Strategy Update; Humanitarian Aid Update; The Tradition Of Deposed Statues; Open Phones; FilmWeek
Strategy Update
Baghdad appears to have fallen, and the leadership of Saddam Hussein's regime is nowhere to be found. Yesterday, the world saw dramatic pictures of Iraqis and US Marines pulling down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Firdos Square. But, as Ari Fleischer said in a White House briefing today, this was just a statue, and the war is not over yet. Joining host Larry Mantle to talk about the latest developments in the war with Iraq is Phillip Coyle, Senior Advisor at the CDI and former Assistant Secretary for Defense at the Pentagon from 1994-2001.
Humanitarian Aid Update
The victory of coalition forces over the Iraqi military and paramilitary forces has brought with it chaos in the major cities of Iraq. Looting and lawlessness have taken over from the jubilance originally expressed by some Iraqis at Saddam's fall. Larry Mantle checks in with Amanda Williamson, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Washington, and Catrin Schulte-Hillen, Program Director for "Doctors Without Borders" regarding the humanitarian needs of the population and difficulty of getting aid to people during such instability.
The Tradition Of Deposed Statues
What is the history of Statue toppling, defacing and re-carving statues and monuments in times of strife. Larry talks with USC Professor of Art History, John Pollini about the destruction and desecration of symbolic images that goes back as least as far as Ancient Egypt.
Open Phones
Larry Mantle opens the phones about listener attitudes regarding the war in Iraq.
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and critics F.X. Feeney of the L.A. Weekly and Jean Oppenheimer of New Times discuss this week's new film releases, including Anger Management, Ghosts of the Abyss, XX/XY, Better Luck Tomorrow, The Man Without a Past, White Dream, and Fellini: I'm a Born Liar.
The critics also talk about Imitations of Life: The Legacy of Rainer Werner Fassbinder at LACMA as well as Festa Fellini at select Laemmle theaters.