress syndromes, because they all had the choice to choose the path they took. I'm sure that more than once had it crossed their minds the expectation that they will face having to end anothers life.

It was so disgusting to see actual footage of these soldiers shooting off and carrying out torture on innocent civilians and then even more disappointing to see how laughable it was to them,then telling their stories about how they felt so bad about it when they realized their mistakes? Was it to invoke sympathy from the public?

These guys are revered to as "heroes" but how much of what we see in the news is legitimate and not politically directed? I feel so saddened by the state of chaos in the world today. No excuse can ever justify the deaths of those innocent.

I appreciate that the media is trying to show us the reality, but we are no one to judge the Iraqis for rebelling back. We hardly ever get to hear about their side of reality.

This is the second time I've seen this documentary and it's even more compelling to speak my mind - not just on the Iraq war, but on the way our Canadian government has gone into Afghanistan to battle the Taliban in an effort to appease the Bush administration's revenge for 9/11.

Our Canadian forces are now experiencing the same PTSD as the American vets when they return to Canada and are given a "three day" layover so they can de-stress to return to civilian life.

Working with high school students, I'm aware of how many of them, upon graduation, are going to consider joining the military. The recruiters come into the high schools with much equipment and many brochures to entice these "children- not-yet-adults" to consider signing away their lives to enter the armed forces. I

t's up to we, as parents to discuss with their consciences how they feel about killing not just the enemy - but maybe how they'll feel about panicking "under fire" and killing an unarmed person. Maybe we must ask ourselves, not whether the soldiers that have already died, will have died in vain if we leave Afghanistan - but whether it's craziness to talk about staying in Afghanistan so that we can prevent other families, soldiers and Canadians in general from suffering the PTSD of continuing to slaughter other human beings.

Maybe it's time to vote out of power those politicians who believe that it's better to stubbornly keep killing insurgents along with civilians until Canadians begin feeling like the "duped American public". I don't see the logic in trying to enforce democracy upon a tribal society that doesn't really care for what we have to offer, if it means getting killed in the process.

I am so thankful for the CBC and the Passionate Eye for bringing at least some of the truth to the people of Canada, I very seldom miss a show.

When I watch the passionate eye I always wonder if any of the Americans will ever see it. I have relatives and friends in the states and it really bothers me when their media and government don't treat us with any respect, if they only knew how the rest of the world views them. I blame much of this on the Bush government,we were hardly ever mentioned in their media on 911, when we took in all of their planes and people and kept them in our own homes.

If any president deserved to be impeached, it is the present one.

Thank God I'm a Canadian

afghanistan YES, iraq is a slaughter of innosence and destruction! the past, 95 times g.dubya acqainted iraq with al qaeda; never was al qaeda in iraq pre 9/11!

iraq was a buffer zone between usa and iran; iraq is now gone and now no buffer zone; he has no choice but to invade iran and get the dirty deed done! it will happen before he leaves office!

pelosi took impeachemnt off the table; his friends appointed to high places and are subduing the langauge to make him look good from enviromental to health issues and are causing nothing but sickness in every aspect!

it is dispicable and a slaughter of every human dignity!

We have a moral duty to defend the innocent, when we are not innocent and we kill a human being within 4 years the nightmares begin, nationalism is not innocence. Sorrow can end when sorrow is listened to. Agony is a difficult teacher to learn from but when one walks with and talks to that sorrow with out any argument, suffering ends and a joyous day is born. Good luck all, you can be free.

When the US Government claimed they had to go into Iraq and bomb whoever they may hit 1. to rid it of nuclear weapons, then to free it from a dictator , then to help them achieve democracy, a quote by Shakespeare came to mind:" I have to be cruel, only to be kind. Thus bad begins and worse remains behind."

Worse is what we see now. I feel very sorry for the vets who were moral human beings before and now have to live with their conscience. What a struggle. I appreciate their effort in trying to teach the world, that war is hell. There can be no worse torture than having to live with the guilt of having killed innocent women, children and even men.

