The Last 600 Meters......the Iraq War documentary PBS refused to show for 17 years
I had heard that this was out there but, had forgotten about it over the years. Finally, PBS decides to air it SEVENTEEN Years after it was produced because....politics. You can't hate PBS and the people who cheer them on enough...
As one of the bloggers I enjoy reading pointed out, one of the most seminal documentaries of World War II was Victory at Sea which came out in 1952, seven years after the end of the war. This piece was shelved for more than twice that length of time because decision-makers thought it was pro-war/pro-military.
“I had never been on the business end of an Abrams before that close,” he recalled in an interview with Military Times. “We worked with tanks for weeks and weeks after that and came to be kind of numb to it. Just being a few feet behind the barrel is much different than being a few feet in front of it as far as the overpressure and blast go.”
That’s the kind of gritty realism on display in the documentary “The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah,” airing on PBS on Monday, the day before Veterans Day and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. The film by Michael Pack tells the story of these deadly engagements through the words and emotions of the U.S. troops who survived them.
The film gets its name from a comment made by Master Sgt. Karl R. Erickson, a U.S. Army Special Forces sniper who equates his mission with looking through his scope at a target: “Foreign policy? I don’t make it. I just deliver the last 600 meters of it.”
The rest of the documentary details what that means for the troops on the ground and in the air over these deadly battlefields, chronicling their courage, commitment and camaraderie through a bloody ordeal.
“We conducted the interviews three years after the battles when memories were fresh,” Pack said in an interview. “But it was hard time to get it on the air then. Everyone had their opinions about the war and it was clouded in politics. We strove to tell these stories without politics from the point of view of the people who were there. Maybe now is a good time to look back and remember what happened.” ....
PBS initially rejected the documentary in 2008 because of its perceived pro-military bias and lack of political commentary, even though the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was the project’s principal funder at the start. The network then began to dictate the direction of the final cut, but Pack wasn’t willing to compromise on his vision.
It was only recently that PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger decided to broadcast it upon reexamination. Pack credited her courage in reversing the company’s past decisions.
“We owe her a great debt. It’s not easy to do that, and I really appreciate her doing it,” he said. “She simply saw the film, looked at it with fresh eyes, and said, ‘We should have this on the air,’ and that was a great decision.” ...
November 13, 2025, 02:31 PM
konata88
I only see it available through PBS subscription on prime. Is it available directly on prime somehow (ie = free)? Or only through PBS subscription (don't want to pay for that). Any other streaming service?
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
November 13, 2025, 05:00 PM
corsair
quote:
Originally posted by konata88: I only see it available through PBS subscription on prime. Is it available directly on prime somehow (ie = free)? Or only through PBS subscription (don't want to pay for that). Any other streaming service?
Looks like you can either get a PBS app subscription; try the free 7-day period and remember to cancel it before your card gets charged. Or, rent $2 or, buy for $3 from Prime
November 13, 2025, 05:10 PM
konata88
quote:
Originally posted by corsair: try the free 7-day period and remember to cancel it before your card gets charged.
Sounds like a plan.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
November 13, 2025, 05:13 PM
architect
Within the first minute of the film a narrator states: "One year after the US invaded Iraq" with no explanation of the events that led up to that "invasion." So you already know who the bad guys are going to be. Disappointed is not the word for it.
I have not watched the entire piece, just he first ten minutes or so, maybe I will change my mind.
November 13, 2025, 05:56 PM
P220 Smudge
quote:
Originally posted by architect: Within the first minute of the film a narrator states: "One year after the US invaded Iraq" with no explanation of the events that led up to that "invasion." So you already know who the bad guys are going to be. Disappointed is not the word for it.
Objectively speaking, that statement is true. We invaded Iraq. Right?
______________________________________________ "If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”
Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
November 14, 2025, 01:08 AM
downtownv
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
quote:
Originally posted by architect: Within the first minute of the film a narrator states: "One year after the US invaded Iraq" with no explanation of the events that led up to that "invasion." So you already know who the bad guys are going to be. Disappointed is not the word for it.
Objectively speaking, that statement is true. We invaded Iraq. Right?
Correct.
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November 14, 2025, 07:42 AM
joel9507
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge: Objectively speaking, that statement is true. We invaded Iraq. Right?
It's also true that we bombed France killing civilians and causing a lot of infrastructure damage, and actually invaded it (WWII). Context, context, context.
A bit of context, for folks without much history background, is always useful in presenting a balanced piece.
November 14, 2025, 08:58 AM
dking271
quote:
Objectively speaking, that statement is true. We invaded Iraq. Right?
I’ll caveat this with I wasn’t there and never served in the military. Contextually, the reasons given for the invasion of Iraq did not seem to pan out. To my knowledge no stockpiles of WMDs were publicly exposed. Most of the serviceman I hear that fought and lost friends in that particular AO of the GWOT believe we shouldn’t have been there and the only gains were to the military industrial complex and Haliburton Corporation. I will likely check it out.
_________________________ "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last” - Winston Churchil
November 15, 2025, 02:20 PM
wishfull thinker
quote:
Originally posted by architect: Within the first minute of the film a narrator states: "One year after the US invaded Iraq" with no explanation of the events that led up to that "invasion." So you already know who the bad guys are going to be. Disappointed is not the word for it.
I have not watched the entire piece, just he first ten minutes or so, maybe I will change my mind.
The Title tells me what I need to know; it's not about global angst it's about the last 600 yards where the rubber meets the interlocking, grazing, fields of fire, not to mention the scout sniper's cross hairs.
I watched it and was moved by it, ymmv. I bought it and dropped a cool $3 on it. I'll skip coffee Thursday and break even for the week.
Semper Fi
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November 15, 2025, 06:16 PM
fischtown7
Watched last night, just confirmed and reminded me how our politicians and brass keep screwing the troops over. The dog carrying the human leg over the rubble sums up that whole mess.
November 15, 2025, 07:30 PM
StorminNormin
I bought it as I have a ton of Amazon digital credits. I watched some of it last night and will finish it soon.
NRA Benefactor Life Member
November 16, 2025, 02:05 AM
wishfull thinker
quote:
Originally posted by fischtown7: Watched last night, just confirmed and reminded me how our politicians and brass keep screwing the troops over. The dog carrying the human leg over the rubble sums up that whole mess.
yeah, that lit me up for a minute.
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November 16, 2025, 05:02 PM
Jraz
Well done
November 16, 2025, 08:05 PM
abnmacv
Defund PBS until they spin off the propaganda-news programs. The history programs are seen through the belief system of the left eye. Those programs have little to add to our culture. So, maybe we should just refuse to have taxpayers support the PBS concept. Let them use commercials or subscriptions.
U.S. Army 11F4P Vietnam 69-70 NRA Life Member
November 17, 2025, 05:49 AM
mrvmax
It was worth watching, thanks.
November 17, 2025, 11:54 PM
BGULL
I just watched in its entirety. Very good and moving depicting what combat is like for our warriors in the armed services. You can’t watch it and not be proud of those soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen and their courage and resolve I can’t particularly fathom why the powers at PBS wouldn’t air this program originally. Plenty of information about dictated ceasefires and restrictions and negotiations that run counter to what our troops were ready to fight and die for. Discounting the supposed lack of political criticism, it’s a tremendous story. One small surprise, one of the interviewees was then Marine lieutenant, now Democratic Representative Seth Moulton.
Bill Gullette
November 18, 2025, 07:38 AM
captain127
When I was in Iraq my unit was featured on an episode of 60 minutes with the reporting crew embedded with us for a couple weeks. When I got home and saw a recording of the episode, I thought it would be great to get a copy for historical purposes. Go to the 60 minutes website to order ( there is a link at the end of every episode - for a copy of this segment contact ….) “ this episode not available? Luckily a good friend had recorded it on an old school VHS tape and I got it converted to CD.