Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

RESPONDING TO WAR

Program 06-04-30-A

Listen!

Uncovering the real story in Iraq is getting harder. Western journalists have become targets, just like American soldiers. And reporters now take elaborate precautions to avoid being killed or kidnaped. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll talk about the hazards of war reporting with George Packer, a staff writer for The New Yorker. We'll also go back to Vietnam and hear about one woman's effort to understand her father, who was a "tunnel rat" during the war.

SEGMENT 1:

George Packer is a staff writer for the New Yorker and author of "The Assassins' Gate." He's just back from his fifth trip to Iraq and he tells Steve Paulson what it's like to try to be a journalist there. He says Westerners are in constant danger of being kidnaped or killed by Islamic hardliners or criminals who are in it for the money and will sell them up the chain.

SEGMENT 2:

Martha Bayles is a cultural critic who teaches at Boston College. She talks with Anne Strainchamps about why we love war movies and what messages they send. And we hear clips from several films.

SEGMENT 3:

Danielle Trussoni is the author of "Falling Through the Earth," a memoir of life with her Vietnam Vet father. Her Dad was a tunnel rat during the war and Trussoni tells Anne Strainchamps why she visited Vietnam to try to understand what had happened to him. Also, U Sam Oeur is a Cambodian poet who was imprisoned by the Khmer Rouge. He lives in Texas now and visited Madison with his translator, Ken McCullough. They talk with Steve Paulson and recite some of Sam's poems.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 06-04-30-A.

................................................................

Books:

• U Sam Oeur, Crossing Three Wildernesses: A Memoir (Coffee House Press; ISBN: 1566891671)
• George Packer, Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq (FSG; ISBN: 0374299633)
  
• Danielle Trussoni , Falling through the Earth: A Memoir (Henry Holt; ISBN: 0805077324)

Music:

• After Return:
  DJ Shadow w/ "Dark Days"
  on "The Score"
  Mojo Music
• After Packer:
  Anouar Brahem w/ "Etincelles"
  on "Conte de l'incroyable amour"
  BMG Music
• After Bayles:
  Henry Mancini w/ "Arabesque"
  on "The Score"
  Mojo Music
• After Oeur & McCullough:
  Nataraj XT w/ "Space In"
  on Putumayo Presents Asian Lounge

Distribution dates:

week of 05/06/2007 - hour 1 week of 04/30/2006 - hour 1

Listen!

................................................................

Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

Wisconsin Public Radio is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.

Page design and management by Jim Fleming at Wisconsin Public Radio and Sarah Fleming.

© 2006 WHA Radio and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved.