National Bird

source: National Bird

In this eye-opening documentary, we are introduced to several former drone operators and the individuals who make that job possible. You can safely ignore the "reviews" which claim to "debunk" the material based on semantics, unclear statements and somewhat badly formulated interview questions. The fact is that this film documents the horrible personal and sociological effects felt here at home by those who were participants in the mostly secret or intentionally obscured from the public drone wars under Bush, but then on steroids under Obama and Trump (and likely continuing w/ Biden). Whether one of these individuals actually pulled the trigger or was, rather, a cog in the machine which comprises the drone war program(s) is immaterial to the filmmaker's points and the psychological impact felt by those who learned they were, as often as not, participating in the cold blooded remote murders of innocent men, women, children and infants in places far, far away (in most cases, some drones are operated from OCONUS military installations). If you're a part of the operation, directly participate in surveillance, targeting or image analysis, you're as guilty as the "pilots" (really more akin to a video game or remote controlled model plane w/ munitions) are and the subjects of this documentary recognize and acknowledge it. To the content of the movie itself, it's essentially what you might think it is. A long hard look at what this kind of warfare and the shattered and maimed lives it leaves behind abroad does to those who carry it out. And to the would-be critics leaving IMDB reviews, especially the ones invoking the God fearing "democracy" that is allegedly the USA and the innate trust in their government which has lied to them countless times, if this program is so successful in its *stated* aims, why the dark, impenetrable curtain of secrecy? Why the million-person long lists, accessible mainly to those with high level security clearances, without any transparency whatsoever? Why are "we" still there in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other places which pose absolutely zero threat to any American civilian at home or abroad? The answers, partially documented here, are actually quite simple and they all tie back to the intense secrecy surrounding not only the drone program(s), but many, many other policies and actions carried out in far flung countries of the Global South. It's all about the Benjamins, and anything - including exposure of its existence, the telling of the horrible psychological toll it puts on the participants, and even more so, the loss of too many innocent lives to really fathom - will be attacked from every angle possible rather than simply explained, justified and debated. To continue along that thread - and following the one this film lays out - I would argue that anyone attempting to discredit this film or discourage others from watching it are nearly as guilty as the untouchable policy makers and politicians whose military-industrial-complex constituencies they serve over the actual people in their districts and states. 9/10 with a single star deducted for some editing and in the formulation of interview questions which would have precluded several of the negative "debunking" comments based only on semantics and a claimed true understanding of this awful system.

One easily notices that a lot of effort went into the production of this masterpiece. The American military tries hard to dehumanise their folks and this film succeeds to show what tremendous impact the drone program has on a personal level. Truly touching and frightening. Please spread the awareness!

The potential for the use of drone warfare to reduce loss of life in our military is definitely a paradigm shift. Of course when you can kill the enemy with less risk and even more efficiently there comes a huge morality element. It is a new psychology when one is able to kill with ease and without great immediate risk. What I get in the first half hour of this film is this kind of killing might not be a job for but a few. I'm thinking these people claiming to suffer here may be too emotionally immature for the job they chose and were assigned. This is in part a failure of the vetting system as to who is equipped and suited to engage in a new very lethal element of war. I'd like to think as a nation and military we are not using this death from above willy nilly. We must have extreme moral litmus tests in the pipe before we feel it is appropriate to resort to this kind of remote control judge, jury, and executioner. I think our military leaders do take this all into account and that when a deadly drone strike is used it passes multiple reviews of appropriateness. Sadly as in all war there will be horrendous mistakes. That isn't what, however, this film is looking at. National Bird is a film where negatively affected former drone operators tell their PTSD stories, vent, and , pretty much, claim the way they worked was often morally wrong. While they may have a valid point the incompatibility of many of the young drone operators with their jobs once the killing starts must be addressed. It's clear these folks weren't well suited or prepared for their actual jobs. They were poorly vetted and ill-equipped for sure. I don't see this as particularly patriotic, but they have the right most certainly to make this film. I find it tilted toward propaganda. Propaganda that is heartfelt, but none the less propaganda. We all know there are always those who push an agenda in which it really is heartfelt which never assures that it is right however. Like germ warfare drone warfare needs to be very tightly ruled over with morals at the very center of it all. Nations not abiding must be called out and dealt with by a moral code. I am not naive so I know like The Geneva Convention agreements there is still plenty of evil deviations. I trust The US, Canada, England, and all other freedom loving God fearing nations to set the bar and soon. I also think we're going to have to set new standards for those who we train for these drone related jobs. We need seasoned soldiers proven not to crack under deadly pressure who have chosen the military as a career. Not types here today and running their negative agendas when they leave the next week. These youngsters are the types I can see more fickle like that. They will suffer and they will make lots of negative interviews, even films, muddying the water claiming to be bastions of truth in their zeal, and pioneering yet another new form of PTSD. I feel for them, but I also think they weren't right for the job even before they began. I hope they move toward wellness and find peace. I didn't, however, want to finish this film after about half...too much propaganda for me. I do respect their right to make this film and for those who find it vital.

we were in Berlinale Film festival in Feb and was emotionally overwhelmed with this documentary film. We were shocked to know that such Things are really happening. We have sympathy for the innocent victims. This is really an eyes opening for all of us living in Europe It is good to know that there are brave citizens who risk their families and lives coming out and telling the world their stories. This will encourage more people to come out and protest on the unnecessary killing. This is not a Cyber games! Many innocent people for no reason got killed. The world have to know what is happening in Afghanistan and the neighboring Countries. We support this film and it should be shown everywhere round the world. I am glad that I had the chance to see the film.

I will only comment on the 1st person interviewed in this piece. She stated that she enlisted in the USAF and was part of "military intelligence" and "flew the drones". This is very easily debunked as only officers in the USAF actually fly the Preds, and only those flying shoot the Hellfires when ordered to do so. Yes, there are junior enlisted that are part of the drone program, and work as support personnel in that theater, but this entire movie loses all credibility from the beginning because of the glaring factual errors that go uncorrected.

Trailer—National Bird

National Bird