I hope that human lives are in future more highly valued than becoming canon fodder and killing machines and that every family will practically brain wash their children to never fight in a war so they can not get brainwashed to kill. Diplomacy has to be the key, not sensless killing. Pres. Eisenhower already said: "People want peace so much, that Government better get out of their way and let them have it."

I was struck by the incredible thoughtfulness and articulateness shown by all the young men who were interviewed. I have a son finishing his 4th year at military college - then he will be facing Afghanistan. I think I have already started to grieve for the young man I will lose when that happens.

It is the greatest truth of that documentary that the changes forced on our soldiers when they get sent to combat are irreversible. Finally, shame on the US govt for finding trillions of dollars to fight the war, but has been so slow and unfair with funds to help its soldiers on their return.

History sure repeats itself. The wanton killing in Vietnam is now being repeated in Iraq. Millions of Vietnamese died by American firepower, giving enough time millions will die in Iraq too. Looks like the US is the real Evil Empire committing genocide in the Third World!

Kudos to CBC for enlightening us!

WOW is all i can say. this doc really blew me away. to think i was actually entertaining the idea of joining our forces.....

I am a Firefighter in Sarnia Ontario.
I am also involved in an organization called Hero to Hero.
It is a non political troop morale campaign.
It is First Responders (police, fire, ems, customs, coast guard) taking the shirts off our backs, signing a message of support and sending them to Canadian and American troops serving overseas.
Being involved with H2H has brought me in contact with many Canadian military families.
It just happens that last evening i spoke with a military mom who's son is recently returned home from Afghanistan.I had told her i had a Fire Dept. t-shirt signed by all my platoon that i wanted to present to her son.
She informed me that her son was suffering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and that she had been begging, pleading and fighting with the military to get her son some help.
She also pleaded with several members of parliament for help.
It wasn't until she threatened to go to the National press that the military brass saw fit to admit her son to hospital for treatment.
Today i was talking to one of my brother firefighters who came to the Fire service after 15 years service in the Canadian Armed Forces. He had served 2 tours in Bosnia and 1 tour in Yugoslavia.
I told him this young soldiers story.
He then told me that when he returned from overseas hardly a week went by without one of his fellow soldiers hanging themselves in the barricks.
He stated that the military does not want to acknowledge the problem of P.T.S.D. and have to deal with it.
I would hope that the C.B.C. plans on doing a similar story about our Canadian troops.
What happened to these American soldiers in your story is happening to our Canadian soldiers but i don't think that it will hit home with people here until they see you interviewing a young kid from St. John's or Moose jaw or any other Canadian city.
I'm told that most of our kids returning are suffering some degree of P.T.S.D.
The families are forming support groups around the country to try and deal with what is happening.
Families should not have to fight to get their children and spouses the help they need to re-adjust to life back home.
This young fellow i am talking about was in Afghanistan one day and four days later he is back in Sarnia after 6 months in the desert(90% of his tour was spent outside the wire). According to his mom there was virtually no debriefing. The military told him when he gets home at some point someone might piss him off and he'll want to kill them....but don't do it.

Thank you for your excellent job with The Ground Truth.

Liz jackson is the lady who started Hero to Hero after her cousin was killed in Iraq.
A couple years ago while she was visiting a VA hospital she met a vet who was wounded physically and mentally.
His comment to her was something like this.....M'am please tell people not to forget us otherwise we'll probably be coming to a street corner near you.
To any soldier who reads this......you are not forgotten.
God bless you all.

