National Bird

Directed by Sonia Kennebeck

A half hour version – edited for education classes in congregations

The Interfaith Network on Drone Warfare has produced a 34 minute version of National Bird, a documentary by Sonia Kennebeck. The film follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers that are determined to break the silence about America’s drone war. This version features two military veterans of drone warfare: Lisa and Heather. Plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries, they decide to speak out publicly, despite the possible consequences.

Their stories take dramatic turns, leading Lisa, one of the veterans to return to Afghanistan where she encounters family members of those killed by drone strikes in which she participated. Her journey of transformation gives hope for peace and redemption.

Heather, the other veteran, says, “You kill a guy who is your objective. You kill a guy who is not your objective. You don’t know”. She then adds that drone warfare “…is as flawed as it can be with people operating the drone program from across the world.” Heather is quoted by a British reporter saying, “The pictures you see are not clear enough to detect militants from civilians.”

National Bird gives rare insight into the U.S. drone program through the eyes of veterans and survivors of an actual drone attack where 23 members of their family were killed.