Reflections on Serving in Iraq

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Former U.S. Army Captain Blake Hall reflects on his time in Iraq. A shorter version of this interview ran on the radio show on August 19, 2010.

A Persian insult, an Inuit dialect, and Urdu directions

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In this week’s World in Words podcast, Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is known for his fruity prose, and this month he outdid himself with a new anti-American insult. Also, we hear from a linguist who’s spending a year in Northwest Greenland. And getting from Point A to Point B in Urdu, a language that has the same word for “go straight” and “turn right” Download MP3

Spanish festival

We’re in an Andalusian state of mind, for the Geo Quiz. We’re looking for a city in southern Spain that’s hosting one of the country’s biggest street festivals. It’s known as “La Feria” (Photo: Mariana Schroeder)

• La Feria photo gallery

Entire program – August 19, 2010

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Today on The World: Pakistanis join in solidarity of the victims of their country’s devastating floods; Also, the last American combat brigade leaves Iraq, And, one woman’s musical message from Mali.

Pakistani solidarity after the flood

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Following major disasters, there’s often a strong sense of identification with the people that have been affected. After 9/11 for example, Americans felt that they were all New Yorkers. Now in the wake of devastating floods that have left millions displaced in Pakistan, reporter Madiha Tahir looks at whether Pakistanis who have not been affected by the flooding are feeling the same way. Download MP3

• How to Help in Pakistan
• BBC coverage
• Altered rivers contributed to Pakistani floods
• Satellite imagery tracking the Pakistan floods

Retired US officer reflects on Iraq withdrawal

The last US combat brigade rolled out of Iraq Wednesday night. The troops are happy but Iraqis have mixed feelings. Anchor Jeb Sharp spoke to Blake Hall, a former US Army captain and a member of the elite Army Rangers. He led a scout platoon in Iraq from July 2006. (Photo: Steven Davy)


Part one of the interview:

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Part two of the interview:

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Web extra: Captain Hall talks about moral dilemmas he faced in Iraq

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• Troop Swap
• BBC Special: The struggle for Iraq
• Bombing at Iraqi army recruitment center

Field support in Afghanistan

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In Afghanistan, around 140,000 US and NATO troops are fighting the resurgent Taliban. That’s almost double the number that were there when President Obama came into office. This influx of forces has come in a short period of time. 30,000 them have arrived in just the past eight months, that’s put a strain on the troops who build the bases and keep the supplies coming. The World’s Ben Gilbert has the story. (Photo: Ben Gilbert) Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Multimedia: Ben Gilbert’s photos from Kandahar Airfield
• Audio report: Stabilizing Afghanistan

Khaira Arby loves Timbuktu

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The subject of today’s Global Hit is music with a message. Simple messages really. They’re sung by Malian musician Khaira Arby. One message is about her love for the city Timbuktu. That’s reflected in the album title ‘Timbuktu Tarab.’ The other message Khaira Arby wants to convery is women’s rights. Download MP3

• Video: See Khaira Arby live at the Festival au Desert 2010
• Khaira Arby on MySpace
• Global Hit archive
• Global Hit on Facebook

On the road with China’s Foreign Ministry

It used to be in China that the only way foreign correspondents could legally travel in the provinces was with government minders – or, if you will, facilitators. As time went on, China became more open, and more and more foreign correspondents bent or flouted the rules, the rules eventually changed. Since January 2007, foreign journalists have officially been allowed to go (almost) anywhere in China, and talk to anyone who’s willing to be interviewed. Almost anywhere – except Tibet. And local areas that make up their own rules – like, certain parts of Sichuan after the 2008 earthquake, or the southern Xinjiang city of Kashgar, or many places that have just put down a demonstration. <a href="Continue reading

Follow along with Mary Kay Magistad’s special dispatches on her trip to the Uighur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, in China’s far west and the largely ethnic Tibetan province of Qinghai.

What’s next for Iraq

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Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Jane Arraf, Baghdad correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, on what does it mean for Iraq now that the last US combat brigade has pulled out.

Iraq’s future

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We ask reporters, “What does the future of Iraq look like from there?”
We hear from The World’s Matthew Bell in Jerusalem and Matthew Brunnwasser in Istanbul. Also, The World’s Katy Clark tells us how Washington views Iraq’s future.

Relief work in flood-devastated Pakistan

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Dania Gharaibeh works in Islamabad for the Los Angeles-based charity, Relief International. She speaks with anchor Jeb Sharp about her organization’s operations in Pakistan.

Geo Quiz

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The World’s daily geography challenge.

Geo Answer

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For today’s geo quiz we were looking for China’s largest desert. It’s located in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China. The answer is the Taklamakan desert where an endurance race is about to begin. Eric Lahaie is one of the runners and spoke to anchor Jeb Sharp.

• Racing the Planet
• Eric Lahaie’s Racing the Planet blog
• Geo Quiz Archive

Music Heard on Air for August 19, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For August 19, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Nostalgia 77, Yat-Kha, Nguyen Le, Bela Fleck.