Put simply: Happy viewing. Although navigating the world of online war videos is at best a haphazard venture, there is enough material to provide as clear a view into the lives of combat, boredom and pointless amusement of the soldiers in Iraq as one will find anywhere.
On this particular video:
The most common format for the online videos are barely that — they are photo montages either compiled by returning U.S. troops to commemorate their experiences in the war, by American citizens to express their gratitude to the soldiers fighting there, or reflecting a collective effort on the part of whole units. Usually set to sentimental, patriotic music (with genuinely moving effect, given the pictures they display), these montages have been available since the beginning of the war. One characteristic example is "Iraq Freedom 2006 'The Kids,'" with photos that Army reservist Rene Phan took of his unit interacting with Iraqi children in the course of their mission to train Iraqi police.
