A bit of hash with your Viagra sergeant?

11/03/2008 / IRAQ

A bit of hash with your Viagra sergeant?

An insight into the daily life of American soldiers in Iraq. In this video, filmed from the top of an army vehicle, backstreet vendors try to peddle Viagra and hashish to the soldiers.

Contributors

Ernesto Haibi

Mohammed

From Viagra to hashish to...a marshal's uniform

Video posted 9 March 08

The deal is done in both English and Arabic. At one point the soldier buying the Viagra says that it's for his create-a-cock. This is a plaster set that allows you to make a mould of your erect penis (a site that sells the mould recommends it as an "excellent gift" for lady friends).

Along with hashish and Viagra, you also see a vendor walk past with some plastic-protected clothing (see below). The piece is actually a replica of an Iraqi army marshal's uniform, which is a good seller in Iraq. They're used for protection, but also as an accessory to steal. You can hear one of the traders say to his colleague: "they're filming, don't stay there".

"They [Iraqis] must think we're a bunch of drug takers"

Ernesto Haibi, our Observer who served in the US army in the Iraq war:

We had problems with Iraqis trying to sell over the counter medicines. There's a lot of looting pharmacies and that's where they get the drugs. One guy in my camp had a lot of something- apparently something for the heart- and had a really bad trip. And he bought that from the local police so you can see it's really engrained in the system. It was common. Almost every Iraqi was selling something. They promised us anything we wanted.

I suppose Iraqis must think selling illegal drugs will make them a lot of money, seeing as so many American films glorify drug use. They must think we're a bunch of drug takers. But actually, things were worse once we got back to the states. Numbers of people testing positive were much higher when we got back. But that's the depression I guess."

Ernesto Haibi

"I've seen it happening many times"

Our Iraqi Observer in Baghdad, who goes under the name of "Last of Iraqis":

This didn't come as a surprise at all, it can be found anywhere. They sell everything. It's a very open trade. I've seen it happening many times. There's even a market in Baghdad - Bab Al-Sharji - where they do it.

It looks as though it was filmed in the south of the country, where they tend to smoke hashish. It's not popular here in Baghdad. In fact generally taking drugs is not done by higher classes. It's only poor people, so the trade's not a big part of the economy. They're small-time dealers."

Mohammed

Français

Comments

My god

Submitted by Lady Mudd Shoes (not verified) on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 14:22.

I've never believed that this was actually happening. It's really sad.

THE government has written

Submitted by Anonype (not verified) on Tue, 27/05/2008 - 14:15.

THE government has written off any of these deaths as for what cit really is murder.And if you are involved and happen to be the one who fires the gun,or set off the u con bomb,then you become the murderer! I am appose to such destruction and murder of this nature,consider each and every soilder enlisted with any bergade who has fell suit firing his her riffle mamming innocent people at the order of a general,at the order of a commander and chief is nothing more than a cold blooded killer.You are but a taliban yourself.

Oldest Professon Get A Real Job

Submitted by Linda White (not verified) on Fri, 14/03/2008 - 13:15.

Someone should be telling the U.S. soilders:,I told You so.Thadt is exactly what you get when you get involved with a criminal orginization.Call it what you may.War.yes that is how the world has come legalize the murder and brutilization of human being.Being mamed in this fashion has been excepted throughout history.That too me is a crock.You see because murder is murder is murder is murder.And in my mind calling it war cannot excuse it.THE government has written off any of these deaths as for what cit really is murder.And if you are involved and happen to be the one who fires the gun,or set off the u con bomb,then you become the murderer! I am appose to such destruction and murder of this nature,consider each and every soilder enlisted with any bergade who has fell suit firing his her riffle mamming innocent people at the order of a general,at the order of a commander and chief is nothing more than a cold blooded killer.You are but a taliban yourself.You are once again calling the world flat,pardon my expression, dead wrong! YOu have followed the wrong path.You are the same child who left home not being able to follow a mother's order,a simple rule of pick up after yourself.Proved to be an impossible task.Now under an order go around the world killing women,children and men? This is due to braining washing of your up bringing.Cause I know I would discourage my child from the military, just as well as I would drug dealing, or prostitution.For me the three are in the same category.I know,this type of armed service mofia is celibrated in honor.But I'm sure that it was celibrated in honor for the number of slaves one captured at that time.Celibrate ,justice.With justice comes change.This is by far the oldest profession that need to be delegalized at once.Someone please get these kids off the street of Bagdad.Show them the right way to make money.