War News Radio

The situation in Iraq remains as difficult to understand as always. Two women are sitting in front of President Bush’s ranch hoping he can explain it to them. Wren Elhai has the story of one Philadelphia mother’s role in the demonstration.

In our first segment on the most underreported stories in Iraq, Eva Barboni sheds plenty of light on Moqtada Sadr and his Mehdi Army.

Max Thompson has the story of the IMN, Iraqi Media Network, from its conception, to its failure, and to its rebith.

Also, Peter Maass talks with us about his experiences embedded with the Iraqi Special Police Commandos, one of the few Iraqi units actively fighting the insurgency.

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While news coverage has always shaped the way we look at war, it normally takes a while for the entertainment industry to get on board. But, with the war in Iraq, that’s not the case.

This week, we hear two stories on the fictional version of the war. We learn about FX’s new drama Over There and examine video games that put players on the battlefields of Iraq.

Also, Johanna Hauser joins a Philadelphia audience trying to get some answers on the war from a visiting Iraqi priest.

And, in Iraq 101, David Mann takes a look at Islamic law, Sharia, and how it might shape Iraq’s constitution.

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“They shall beat their swords into plowshares” - Isaiah II

This week, we look at both the swords and the plowshares in Iraq, and in at least one instance, how the transformation between the two occurs.

The Week In Review brings you up to date on the situation in Iraq. Then, Eva Barboni examines the latest Gallup poll about WMDs and the popularity of the Iraq war.

We also hear a story of two soldiers who went to Iraq with good intentions, and then discovered it was sometimes hard to pick out their enemy from among the Iraqis they were trying to help.

Also contributing to the humanitarian effort in Iraq is an NGO called “Women to Women International.” We learn all about their mission, and why you can expect to see a burgeoning carpentry trade among Iraqi women.

Finally, we bring you Iraq 101: Saddam’s Army, a brief history of the Iraqi military.

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This week, Eva Barboni and Anthony Cordesman assess the insurgency in Iraq. Who are we fighting, anyway?

Johanna Hauser asks experts around the world: Is Iraq in middle of a civil war?

In Iraq 101, Alan Smith tells the story of the coup of 1958, with a little help from a professor in the US and another in Iraq.

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This week, we learn how Iraq came between Joseph Wilson and Karl Rove.

Then, in a piece from our archives, John Stott takes a look at the security problems plaguing New York City’s most important commuter hub, Penn Station.

David Mann also asks the provocative question, “Does terrorism work?” and takes a look at the many motivations behind terrorism and the outcomes it leads to.

Finally, we hear about Iraqi artist Esam Pasha and the pieces he found and made during the occupation of Baghdad.

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As summer winds up to deliver its worst in Iraq, we find out how Americans and Iraqis cope with the heat.

Many American soldiers come from areas of the country that never break triple-digits. For them, months of constant, suffocating heat can take some getting used to. But, one way or another, they’ve managed.

For some lucky Iraqis, on the other hand, this is the time of year to go travelling and see the sights. We catch up with one tour group on their way back from the attractions to be found in Egypt.

Also, a review of five books on Iraq to take with you on your summer travels.

Then, we visit a war memorial that toured through Philadelphia this past week.

Finally, in Iraq 101, we learn how the split between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims developed.

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In a special edition of War News Radio, we re-broadcast President Bush’s speech from Tuesday, June 28, 2005, on the war in Iraq, only this time with footnotes.

You’ll hear the key portions of Bush’s address with commentary from experts in the fields of history, rhetoric, linguistics, and psychiatry, from soldiers and Iraqi citizens, from bloggers, analysts, and even author Kurt Vonnegut.

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