Young Soldiers - BBC3

A series that follows four new recruits through basic training prior to going to Afganistan. All four joined the army because they couldn't find any other job which makes you think that with all the talk of cuts why don't we reduce the deficit by cutting back on our attempts to kill poor people around the world. Call me an idealistic old hippie but we could even spend a small proportion of the money saved on creating some jobs. On a positive note at least the talent pool of potential athletes for our paralympic team is expanding.

Our War - BBC3

Ambushed - First part of a documentary series to mark ten years of the war in Afganistan. Shot by the soldiers themselves on helmet cameras and personal video cameras and interspersed with personal testimony it showed war in the raw, from the adrenilised high of soldiers in contact with the enemy to the low of one of their number being hit and having to cope with his subsequent death. The anguish of his parents was also shown. The excitment felt by the soldiers at a (revenge) killing of a Taliban combatant was squemish to liberal instincts; however there was at least a perspective on the situation by those involved, one of whom stated that in Afganistan he could see progress being made & life returning to village's under their control as opposed to Iraq where he said it felt like 'we were the problem'.

There will, of course, eventually have to be a political solution because, as the British & Soviets have found in the past, Afganistan is tough place to go with its montainous terrain and therefore an unwinnable war. As a great man once sang, 'War, war is stupid and people are stupid'. Highly recommended.