I am amazed at the number of people that have fallen victim to their own emotions on this one. Yes, it was a good documentary. But remember, they interviewed approx 15-20 people who have had bad experiances over there in Iraq. There have been hundreds of thousands that have served there, so the comments are not an accurate reflection. Look also at the amount of them that joined the military for the benefits. the college plan, medical, training, new skills, etc. Then they all seem surprised that they have to go to war!!! Whether the war is wrong or not is not the argument. All this talk about hating the Bush administration, are Canadian soldiers doing the same things in Afghanistan, our American led Conservative Government. As a Canadian soldier that has seeen combat in Afghanistan, I find all these claims to be unfair, demoralising and uneducated.

Five stars*****. "PTSD" is a disorder that is new to the DSM to assist a professiional to dianose a person correctly. This movie does justice to many people suffering from PTSD and may be unaware that they have it.

All very true and all very sad. This is the cost of war and the Canadian Military has been criticized more than once for poor follow up care.

When troops serve they surrender their right to debate their orders. In exchange for their service they deserve appropriate care and assistance for as long as it takes.

On the other side of the coin the next time you pontificate about evil America don't feel too self righteous as you go out and fire up your car. Someone else got their hands very dirty so you could drive that thing. You are guilty too. We seem to be blind to our own hypocrisy.

I haven't seen the "documentary". I am ambivalent about the US action in Iraq. However, it appears this film has incited the usual band of CBC lefties and US haters to log in. We are not in Afghanistan to appease Americans. We are there as part of a UN plan to stabilize the country. No doubt these are the same people that wonder why nobody did anything in Rwanda. Or Darfur.

If Canada stands for peace and tolerance, then oddly enough you have to fight for it sometimes. If you really believe in it, you don't say "to hell with anyone else". You try to help them, and sometimes that means fighting. Otherwise, you stand for nothing, which unfortunately is what a lot of Canadians seem to want to stand for. The movie maker got exactly the reaction they wanted, I'll give them that. In the end though, they are no different than Michael Moore or Gore, whose "documentaries" serve only as a pulpit to preach their version of reality.

It is sad to see Nato and especially Canadian soldiers die trying to secure an American oil patch.We don't need the oil we have more than enough so why are we there.To die is a very final act.

A common thread runs through the run up to war, that is minimizing the likely duration and cost. As in, the First World War was to be over by Christmas 1914 and Vietnam would only need a few lads to chase away the evil commies.
Two possibilites: genuine optimisim and inability to foresee obstacles; or wilful propaganda. The more cynical among us would believe the latter, but maybe it's just a mix of the two.

Where there is war, there is death and suffering. You surely don't have to be there to know this, so a portion of the documentary was not the least bit surprising. However the psychological impact was shocking to the degree that even I did not fully realize its full potential. That somebody can become aggressive, abusive, and even dangerous to their family and friends from being in Iraq is utterly dreadful.

The 'Ground Truth" is truthful with the interviews of returned veterans of the Iraqi war. Their individual experiences and injuries both physical and emotional are simply awful, as are the deaths of the Iraqi innocents. Having said that, this documentary at best, should be called 'Ground Half-Thuth'.

Much of the footage imbedded in this documentary is old stuff which, when first released, came with explanations that gave the watcher the facts concerning the actions deptited. (Included the killings of armed insurgents and terrorists attempting to plant weapons and IUD's).

The sad reality of war in a country where the enemy is invisible, is that innocent lives are indeed lost. Many times the 'innocents' are young soldiers a long way from home. I have no idea what the best is for Iraq and its people but I do pray they may soon have peace in their land.

In all of this conflict many more atrocities are committed Iraqi on Iraqi every day than by any occupation force. I hate war - all war. Sadly Saddam Hussein was allowed to rise to power only to brutally repress, torture and murder his own people. I'm glad he's gone and I wish the coalition troops could get out, but I fear the created vacuum could be even worse. Next time CBC tries documentary, please, at least attempt the whole truth.

Finally, as Canadians, let's not be too sanctmonious about our American neighbours. Remember all humans, Canadians included, are capable of unthinkable actions when the conditions of our own survival are at stake.

Hey, "tadpole", if you haven't seen the film, don't bother with your two cents. Thanks.

