Superb documentary on Iraq's future

[shamrock_uk]

You can find it here. (50mins)

It's by John Simpson, a BBC correspondant who's been in Iraq for ages now and deals with elections, the insurgency, Iraq's future etc.

It contains interviews with everybody of relevence, from neo-cons to more moderate military people like Gen. Wesley Clarke, includes embedded footage with US troops, many interviews with Iraqi political leaders, Iraqi insurgency leaders and 'normal' civilians. It's a sorely-needed intelligent look at the current situation.

I've watched 2/3 of it now and have seen no particular bias - he seems to take pains presenting both sides of the argument, taking care to try and present accurate figures when arriving at civilian casualty figures for example.

If you're remotely interested in the situation in Iraq and fancy watching something that's on a more sophisticated level than the usual insurgency=evil coalition=good then it gets my wholehearted recommendation. Don't get me wrong, it's not trying to justify civilian attacks or anything, but simply illustrating that the situation isn't 'black and white'.

For example, one insurgency leader interviewed actually wants a fully democratic Iraq, but is opposing the current elections because he doesn't think they're free and fair. You'd be hard-pressed to fit the idea of an insurgent wanting democracy into the Iraqi situation as portrayed by much of the mass media.

Enjoy [img]smile.gif[/img]

Edit: changed link

[ 02-02-2005, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: If you're remotely interested in the situation in Iraq and fancy watching something that's on a more sophisticated level than the usual insurgency=evil coalition=good then it gets my wholehearted recommendation. Don't get me wrong, it's not trying to justify civilian attacks or anything, but simply illustrating that the situation isn't 'black and white'. Enjoy [img]smile.gif[/img]

What about Insurgency=Good Coalition=evil side?
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Just yankin' your chain Sham.

[shamrock_uk]

Bah, humbug

Actually, about 20 seconds after I stopped watching, John said that judging from his record he was just lying through his teeth about democracy so maybe things are that black and white sometimes [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] That'll teach me to post before I've finished watching!

[ 02-03-2005, 04:27 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[John D Harris]

The intresting thing will be: What will 15-20 years of hind-sight say about Iraq.