The problem was not a shortage of sincerity but an excess of zeal in which self-belief overrode objective judgment.
— —Jonathan Aitken, commenting in The Guardian on former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his role in the lead-up to, and the aftermath of, the Iraq war. Aitken says that “once the Chilcot inquiry establishes the truth about Iraq, we should be quick not to judge, but to forgive.”
Trent Gilliss, online editor
The Personal Impact of "Baghdad High"
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
Ashamedly, I’ve begun to tune out news coverage of the Iraq War and the politics of the region. So many statistics are flashed on the screen every day that they become faceless data to me. Then, along comes a promotional e-mail from HBO for a documentary called Baghdad High, and I have to challenge my complacency and comfortability.
In the film, four Iraqi teenagers filmed and told their stories as they carry on in their daily lives — attending class, lip-syncing to Britney Spears, trying to make sense of the violence, and so on. In this short interview with Ivan O’Mahoney and Laura Winter, the producers, they bring back the humanity of living in a war zone.
What got me was a story O’Mahoney tells about an exchange between Ali, one of the boys in the film, and a newly enlisted soldier during a Q&A session at the Tribeca Film Festival:
“All the questions were more about whether Ali had a girlfriend rather than what his life was like. And then all of a sudden it got really serious. There were two big lines behind the microphone and one of the kids got up and said he had just signed up for the Marine Corps, and he would probably be in Iraq within three or four months. And he said, ‘I finally know what life is like behind those walls and what you guys are like, and it’s been really, really fantastic.’ And at that moment I could see Ali beam with of pride, thinking, ‘Well, at least I’ve been able to make the difference for one person.’”
Just as we need to understand the plight of the people living there, we also need to prepare the young soldiers who are about to embark on missions that will change their lives, and that we, as a society, will need to deal with upon their return. I look forward to watching this film and paying attention again.
Still Making Great Stories
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
A couple of years ago, Bill Buzenberg, the former executive producer of SOF, embarked on a new endeavor as executive director of The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in the District. Bill’s a veteran journalist and a newsman who believes in the power of investigative journalism. He’s the man responsible for helping Krista get SOF on the public radio air waves — no small endeavor at the time, indeed. Bill’s astute experience, precision ear, and the ability to frame a topic was of immeasurable help in our editorial sessions, and we miss him greatly.
Ethics and morality in the workplace is a popular topic. It’s relevant in most all of our lives. But, how about among our most trusted governmental officials? The Center for Public Integrity has produced a meticulously detailed report and gripping Web site called Iraq: The War Card. The investigative report documents the false statements made by President Bush and seven senior officials of his administration in orchestrating the war on Iraq.
In the video above, Bill talks about the report, the Center’s work, and the state of journalism today on C-SPAN’s Q&A. I think you’ll get a feel for Bill’s savvy and his passion for great journalism. Three cheers!
