Archive for the ‘Iraq’ Category.
July 23, 2010, 12:54 am
Back Story spoke to William Astore about the close to decades long United States military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. Why is the US still involved in these countries and what kind of arguments or reasons are given for this continual state of war?
William Astore is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. He now teaches history at the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology and is a regular contributor to Tom Dispatch.
This interview was broadcast on Radio Adelaide on the 21st of July.
February 15, 2010, 12:36 am
With approximately 110,000 troops still stationed in Iraq as well as continually growing mega-military bases and the spending of billions of dollars, the US still appears to be no closer to harnessing the Iraqi oil fields or bringing any semblance of order to the country. Given the time and energy spent on this occupation, such a failure of the US imperial project is remarkable and worth investigating.
Michael Shwartz is a professor of sociology at Stony Brook State University and is author of War Without End: The Iraq War in Context. He is a regular contributor to TomDispatch.
Back Story first asked Michael to elaborate on the claims that Iraq has been left in environmental ruin.
This talk was broadcast on Radio Adelaide on the 10th of February.
July 26, 2009, 1:51 am
June 30th saw the “withdrawal” of US troops from Iraqi cities while the Obama administration has promised a complete withdrawal of US troops in Iraq by 2011. What are the particulars of this policy and what does this tell us about how the new administration is addressing the Iraq question.
Michael Shwartz is a professor of sociology at Stony Brook State University and is author of War Without End: The Iraq War in Context. He is a regular contributor to TomDispatch.
Julia started by asking Michael about the patronising language used by the US administration and mass media and whether this is indicative of the policies being implemented in Iraq.
This talk was broadcast on Radio Adelaide on the 22nd of July.
October 1, 2008, 1:37 am
In 2003 the United Nations Security Council announced a multinational military presence in Iraq in cooperation with Iraqi forces while Iraq makes the transition to democracy. In 2007 the Iraq government unsuccessfully opposed the extension of this multinational military presence. A Status Of Forces Agreement – or SOFA for short – is an agreement between the United States of America and the countries where American military bases reside. Currently a Status Of Forces Agreement is being negotiated between the American and Iraqi governments to replace the Untied Nations multinational military presence.
Julia Terreu spoke to Frida Berrigan, who is the Senior Program Associate of the Arms & Security Initiative at the New America Foundation.
August 3, 2008, 2:46 am
Is the U.S.A. government’s strategy in Iraq effective in enabling safety and security?
Julia Terreu spoke to editor of Political Affairs magazine Joel Wendland.
June 1, 2008, 4:52 am
Iraq's Reconstruction:
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A debate is under way in the United States of America as to whether the Iraqi or American government should pay for the reconstruction of Iraq. We spoke to Erik Leaver, who is the Outreach Director for Foreign Policy In Focus.
May 25, 2008, 1:45 am
The war on Iraq has seen the displacement of thousands of Iraqi citizens into to the surrounding countries. Women are particularly vulnerable and The United Nations High Commissioner has seen a pattern of Iraqi women turning to prostitution.
Julia Terreu spoke to freelance journalist Rana Al Aube, who focused on the issue of Iraqi refugees in Syria.
May 11, 2008, 1:03 am
US Contractors L-3/Titan:
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The private contracting of intelligence work is now firlmy entrenched in the hands of various private contractors based in the US. L-3/Titan is one of those companies that is involved in Intelligence service to the US Military establishment.
We spoke with Pratab Chaterjee from corp-watch, who has completed a mojor report on L-3/Titan.