1 00:00:02,043 --> 00:00:06,923 This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting and some strong language. 2 00:00:12,323 --> 00:00:18,763 Now, what are your preferences with regards to vaping or not? 3 00:00:18,763 --> 00:00:21,323 Do you... Whatever you want to do, yeah. Yeah? 4 00:00:21,323 --> 00:00:24,083 Whatever makes you feel more relaxed. Thank you. 5 00:00:24,083 --> 00:00:25,123 TRANSLATION: 6 00:00:38,483 --> 00:00:42,443 GEORGE W BUSH: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, 7 00:00:42,443 --> 00:00:45,723 and rescued millions from unspeakable horrors. 8 00:00:47,403 --> 00:00:49,043 TONY BLAIR: This isn't about a lie 9 00:00:49,043 --> 00:00:51,603 or a conspiracy or a deceit or a deception. 10 00:00:51,603 --> 00:00:53,203 It's a decision. 11 00:00:53,203 --> 00:00:57,683 And I do genuinely believe that the world is safer as a result. 12 00:00:59,723 --> 00:01:02,523 The politicians have had their say. 13 00:01:04,003 --> 00:01:07,323 In this series, the story of the Iraq War is told 14 00:01:07,323 --> 00:01:11,643 by the civilians, journalists, and soldiers who lived through 15 00:01:11,643 --> 00:01:16,803 the 2003 invasion, and the years of chaos that continue to this day. 16 00:01:16,803 --> 00:01:18,883 Anybody can invade a country. 17 00:01:18,883 --> 00:01:20,443 Anybody can go to war. 18 00:01:20,443 --> 00:01:22,163 It's what happens if you win. 19 00:01:23,283 --> 00:01:24,763 Through their eyes, 20 00:01:24,763 --> 00:01:29,283 we'll see how events in Iraq have changed the world. 21 00:01:29,283 --> 00:01:32,203 Hi, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Nate Sassaman and the battalion commander 22 00:01:32,203 --> 00:01:35,003 for First Battalion Eighth Infantry Regiment... 23 00:01:35,003 --> 00:01:39,043 We sowed the seeds of Isis in 2003. 24 00:01:39,043 --> 00:01:40,123 We did. 25 00:01:41,523 --> 00:01:43,003 HE EXHALES 26 00:01:43,003 --> 00:01:47,443 The only choice you have is either to be a victim, 27 00:01:47,443 --> 00:01:49,243 or to be the killer. 28 00:02:07,443 --> 00:02:09,643 Are we starting? Yeah, we can start. 29 00:02:09,643 --> 00:02:12,203 I'm interested at where you would begin in a series like this. 30 00:02:12,203 --> 00:02:15,163 Oh, man. Um... 31 00:02:15,163 --> 00:02:19,283 Well, Iraq should not be connected to 9/11 32 00:02:19,283 --> 00:02:21,043 but unfortunately it is, you know? 33 00:02:22,083 --> 00:02:23,483 Go! Go back! 34 00:02:23,483 --> 00:02:25,003 That was the kick-off. 35 00:02:26,603 --> 00:02:29,483 Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America 36 00:02:29,483 --> 00:02:30,763 and to support terror. 37 00:02:31,763 --> 00:02:36,083 States like these and their terrorist allies constitute 38 00:02:36,083 --> 00:02:37,723 an axis of evil. 39 00:02:41,203 --> 00:02:45,123 That's when we knew, "Shit. 40 00:02:45,123 --> 00:02:47,443 "We are getting blamed for this." 41 00:02:50,003 --> 00:02:52,803 There was a sense of relief. 42 00:02:54,083 --> 00:02:57,763 NEWS FOOTAGE: Allied troops have begun moving into position near the Iraqi border... 43 00:02:57,763 --> 00:03:00,443 The war plans are finalised, the training is over, 44 00:03:00,443 --> 00:03:02,403 the combat units are at battle positions... 45 00:03:02,403 --> 00:03:04,563 It seems increasingly likely that military action 46 00:03:04,563 --> 00:03:06,923 against Iraq could be imminent. 47 00:03:16,643 --> 00:03:18,803 At the start of 2003, 48 00:03:18,803 --> 00:03:22,803 over 300,000 coalition troops from mostly America and Britain 49 00:03:22,803 --> 00:03:26,563 had been deployed in preparation for the invasion of Iraq. 50 00:03:27,803 --> 00:03:29,923 And the whole country knew war was coming. 51 00:03:31,843 --> 00:03:34,003 OK, New York, we're starting the show. 52 00:03:34,003 --> 00:03:39,003 Five, four, three, two, one... 53 00:03:39,003 --> 00:03:41,563 Hi, and welcome. I'm Vanessa Ray and today, 54 00:03:41,563 --> 00:03:45,363 we're participating in a historic discussion between the young people 55 00:03:45,363 --> 00:03:47,603 of two countries on the brink of war. 56 00:03:47,603 --> 00:03:51,323 Let's everyone in New York say hi to everyone over in Baghdad. 57 00:03:51,323 --> 00:03:53,163 Hi! 58 00:03:53,163 --> 00:03:57,163 And if you guys could say hi back to us just so we know that you saw us. 59 00:03:57,163 --> 00:03:59,763 ALL: Hi! Hi, people of America! 60 00:04:01,483 --> 00:04:02,723 It's... 61 00:04:02,723 --> 00:04:05,083 It's very weird looking at yourself, you know? 62 00:04:05,083 --> 00:04:10,323 As a young man, I think I was 18 years old at that time. Oh, it's... 63 00:04:10,323 --> 00:04:13,163 I mean, am I wrong or did I sound like Borat?! 64 00:04:13,163 --> 00:04:14,643 You know, it's like I don't know... 65 00:04:14,643 --> 00:04:16,923 IMITATING BORAT: "Hello, people of America!" 66 00:04:16,923 --> 00:04:18,683 HE LAUGHS 67 00:04:18,683 --> 00:04:21,123 I'm generally interested in computers 68 00:04:21,123 --> 00:04:25,523 and I like internet, I like e-mail and all this stuff. 69 00:04:25,523 --> 00:04:30,283 Let's live a happy life, and let's rock and roll. 70 00:04:30,283 --> 00:04:32,603 You know, I love rock a lot. 71 00:04:32,603 --> 00:04:34,803 Listen for some Metallica, it will help you. 72 00:04:34,803 --> 00:04:38,363 Let's take a little bit more of an in-depth look with this first video 73 00:04:38,363 --> 00:04:41,563 from Waleed who, as we all know by now, is a rocker. 74 00:04:41,563 --> 00:04:42,603 Let's check it out. 75 00:04:42,603 --> 00:04:43,883 ROCK MUSIC 76 00:04:47,723 --> 00:04:49,523 So, I formed this little group. 77 00:04:50,963 --> 00:04:55,523 And we were the only heavy-metal band in Iraq. 78 00:04:55,523 --> 00:04:56,923 CROWD CHANTING: Hey, hey, hey! 79 00:05:01,323 --> 00:05:05,163 I was infatuated with the West. 80 00:05:05,163 --> 00:05:07,723 I wanted everything that was Western. 81 00:05:07,723 --> 00:05:09,883 It was like... I wanted the blue jeans, 82 00:05:09,883 --> 00:05:13,003 I wanted the skateboards, I wanted the headphones, 83 00:05:13,003 --> 00:05:17,443 I wanted all of these things that I grew up watching. 84 00:05:17,443 --> 00:05:20,603 And that's how I learned English was from movies and songs. 85 00:05:25,363 --> 00:05:26,883 It's a cool place. 86 00:05:26,883 --> 00:05:29,203 But it's a fake McDonald. 87 00:05:29,203 --> 00:05:32,683 We thought it's real McDonald, and the first moment that we saw it, 88 00:05:32,683 --> 00:05:34,843 "Oh! We have McDonald's here in Iraq!" 89 00:05:34,843 --> 00:05:37,923 But this is not McDonald's. 90 00:05:37,923 --> 00:05:41,723 There are two girls, very beautiful girls here, are sitting there. 91 00:05:41,723 --> 00:05:44,803 You know, I hadn't met that many Americans at that time. 92 00:05:44,803 --> 00:05:47,203 But there are so many things about America 93 00:05:47,203 --> 00:05:51,003 that we appreciated, we like, we want. 94 00:05:51,003 --> 00:05:53,763 So, when I hear, you know, statements like, 95 00:05:53,763 --> 00:05:55,963 "They hate our freedom and our democracy," it's like, 96 00:05:55,963 --> 00:05:57,723 "No, we actually love it! 97 00:05:57,723 --> 00:06:00,443 "We freaking love it! That's all we wanted." 98 00:06:00,443 --> 00:06:02,323 MUSIC: Everybody 99 00:06:00,443 --> 00:06:02,323 by Backstreet Boys 100 00:06:04,643 --> 00:06:08,043 Despite 24 years of Saddam's brutal regime, 101 00:06:08,043 --> 00:06:10,843 Baghdad was considered to be one of the most liberal 102 00:06:10,843 --> 00:06:13,563 and cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East. 103 00:06:18,243 --> 00:06:21,283 I want to ask about Backstreet Boys. What do you know about them? 104 00:06:21,283 --> 00:06:22,683 What are their latest? 105 00:06:22,683 --> 00:06:25,083 I got to be honest, I think the Backstreet Boys 106 00:06:25,083 --> 00:06:27,963 have some really, really catchy tunes. 107 00:06:27,963 --> 00:06:30,163 So, I'm definitely down with the Backstreet Boys. 108 00:06:30,163 --> 00:06:31,883 They are sucks, you know? 109 00:06:34,003 --> 00:06:37,523 I always want to be one of the Backstreet Boys, 110 00:06:37,523 --> 00:06:41,283 when I was a teenager. I even know the dances like... 111 00:06:43,323 --> 00:06:48,323 I had the same clothes - the white pants, and the open shirts. 112 00:06:48,323 --> 00:06:50,723 # Backstreet's back, all right! # 113 00:06:50,723 --> 00:06:53,163 And I go to high school with these things. 114 00:06:53,163 --> 00:06:56,283 "Sup, my name is Kevin," not Ahmed. 115 00:06:58,563 --> 00:07:00,523 No! 116 00:07:00,523 --> 00:07:04,563 Ahmed Albasheer is now a famous comedian. 117 00:07:04,563 --> 00:07:09,443 He presents a satirical show that's watched by 19 million Iraqis 118 00:07:09,443 --> 00:07:12,843 and regularly pokes fun at the leaders of Isis. 119 00:07:12,843 --> 00:07:14,123 SINGING: 120 00:07:25,323 --> 00:07:26,843 But as a teenager, 121 00:07:26,843 --> 00:07:30,523 he had to hide his interest in the West from his family. 122 00:07:30,523 --> 00:07:35,763 I have a tape player and I play it, like, at a very low level. 123 00:07:35,763 --> 00:07:40,643 So, sometimes I would put it up to my ear so I can hear the music. 124 00:07:40,643 --> 00:07:45,643 And later on, I bring my tapes in the car when I drive the car. 125 00:07:45,643 --> 00:07:47,043 MUSIC: Candy Shop 126 00:07:45,643 --> 00:07:47,043 by 50 Cent 127 00:07:47,043 --> 00:07:48,723 My father was very religious. 128 00:07:49,763 --> 00:07:53,003 I remove the Koran tape. 129 00:07:53,003 --> 00:07:55,483 I put my music in. 130 00:07:55,483 --> 00:07:57,003 # I'll take you to the candy shop... # 131 00:07:57,003 --> 00:08:00,283 I go crazy. The music is very high. 132 00:08:00,283 --> 00:08:02,843 # I'll have you spending all you got 133 00:08:02,843 --> 00:08:05,363 # Keep going until you hit the spot... # 134 00:08:05,363 --> 00:08:07,323 SINGS BEAT TO CANDY SHOP 135 00:08:12,003 --> 00:08:16,963 I was always asking myself why I wasn't born in the Western world. 136 00:08:16,963 --> 00:08:19,043 "I shouldn't be born in this world." 137 00:08:23,963 --> 00:08:29,043 Being a teenager in Iraq is an interesting time. 138 00:08:29,043 --> 00:08:33,203 On the one hand, teenagers are teenagers wherever you are. 139 00:08:33,203 --> 00:08:35,403 But then you have the extra spice of being in Iraq 140 00:08:35,403 --> 00:08:37,043 and Baghdad at that time. 141 00:08:38,723 --> 00:08:40,763 Cos there was darkness in us 142 00:08:40,763 --> 00:08:46,163 that was induced by where we are and what was happening all around us, 143 00:08:46,163 --> 00:08:48,123 that is quite dangerous. 144 00:08:51,483 --> 00:08:53,363 IN ENGLISH: 145 00:09:03,323 --> 00:09:07,643 You have to have a song for Saddam in case the Iraqi intelligence 146 00:09:07,643 --> 00:09:10,363 basically are to come and are like, "Who are these guys? 147 00:09:10,363 --> 00:09:12,323 "Why they singing American music?" 148 00:09:15,323 --> 00:09:16,963 # Following our leader Saddam Hussein 149 00:09:16,963 --> 00:09:19,163 # We'll make them fall, we'll drive them all insane 150 00:09:19,163 --> 00:09:21,083 # Following our leader Saddam Hussein 151 00:09:21,083 --> 00:09:23,323 # We'll make them fall, we'll drive them all insane... # 152 00:09:23,323 --> 00:09:25,603 Everything was pro-Saddam. 153 00:09:25,603 --> 00:09:28,523 There is no such thing as not pro-Saddam. 154 00:09:29,603 --> 00:09:31,363 Like, it doesn't exist. 155 00:09:31,363 --> 00:09:33,203 In public? It does not exist. 156 00:09:33,203 --> 00:09:34,523 MUSIC PLAYS 157 00:09:37,963 --> 00:09:39,883 SINGING: 158 00:09:44,043 --> 00:09:47,763 Regime propaganda was everywhere, and a whole generation 159 00:09:47,763 --> 00:09:51,323 of Iraqis had grown up only knowing life under Saddam. 160 00:09:59,123 --> 00:10:00,803 I remember... 161 00:10:02,043 --> 00:10:07,403 ..is when I get into the school, I see paintings of Mickey Mouse... 162 00:10:08,883 --> 00:10:11,323 ..and the picture of Saddam Hussein. 163 00:10:12,803 --> 00:10:15,363 I saw his picture everywhere. 164 00:10:15,363 --> 00:10:16,643 CHILDREN SING 165 00:10:18,763 --> 00:10:23,723 Whatever his name is mentioned, you not just mentioned his name. 166 00:10:23,723 --> 00:10:27,603 You have to say, "May God protect him, may God save him, 167 00:10:27,603 --> 00:10:30,643 "may Allah give him more life. 168 00:10:30,643 --> 00:10:34,483 "May God take our lives and give it to him 169 00:10:34,483 --> 00:10:36,483 "because without him we can't survive." 170 00:10:38,563 --> 00:10:44,883 And being a child, I thought he is immortal. 171 00:10:44,883 --> 00:10:48,643 We are humans but he is something different. 172 00:11:00,723 --> 00:11:01,763 APPLAUSE 173 00:11:02,963 --> 00:11:05,963 At some point, I thought he's my grandfather. 174 00:11:05,963 --> 00:11:08,243 Because I see him everywhere and it was like, 175 00:11:08,243 --> 00:11:11,243 "Yeah, this is my grandfather, he's cute, he's good," blah, blah, blah. 176 00:11:11,243 --> 00:11:14,643 "He's brave." This is what they teach us in the schools. 177 00:11:14,643 --> 00:11:18,523 And then when I was, like, 12 or maybe 11-12, 178 00:11:18,523 --> 00:11:21,683 I realised that no, he's the president of the country 179 00:11:21,683 --> 00:11:26,163 and I have to never say anything bad about him because I will be killed. 180 00:11:26,163 --> 00:11:28,123 And there's this guy who's like... 181 00:11:28,123 --> 00:11:29,203 SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE 182 00:11:29,203 --> 00:11:30,683 ..which means, "Shit on Saddam." 183 00:11:30,683 --> 00:11:34,123 Every time he says it, it's like, "Oh, my God, just shut the fuck up!" 184 00:11:34,123 --> 00:11:35,763 Like, "Sh, sh, zip it!" 185 00:11:35,763 --> 00:11:38,163 And he's like, "So, it's OK to say, 'Fuck God?'" 186 00:11:38,163 --> 00:11:39,603 And I was like, "Yes." 187 00:11:39,603 --> 00:11:41,563 But "Fuck Saddam?" And I was like, "No!" 188 00:11:41,563 --> 00:11:42,923 HE LAUGHS 189 00:11:42,923 --> 00:11:45,443 Cos you don't know who's listening. 190 00:11:45,443 --> 00:11:47,243 And that's what he created. 191 00:11:48,603 --> 00:11:52,483 The idea that your next-door neighbour, your brother, 192 00:11:52,483 --> 00:11:56,883 your cousin - anyone - could be the one that reports you. 193 00:12:31,083 --> 00:12:32,203 MEN SCREAM 194 00:12:56,643 --> 00:13:01,123 How many of you feel hopeful that things could resolve themselves? 195 00:13:01,123 --> 00:13:05,203 I don't think anybody is hopeful cos President Bush went up 196 00:13:05,203 --> 00:13:10,043 and said, "I will bomb Iraq." Do you think we have any hope? 197 00:13:10,043 --> 00:13:13,203 We don't want any more wars, OK? 198 00:13:17,843 --> 00:13:20,883 The infamous deck of cards, the 55. 199 00:13:22,843 --> 00:13:24,723 Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash. 200 00:13:26,203 --> 00:13:28,963 She was part of the government - one of the only females 201 00:13:28,963 --> 00:13:32,763 in Saddam's cabinet, you know, this very high-ranking individual, 202 00:13:32,763 --> 00:13:36,683 was sitting as you are sitting, looking right at us. 203 00:13:36,683 --> 00:13:39,283 And she was like, "And know that Iraq depends on you 204 00:13:39,283 --> 00:13:45,043 "to transfer a good image about what we truly are all about." 205 00:13:46,563 --> 00:13:52,803 I think that Saddam Hussein has had 12 years since the Persian Gulf War 206 00:13:52,803 --> 00:13:55,323 to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction. 207 00:13:55,323 --> 00:13:58,603 And he should be ousted for the sake of the Iraqi people 208 00:13:58,603 --> 00:14:01,403 as well as for the sake of peace in the world. 209 00:14:01,403 --> 00:14:03,323 We have a solution. 210 00:14:03,323 --> 00:14:09,243 Your government will quit and give up and just turn the soldiers 211 00:14:09,243 --> 00:14:13,803 back home and have a rest, and let the world be in peace. 212 00:14:15,243 --> 00:14:19,643 Yet, we were free enough during Saddam's time 213 00:14:19,643 --> 00:14:24,483 to go back and forth without worrying about a car bomb 214 00:14:24,483 --> 00:14:28,403 or this Islamic group or that religious group, you know? 215 00:14:29,963 --> 00:14:33,643 That's what Saddam actually provided proper to Iraq. 216 00:14:33,643 --> 00:14:37,243 It was safety and security, 217 00:14:37,243 --> 00:14:39,163 from everything else, not from him. 218 00:14:41,283 --> 00:14:46,403 Saddam's opponents called his police state the Republic of Fear. 219 00:14:46,403 --> 00:14:49,923 But many Iraqis were genuinely devoted to their president. 220 00:15:11,723 --> 00:15:14,643 He was especially popular with Sunni Muslims. 221 00:15:14,643 --> 00:15:18,963 Though a minority, their sect had governed Iraq for centuries. 222 00:16:21,843 --> 00:16:23,363 Iraqis, they love moustache. 223 00:16:23,363 --> 00:16:27,043 They think it's very nice and sexy for the men. 224 00:16:28,163 --> 00:16:31,563 And I think in that time, it was trending, the moustache thing. 225 00:16:32,643 --> 00:16:36,723 "We love Saddam very much so we will make this big moustache." 226 00:16:36,723 --> 00:16:38,723 People are arse kissers. 227 00:16:38,723 --> 00:16:40,003 Arse kissers? Yes. 228 00:16:42,323 --> 00:16:44,843 Though oil had made Iraq rich, 229 00:16:44,843 --> 00:16:48,923 most of the people in rural areas were still living in poverty. 230 00:17:26,043 --> 00:17:29,083 This woman grew up on a farm in Al Alam, 231 00:17:29,083 --> 00:17:31,323 near Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. 232 00:17:33,243 --> 00:17:37,163 Like most of Central Iraq, it was assumed to be loyal to Saddam. 233 00:19:03,603 --> 00:19:04,843 I was pro-war. 234 00:19:05,843 --> 00:19:07,283 Absolutely pro-war. 235 00:19:10,203 --> 00:19:12,883 Saddam Hussein and his sons 236 00:19:12,883 --> 00:19:15,643 must leave Iraq within 48 hours. 237 00:19:17,643 --> 00:19:21,043 Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict. 238 00:19:23,203 --> 00:19:27,923 When we started hearing the murmurs that we are about to be invaded, 239 00:19:27,923 --> 00:19:30,083 I was excited. 240 00:19:30,083 --> 00:19:32,243 "It's almost the end! 241 00:19:32,243 --> 00:19:33,483 "Let's just push through. 242 00:19:33,483 --> 00:19:36,403 "Let's push through, let's get this shit done, 243 00:19:36,403 --> 00:19:38,323 "and then a better thing is going to come. 244 00:19:40,323 --> 00:19:41,963 "The land of dreams." 245 00:19:52,283 --> 00:19:53,843 AIR RAID SIRENS 246 00:19:58,243 --> 00:19:59,883 EXPLOSION 247 00:20:03,803 --> 00:20:05,163 DISTANT GUNFIRE 248 00:21:01,083 --> 00:21:03,043 EXPLOSION 249 00:21:03,043 --> 00:21:04,803 CAR ALARMS BLARE 250 00:21:33,683 --> 00:21:35,083 You must've been scared! 251 00:21:52,923 --> 00:21:54,483 SIREN BLARES 252 00:22:11,203 --> 00:22:12,963 WOMAN WAILS 253 00:22:31,083 --> 00:22:32,323 Down with Bush. 254 00:22:33,803 --> 00:22:36,803 All the peoples with Saddam Hussein. 255 00:22:36,803 --> 00:22:40,083 And said, "Here's to Saddam Hussein." 256 00:22:40,083 --> 00:22:41,203 PLANE ROARS OVERHEAD 257 00:22:48,363 --> 00:22:49,683 RAPID GUNFIRE 258 00:22:50,763 --> 00:22:54,043 I was going out amidst all of that. 259 00:22:55,603 --> 00:22:57,963 I was looking for cigarettes. 260 00:22:57,963 --> 00:22:59,723 I'm a heavy smoker. 261 00:22:59,723 --> 00:23:02,643 And I heard that one of the shops are still open 262 00:23:02,643 --> 00:23:04,483 and they're still selling cigarettes. 263 00:23:04,483 --> 00:23:08,203 So I stole, or took - borrowed - my cousin's small little bike. 264 00:23:08,203 --> 00:23:11,563 So it was a small little bike and here I am, you know... 265 00:23:11,563 --> 00:23:14,403 ..you know, cycling on this thing. 