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August 24, 2005
Over There: Fumento Takes It Up A Notch
I recently pointed to Michael Fumento's demolition of Steven Bochco's "reality" TV series Over There. Now check out this pointed exchange between Bochco (US Army Airborne '78-'82, embedded with the Marines in Iraq) and John Solberg a PR flak for FX networks. Solberg, writing to Fumento:
[...] It's obvious to me that you have no knowledge about the background of the military technical advisor for Over There. I think if you would have asked, you would know that he is, to use your word, a "true" military technical advisor. He is a former U.S.M.C. Staff Sergeant and his ten years of service included an 11-month tour in Iraq where he was a Fire Power Control Team leader with an ANGLICO unit.While there have been some complaints with regard to the authenticity of the pilot (first) episode, the majority response from soldiers and military personnel was much more positive/favorable with regard to episodes two and three. [...]
Fumento isn't buying it, and proceeds to bury the Hollywood guy:
Right. That's why a unit couldn't get air support for 36 hours, instead of the usual less-than-30 minutes. That's why the squad had no reinforcements, no artillery, no armor, and even the heavy machine guns on the two Humvees present weren't used. That's why the enemy marks its IEDs with white flags, to make sure to warn off Americans. That's why the Humvee gunners (yes including episodes two and three, the "more accurate" ones) have no shielding? It's why a missile or bomb would be used to take out 20 Stingers in episode three, making it virtually impossible for forensics to determine all could be accounted for. (Yes, I know that was necessary to the plotline to make the intelligence officer a liar and make the Americans ruthless killers of civilians.) It's why even though some members of the squad carry grenade launchers only one grenade was fired during episode one with none during those oh-so-accurate episodes two and three. [...]
If your military advisor does give accurate advice, then you're overriding him at every turn and he should have resigned in disgust. Since apparently he hasn't, he sold out the uniform I and so many others have proudly worn. But maybe a firing squad would be too harsh; he should just suit up and have a real soldier rip every patch off his uniform.
Solberg replied that 1) he stood by his military advisor; 2) Fumento was wrong because he hadn't bother to read an LA Times story that evidently was more positive toward the story; and 3) his dad had been in the Air Force, and he himself "supported the military". Fumento:
I briefly listed 14 errors in the first three episodes, some small and some stunningly huge. Your response is that of the consummate politician: "I will stand by what I said." [...]
To repeat: We have three alternatives concerning your carefully-selected "military advisor." He's totally incompetent, he's a liar, or he's willing to see his advice constantly ignored for the 200 pieces of silver you tossed him. I suggest putting him in a locked room with a real Marine for 15 minutes and let's see what "conversation" ensues. [...]
I've quoted at length from this exchange because I believe it's a perfect example of the intellectual dishonesty displayed by a lot of Hollywood limousine Leftists. As Fumento pointed out, Solberg failed to address even one of Fumento's factual objections.
So I guess to a Hollywood producer, "reality" is anything you want it to be--whatever exists in one's head. Too bad they can't walk alongside of a real squad of Marines for awhile.
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