You know, it doesn't really matter to the elite in the USA (and its associates throughout most of caucasian 'liberal democratic' world) if this invasion-occupation is successful or not.

Its main purpose is to ensure perpetual war so that the military-industrial base of the US economy has customers for the foreseeable future, and jobs throughout 50 states. Arms and ammunication production is something that is harder to outsource, for obvious reasons (don't let your potential enemies build the guns and bombs for you).

Americans re-electing Bush was a rational, albeit short-term decision. Keep war economy running to save American jobs.

It's a sad state of affairs.

Capt. Ralph Hull...you are bang on. Far too many of the cheerleaders for the war in Iraq are "thinktank warriors" who have never put on a uniform overseas (the Texas Air National Guard doesn't count). Is it any wonder that the strongest opponents of the criminal enterprise in Iraq are those who served (Colin Powell, John Murthat, etc)?

You need to keep shouting from the rooftops, because your country needs a counter weight to the Rush Limbaughs and Bill O'Riellys that pollute the airways of your country.

As for the issue of PTSD, my mother recounted the story of her brother joining up in 1939, then fighting in Italy, France and Holland from 1943 to 1945. He came back a complete wreck. His family had saved his paychecks so he would have money for school, but they ran out of their own funds, so they had to spend his to live. When he came back, he had nothing. My mother said you could always tell who had fought in WW 2 because they were the ones walking around drunk. Nobody talked about it or helped them, after they had put their lives on the line essentially saving Western Civilization. Of cousre, the story of Gen. Romeo Delaire shows that things haven't changed much.

Thank you The Passionate Eye. Please do keep broadcasting The Ground Truth and related docs on Iraq. Eventually the people will see what is really going on. Just to be clear though, one the of the retired officers, Stan Goff, called it for what it really is, an occupation, right?
I've heard good but naive people defend the "war" claiming "they are fighting to protect our freedoms here." How many more lives on both sides are to be sacrificed for this propaganda? How are freedom and peace truly achieved by invading, occupying and systematically destroying a country--a generation?

With your shield or on it..is the attitude that soldiers have faced since we first started to make war on our neighbors.

It is a very sad state of affairs when with all we know as a society we still treat the brave men & women who serve in this way. With out them we would not have the right to debate and criticize in an open forum as we do. It is our responsibility to them to continue to put forward our opinions on our government and the governments that our country does business with. It is the only way that we can effect the change that they(our soldiers) need. It is, regrettably a very slow method, but it is the one we have in our hands.

So Tadpole, keep putting in your two cents! This is, after all, the right of every person in our sovereign country. A right soldiers are proud to put their lives on the line for.

In a sense, I believe you can draw a dividing line between WW2 and any of these others. You see, in WW2 the social pressure to serve was so immense, that those who couldn't, for whatever reason, suffered too. My father for example, wished to go overseas, but was confined to a duty in Canada. Even to hear him talk about it 30 years after the fact, you could sense the guilt and shame.

Thank you for airing this documentary. Right after 9-11, everyone wanted revenge..people just wanted someone to suffer for 911 and Iraqis and Afghanis are paying for that. Thank you CBC and I thank God for good Canadians like yourself with the courage and sense to make and air this doc.

Your documentary was a searing indictment of war and what it does to young men and women. They are forced into situations which make them do despicable things and results in the loss of their self esteem and leaves them with a sense of guilt and shame which will be with them for the rest of their lives.

This film should be compulsory viewing for all the hawks in America and Canada who believe that we are in Irag and Afghanistan to build Western style democratic, capitalist, democracies. Too bad that the politicians who send these young people into combat zones could not be made to spend some time with the front line troops. Can you imagine the reaction of the Bush's and Cheney's of this world if this should come about? There would be precious few wars!!

In conclusion, somehow this documentary "The Ground Truth", must be given more air time, and, if possible, shown to many American audiences--it just might affect the way thousands vote in the upcoming American elections.

