Saw an interview with a disturbed US soldier last night

The private was on duty in Iraq and kept himself anonymous during the interview with a British journalist on Channel 4. He said:

- he'd had suicidal and homicidal thoughts and had approached the Army's mental health department, only to be rejected without treatment and sent to Iraq

- he said that 60% of troops in Iraq were using marijuana and 30% were using cocaine

Rather worrying thoughts - the guy was clearly on the edge and not happy.

The news programme also showed footage of Iraq's Western administrators dancing like idiots to "Tragedy" by the Bee Gees inside a Baghdad nightclub, and most looked drunk. Apparently virtually none of them ever meet ordinary Iraqis or leave the compound, leading to a huge division between them and the people.

Oddly, 3 British clowns were shown doing performances for Iraqi children and adults with no protection at all, and they were just wandering around meeting people.

P.

I saw a quick clip of a young GI (or maybe a marine), in country,
carrying his assault rifle... saying he was tired of standing
around guarding stuff, he wanted to "kick down doors and shoot
some people"... I kid you not. I think this was on CNN yesterday,
but I channel surf a lot so I don't remember. I felt ashamed that
a) we can show this type of attitude to the world, and b) sorry
for this kid. I remember that I had just finished watching another
installment of "Band of Brothers" on the history channel, and I
compared that experience to this kid in Iraq. Very sad.

Wasn't really paying too much attention until he said that. I was so startled I looked at his face, and saw he looked very much like a kid, with slowed down, dulled, deadened responses, and wondered what on earth we're doing to these folks.

I have NEVER heard of a U.S. soldier having that kind of sentiment before, publically. Can you imagine his inner landscape?

This is what he thinks he's supposed to be doing, that's why he said it: trying to keep himself psyched up to be a good soldier. Very sad.

Also almost surreal in places -- the Iraqi kids selling porn & Saddam memorabilia to soldiers & that incident where the two US troops were trying to explain in sign language that they would shoot that guys son if he played with his toy gun outside.

There was also that unguarded moment where you could sense that the happy optimism of the radio DJ was masking a far greater fear that she couldn't talk about for fear of losing her position.

I hope it gets a standalone slot on Channel 4 -- they could append it to their "Unreported World" series or as an extra ALT TV. I don't suppose you remember the name of the filmmaker?