wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Publius from Washington Heights April 16, 2008 - 12:17PM

  Speaking of international intrigue, Mr. Glenny sounds exactly like the character Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) in Hitchcock's "North By Northwest."

  
  
• [2] Jonathan from Brooklyn April 16, 2008 - 12:27PM

  Is there any benefit or good which comes from organized crime? Hollywood and the media love to romanticize organized crime, but I would be curious as to what your research has shown.

  
  
• [3] hjs from 11211 April 16, 2008 - 12:28PM

  what about counterfeit goods controlled by the Chinese army?

  
  
• [4] eva April 16, 2008 - 12:28PM

  This is a great and revelatory show, Leonard. The idea that the Balkan conflict is rooted in organized crime is amazing, and fits in with what I'd read about China - that the leader of the Green Gang in Shanghai had a good deal to do with the rise of Mao. And Chiang Kai-shek and all the Chinese leaders were always dependent on the gang leaders, for centuries.

  Thanks as always, Leonard, I can't imagine WNYC without you.

  
  
• [5] hjs from 11211 April 16, 2008 - 12:29PM

  counterfeit goods sold on the streets of NYC mind you. purses and such

  
  
• [6] hjs from 11211 April 16, 2008 - 12:31PM

  by the way there is a show on 13 tonight about this called 'Illicit: The Dark Trade' ch 13 8pm

  
  
• [7] eva April 16, 2008 - 12:33PM

  Can Misha Glenny comment on the influence of gangstas like Isaac Babel's early 20th century Odessan "Benya Krik"? The stories are brilliant, but I've always wondered how much truth was involved in the narrative. Babel's "tough jew" reminds me of the Albanian narrative, where you're kept out of the larger economy, so you turn to crime.