Strangers In A Strange Land

Five-Seven Live's Fergal Keane presents a documentary on US troops on the ground in Iraq.

Click here to listen to the show

Recorded during a recent trip to the country, this programme presents a close-up view of the experiences of the ordinary American soldier fighting insurgents. There are 130,000 American soldiers serving in Iraq and some of them are as young as 18. Nearly 700 have been killed since the US led invasion last year.

Fergal spent some days with the soldiers of Vengence Platoon, of the 1st Cavalry, based in the west of Baghdad. In the last three months this group of 22 men have lost two of their compliment in battles with insurgents. On patrols through hostile surroundings they spoke to him with extraordinary frankness about their war, why they joined the army and their feelings for the people of Iraq.