For the majority of us, civilized Canadians are sympathetic to the American Soldiers who do not know why they are being engaged in such a senseless occupation, which is essentially debatable as being US Corporate Greed and fear of losing global control. Sadly, this is the essence of the US occupation of Iraq. This assertion is further supported by the vary fact that weapon's are now being sold to "what is so called" friendly arab states, so it is justifiable that our comments are accurate that the US not only invade countries for their non-renewable resource, but causes war so that they can sell their antiquated arsenal.

So my comments lead me to say, that the soldiers who come home deceased or maimed for life, will not get the support needed to rehabilitate. I went to University with veterans of Viet Nam and what a scare!!!! A specific example, was my roommate at the University of Colorado, who could not sleep in the dark, and I swear that he slept with his eyes open, when he did sleep. And the truth was that, he was only 20 years old...how tragic is that? So the subject is whether this is any different that 30 + years ago..we'd say it isn't.

Regretably, the American people are still in the belief that they have to control other countries and the societies of those countries, thereby making it's ignorant soldiers fight a no win battle only to come home being the psychological veterans that they turn out to be.

Well fellow Canadians, let's send this similar message to our own Canadian forces in Afghanistan and let them know, that our own military will not provide the after care that they need, so let's get the heck out of there.

Heck,our Canadian forces are even afraid to engage in a fist fight, so what is it, when given artillary? So, besides a truly identifiable documentary, we as Canadians should learn from that occupation and tell our soldiers to refuse engaging in battle, that is so meaningless...thank you

All war is inhumane and the innocent always suffer terribly. I ask, how many more people, both military and civilian must die to appease the deaths of the innocents who died on 9/11? Of course from previous documentaries & recent best selling non fiction, we know that 9/11 just gave the US Administration an excuse to go into first, Afghanistan and then Iraq, so it could get control of the middle east and its "liquid gold".

No, we in Canada must not, as some responders have said, be smug and think we are in some way innocent of atrocities or different than the US soldiers. But our politics are somewhat different. We have aspired to negotiation and peacekeeping over the years, but now I'm afraid of the situation we currently find ourselves in, in Afghanistan. While I support what NATO originally hoped to do there, I fear that the US lies for invading Iraq have affected our work, and worry (although supporting their bravery)that our men and women will return with the same terribly wounded spirits as US military personel.( and no doubt some already have) Yet, to be positive, I do believe we have made some headway in giving some Afghanis hope for a better future, by opening schools etc.etc.

We here in Canada have never been told how many wounded we have had return nor do we know whether these men & women have been treated any differently than the US military. I hope the story is positive and that the CBC will do a Doc about it. Like so many of your responders, I learn much from the CBC documentaries, many of which are filmed together with the BBC. I do wonder, like others though, if these docs are aired on any US stations since so often there are well known personages being interviewed re: US foreign policy and such. Can the CBC answer this question?

As for the doc we were to respond about, I, like so many others, was shocked and saddened by the treatment these military men & women are receiving or not receiving. Their grief will never be assuaged----think of Romeo Delaire who has never gotten over Rwanda---- but has come to terms with his guilt. I am so sorry that some soldiers could not live with their guilt (even some Canadians took their own lives, and I feel sorrow for their families) and wonder if George Bush will be able to live with his! In my opinion, he and his ilk, should be tried in the world court for "crimes against humanity". While the numbers are much smaller than those who died at the hands of the Nazis, the ill conceived ideas are the same! As Dwight D. Einsenhower said in effect in a speech on leaving office,don't let the military industrial complex take over the US economy. It has! China makes the little "stuff", the US makes armaments to sell to the world-----sometimes to its enemies! It is a sad and troubled world but I hope we can somehow learn to live in peace on the planet which has been around for billions of years but which is in trouble because of humankind.

Thank you very much for showing this. Thank you CBC.

