Skiis4Life

For the movie I gave it an 8. That's based on 32 years of military service, 7 combat tours (3 in Iraq) and working with the likes of the characters in the movie. Sorry for those who's lives were so well protected that they've never been exposed to the likes of us but, that's how we talk and act. It's a type-A environment and we use it to protect ourselves and motivate our brothers in arms.

I am well versed on the facts as provided by the MSM however, as someone in the biz I also know that the fly in the ointment are the facts.

1. The firing of mortars is an art and the mortar launcher has to be anchored to the ground or every mortar will land off target. The mortars landing on the CIA compound are dead accurate and also require spotters to assist with any corrections.

2. Aviano AB, Italy is about 2-hours away. Had they been launched, even if only to do a low fly-by, would have driven off the attackers; just like I used them in Iraq in Mosul, Tikrit, and Baghdad. I don't know why the Commander of the 555 (Triple Nickel) didn't launch. It's one of the big questions that remain unanswered by the media or the movie.

3. Hillary's statement that, "Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans?" was a red herring. Because it was neither. As later testimony bore out, it was a planned, coordinated, terrorist attack on the anniversary of 9/11.

4. All UAS aircraft are armed. As stated in the movie could have assisted in the defense of the embassy or the CIA compound.

5. General Ham, AfricaCom CC is someone I worked with in Mosul in 2004 for 6-months. Good guy and I know from my experience he would not hesitate to act if allowed. One day he'll give an interview and get his whole story. Can't wait...

Rick274 Colonel (Retired) 274ASOS/CC

The movie is about the cumulative effects of combat in the Iraq war. The main character is based on the life of Navy SEAL and sniper Chris Kyle. The movie the pivotal times in his life, how the terrorist attacks on 9/11 influenced his decision to join the military, his relationship with his wife and family.

What the movie captures is how he changed over the course of four 9-month tours to Iraq because of the effect war has on him.

As someone who also deployed 3 times I can tell you that this was what I believe Eastwood was focusing on and not any political agenda or propaganda as some critics have suggested.

I'll ask you this if you think otherwise. Was the 1978 film Deer Hunter about the Vietnam War's politics or the effect it had on it's main characters played by De Niro and Walken? In the 1953 movie From Here To Eternity was the fact that we dropped the A-Bomb a factor in judging that film? The thing that all those films, and most war movies include, are the effects of combat. They called it soldier's heart, shell shock, or PTSD. It's had over 80 names since the Civil War and it effects each soldier differently. It also effects Police, Firemen, survivors of trauma from accidents and disasters and terrorist attacks.

If you didn't serve it may be difficult for you to truly appreciate the character of Chris Kyle but judge him and Eastwood's direction of the film separately from the politics of the Iraq War.