Watch Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield

Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield is a captivating documentary that delves into the hidden world of covert American military actions across the globe. It is based on investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill's book, "Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield". Directed by Richard Rowley, this feature-length film was released in 2013 and offers a compelling insight into the US' extensive use of military power in the post-9/11 world.

The opening scene portrays a night raid in Afghanistan, where US Navy Seals kill several innocent civilians, including women and children. Scahill gets wind of this and sets out to investigate what becomes the central thesis of Dirty Wars: that the US' War on Terror has not only resulted in the senseless killing of thousands of innocents, but also spurred on the rise of violent and extremist insurgencies around the world.

This documentary follows Scahill as he explores the ongoing global War on Terror, which has been conducted largely through secretive, special-forces raids that are not subject to the same level of public scrutiny as conventional military operations. Through interviews with Afghan villagers, family members of those killed in US drone strikes, Yemeni tribal leaders, and others, Scahill pieces together a shocking picture of military actions that are often shrouded in secrecy and misinformation.

Dirty Wars also deconstructs the misleading narrative that governs much of the War on Terror. We see the way in which the US government has branded military actions as "counter-terrorism," which legitimizes operations that are, in reality, expansive, unaccountable and often brutal campaigns against civilians and non-combatants.

The documentary illustrates this by exploring US operations in Somalia and Yemen, countries that are officially outside of the War on Terror but are full of violence and terrorist groups. Dirty Wars takes particular aim at President Barak Obama and his administration, underlining the ways in which they have taken the policies of the Bush administration and taken them to new heights of brutality, from drone strikes to torture.

Through concise, hard-hitting reportage, the documentary exposes the shadowy, often secretive network of American forces and agents around the world, engaging in activities that are contrary to the values of democracy, accountability and human rights that the United States ostensibly promotes. Scahill skilfully maps some of the unspoken mechanisms of US empire, highlighting the complex web of military bases, agents and clients that enable the US to exert its power at a global level.

Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield is eerily prescient, foreshadowing the militarization of many aspects of American life in the decade since its release. It revealed long before anyone else how technological advancements in weaponry have led to the normalization of shadowy forces that operate outside the rule of law at home and abroad.

Despite this, the documentary does not stoke fear or panic. Instead, it offers a nuanced and necessary perspective on the US government's approach to international conflict, lifting the veil of propaganda that has surrounded the ongoing war on terror. It offers a sobering reminder that American foreign policy is more deeply entwined with militarism, secrecy and brutality than many would like to admit.

Overall, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield is a gripping, thought-provoking documentary that forces viewers to confront the harsh realities of the US' global military presence. It is an essential commentary on US foreign policy, urging people to question the role their government plays in perpetuating violence, conflict and instability around the world. It is an eye-opening and in-depth documentary that will leave you with a much deeper understanding of the impact of the War on Terror on the world.

Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes.