-
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Whether Iraqi moderates choose Islamist radicalism or democracy will have a huge impact on their country’s future. New Yorker staff writer George Packer has been interviewing some of Iraq’s moderates, and he’s here to share their opinions. And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (yes, the basketball star) talks about General Patton’s 761st tank battalion in World War II – an all-black crew who spent 183 days on the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge and suffered casualty rates of almost 50% in addition to chronic racism from other American soldiers. The 761st also liberated Mauthausen concentration camp.
George Packer
Recent revelations of torture in Abu Ghraib prison will likely have a strong effect on the attitudes of many of Iraq’s moderates. George Packer, staff writer for the New Yorker, has been reporting from Baghdad. His article, "Caught in the Crossfire," appears in the magazine’s May 17th issue.
About The Leonard Lopate Show
Host Leonard Lopate lets you in on the best conversations with writers, actors, ex-presidents, dancers, scientists, comedians, historians, grammarians, curators, filmmakers, and do-it-yourself experts.
Hosted by Leonard Lopate
Sign up for the Book Club e-newsletter.
Features
- 25 Years of Lopate
- Backstory
- Guest Hosts
- Guest Picks
- Please Explain
- The Gurus of How-To
- The Leonard Lopate Show Book Club
- The Lodown
- The Story of New York in 10 Objects
- The Word Maven: Patricia T. O'Conner
- Tributes
- Underappreciated
- Underreported
- Web Extras
Show Archive
Show Archive
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.