wamc: : TTBOOK: Boots on the Ground: Stories from the War in Iraq, Covering the War (2009-11-13)

RADIO

TTBOOK: Boots on the Ground: Stories from the War in Iraq, Covering the War

TTBOOK: Boots on the Ground: Stories from the War in Iraq, Covering the War

Mike Hoyt is Executive Editor of the Columbia Journalism Review, and he encouraged his staff to question embedded reporters about the embed system and the war. Brian Palmer was embedded with the First Battalion/Second Marines and made a documentary film about the experience. Philip Gourevitch has written a book that examines what really happened at Abu Ghraib. Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez served as Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004, during which period the scandal at Abu Ghraib took place. Deborah Scranton describes how she persuaded the military to give her permission to make a film, what it was like working with the soldiers, and how they’re reacted to the finished product. Mike Hoyt is Executive Editor of the Columbia Journalism Review. He encouraged his staff to question embedded reporters about the embed system and the war. Their responses comprise the book "Reporting Iraq: An Oral History of the War by the Journalists Who Covered It." Hoyt reads excerpts and discusses them with Steve Paulson.

Brian Palmer has been a staff writer at Fortune magazine, Beijing bureau chief for US News and World Report and a correspondent for CNN. He tells Anne Strainchamps that none of that prepared him for Iraq where he was embedded with the First Battalion/Second Marines. He's made a documentary film about the experience. It's called "Full Disclosure," and we hear clips.

Errol Morris made a documentary about Abu Ghraib called "Standard Operating Procedure." Journalist Philip Gourevitch and Morris have written a companion book that examines what really happened at Abu Ghraib. Gourevitch talks with Steve Paulson, and we hear excerpts from the film. You will hear graphic descriptions of torture and humiliation during this piece.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez served as Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004, during which period the scandal at Abu Ghraib took place. Steve Paulson spoke with General Sanchez and asked him about Abu Ghraib. General Sanchez is the author of "Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story."

Film-maker Deborah Scranton gave cameras directly to troops on the ground, then spent months editing the footage they sent her. The result is a documentary called "The War Tapes." Scranton tells Jim Fleming how she persuaded the military to give her permission to make her film, what it was like working with the soldiers, and how they're reacted to the finished product.

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