By host Tom Ashbrook:

In the daily mayhem and destruction of Iraq, one number stands out as a break with history: wounded US soldiers who make it to a trauma center have a 90 percent survival rate — the highest survival rate of any American war.

Now, HBO cameras have gone inside a US military trauma unit in Baghdad. They call it “Baghdad ER.” The scenes they’ve brought out are bloody, heroic, heartbreaking — and absolutely, shockingly routine.

More than 17,000 American troops have been wounded — and many are wounds for life. Survival is a blessing, but it’s not pretty. Americans don’t see the daily blood and sweat and tears. But they should. Now many will.

Hear a conversation with the filmmakers about Baghdad ER.

Guests:

Jon Alpert, winner of 12 Emmy awards. He is co-director of the documentary “Baghdad ER,” which premieres this Sunday at 8 PM on HBO.

Matthew O’Neill, winner of two Emmy awards. He is co-director of “Baghdad ER.”

Paula Zwillinger. Her son Lance Corporal U.S. Marine Robert Mininger died June 6, 2005 at age 21 from wounds received as a result of an explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq.