Winter Soldier

This documentary covers the “Winter Soldier” hearings of 1971, wherein Vietnam War veterans, organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War, testified to the atrocities committed by U.S. troops. Though it’s mostly talking heads, with a few still photos from Vietnam, it’s one of the most horrifying films ever made. The extent of the atrocities makes the Abu Ghraib revelations look tame by comparison. It’s almost impossible to talk about this without becoming enraged, and in spite of the recent efforts to “debunk” the soldiers’ claims, it’s all well-verified. Rapes, tortures, mutilations and random killings are detailed by the people who were there and participated. This is a film that patriotic Americans must see in order to understand and begin to deal with the lessons of our own history.