The mainstream media shows us nothing like this. All Canadians that agree with our soldiers being in Afghanistan should have to watch this.

Marie

A very moving documentary, horrible to witness, but important to see.

I have a lot of family in the US, and spend a lot of time there. I'm sick of Canadians acting like somehow we can see the truth of the situation while Americans are in denial and ill informed. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Americans are angry, the vast majority are against the war, against Bush, very upset about the damage caused to America's standing in the world, and Iraq is overwhelmingly the #1 issue for the public. A seachange has been underway for a long time now against the Bush administration and the war (likely to manifest itself in the next election). It's in the news every day.

Sure, we have the CBC, I just think we need to be careful about assuming the CBC is "the truth" while Americans are fed falsehoods. They have far far more sources of non mainstream news than we do.

We like to pat ourselves on the back simply for not being American, and say things like "Just get out now!" and "Americans are ignorant." But making such sweeping generalizations and putting things in black and white ignores the complexity of the problems of Iraq and the conflict itself.

I'm not making any excuses for the current quagmire. I was against it from the start, and I marched in the US against it. As Canadians we may feel like the Iraq conflict is not our problem, but if people here want to make comments about it, especially acerbic generalizations, at least try to understand the details and nuances first.

When will world powers realize that the only way to win against terrorism, is discussion. The IRA taught Britain that lesson, the Algerians taught the French, the Chechens taught the Russians, the Vietnamese should have taught the US, etc;

If only Bush had read (can he read?) the Seven pillars of Wisdom, he may have had a better concept of the thinking of people of the Arabian peninsula.

I missed the actual documentry. But the headlines that Roger Allen posted caught my eye as I browsed your web site. I have to ask him how many Soldiers (American or Canadian) he knows? I am currently serving with the Canadian Forces and I knew what I was signing on for when deploying to Afghanistan. I served with Americans who have been to Iraq as well and it seems funny to me that both countries soliders know exactly what they are fighting for. So no other people in our home countries have to die and so the good people in the countries enslaved by the bad have a chance at life.

The GOOD people of Afghanistan are EXTREMELY greatful of what we are doing for there country and are brought to tears when one of our soldiers die in battle for there country. As for the part where you tell eveyone there is no support for us when we get home. Well, I'd like to use different language here, but I don't think CBC will post it. Many of my friends have depended upon the system to help them overcome injuries both pysical and mental, this care is still ongoing. I was only slighty injuried over there and I'm still being hounded by our health care workers about how I'm doing and if they can doing anything else to help me out. The system is not perfect, people who need help will be missed, but no system is ever perfect. For if it was I guess we wouldn't be in Afghanistan would we?

Afraid of a fist fight?????? I'm so angry over this comment. Me and my brothers put our lives on the line to ensure the safety of Canada's people. I'm sure your going to suggest we'd be fine with out our troops beign there. Untill that is something happens here in Canada, but of course all of our systems here in Canada should stop anything before it kills innocent people.

Everyone who believes we can't win or help the Afghans win or the Iraqi's win, are wrong and have condemded women and children to be abused physically, mentally, and sexually. You will force us to live in fear of those that will strike out against us instead of helping other human beings to be free and live their lives as they wish and not by someone holding a gun to their heads.

You have every right to disagree with my statements. My friends and I have shed blood so you can.

Perhaps you and Mr. Layton can go for a walk over there and attempt to negotiate peace with the Taliban. Have a good one! Let me know how it turns out!

Matt

I grew up in a military family. Both my grandfathers, my father (for over 20 years), a few of my uncles...even my grandmothers did their part as military nurses. My mother
was, is and always will be a proud military wife.

I also have a good friend of mine who is a United States Marine.

Guess you could say the military runs in my blood.

Now, I'm not here to take away anyone's right to have a differing opinion. Far from it. As a child, I watched my Dad emerge from some of his experiences a mentally broken man. The PTSD, a suicide attempt - you name it. To say he wasn't a good father THEN would have been an understatement. When I got older (around 18 or so) he finally started to tell me bits and pieces about his experiences.

