简介：AspartofthefirstwaveintheWaronTerror,FirstLieutenantMikeScotti(awardedtheNavyandMarineCorpsAchievementMedalwithCombat"V")servedonthefrontlinesduringthe21dayadvancetoBaghdad.HisexperiencesinAfghanistanaswellasIraqputhimfacetofacewiththesoberingrealitiesofwaronadailybasis.SevereClearoffersanunflinchinglookatlifeonthebattlefieldthroughtheeyesofsomeonewhowasthere.WrittenbyMarcPerez ShotbyFirstLieutenantMikeScottionhisMini-DVcamera,andtoldthroughhisownjournalentries,KristianFraga's"SevereClear"ismorethanadocumentary.ItisafirstpersonaccountoftheMarineswhowereonthefrontlinesofOperationIraqiFreedom.Thisiswhattheysaw.Inthisdigitalageofembeddedreportersandfilmmakersdirectingtheir"war"picturesfromtheinternet,"SevereClear"stripsthebarriersbetweenaudienceandsoldier,personalizingthefear,moralconundrumandsheeradrenalinerushoflifeonthebattlefield.ThepersonalstoryofMikeScottiandtheMarinesinhisunitisthebackboneofthisintimate,extremeandoftentimeshorrifictale.ThestorybeginswithScottiona40-dayvoyageacrosstheArabianSea,aboardtheUSSBoxer,wherehisdaysarefilledwithphysicaltraining,tacticalstudy,andmentalpreparation.FortheMarines,whohavebeeninaconstantstateofwarsincetheSeptember11thattacksontheWorldTradeCenterandPentagon,thepoliticalwranglingofworldleadersanddiplomaticdebatesoverthemeritsofUNresolutionsarenothingbutasmokescreenforawartheyallknowisinevitable.Sotheytrain,blowoffsteam,andwait.TheforcesreachKuwait,butthereismorewaitingtobedone.Thatis,untilPresidentBushaddressesthenationandordersthebeginningofOperationIraqiFreedom.AstheypushontoBaghdad,patriotismandyouthfulenthusiasmgraduallygiveswaytothereal,brutalhorrorsofwar.Astheresistancetotheirpresenceescalates,Scottiandhisfellowsoldiersareforcedtocometogripswiththemagnitudeofthesituationtheyfindthemselvesin.SevereClearisamotionpicturethatcapturesthechaosandcomplexityofwar.WrittenbyMarcJ.Perez…