The Search For A Real-Life Rambo: Unlikely Heroes From Afghanistan's Battlefields

Afghanistan has been the setting of many war films, including the 1988 film Rambo III, starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a veteran of the Vietnam War. The film depicts fictional events during the Soviet-Afghan War, in which Rambo travels to Afghanistan to rescue his former commander and longtime best friend, Colonel Sam Trautman, from the hands of a ruthless Soviet Army colonel. The film also shows Rambo helping a local band of Afghan rebels fight against Soviet forces threatening to destroy their village. The film's overriding message is that war is bad, and it portrays the inner turmoil and PTSD that Rambo experiences as a result of his involvement in conflict.

The real-life 'Rambo' of Afghanistan, Omar Gul, a policeman in the Kajaki district in Helmand province

Afghanistan has its very own Rambo in the form of Omar Gul, a policeman in the Kajaki district in Helmand province. His real name is Omar Gul, but he only answers to the moniker of the action-movie hero made famous by Sylvester Stallone.

Gul's drive and motivation to serve and protect his people make him stand out from his fellow police officers. He hates the Taliban passionately, having been chained up by them for over five months. He managed to shoot his way out of their custody and now seeks revenge. Gul's determination is especially notable when compared to his fellow officers, who are described as unmotivated and only in it for the money.

Gul's strong feelings towards the Taliban highlight the challenges Afghan security forces will face as US and NATO troops pull out of Afghanistan. The US military's response to how the Afghans will cope without foreign military support is to rely on "local knowledge", which means building local relationships to gather intelligence and maintain stability.

Gul's personal experience with the Taliban left him with marks around his wrists from being chained up. He says, "When the US marines leave, we will have to fight to protect our people."

The 1988 film 'Rambo III' was set in Afghanistan

The 1988 film Rambo III was set primarily in Afghanistan. The film follows Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) as he travels to Afghanistan to rescue his longtime friend and mentor, Colonel Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna), from a Soviet prison camp. Trautman is captured by Soviet forces while on a mission to supply weapons to Afghan freedom fighters, the Mujahideen, who are fighting against the Soviets.

Rambo III depicts fictional events during the Soviet-Afghan War. In the film, Rambo sets out on a dangerous journey to Afghanistan to rescue Trautman, who is being held captive and tortured by a ruthless Soviet Army colonel. Rambo also helps a local band of Mujahideen rebels fight against Soviet forces threatening to destroy their village.

The film was directed by Peter MacDonald and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who reprises his role as John Rambo. It is the third installment in the Rambo franchise, following Rambo: First Blood (1982) and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). At the time of its release, Rambo III was the most expensive film ever made, with a production budget of $58-63 million.

While the film features numerous action sequences and violent battles, the overriding message of Rambo III is that war is bad. The film also portrays Rambo's PTSD and inner turmoil, highlighting that he is forced to live a life as a mercenary due to his traumatic experiences.

The ending of Rambo III has been the subject of some controversy. Some sources claim that the film ends with a dedication to the ""brave Mujahideen fighters of Afghanistan," while others assert that the dedication is to the "gallant people of Afghanistan." This discrepancy has led to an online dispute, with some claiming that the credit was changed after the 9/11 attacks due to the Mujahideen's association with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. However, reviews from 1988 and VHS and DVD copies of the film released before 9/11 indicate that the original dedication was to the "gallant people of Afghanistan."

The film's message that wars are bad, and its portrayal of Rambo's PTSD and inner turmoil

The Rambo franchise, particularly the original film *First Blood* (1982), offers a nuanced portrayal of the Vietnam War veteran John Rambo, who exhibits many symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the term PTSD was not widely understood or recognised when the film was released, it nonetheless provides a sensitive depiction of the condition.

In the film, Rambo is mistreated by police, who arrest and humiliate him, exacerbating his PTSD. This mistreatment drives Rambo to desperation, and he has flashbacks of his time as a prisoner of war. For example, when the police tie his hands to the ceiling and bring out a straight razor to shave him, Rambo has disturbing visions of being tortured by the Viet Cong, who had also tied him up and slashed him with a sword.

Rambo's PTSD is further explored in the film through his conversations with his former commander, Colonel Trautman. Rambo breaks down in tears as he recounts his struggles since returning from the war. He tells Trautman: "Back there [in Vietnam] I was in charge of million-dollar equipment. Back here, I can’t even hold down a job parking cars!" This highlights Rambo's inability to reintegrate into civilian life and the emotional turmoil he is suffering as a result of his experiences during the war.

The later film *Rambo III* (1988) continues to explore the theme of war's negative impact. The overriding message of the film is that "wars are bad", and we see Rambo's PTSD and inner turmoil portrayed through his inability to live a normal life, instead being forced into a life as a mercenary. Rambo is shown to be suffering from severe PTSD, with his time in Afghanistan triggering memories of his friend Joey being injured by a bomb in a Saigon tavern.

The Rambo films, particularly the earlier instalments, present a complex and sympathetic portrayal of a veteran struggling with the aftermath of war. Through Rambo's character, the films highlight the difficulties faced by those suffering from PTSD and offer a critique of war and its impact on individuals.

The film's dedication, which has been disputed, may have been changed after the 9/11 attacks

The 1988 film Rambo III, starring Sylvester Stallone, depicts fictional events during the Soviet-Afghan War. In the film, John Rambo travels to Afghanistan to rescue his former commander and friend, Colonel Sam Trautman, from a Soviet Army colonel. He also helps a local band of Afghan rebels fight against Soviet forces threatening to destroy their village.

The film's dedication has been the subject of some dispute. Some sources claim that the film's dedication was changed after the 9/11 attacks, from "the brave Mujahideen fighters of Afghanistan" to "the gallant people of Afghanistan". This claim has been repeated by some scholars and was mentioned in the book Fictions of War by Tatiana Prorokova. However, this is not true. The film's dedication has always been "to the gallant people of Afghanistan". This is confirmed by reviews of the film from 1988, which mention the dedication, as well as an investigation by the YouTube channel AngelDust, which found that several VHS and DVD copies of the film released before 9/11 featured the "gallant people of Afghanistan" dedication.

Rambo's journey to Afghanistan and his introduction to the country by an Afghan interpreter

John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran, is on a mission to rescue his former commander and longtime best friend, Colonel Sam Trautman, from the hands of a ruthless Soviet Army colonel. Trautman is being held in a Soviet camp high in the Afghan mountains.

Rambo flies to Peshawar, Pakistan, where he meets Mousa Ghani, a weapons supplier who agrees to take him to a village deep in the Afghan desert. Mousa introduces Rambo to Afghanistan, saying:

> This is Afghanistan. Alexander the Great tried to conquer this country. Then Genghis Khan, then the British, now Russia. But Afghan people fight hard, they never be defeated. Ancient people make a prayer about these people. It says: May God deliver us from the venom of the cobra, teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghans.

Mousa shows Rambo the mountains of Afghanistan. The Mujahideen in the village are hesitant to help Rambo free Trautman. Despite this, Mousa and a young boy named Hamid agree to help. Rambo and his small band of allies then set out on their dangerous journey to rescue Trautman from the Soviet base.

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