War Machine 2017

Here’s the rephrased text:

Four-star General Glen McMahon (Brad Pitt), an accomplished military leader with degrees from West Point and Yale, is dispatched to Afghanistan to bring a decisive conclusion to the conflict. However, as he navigates the complex terrain of war, he finds himself at odds with those around him. A member of a storied military family, Glen’s academic prowess and rebellious spirit made him a standout even in his youth. His troops revered him for his willingness to lead by example, refusing to send them into harm’s way without being willing to venture forth himself.

Prior to his Afghan deployment, Glen helmed the secret forces in Iraq, where he penned a book on leadership, “One Leg at a Time.” The Afghan war, he believes, is not being led effectively, and it shows. His first order of business is to coax the military commanders from the 43 nations serving under him out of their individual silos and into shared common spaces.

As he sets about building his team, General McMahon surrounds himself with trusted lieutenants, including Colonel Cory Staggart (John Magaro), an Army Ranger and his executive officer; Major General Greg Pulver (Anthony Michael Hall), the ISAF Director of Intelligence, a West Point classmate who has worked alongside Glen for years; USAF Tech Sgt. Andy Moon (RJ Cyler), the go-to expert for all things gadget-related; Lieutenant Commander Pete Duckman (Anthony Hayes), a Navy SEAL whose duties are shrouded in mystery; USN Rear Admiral Simon Ball (Daniel Betts), his Senior Public Affairs Officer; Matt Little (Topher Grace), a former lobbyist turned civilian media advisor; and Sgt. Willy Dunne (Emory Cohen), his stalwart body man, who handles the mundane tasks that keep Glen’s life running smoothly.

General McMahon also meets with Pat McKinnon (Alan Ruck), the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dick Waddle (Nicholas Jones), a senior official loosely based on Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, and Ray Canucci (Griffin Dunne), a high-ranking Department of State official. These civilians caution him against seeking additional troops, but Glen’s condescending attitude towards those without military experience makes him view them as obstacles to overcome rather than valuable allies in his quest to bring the war to a close.

As Glen embarks on a tour of Afghanistan, he finds himself in a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (Ben Kingsley), who feigns illness in an attempt to dissuade him from his mission. Undeterred, Glen sets out to assess the situation firsthand and quickly realizes that the war is far from being won. He discovers that the insurgency, driven by local forces rather than a conventional army, has been allowed to flourish unchecked.

This revelation sparks a series of intense meetings with top military officials, including the British commander in charge of Helmand province. The latter paints a stark picture of a region dominated by Taliban forces, where coalition efforts are limited to securing key bases and failing to make any meaningful progress. He advises Glen to abandon Helmand and focus on areas where support for their mission is more genuine.

Glen’s strategy, however, remains rooted in his conviction that counterinsurgency can succeed with the right approach. Despite being met with skepticism from Dick, he requests an additional 40,000 troops to achieve his vision. However, this plea falls on deaf ears, as the US Secretary of State ultimately turns him down, citing the need for patience and caution until the Afghan elections are concluded.

As Glen’s frustration grows, he finds himself in conversation with a group of weary Marines fresh from their R&R in Italy. Led by Sgt. Ricky Ortega (Will Poulter) and Cpl. Billy Cole (Keith Stanfield), this disillusioned squad is struggling to reconcile their duty to protect civilians with the harsh realities of war. Billy’s pointed questions about the effectiveness of Glen’s “Courageous Restraint” policy, which rewards Marines for demonstrating restraint in the face of provocation, reveal a deep-seated skepticism towards the very concept of winning hearts and minds.

In this environment, where the stakes are high and the lines between friend and foe are increasingly blurred, Glen must navigate the treacherous landscape of war, torn between his ideals and the harsh realities on the ground.

As Captain Badi Basim (Aymen Hamdouchi) joins General McMahon’s team, a sense of unease settles over the Afghan elections. The scholarly Afghan National Army officer brings with him a keen intellect and a deep understanding of the complexities at play. However, it soon becomes apparent that the elections are plagued by widespread allegations of corruption, prompting Dick & Pat to inform Glen that a do-over is necessary. Glen’s response is one of intense frustration, as he feels his efforts are being undermined by those who should be supporting him.

In a bold move, Glen decides to leak his assessment report to the media and gives a scathing interview on 60 minutes, revealing his isolation from the President since taking charge in Afghanistan. The fallout is swift and severe, with President Obama (Reggie Brown) authorizing a 30,000-unit troop surge in response, but with a limited timeframe of just 18 months. Glen’s anger simmers as he realizes that this short-term solution will only embolden the Taliban, allowing them to wait out the American presence and reclaim control once the troops depart.

Undeterred, Glen sets out to rally international support for a longer-term commitment. His travels take him across Europe, where he meets with leaders in Paris, including his wife Jeanie McMahon (Meg Tilly), with whom he shares an awkward morning. The tension is palpable as Glen navigates this delicate situation.

The next day, Glen receives an unexpected invitation to meet with President Obama on Air Force One. However, the encounter proves to be a snub, leaving Glen feeling disrespected and undervalued. His spirits are further dampened when he learns that the French have agreed to provide additional troops, but only if the Germans agree to stay the course.

As Glen’s entourage travels to Berlin by road due to the volcanic eruption in Greenland, they’re forced to confront the harsh realities of war. In a candid moment, a German politician (Tilda Swinton) challenges Glen’s motivations, suggesting that his troop surge is driven by personal ambition rather than a genuine desire to stabilize Afghanistan. The weight of this criticism hits Glen hard, as he begins to question whether his actions are truly aligned with the greater good. Germany ultimately agrees to contribute troops, but only on the condition that they remain stationed in-country indefinitely, a stark reminder of the long-term costs of war.

As the military operation gains momentum, Glen leads the charge into Helmand province with the Italy R&R platoon serving as the vanguard. The unit’s initial foray into the region is met with swift resistance, but Billy’s keen instincts quickly reveal that the assailants are merely a family seeking retribution against their unit after a stray grenade claimed the life of their young daughter. With the town finally secured, Glen makes his case to the local elders, outlining a vision of infrastructure development, educational opportunities, and job creation. However, the Pashtuns’ skepticism proves well-founded as they express deep-seated concerns that once the Americans depart, the Taliban will inevitably reassert its control.

Meanwhile, Sean Cullen’s scathing article sets in motion a chain reaction that ultimately seals Glen’s fate. The publication paints a damning portrait of Glen and his entourage as they allegedly disparage the President and Vice President while indulging in drunken revelry across Europe, rather than devoting themselves to the war effort. As the fallout intensifies, Glen is summoned back to Washington and subsequently relieved of his duties by President Obama.

In a dramatic shift of power dynamics, General Bob White (Russell Crowe) assumes command, mirroring the real-life appointment of David Petraeus as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. With this development, Glen’s tenure comes to a close, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the war effort under the guidance of his successor.