266 00:23:14,403 --> 00:23:16,683 GUNFIRE 267 00:23:16,683 --> 00:23:21,003 But then all of a sudden, it got dark. 268 00:23:21,003 --> 00:23:24,763 And I look up and there is this black cloud 269 00:23:24,763 --> 00:23:27,643 that engulfed EVERYTHING around me. 270 00:23:28,763 --> 00:23:32,843 And I remember, like, I was just like, "What's going on?!" 271 00:23:36,083 --> 00:23:38,723 And then I discovered what it was. 272 00:23:38,723 --> 00:23:40,043 Here's what Saddam did. 273 00:23:41,043 --> 00:23:46,963 They dug wells, and they dumped crude oil in it, 274 00:23:46,963 --> 00:23:48,523 and they lit it on fire... 275 00:23:49,763 --> 00:23:55,763 ..so that they can create visual distraction for the American pilots. 276 00:23:58,043 --> 00:24:04,163 They were thinking that these guys are using visuals to actually bomb, 277 00:24:04,163 --> 00:24:06,563 not satellite-guided missiles and stuff like that. 278 00:24:06,563 --> 00:24:08,643 They thought that, "Oh, the plane's going to come, 279 00:24:08,643 --> 00:24:10,123 "the pilot looks like this, and he's 280 00:24:10,123 --> 00:24:11,963 "like, 'Oh, yes, there is a target over here, 281 00:24:11,963 --> 00:24:15,163 "'let's shoot right over there!'" 282 00:24:11,963 --> 00:24:15,163 HE LAUGHS 283 00:24:18,203 --> 00:24:21,523 So, all of Baghdad - all off a sudden, you had all of these wells 284 00:24:21,523 --> 00:24:26,563 of oil burning up and the sky literally just going dark! 285 00:24:26,563 --> 00:24:28,563 SIRENS BLARE 286 00:24:28,563 --> 00:24:29,683 GUNFIRE 287 00:24:33,043 --> 00:24:34,523 During the invasion, 288 00:24:34,523 --> 00:24:38,283 Saddam reassured the country that Iraq was winning the war. 289 00:24:46,363 --> 00:24:49,683 But the Americans were broadcasting a very different message. 290 00:24:50,683 --> 00:24:54,963 The Iraqi soldiers and officers must ask themselves 291 00:24:54,963 --> 00:24:59,123 whether they want to die fighting for a doomed regime? 292 00:25:00,403 --> 00:25:04,283 What will follow will not be a repeat of any other conflict. 293 00:25:04,283 --> 00:25:06,403 It will be of a force and scope 294 00:25:06,403 --> 00:25:10,043 and scale beyond what has been seen before. 295 00:25:14,443 --> 00:25:16,283 All American! 296 00:25:16,283 --> 00:25:18,043 Where are we? 297 00:25:18,043 --> 00:25:22,923 Just crossed the border to Iraq about ten miles ago. 298 00:25:22,923 --> 00:25:25,403 Destination North. 299 00:25:26,723 --> 00:25:28,923 As the first bombs fell, 300 00:25:28,923 --> 00:25:34,483 an army of over 170,000 coalition troops crossed into Iraq. 301 00:25:41,683 --> 00:25:45,723 The American soldiers didn't have much idea what was going on. 302 00:25:45,723 --> 00:25:48,763 And they don't really tell you anything when you're 19 303 00:25:48,763 --> 00:25:50,643 and you're like a private in the Army. 304 00:25:51,643 --> 00:25:54,123 They thought, "We're going to run up to Baghdad 305 00:25:54,123 --> 00:25:56,443 "and take down Saddam, and then we're going home." 306 00:26:00,283 --> 00:26:03,163 Dexter Filkins had come to Iraq after reporting 307 00:26:03,163 --> 00:26:05,603 on the Afghan War for the New York Times. 308 00:26:06,963 --> 00:26:11,283 People have asked me whether I got addicted to violence and the answer is no. 309 00:26:11,283 --> 00:26:15,803 I think what I was addicted to is the kind of largeness of the thing. 310 00:26:15,803 --> 00:26:17,763 When you're in an historic situation like that, 311 00:26:17,763 --> 00:26:21,403 it's like the continental plates are slipping. 312 00:26:21,403 --> 00:26:22,843 It's incredible. 313 00:26:22,843 --> 00:26:25,123 It's like breathing pure oxygen. 314 00:26:29,603 --> 00:26:33,843 The British led a smaller force to the city of Basra while Dexter 315 00:26:33,843 --> 00:26:37,323 followed the main invasion as it pushed north to Baghdad. 316 00:26:43,843 --> 00:26:45,843 Soon, it will be all over. 317 00:26:45,843 --> 00:26:47,763 Iraq will be liberated. 318 00:26:49,763 --> 00:26:52,883 And we will be drinking Jack Daniels to celebrate. 319 00:26:52,883 --> 00:26:54,203 HELICOPTER BLADES WHIR 320 00:26:59,363 --> 00:27:02,803 Did you think that Iraq would be victorious? 321 00:27:02,803 --> 00:27:04,843 No. 322 00:27:04,843 --> 00:27:07,723 When I used to compare between the American soldier 323 00:27:07,723 --> 00:27:10,883 and the Iraqi soldier, 324 00:27:10,883 --> 00:27:14,083 there is no way to compare them. 325 00:27:14,083 --> 00:27:15,643 MEN SING 326 00:27:26,083 --> 00:27:28,803 What can the soldier do in front of Rambo? 327 00:27:30,443 --> 00:27:33,283 Yeah, I mean, this is the way I saw the Americans. 328 00:27:33,283 --> 00:27:35,563 I mean, they are Rambo. 329 00:27:35,563 --> 00:27:38,483 And he is not defeatable. 330 00:27:39,523 --> 00:27:40,843 He's Rambo. 331 00:27:42,323 --> 00:27:45,723 Brother, could you get me another shot of that tequila? Yeah, buddy. 332 00:27:45,723 --> 00:27:47,803 Is this difficult for you to talk about? No. 333 00:27:47,803 --> 00:27:49,323 Yeah, maybe. 334 00:27:50,803 --> 00:27:53,123 Here, just give me the bottle, I'll take a swig. 335 00:27:56,163 --> 00:27:58,923 There we go. Thanks, bro. 336 00:27:58,923 --> 00:28:04,123 Sergeant Rudy Reyes was one of a small group of elite recon Marines 337 00:28:04,123 --> 00:28:07,723 sent ahead of the main invasion to destroy strategic targets 338 00:28:07,723 --> 00:28:10,563 and clear a path for the regular Army. 339 00:28:10,563 --> 00:28:12,643 Well, to be a reconnaissance Marine, first of all, 340 00:28:12,643 --> 00:28:14,483 they're like the Jedis of the Marine Corps. 341 00:28:14,483 --> 00:28:17,403 Of 300,000 Marines, there's 300 recon Marines. 342 00:28:17,403 --> 00:28:22,123 We went three weeks straight with no sleep, straight fighting. 343 00:28:22,123 --> 00:28:23,523 Three weeks. 344 00:28:23,523 --> 00:28:24,683 Yeah. 345 00:28:25,683 --> 00:28:30,363 No armour, no doors, no roofs. 346 00:28:30,363 --> 00:28:33,483 Just very capable violent professionals. 347 00:28:33,483 --> 00:28:34,683 GUNFIRE 348 00:28:36,963 --> 00:28:42,083 It was heavy and as personal and as bloody as you can imagine 349 00:28:42,083 --> 00:28:44,883 except we killed them before they could kill us. 350 00:28:46,963 --> 00:28:50,123 Maybe those bad guys didn't get the word to fucking run. 351 00:28:52,363 --> 00:28:54,963 Cos we were so far ahead, 30km ahead. 352 00:28:56,163 --> 00:29:01,763 60 men spearheading the blitzkrieg to get to Baghdad. 353 00:29:03,883 --> 00:29:05,523 Damn. 354 00:29:05,523 --> 00:29:06,923 That's immense. 355 00:29:08,803 --> 00:29:11,803 My mission was to destroy any capacity 356 00:29:11,803 --> 00:29:14,003 they have for artillery or mortars. 357 00:29:15,843 --> 00:29:18,043 And also, of course, the NBC - 358 00:29:18,043 --> 00:29:20,483 nuclear, biological, chemical weapons. 359 00:29:22,803 --> 00:29:24,603 It's the smell. 360 00:29:24,603 --> 00:29:28,963 The acridness of Iraq and seeing the dust in the eye covers. 361 00:29:28,963 --> 00:29:30,683 it actually makes you feel kind of good cos 362 00:29:30,683 --> 00:29:33,683 I knew I could fight in this better than anybody else. 363 00:29:33,683 --> 00:29:35,403 Better than the Iraqis. 364 00:29:36,683 --> 00:29:41,243 Incoming, outgoing artillery. Small arms, machine guns, 365 00:29:41,243 --> 00:29:45,483 birds and rotary wing and the sound of all the engines. 366 00:29:45,483 --> 00:29:48,843 And the radios going nonstop, we're going back and forth. 367 00:29:48,843 --> 00:29:54,963 Imagine seeing the freaking Cobras crisscrossing above you. 368 00:29:54,963 --> 00:29:58,683 And the bass of the boom, boom, boom, boom... 369 00:30:00,603 --> 00:30:02,003 It was godlike. 370 00:30:03,843 --> 00:30:05,883 ECHOES OF GUNFIRE 371 00:30:10,003 --> 00:30:15,083 We're systematically programmed to kill... 372 00:30:16,083 --> 00:30:18,443 ..so there was no issue for me killing. 373 00:30:19,443 --> 00:30:22,723 Looking back, I guess that changes you. 374 00:30:22,723 --> 00:30:24,803 I didn't even think about my wife. 375 00:30:24,803 --> 00:30:29,083 I didn't think about anything except be excellent for my team. 376 00:30:31,963 --> 00:30:34,803 Our purpose in the next few minutes is to acquaint you 377 00:30:34,803 --> 00:30:37,723 with the philosophy behind Marine Corps training - 378 00:30:37,723 --> 00:30:41,083 the kind of training which helps keep the Marine Corps ready. 379 00:30:43,083 --> 00:30:46,083 Do you know, in our boot camp... 380 00:30:47,323 --> 00:30:50,323 ..do you know how we say the word yes? 381 00:30:51,563 --> 00:30:53,083 Kill! 382 00:30:54,083 --> 00:30:57,083 That's the only thing you can say for yes. 383 00:30:57,083 --> 00:30:58,563 Kill! 384 00:30:58,563 --> 00:31:00,403 That loud, every time. 385 00:31:01,403 --> 00:31:06,083 When the drill instructor needs recruits to come do something, 386 00:31:06,083 --> 00:31:08,323 "Gimme ten bodies." 387 00:31:08,323 --> 00:31:11,083 We speak of people as bodies... 388 00:31:12,083 --> 00:31:15,083 ..and acknowledge an order by screaming "kill". 389 00:31:17,083 --> 00:31:19,203 Then we go into ballistics. 390 00:31:19,203 --> 00:31:21,403 Then we're watching real world... 391 00:31:22,403 --> 00:31:24,923 ..erm, head shots. 392 00:31:24,923 --> 00:31:27,323 Footage of sniper kills. 393 00:31:29,083 --> 00:31:32,043 And then they're slowing it down in slow motion. 394 00:31:32,043 --> 00:31:34,963 Head expanding three times the size... 395 00:31:35,963 --> 00:31:39,563 ..then vacuum collapse, then brain, some skull. 396 00:31:41,563 --> 00:31:43,323 When I saw that, 397 00:31:43,323 --> 00:31:46,083 I looked at myself inside and I said, 398 00:31:46,083 --> 00:31:48,803 "I don't know if I have what it takes to do this... 399 00:31:53,083 --> 00:31:55,563 "..because there is still some human in me." 400 00:32:07,083 --> 00:32:09,723 I was looking for the reaction of the Iraqis... 401 00:32:10,723 --> 00:32:13,123 ..and I didn't know what that was going to be, 402 00:32:13,123 --> 00:32:16,843 because in Afghanistan, it was a... it was a no-brainer. 403 00:32:16,843 --> 00:32:19,083 People were just, like, euphoric. 404 00:32:19,083 --> 00:32:21,803 You know, they were pulling their turbans off 405 00:32:21,803 --> 00:32:24,963 and people were dancing and they were, like, hugging us. 406 00:32:27,083 --> 00:32:29,083 Much more complicated in Iraq. 407 00:32:29,083 --> 00:32:30,603 Much more complicated. 408 00:32:31,603 --> 00:32:34,803 It was much more guarded, much more sad. 409 00:32:35,803 --> 00:32:39,603 I mean, first, there was this kind of overwhelming sense of tragedy. 410 00:32:39,603 --> 00:32:42,963 Even though they were being told, this is your deliverance, 411 00:32:42,963 --> 00:32:45,323 I don't think they really believed that. 412 00:32:46,563 --> 00:32:48,163 They were terrified. 413 00:32:48,163 --> 00:32:51,323 They thought that somehow this was going to come back to them. 414 00:32:51,323 --> 00:32:53,643 "We're going to get in trouble for this. 415 00:32:53,643 --> 00:32:55,843 "Something bad's going to happen." 416 00:32:55,843 --> 00:32:58,083 Cos that's the way it had always been, 417 00:32:58,083 --> 00:33:01,083 so there was this kind of feeling of foreboding as well. 418 00:33:02,803 --> 00:33:05,083 They had been through so much already 419 00:33:05,083 --> 00:33:08,563 that, erm, people were just in shock. 420 00:33:10,083 --> 00:33:12,083 And I felt like... 421 00:33:12,083 --> 00:33:16,883 I felt like we had pried the doors off a mental institution. 422 00:33:19,643 --> 00:33:23,083 And that's really the first moment when I realised, like, 423 00:33:23,083 --> 00:33:25,603 "Oh, my God, what are we getting into here?" 424 00:33:35,083 --> 00:33:38,563 After 13 years of economic sanctions, 425 00:33:38,563 --> 00:33:42,563 many Iraqis felt they had been unnecessarily punished by the West. 426 00:33:43,563 --> 00:33:48,083 And in southern Iraq, they had extra reason to distrust the Americans. 427 00:33:50,323 --> 00:33:51,683 Just two hours ago, 428 00:33:51,683 --> 00:33:54,083 Allied air forces began an attack 429 00:33:54,083 --> 00:33:56,643 on military targets in Iraq. 430 00:33:56,643 --> 00:33:58,403 After the first Gulf War, 431 00:33:58,403 --> 00:34:01,323 America encouraged Shia Muslims in the south 432 00:34:01,323 --> 00:34:04,563 to rise up against Saddam, but didn't protect them 433 00:34:04,563 --> 00:34:07,803 when he sent helicopter gunships to end the rebellion. 434 00:34:09,003 --> 00:34:11,043 HEAVY GUNFIRE 435 00:34:13,083 --> 00:34:16,563 He massacred over 80,000 of his own people. 436 00:34:18,323 --> 00:34:21,723 Saddam was able to strengthen his hold on the country 437 00:34:21,723 --> 00:34:25,083 and, for some, the war with America never ended. 438 00:34:27,323 --> 00:34:31,803 I started hearing about America in the '90s. 439 00:34:33,163 --> 00:34:36,083 But, to be honest, not the war with America. 440 00:34:36,083 --> 00:34:41,123 The first thing I heard about America is the name Bill Clinton. 441 00:34:42,123 --> 00:34:44,003 Who is Bill Clinton? I don't know. 442 00:34:46,163 --> 00:34:50,803 I was told that Bill Clinton bombed Iraq 443 00:34:50,803 --> 00:34:52,803 because he hates Iraq. 444 00:34:52,803 --> 00:34:54,203 AIR RAID SIREN 445 00:34:54,203 --> 00:34:56,323 I ordered our Armed Forces 446 00:34:56,323 --> 00:34:59,563 to strike military and strategic targets in Iraq. 447 00:34:59,563 --> 00:35:03,003 Then, the second name was Rumsfeld. 448 00:35:04,003 --> 00:35:05,643 With each passing day, 449 00:35:05,643 --> 00:35:10,203 Saddam Hussein advances his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. 450 00:35:10,203 --> 00:35:12,483 And then, growing up more... 451 00:35:13,483 --> 00:35:15,403 ..I saw Bush. 452 00:35:15,403 --> 00:35:17,243 What did you think? 453 00:35:17,243 --> 00:35:18,643 I don't like him. 454 00:35:19,643 --> 00:35:22,443 He has the devil in his face. 455 00:35:37,563 --> 00:35:41,563 This is George W Bush, the President of the United States. 456 00:35:41,563 --> 00:35:44,563 At this moment, the regime of Saddam Hussein 457 00:35:44,563 --> 00:35:46,563 is being removed from power 458 00:35:46,563 --> 00:35:49,083 and a long era of fear and cruelty is ending. 459 00:35:50,083 --> 00:35:53,563 The government of Iraq and the future of your country 460 00:35:53,563 --> 00:35:55,563 will soon belong to you. 461 00:35:57,323 --> 00:36:00,123 Just three weeks after the start of the invasion, 462 00:36:00,123 --> 00:36:03,563 American tanks rolled into the heart of Baghdad. 463 00:36:06,483 --> 00:36:10,123 Al-Sahhaf, who was the Minister of Media and Information, 464 00:36:10,123 --> 00:36:13,723 saying, "We're defeating Americans, we have destroyed them here, 465 00:36:13,723 --> 00:36:16,803 "we have destroyed them here, we have destroyed them here." 466 00:36:16,803 --> 00:36:18,803 My feelings, as usual, 467 00:36:18,803 --> 00:36:21,163 we will slaughter them all. 468 00:36:21,163 --> 00:36:23,563 "They're not in Baghdad, they are not near us, 469 00:36:23,563 --> 00:36:25,723 "they have not even entered the city." 470 00:36:25,723 --> 00:36:28,883 And literally there was a tank driving over one of the bridges 471 00:36:28,883 --> 00:36:30,643 that connects to where he is. 472 00:36:30,643 --> 00:36:32,603 HE LAUGHS 473 00:36:34,083 --> 00:36:37,723 Those invaders, their tombs will be here in Iraq. 474 00:36:37,723 --> 00:36:40,123 Like, sure, buddy. Sure. 475 00:36:37,723 --> 00:36:40,123 HE LAUGHS 476 00:36:46,563 --> 00:36:48,603 CHEERING 477 00:37:04,323 --> 00:37:08,563 Like most Iraqis, Sally had only ever seen Americans 478 00:37:08,563 --> 00:37:10,483 on state approved TV. 479 00:37:11,483 --> 00:37:13,723 SHE LAUGHS 480 00:38:03,563 --> 00:38:06,043 The welcome here has been pretty good. 481 00:38:06,043 --> 00:38:08,563 Everybody's helped us out and been friendly 482 00:38:08,563 --> 00:38:10,723 so better than being shot at. 483 00:38:10,723 --> 00:38:13,083 Where are you from? From Texas. 484 00:38:13,083 --> 00:38:16,803 Is it like Texas being here or a lot different? A lot different. 485 00:38:16,803 --> 00:38:19,803 I can understand what everybody is saying in Texas. 486 00:38:33,563 --> 00:38:36,923 We never thought that Saddam will be removed. Never. 487 00:38:39,123 --> 00:38:44,083 Until I saw two American soldiers standing in the street. 488 00:38:44,083 --> 00:38:46,403 I was very happy to see them at that time. 489 00:38:46,403 --> 00:38:48,803 "Hi! I can speak English!" 490 00:38:51,323 --> 00:38:53,803 So when I saw them, I felt hope. 491 00:38:56,323 --> 00:38:58,323 I had this dream that my country 492 00:38:58,323 --> 00:39:01,963 is becoming one of the good countries in the Middle East. 493 00:39:01,963 --> 00:39:03,763 Or maybe in the world. 494 00:39:03,763 --> 00:39:05,803 A country like America. 495 00:39:06,803 --> 00:39:08,563 This was my dream. 496 00:39:11,323 --> 00:39:14,323 Actually, that was lots of people's dream. 497 00:39:23,563 --> 00:39:26,083 There was a genuine sense of hope. 498 00:39:27,563 --> 00:39:30,163 It was like, "They're here, they're here." 499 00:39:30,163 --> 00:39:31,803 You know? 500 00:39:36,323 --> 00:39:38,803 And then when we saw the statue... 501 00:39:47,803 --> 00:39:50,563 My uncle looked at us and he was like, 502 00:39:50,563 --> 00:39:53,083 "It's over. It's done." 503 00:39:55,323 --> 00:39:57,003 CHEERING 504 00:40:05,043 --> 00:40:07,083 CHEERING 505 00:40:28,963 --> 00:40:32,563 CROWD: Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! 506 00:40:32,563 --> 00:40:35,803 Allahu Akbar! Allahu...! 507 00:40:37,323 --> 00:40:40,083 Slowly but surely, the belief started becoming 508 00:40:40,083 --> 00:40:44,563 more and more cemented that this is actually happening right now. 509 00:40:46,483 --> 00:40:49,803 And then, oops, all of a sudden, we see Saddam in the streets. 510 00:40:49,803 --> 00:40:51,843 CHEERING 511 00:40:54,083 --> 00:40:57,803 At the same time as the Americans were pulling down his statue, 512 00:40:57,803 --> 00:41:02,803 Saddam was rallying the people of Baghdad just a few miles away. 513 00:41:03,803 --> 00:41:06,123 CHANTING 514 00:42:13,243 --> 00:42:15,283 CHEERING 515 00:43:01,083 --> 00:43:04,603 And then he disappeared and nobody knew where he was. 516 00:43:05,603 --> 00:43:07,083 Just... 517 00:43:10,083 --> 00:43:11,563 ..gone. 518 00:43:15,083 --> 00:43:17,083 But, yeah, he just fucking left. 519 00:43:20,563 --> 00:43:22,603 Is Saddam going to come back? 520 00:43:22,603 --> 00:43:24,723 Because he wasn't captured. 521 00:43:26,003 --> 00:43:29,083 Where was he? Did he have another plan? 522 00:43:29,083 --> 00:43:31,083 We didn't know. 523 00:43:32,083 --> 00:43:33,883 CROWD: Allahu Akbar! 524 00:43:37,723 --> 00:43:40,683 Things were changing so fast. 525 00:43:40,683 --> 00:43:42,523 We couldn't cope. 526 00:43:52,803 --> 00:43:55,323 I remember the day that Baghdad fell. 527 00:43:56,323 --> 00:43:58,563 We all watched it on the news in the hotel 528 00:43:58,563 --> 00:44:00,563 and thought we'd missed the war. 529 00:44:01,763 --> 00:44:03,883 I mean, what we didn't realise was... 530 00:44:04,883 --> 00:44:08,563 ..that the invasion wasn't the war, the war was to come. 531 00:44:12,083 --> 00:44:15,083 Though there hadn't been much resistance in Baghdad, 532 00:44:15,083 --> 00:44:17,803 coalition troops were still fighting in other cities. 533 00:44:17,803 --> 00:44:19,323 GUNFIRE 534 00:44:19,323 --> 00:44:21,083 SUDDEN EXPLOSION 535 00:44:22,803 --> 00:44:24,963 Mosul was really, really dangerous. 536 00:44:24,963 --> 00:44:27,723 The situation on the ground was a disaster. 537 00:44:28,723 --> 00:44:31,563 When Ashley Gilbertson arrived in northern Iraq, 538 00:44:31,563 --> 00:44:34,403 he was a 26-year-old freelance photographer 539 00:44:34,403 --> 00:44:37,123 with virtually no experience of war. 540 00:44:38,123 --> 00:44:41,043 I had no idea what I was doing. 541 00:44:42,043 --> 00:44:45,083 All of these reporters started coming into the north. 542 00:44:45,083 --> 00:44:46,883 They have all of this shit - 543 00:44:46,883 --> 00:44:50,083 the flak jackets with the plates and the helmets 544 00:44:50,083 --> 00:44:53,963 and these chemical masks with the things you screw in the bottom. 545 00:44:54,963 --> 00:44:57,563 I didn't have a flak jacket, I didn't have a helmet. 546 00:44:57,563 --> 00:45:00,083 We didn't even have a medical kit in the truck. 547 00:45:01,083 --> 00:45:04,083 And then we filled the truck with beer and whisky 548 00:45:04,083 --> 00:45:06,443 and a bit of food and just drove around. 549 00:45:06,443 --> 00:45:08,083 We should have been killed. 550 00:45:08,083 --> 00:45:10,763 A thousand times over we should have been killed. 551 00:45:11,763 --> 00:45:15,483 Saddam was still the president of Iraq in Mosul... 552 00:45:16,483 --> 00:45:18,243 ..and all the mosques 553 00:45:18,243 --> 00:45:20,803 were preaching the same prayer 554 00:45:20,803 --> 00:45:24,083 of, "May God protect Saddam," 555 00:45:24,083 --> 00:45:28,083 and then they start, like, shouting against the Americans. 556 00:45:30,323 --> 00:45:35,603 After a few minutes, a Humvee stopped by the mosque 557 00:45:35,603 --> 00:45:39,923 and this very same preacher, all of a sudden, 558 00:45:39,923 --> 00:45:44,723 changed his mind, and he started shouting against Saddam. 559 00:45:44,723 --> 00:45:46,843 I was shocked. 560 00:45:47,843 --> 00:45:49,563 What just happened? 561 00:45:53,563 --> 00:45:57,323 Many people followed him and swapped sides... 562 00:45:58,323 --> 00:46:00,083 ..in a moment. 563 00:46:06,523 --> 00:46:08,563 And then there was chaos. 564 00:46:10,163 --> 00:46:12,723 You would see people running to everywhere, 565 00:46:12,723 --> 00:46:15,323 stealing things from buildings, 566 00:46:15,323 --> 00:46:18,923 from the schools, from everything. 567 00:46:19,923 --> 00:46:23,323 I was stood by the Central Bank as everybody looted it. 568 00:46:24,563 --> 00:46:27,963 They were trying to get into the safe in the basement of the bank. 569 00:46:27,963 --> 00:46:31,803 Everyone's banging on this thing with mallets and trying to open it. 570 00:46:32,803 --> 00:46:35,963 Obviously, they're not opening the safe of the Central Bank. 571 00:46:36,963 --> 00:46:39,803 Until a guy goes down the driveway leading to the safe 572 00:46:39,803 --> 00:46:44,323 with an RPG on his shoulder and fires the fucking RPG at the safe 573 00:46:44,323 --> 00:46:46,563 and then money starts raining down. 574 00:46:46,563 --> 00:46:48,323 EXPLOSION 575 00:46:48,323 --> 00:46:51,203 It's total bedlam, it's total chaos. 576 00:46:55,563 --> 00:46:58,323 And American soldiers standing by doing nothing. 577 00:47:03,323 --> 00:47:06,323 They are looting everything, destroying everything. 578 00:47:06,323 --> 00:47:07,963 I don't know why. 579 00:47:07,963 --> 00:47:09,403 Goodbye. 580 00:47:10,323 --> 00:47:14,563 When you have years and years of poverty 581 00:47:14,563 --> 00:47:17,723 and then all of a sudden the floodgates are open, 582 00:47:17,723 --> 00:47:19,563 with no supervision... 583 00:47:20,803 --> 00:47:22,563 ..what would you do? 584 00:47:24,323 --> 00:47:27,083 I mean, I was tempted. 585 00:47:28,283 --> 00:47:31,083 And I remember, you know, seeing American soldiers 586 00:47:31,083 --> 00:47:32,923 just waving by, you know, 587 00:47:32,923 --> 00:47:36,803 as people literally just looting every single government building, 588 00:47:36,803 --> 00:47:40,083 schools, hospitals, you name it. 589 00:47:42,083 --> 00:47:44,563 With the exception of the Ministry of Oil. 590 00:47:44,563 --> 00:47:47,563 That was the one ministry that immediately got protection 591 00:47:47,563 --> 00:47:49,203 by the American Army. 592 00:47:50,203 --> 00:47:52,323 Everything else was free game. 593 00:47:58,323 --> 00:48:01,083 If you go from a repressive regime, 594 00:48:01,083 --> 00:48:04,963 we've seen in that transition period there's untidiness. 595 00:48:05,963 --> 00:48:09,443 Freedom's untidy and free people are free to make mistakes 596 00:48:09,443 --> 00:48:11,923 and commit crimes and do bad things. 597 00:48:12,923 --> 00:48:14,403 Stuff happens. 598 00:48:16,083 --> 00:48:18,803 You'd hear the stuff coming out of the White House 599 00:48:18,803 --> 00:48:21,323 and it was like, "What are you talking about?" 600 00:48:21,323 --> 00:48:25,803 The whole city, the whole country has been stripped and looted. 601 00:48:25,803 --> 00:48:29,963 There is no government. There is nothing. There's nothing. 602 00:48:37,563 --> 00:48:39,483 How can you let this happen? 603 00:48:39,483 --> 00:48:42,803 How can you tell your soldiers to let this happen 604 00:48:42,803 --> 00:48:46,563 and not have a plan for what's going to take place tomorrow? 605 00:48:46,563 --> 00:48:49,563 When all the money, when all the currency is gone, 606 00:48:49,563 --> 00:48:52,563 when all the hospitals are looted and burned. 607 00:48:53,563 --> 00:48:55,323 What are you going to do? 608 00:48:58,323 --> 00:49:01,083 We need protection very, very, very badly. 609 00:49:02,083 --> 00:49:04,883 You know, when you hold a gun and examine a patient, 610 00:49:04,883 --> 00:49:08,083 he himself will not like that, the patient, 611 00:49:08,083 --> 00:49:11,323 examined by a doctor carrying his machine-gun. 612 00:49:11,323 --> 00:49:13,803 Starting to see that chaos, 613 00:49:13,803 --> 00:49:18,043 I started to question what on earth was going on. 614 00:49:20,323 --> 00:49:23,483 Primarily, our big concern right now is trying to get things 615 00:49:23,483 --> 00:49:25,523 back to normal here in Baghdad. 616 00:49:25,523 --> 00:49:28,083 They had a lot of problems with locals out here looting. 617 00:49:28,083 --> 00:49:31,243 It's a pretty tough situation because we're not a police force 618 00:49:31,243 --> 00:49:33,083 and we can't go through patrolling, 619 00:49:33,083 --> 00:49:35,323 acting as policemen, guarding everybody. 620 00:49:39,563 --> 00:49:42,763 We wanted to do something but we were told to stand down. 621 00:49:44,803 --> 00:49:48,083 Then we got the order to go out and help with basic first aid, 622 00:49:48,083 --> 00:49:49,803 medical and water. 623 00:49:52,083 --> 00:49:54,803 We take orders and then execute them. 624 00:49:57,083 --> 00:49:59,403 But there are things that happen 625 00:49:59,403 --> 00:50:02,483 that I really have a hard time remembering. 626 00:50:05,803 --> 00:50:09,803 We killed some civilians 627 00:50:09,803 --> 00:50:14,243 because we put up signs in Arabic. 628 00:50:15,803 --> 00:50:19,563 "This is a roadblock, turn around or else we will engage you." 629 00:50:20,803 --> 00:50:22,963 We didn't know they can't read. 630 00:50:24,803 --> 00:50:27,243 So they came pouring through in their vehicles, 631 00:50:27,243 --> 00:50:29,043 we killed every one of them. 632 00:50:29,043 --> 00:50:31,323 Grandpa, mommy, 633 00:50:31,323 --> 00:50:33,083 and the kids. 634 00:50:40,803 --> 00:50:42,843 I feel sad for them. 635 00:50:43,843 --> 00:50:46,043 But that is the profession. 636 00:50:49,323 --> 00:50:54,083 A threat or possible threat, you must neutralise. 637 00:50:58,083 --> 00:51:02,083 When you look back at your time in Iraq, do you think it was worth it? 638 00:51:06,323 --> 00:51:08,083 Yes, it's worth it. 639 00:51:19,803 --> 00:51:22,123 I mean, it has to be worth it. What's the... 640 00:51:23,203 --> 00:51:24,563 ..what's the alternative? 641 00:51:36,763 --> 00:51:38,803 ECHOES OF GUNFIRE 642 00:51:53,323 --> 00:51:55,563 At least I can have remorse now. 643 00:51:56,563 --> 00:51:59,963 You know, I've been carrying dead bodies with me forever. 644 00:52:02,563 --> 00:52:04,323 But I'm lucky. 645 00:52:04,323 --> 00:52:08,083 Not everybody gets through it as well as I have. 646 00:52:15,083 --> 00:52:17,563 I remember watching the city burn... 647 00:52:18,563 --> 00:52:22,163 ..and, erm, we did nothing. 648 00:52:22,163 --> 00:52:24,563 Baghdad just ripped to pieces. 649 00:52:24,563 --> 00:52:26,803 And I remember thinking, like, 650 00:52:26,803 --> 00:52:28,643 "Oh, my God," like... 651 00:52:29,643 --> 00:52:33,323 .."Never. We're never going to put this back in. 652 00:52:33,323 --> 00:52:36,363 "We're never going to get it back in the bottle. Never." 653 00:52:36,363 --> 00:52:38,563 I remember that feeling very well. 654 00:52:42,803 --> 00:52:47,563 The entire public infrastructure of Iraq was stripped clean, 655 00:52:47,563 --> 00:52:49,323 gone to zero, 656 00:52:49,323 --> 00:52:50,883 and so... 657 00:52:50,883 --> 00:52:54,723 ..the Americans just dug themselves into this terrible hole. 658 00:52:54,723 --> 00:52:56,003 Terrible. 659 00:52:56,003 --> 00:52:59,483 And they spent the next nine years trying to, like, 660 00:52:59,483 --> 00:53:02,123 stand this thing up on its own. 661 00:53:02,123 --> 00:53:04,963 That's what the whole story of the war is. 662 00:53:10,763 --> 00:53:13,683 Immediately after the invasion, one of the only ways 663 00:53:13,683 --> 00:53:16,803 to earn money in Baghdad was working as a translator. 664 00:53:18,083 --> 00:53:22,243 We were negotiating the price and I didn't know what the rate would be. 665 00:53:22,243 --> 00:53:24,403 I was ready to work for a dollar. 666 00:53:25,403 --> 00:53:29,323 And they were like, "Would $50 be OK?" 667 00:53:30,323 --> 00:53:33,403 And I was like, "$50 a what?", you know, 668 00:53:33,403 --> 00:53:35,403 and I'm trying to compose myself. 669 00:53:35,403 --> 00:53:37,363 And they were like, "A day." 670 00:53:37,363 --> 00:53:39,963 And I was like, 50 fucking bucks?! 671 00:53:39,963 --> 00:53:41,643 That's freaking awesome! 672 00:53:42,643 --> 00:53:46,083 50 bucks was my dad's salary for six months. 673 00:53:47,563 --> 00:53:49,563 I was making it in a day. 674 00:53:49,563 --> 00:53:51,923 And I was like, "All right, we've got a deal." 675 00:53:53,803 --> 00:53:55,563 I would hire a cab, 676 00:53:55,563 --> 00:53:58,683 would take a journalist with me, and we'd just drive around. 677 00:53:59,683 --> 00:54:01,803 This is Mutanabbi Street. 678 00:54:01,803 --> 00:54:05,563 This is one of the most old streets in Baghdad. 679 00:54:07,803 --> 00:54:11,563 And it's such an odd feeling because, before the war started, 680 00:54:11,563 --> 00:54:14,083 shops are open, people are walking, 681 00:54:14,083 --> 00:54:17,323 buying, selling, eating, drinking... 682 00:54:18,323 --> 00:54:21,083 ..and now, it's a ghost town. 683 00:54:23,803 --> 00:54:27,083 There is no police any more, no firefighters, 684 00:54:27,083 --> 00:54:29,803 no electricity, no water. 685 00:54:30,803 --> 00:54:34,803 It's an impossible situation for anyone that was there. 686 00:54:34,803 --> 00:54:36,643 On the one hand, you're hopeful. 687 00:54:36,643 --> 00:54:39,563 Oh, the future's going to be great, and all of that. 688 00:54:39,563 --> 00:54:41,963 At the same time, you're seeing clear evidence that... 689 00:54:43,363 --> 00:54:45,283 ..things are not good. 690 00:54:47,803 --> 00:54:50,083 So we're looking for stories 691 00:54:50,083 --> 00:54:53,563 and we heard of this man in Karbala, 692 00:54:53,563 --> 00:54:55,163 he's a Bedouin. 693 00:55:10,803 --> 00:55:14,323 And then we get to a spot where the car cannot drive any more. 694 00:55:19,523 --> 00:55:22,323 And then I got to see the true face of invasion. 695 00:55:34,323 --> 00:55:36,563 He's saying that this is his home. 696 00:56:10,803 --> 00:56:13,083 According to his story, 697 00:56:13,083 --> 00:56:17,723 in one afternoon, three Apaches came... 698 00:56:18,723 --> 00:56:20,563 ..hovered, 699 00:56:20,563 --> 00:56:24,603 and then they just opened fire on him and his family, 700 00:56:24,603 --> 00:56:27,883 and they just murdered everyone and everything that was alive. 701 00:56:27,883 --> 00:56:29,483 Everything. 702 00:56:29,483 --> 00:56:34,083 Him and another brother of his were the only ones that survived. 703 00:56:38,083 --> 00:56:39,643 Erm... 704 00:56:40,643 --> 00:56:42,723 ..honestly, I had my reservations, 705 00:56:42,723 --> 00:56:45,483 and I was like, "This is just very unreal. 706 00:56:45,483 --> 00:56:48,403 "This is too much. Too much. 707 00:56:48,403 --> 00:56:51,723 "People can't be that bad. They can't be that evil." 708 00:56:53,123 --> 00:56:57,083 And then he starts frantically digging through the sand, 709 00:56:57,083 --> 00:56:59,803 showing us the remnants and the remains 710 00:56:59,803 --> 00:57:03,043 of what used to be his family. 711 00:57:23,803 --> 00:57:25,883 I mean, that doesn't make any sense. 712 00:57:36,523 --> 00:57:38,563 HE SIGHS 713 00:58:00,083 --> 00:58:02,803 We were all hopeful at the beginning. 714 00:58:04,563 --> 00:58:07,083 But then, soon after, 715 00:58:07,083 --> 00:58:09,803 truth started coming up... 716 00:58:10,803 --> 00:58:14,403 ..and the myth that we were sold unravelled itself 717 00:58:14,403 --> 00:58:18,323 into this nightmare that we all knew now we're stuck in. 718 00:58:24,083 --> 00:58:27,083 They had never had that opportunity to vote 719 00:58:27,083 --> 00:58:29,083 and for them it was sheer joy. 720 00:58:29,083 --> 00:58:34,483 This is the core of being a human is...having a voice. 721 00:58:34,483 --> 00:58:36,643 Does that sound naive? 722 00:58:37,643 --> 00:58:40,083 I was super impressed with Colonel Sassaman. 723 00:58:40,083 --> 00:58:43,363 There's some good things happening. The thing could work.