Five Minutes with Nir Rosen

The Iraq-war chronicler discusses day-to-day life in Iraq and explains why he thinks young Americans can't end the war.

By Tanya Paperny
May 1, 2008

At this point, Nir Rosen doesn't have much hope. As someone who has traveled extensively in Iraq, Rosen is one of a handful of Western journalists familiar with the on-the-ground conditions in the country. He says that for most Iraqis, life is worse now than it was under Sadaam Hussein. He frequently appears on television and radio—sometimes facing off with the architects of the war—to argue that the U.S. troop surge in Iraq has been an absolute failure. His groundbreaking article in Rolling Stone, "The Myth of the Surge," chronicled the lawlessness beyond the gated-off Green Zone of the American forces. His recent book details the violent civil war that has emerged in Iraq between various sects and militia forces, and illustrates in harrowing detail some of the realities that the mainstream media have been unwilling to portray.

In this video interview with Campus Progress, Rosen explains how the occupation has traumatized a generation of Iraqi youth and argues that young Americans can't help to end the war in Iraq, regardless of their good intentions.

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• iraq
• war
• nir
• rosen

[curiousmeow]

It really boggles my mind that people like Nir Rosen are speaking the truth--very plainly-- and people like me are hearing that truth--almost daily (with a little effort on my part)-- but people like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, indeed most politicians who are making life and death decisions, regurgitate the ideological myths corporate media and lobbyists and power elite? How can they sit in these congressional hearings and receive their constituents' mail and vote the way they do?

[thbyrnes]

Heartbreaking.

[shebakali6]

I wonder if Rosen was raped anally by a bunch of white christian men while they were shouting 'muslim, muslim', we could all roll our eyes and trivialize it. Dumb fucking asshole.

[ITHEREONETHATHASNT]

Wow say goodbye to your career fucko burn in hell!!!

[PERIZ99]

Making fun of a woman who's been raped is as low as you can get. Nir Rosen is one big asshole..

[rachelgolem]

The sad party is, you hate your own people so much, that if Iraq started killing Israeli people you would support them.

When Iraqis kill each other, you blame "Zionists" in the American government.

[rachelgolem]

@curiousmeow

In a few months, the American army will be gone and the good people of Iraq will get to enjoy each other's company without any "Imperialist interference".

I am going to be all broken up when millions of "Anti-Zionists" start killing each other.

[Bambam78]

We must be thankful for those who invest their lives informing masses, like this man. Bravo.