Let me tell you, some of the things I heard could put even the strongest people here on their knees. Now, I have a small understanding of what it did to HIS mind.

The documentary in question indeed has some valid points. There ARE bad apples in ANY bunch, no matter where you go. There ARE going to be men out there who will take the wearing of a uniform as open season to do what they want, regardless of the Geneva Convention or Rules Of Engagement. The sad fact in war is that people will die - even innocent civillians. Not a pleasant fact; just cold, hard truth.

I'm ashamed to admit that at one point in my life, I hated my father and who he was. I was embarrassed that he acted funny, drank too much and at times, made little to no sense. If only I knew then of what hurt was going on inside him...I wouldn't have done to him what some members of a "peace loving" public did.

Laughed at him.
Mocked his pain.
Called him a "baby killer"....

I think you get the picture.

I look at him now, and what he's become -how he's fought to piece together a shattered life and help those like him do the same.

I understand now...

And I couldn't be more proud. Proud of him and all the GOOD men and women out there who put on a uniform to do what seems like today is a pretty thankless job - on BOTH sides of the border. No documentary, however well done or informative it was...regardless of my seeing its validity on some issues, will change that ever again. To them I say...

A sincere "Thank You" to all of you.

And Thank you, Dad.

Well done! But when do we march on Ottawa and then Washington? Democratic action is long overdue.

Why do we need this documentary to wake us up. Why do these soldiers need to tell us how horrible and wrong war is before we believe it? Why do we fall asleep every few months and forget? Why do we keep voting for leaders who kill for "our freedom" when it isn't necissary?

Killing is wrong. You don't need GOD and religion to understand that!

Shame on you for not remembering. Shame on you for forgetting before the next election.

People in general are more than willing to honour the armed services on Memorial Day, or Rememberance Day, or V-E Day. Those that do return from live fire battle are never truly the same as they were when they shipped out, either physically or mentally, often returning with varying degrees of PTSD or a body part missing, with little to no support services for re-adjustment into a world they left to try to safeguard for unappreciative others.

They are applauded, and hugged, and cried for. Then their services, and pensions are summarily slashed and burned with not so much as a whisper. The worse part of this all, is then we as a public say "Whats the big deal?" We are a greedy, & selfish people as we are not deserving of their sacrifice as we would rather pay less taxes than care for those whom took care of us, and protected our freedoms, rights and liberties, as well as nameless others. We should be outright ashamed.

Outstanding!!!Very moving.As a Canadian Vet with severe P.T.S.D.I've learned a lot from the documentary and the comments .But to be fair, I have yet to hear about Canadian vets who have been helped by his/her government.

I'm one of them, I had lost my health, my family, my friends and all hopes. But today I'm alive and regained my family. Thanks to V.A.C. and OSISS. I owe them my life. They have my unconditional respect and gratitude.

Thank you CBC for airing another eye opening documentary. This war was pandered to the world as one that was "necessary" to free the people of Iraq from a dictatorship. These people continue to be victimized but now by the very nations who were supposed to "save" them. It is dispicable that the murder of innocent civilians is considered remotely ok. What happened to all the talk of rebuilding Iraq, restoring infrastructure, hospitals and schools so these people could have normal, peaceful lives (like we in North America enjoy)?

The soldiers who were sent overseas were following orders, as they must. It took great courage for the men and women in this documentary to come forward to speak of their experiences (and what they were ordered to do). It is also dispicable that the very people who ordered them to fight have conviently forgotten those who come home damaged.

Once Saddam Hussien was removed why couldn't the "coalition of the willing" simply stopped the bloodshed and begun rebuilding like they had promised to do?

This war is wrong on so many levels and my heart goes out to the people of Iraq and the soldiers from North America and the UK who are deployed, this is another case of where neither side wins.