David Carter
Mr. Carter is a former commissioned officer in the British Army, who joined BBC as a writer, producer and broadcaster. His broadcasting achievements have brought him several awards. As a journalist, he has covered several conflicts, including The Falklands, Lebanon and Cyprus. Mr. Carter is author of "The Cyprus Tapes" and is a regular contributor to the Britain's Small Wars website.

Congratulations to you and your team on the production of "Return To Limbang." This was clearly a labor of love by those involved. As a fellow filmmaker, I wish I could say it belonged to my canon of work.

I watched the documentary this afternoon, with Wendy, my wife. Usually programs about war don't impress her. She watches them out of loyalty to me rather than interest on her part.

But at the end of this screening she said just two words: Excellent and moving.

Asked why, she explained (a) it had educated her about a part of British history of which she had no prior knowledge (b) she found the 'story' uncomplicated in its telling and (c), most important of all, she identified with the real-life characters and felt deeply for them.

I share her opinions and salute the makers for being able to simplify a complex tale and effectively explain the geo-political climate of the region and how Britain became involved, without making viewers feel they were receiving a necessary lecture to acquire a university degree.

What also differentiates this production from others in this genre is the fact both sides in this conflict were presented as flesh and blood human beings with much in common; just doing a job they had been given by politicians. It did not apportion praise or blame on any of the combatants. Instead it projected hope in the strength of the human spirit, its capacity to endure against all odds and then to forgive former enemies. The closing sequences, where former rebels and Royal Marines met each other 40 years on, were inspirational. I defy any viewer - irrespective of their nationality, political and religious beliefs - not be moved and feel a lump in their throat.

For me, the program suggested that the best people to make peace are soldiers. They know the cost of war, something politicians don't.

A few months ago, the BBC broadcast a four-part series called "Empire Warriors", based on a format that had a marked similarity to the British Small Wars' site on the web.

The BBC programs, however, bear no comparison to the quality of "Return To Limbang", despite the greater resources of Britain's national public broadcasting network. "Limbang" is like a classical piece of art matched against wall graffiti in a depressing inner city housing complex. One can be viewed time and time again, the other we want to scrub away.

I sincerely hope that this Brush Fire production is only the first of many to explain Britain's other 'Small Wars' to contemporary audiences steeped in the culture of Fox war coverage. It shows that the price of peace is not the application of massive weapons power in a sort of virtual reality setting, but the spilling of real blood and guts in unpleasant places, where the individual courage of soldiers is what brings war to a swift end and allows reconstruction to begin.