A new documentary series produced by the San Diego based Vet TV. “Let's Talk About The War” is a raw look at the war in Afghanistan, told by Americans who fought there during the past 20 years.
It is produced and directed by Nick Betts, an Army veteran. The staff sergeant was a sniper, who served from 2005 to 2013, with multiple tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also one of the central voices in the series.
“We're not going to censor our thoughts and feelings and emotions because we've been doing this for 20 years,” Betts said. “People need to know exactly what the gravity of the situation is like, what it was like for us on the ground and what it was like trying to sustain 20 years with warfare. The documentary is mildly revolving around Afghanistan but Iraq is no different.”
Many vets wanted to talk, according to Betts, after the fall of Kabul in 2021, which brought the war in Afghanistan back into the spotlight for most Americans.
“One of the most poignant responses that I had was when I asked one of the gentlemen Brandon Rumbaugh how he felt after the fall of Kabul he said what did I give out of my body and that kind of says it all,” he said.
For the past six months, Betts was the creative director at Vet-TV. The documentary series is a departure for the San Diego-based subscription network, which was founded in 2017 by a group of post-911 veterans. Up until this point, the veteran-run video service specialized in scripted series, which its creators say mirrors the dark humor of combat veterans. Though, many veterans would be offended by its often brutal and at times misogynistic content.
“Let’s Talk about the War” is not intended for everyone. For those veterans who recall Afghanistan with dehumanizing horror, the central message of the documentary series is you are not alone.
