The Golan Heights

Any peace deal between Israel and Syria will have to take account of the disputed Golan Heights. The World’s Matthew Bell travels to the region to take the pulse of its residents. You can see more photos from Matthew’s visit to the Golan Heights here.

Entire program – June 30, 2009

Today on The World: American forces withdraw from Baghdad as Iraqi forces officially take control, a conversation about prospects for peace between Syria and Israel — one expert says the issues that divide them are not insurmountable, and why life as a musician is a little less of a struggle in France. Listen

Baghdad handover

There were celebrations throughout Baghdad and other Iraqi cities today as American forces officially handed over control to Iraqi security forces — six years after the U-S led invasion. Anchor Lisa Mullins finds out what’s happening from Sahar Issa, the Iraqi correspondent for McClatchy newspapers.
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A new day for Baghdad

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with journalist and author Tom Ricks about the handover of Baghdad from the Americans to the Iraqi security forces. Ricks covered the Iraq war for the Washington Post and is author of The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008.
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Thoughts on Baghdad from a US Army medic

US Army medic Benjamin Corbett recorded this thoughts on one of his final patrols of Baghdad this week.
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Iraq auctions its oil reserves

Iraq’s oil ministry held a televised auction today for rights to develop some of the country’s most valuable energy reserves. It’s the first time such contracts have been up for bid in Iraq since the 1970′s. But as The World’s Katy Clark tells us, some oil companies weren’t willing to accept Iraq’s terms.
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Ode to Baghdad

Two Iraqi poets reflect on a time when Baghdad wasn’t the center of an American war, but a center of learning and culture.
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Is Peace possible for Israel and Syria?

A peace deal between Israel and Syria has been elusive for decades. But some experts think it’s possible. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Middle East expert Aaron David Miller.
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People of the Golan Heights

At the center of any peace deal between Israel and Syria would be the Golan Heights. The World’s Matthew Bell visited the region to speak with people there about what’s at stake.
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Picture gallery from the Golan Heights

The British Legacy in Iraq

As U.S. forces pull back from Iraqi cities we revisit the British experience in Iraq in the first half of the 20th century. This isn’t the first time outside forces have had to disentangle from Iraq or worry about its future stability. Listen

Geo Quiz

Anchor Lisa Mullins introduces a Geo Quiz with a literary, and sandy flavor. Listen

Mexico’s mix of politics and drugs

A mayoral candidate in Mexico has said publicly what just about every Mexican knows to be true — the drug cartels have thoroughly contaminated Mexican politics. But this candidate is caught on tape. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.
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More of Lorne Matalon’s Mexico coverage on The World

Geo Quiz Answer

In the Geo Quiz, we were looking for the name and author of a book set ‘in the naked desert, under the indifferent heavens.’ The book is The Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph, and the author is T.E. Lawrence, The answers come by way of bookseller David Delvecchio. Listen

Monty Python ban ends

The Scottish city of Glasgow will finally be able to see Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” on the screen now that a 30-year ban has been lifted. Anchor Lisa Mullins finds out what took so long from Glasgow Councelor Liz Cameron, one of the city officials who overturned the ban.
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Literary Geo

We’ve got a literary geo quiz for you now this time. It relates to a book set in an unforgiving part of the world.