Feb 15, 2010 a combined force of 15,000 soldiers, including 4,400 afghans, is taking part in a major assault on the taliban in the poppygrowing areas of the helmand river valley. Ben anderson his films include holidays in the axis of evil, this is what what winning looks like and battle for marjah, which later became a book, no worse enemy. Journalist ben anderson tells the story of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marines, and its commanding officer, captain ryan sparkscontainer. Sep 07, 2015 i recently spoke with journalist, filmmaker, and author ben anderson about his recent episode of vice on hbo. A discussion with ben anderson of vice about the war in afghanistan. Jun 04, 20 ben anderson is an awardwinning filmmaker holidays in the axis of evil, the battle for marjah and writer who has been covering the war in southern afghanistan since 2007. Ben anderson is an acclaimed journalist and documentary filmmaker. Jul 02, 2012 ben anderson is a bafta award nominated documentary filmmaker and journalist. Journalist ben anderson, who spent two months with the american forces, offers an extraordinarily intimate look at the brutal realities of modernday warfare in the harrowing documentary the battle for marjah, debuting thursday, feb. In this gripping film, journalist ben anderson follows the counterinsurgency mission, as the 272 marines are flown in via plane and dropped into the center of marjah.
The battle for marjah was a documentary aired on hbo following 1st battalion, 6th marines in the initial assault, by ben anderson. Journalist ben anderson, who spent two months with the american forces, offers an extraordinarily intimate look at the brutal realities of modernday warfare. Feb, 2015 the battle for marjah was not restricted to one period of time, or one unit it was ongoing, and a great many american and allied forces were injured or killed trying to succeed at an. Counterinsurgency is a political war as much as a shooting war, and politics in afghanistan are even tougher than they are in iraq. Aug 17, 2017 his fulllength documentaries include this is what what winning looks like and battle for marjah, which later became a book, no worse enemy. Television reporter ben anderson spent over five years embedded with. Operation moshtarak, the biggest operation since the start of the afghanistan war. Marines, documentary filmmaker anderson hbos the battle for marjah. The battle for marjah film wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The battle for marjah dvd greene county public library.
The british journalist ben anderson spent two months embedded with bravo company of the first battalion, sixth marines to report the film, which. A recipient of the foreign press award, he was born in middlesbrough, educated at bedford modern school and now lives in brooklyn, new york. The battle for marjah is an hbo documentary written, filmed and produced by ben anderson, 1 covering the efforts of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, in operation moshtarak. Jul 10, 2012 ben anderson shows us gripping video from the half decade he spent on the front line of battle in the war in afghanistan. The battle for marjah dvd san francisco public library. In this powerful account, awardwinning journalist ben anderson tells the story of bravo. One of the most iconic faces of the series, ben regularly reports from conflict zones around the world, producing and hosting groundbreaking segments covering the wars in syria, yemen, iraq, and afghanistan, as well as drug smuggling in africa and latin america, migrant.
At the center of it all was the first battalion of the bravo company, 6th marines, led by the heroic captain ryan sparks. I ordered this book based off of how well the authors documentary, battle for marjah accurately portrayed what is taking place over here. These days ben travels relentlessly as a senior producer and. There is nothing to keep alp groups from entering into similar arrangements.
Ben s agreed to meet me in a much safer region of the world central london to talk about his book and documentary, which has just been nominated for three emmy awards in the states. On february, 2010, americanled coalition forces launched the biggest military operation since the beginning of the afghanistan war. Ben anderson and anthony wonke the battle of the bulge. I recently spoke with journalist, filmmaker, and author ben anderson about. Information, interviews, photos and more for ben anderson on the hbo original. Last year, as the us marines cleared buildings in marjah, afghanistan, i caught. Ben anderson on vice news tonight official website of.
No worse enemy share book recommendations with your. Thomas gibbonsneff and ben anderson the new york times. The battle for marjah cast and characters tv guide. Informed by more than 300 hours of firsthand frontline footage with the u. In 2010 he wrote, filmed and produced the battle for marjah for hbochannel four and in 2011. The battle for marjah by anthony wonke anthony wonke, ben. For two months, vbs correspondent ben anderson got to know the american forces behind operation moshtarak and filmed the brutal realities of their life on the front lines. In his film, afghanistan after us, anderson chronicled the current state of the afghan local police. Like a fractal, the stupidity exists at every single zoom level.
The battle for marjah was not restricted to one period of time, or one unit it was ongoing, and a great many american and allied forces were injured or killed trying to succeed at an. Ben anderson born 19751976 is a british journalist, television reporter, and writer. Operation moshtarak dari for together or joint, also known as the battle of marjah, an international security assistance force isaf pacification offensive in the town of marjah, helmand province, afghanistan. Reading the book made me want to facepalm every five minutes. Ben anderson is a bafta award nominated documentary filmmaker and journalist. Its main target was the taliban stronghold of marjah. Embedded journalist ben anderson s chronicle of operation moshtarak, an offensive by u. The most intense fighting footage and the best anatomy of a battle. The long read confessions of a war reporter esquire. At the battles outset, sparks and the 272 men of bravo are flown 12 miles and dropped into the center of marjah, where the taliban lie in. Ben anderson on vice news tonight official website of the. President in eugene jareckis reagan, to the front lines of one of the biggest operations of the afghanistan war in ben andersons the battle of marjah, to the deadliest industrial disaster in new york city history in daphne pinkersons triangle. Grit, strategy, and the way out of afghanistan by bing west dedicates several chapters to the assault on marjah, base on wests experiences while embedded with tf 34205 with a focus on oda. Follow bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marines into the heart of the war in afghanistan.
In 2010 he wrote, filmed and produced the battle for marjah for hbochannel four and in 2011 he made the battle for bomb alley for bbc1, which followed us marines as they struggled to reclaim the district of sangin in afghanistan. Ben andersons no worse enemy is a gripping account of the war in afghanistan circa 2009. He has presented five of his own series for bbc2, and is a regular reporter for panorama and dispatches. Ben anderson s hbo documentary the battle for marjah, recently released on dvd and bluray by athena, shows why. Ben anderson, director of the documentary the battle for marjah, talks about the historic battle in afghanistan. Breaking news the battle for marjah, the harrowing. Its a good book written from the perspective of a british journalist and documentary filmmaker the documentary. He has presented five of his own series for bbc2, and is. Libri in altre lingue passa al contenuto principale iscriviti a prime.
However, this book brings a lot of truth about the war in afghanistan to light. In june 2010, four months after the fighting to secure the citys center ended, anderson returned to marjah and the men of bravo company. Feb 17, 2011 the battle for marjah, an hbo documentary of a campaign to wipe out the taliban in a slice of afghanistan, is a chronicle of hopelessness. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The battle for marjah, an afghan war film, on hbo the. A discussion with ben anderson of vice about the war in. Sherard cowpercoles, former british ambassador to afghanistan, praised the book as, the truth about the afghan war, from a. If you desire to fully understand what is really happening on the ground in afghanistan, this book is a must read. Their target was the town of marjah, a taliban stronghold in southern afghanistan. May 14, 20 ben anderson is an acclaimed journalist and documentary filmmaker.
His war dispatches have been published in the guardian magazine and gq uk. Following five years of an embedded media assignment with the british army and u. The most comprehensive and gripping account of the afghan war, by a bbc journalist. Ben anderson on vice news tonight official website of the hbo. The chilling modern classic on the disastrous war in afghanistan, now available in paperback. The battle for marjah is an hbo documentary written, filmed and produced by ben anderson, covering the efforts of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, in operation moshtarak.
For those who fought in marjah, it was more than just a battle. No worse enemy share book recommendations with your friends. In this powerful account, awardwinning journalist ben anderson tells the story of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marines, and its commanding officer, captain ryan sparks. Ben anderson is a correspondent and senior producer for the multiawardwinning vice on hbo series and is based in brooklyn.
