Troops on film

The verdict of the inquest into the death of ITN reporter Terry Lloyd confirms what most of us already suspected: US troops can be indiscriminate in their use of force when left to their own devices.

Friendly fire is no new phenomenon of course. In both of the Gulf conflicts, British aircraft, troops and vehicles, as well as members of the international press, have been shot at by their 'allies', probably due to the fact that their offensive equipment was more up-to-date than our defensive equipment. Which we bought from them.

But differences in technology can't be the only reason for America's startling propensity to shoot the wrong people.

Could it be that there is something of a cavalier attitude towards human life in the US ranks, in sharp contrast to the coalition's mission statement? After all, this is the country which preaches the sanctity of life whilst cheerfully executing an average of about 60 people per year.

Perhaps the most useful comparison i can make between the two nations' armed forces is in their techniques for 'letting off steam'.

This week, the RAF had its knuckles rapped after a video of a Harrier pilot 'buzzing' his friends on the ground surfaced on YouTube.

A grotesque misappropriation of taxpayers' money you might say, but in the end it was a harmless prank which has caused nobody any harm.

Previous to that, there was a video featuring squaddies acting out the video for 'Is This The Way To Amarillo?', complete with combat fatigues.

Now think of what we have seen of US troops on film. Well...there's an interesting gallery. First we have the menacing splendour of that finest of works, 'Attack Dog Let Loose On Naked Man', or the subtle masterpiece 'Hooded and Hooked Up', or my personal favourite 'Squaddie With Fag Does Her Bit For Female Emancipation'.

I'm not saying the British Army is immune to this sort of barbarism, but thankfully they seem to be prone to taking the piss rather than taking revenge.

Now that's the way to let off steam.