Ben anderson is an awardwinning filmmaker holidays in the axis of evil, the battle for marjah and writer who has been covering the war in southern. Ben anderson is a producer and writer, known for the battle for marjah 2010, vice 20 and 6000. Anderson s documentation of this extremely dangerous, sometimes tragic mission was aired earlier this year on hbo films as the battle for marjah, and it is a most timely and important piece of journalism, bringing us real, urgent news and showing us the things we badly need to see are happening, as we go about our business back home, in the. It was predicted to become the model for how to win the war. A hunt for a deadly sniper from two perspectives the new. The battle for marjah is an hbo documentary written, filmed and produced by ben anderson, covering the efforts of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, in operation moshtarak references. Including interviews with military top brass, from commanding officers to general petreaus himself, this book reveals the disturbing chasm between official rhetoric and the situation on the ground.
Hbo documentary films continues its commitment to groundbreaking films in the first half of 2011. Bens agreed to meet me in a much safer region of the world central london to talk about his book and documentary, which has just been nominated for three emmy awards in the states. The battle for marjah is based on part of this book who. The battle for marjah dvd king county library system. Sep 21, 2011 the hbo documentary the battle for marjah chronicling the exploits of bravo company, 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, 2nd marine division during operation moshtarak. Critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker ben anderson panorama an. Breaking news the battle for marjah, the harrowing story.
No worse enemy, the book he wrote about his experience as a war journalist filming battle for marjah comes out in paperback this month. The battle for marjah is based on part of this book who has been visiting afghanistan off and on for the last few years. The battle for marjah hbo documentary marines in afghanistan. An updated version of his book, no worse enemy, is out now in paperback, and he recently released a new film on titled this is what winning. Documentary looks at harsh realities of modernday warfare. The marines in marjah admitted to me that many of the alp they were singing up and putting on the payroll were probably taliban. Operation moshtarak, the biggest operation since the start of the afghanistan war, whose main target was the taliban stronghold of marjah, a town in helmand province. Marines, anderson, a journalist and documentarian the battle for marjah, covers the front lines in afghanistan. Ben anderson is an awardwinning filmmaker holidays in the axis of evil, the battle for marjah and writer who has been covering the war in southern afghanistan since 2007. Let me start by saying i am currently working with the afghan police in helmand.
Hbo documentary lineup for 2011 entertainment news. He has filmed, presented and produced over 40 films, including the battle for marjah for hbo films. In a career spanning fourteen years, he has filmed and presented over forty films for the bbc, hbo, channel 4, and the discovery channel. Operation moshtarak in marjah, afghanistan world news the. In his book, anderson writes of a corrupt and incompetent afghan army and the lie from washington that marjah was an afghanled. The inside story of the chaotic struggle for afghanistan. References external links official website the battle for marjah at the internet movie database it has been. His first book, based on 300 hours of footage he shot while embedded in afghanistan, is no worse enemy. The bbcs ben anderson spends 24 hours in afghanistan s bloody helmand province and walks into a firefight. Etpt, exclusively on hbo, marking the first anniversary of this historic battle.
In addiction to chronicling the operation, the battle for marjah asks whether the policy is a. The battle for marjah, the harrowing story of the u. Ben anderson presents the reader with an extraordinary account of the tragedies in the afghanistan war. Remembering the fire, hbo showcases works by acclaimed directors who tackle thoughtprovoking topics.
Marines battle to liberate a key afghanistan town, debuts feb. The battle for marjah, an afghan war film, on hbo the new. Everything you always wanted to know about war reporting but were. Anderson has produced, filmed, and directed many hardhitting featurelength documentaries for hbo, including the battle for marjah, which won a history makers award, a marine corps heritage foundation award, and was a finalist for three emmys. The battle for marjah, an hbo documentary of a campaign to wipe out the taliban in a slice of afghanistan, is a chronicle of hopelessness. Ben anderson, anthony wonke, gregor lyon, ben anderson, guy davies, nancy abraham, sheila nevins, ben anderson. This is a first hand look behind the headlines at the reality of the difficult challenges british and american infantry face in modern, bloody counterinsurgency warfare operations. Marjah is the largest battle fought thus far in the afghan war. While the book is too atmospheric and actionbased to have much of a grand political narrative, andersons central contention is that our strategy in afghanistan is confused and ineffectual, and the taliban is confidently reestablishing its networks of authority throughout the country.