Roundup

9-11-01, the world changed for America; 3-20-03, America changed for the world [audio 23min]

Four leading voices of the BBC's coverage in the last five years (Jim Muir; Magdi Abdelhadi; Lyse Doucet; John Simpson) give their varying assessments of how the Iraq invasion and subsequent insurgency developed, charting the missed opportunities and faulty assessments by the Coalition, and the murderous exploitation of Iraq's post-war frailty by Saddam loyalists and foreign Islamists. They also look at how the ripples begun in the Sunni triangle have since spread globally, affecting the politic

Pirates not just peg-legs, parrots, pistols [audio 23min]

From Black Beard to bandits who trail the coasts of Somalia, Nick Rankin takes a journey through history, looking at pirates of the past, present and future. Rankin is Chief Producer, Arts, at the BBC World Service. He also looks at the issue of modern-day piracy, from illegal downloads of music and software to counterfeit DVDs. In Part One - "Swashbucklers of the past" - Rankin takes a treacherous journey through history, analysing the popular modern image of pirates as we know it. Th

Was Austria Nazism's victim or ally? [audio 29min]

Seventy years ago, many Austrians welcomed Hitler as he took their country into the Third Reich. But, after the war, Austria was depicted as a victim of Nazism rather than its ally. Veteran reporter Charles Wheeler explores how Austrians have faced up to their past.

The end of J Edgar Hoover's empire [audio 15min]

J Edgar Hoover finally relinquishes his grip over the FBI and America - by dying - in Part 6 of Tom Mangold's 10-part series looking at the first 100 years of the FBI. Mangold is an award-winning investigative journalist and author. See March 3rd 2008 posting for more details on this series.

Commies, bugging and secret files [audio 15min]

All-powerful secret policeman J Edgar Hoover bugs most of his enemies but not the Mafia in Part 4 of Tom Mangold's 10-part series looking at the first 100 years of the FBI. Mangold is an award-winning investigative journalist and author. See March 3rd 2008 posting for more details on this series.

Women in silent comedy: The witty women stars, directors and writers of silent film [audio 9min]

"No comedienne ever became a truly important film clown," according to film historian Walter Kerr. But next week, Birds Eye View, the charity that champions women filmmakers, are throwing a custard pie in the face of this kind of thinking in Clowning Glories and Screwball Women, a season of silent films to celebrate and honour the unsung heroines of comic film. Stars included Mary Pickford, Mabel Normand, Ossi Oswalda and Marion Davies, playi

Irish advisor to Obama steps down [video 2min]

A foreign policy advisor to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has resigned from his campaign and apologised, after calling rival Hillary Clinton a 'monster'. Samantha Power, a Harvard professor and journalist, was born in Ireland, where she is currently touring. She said she regretted making the remark. Ms Power said it was an off-the-record comment to the Scotsman newspaper, but the paper's editor said it had clearly been done on the record. During a visit to Belfast, where

Paisley quietly folds his tent and slips away [audio 22min]

Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, looks back at the last years of the long and tempestuous career of Ian Paisley. Peter Robinson, Ian Paisley's probable successor, tells Gorman there are tremors still in the DUP after Dr Paisley's announcement. Niamh Sweeney reports that, after 10 years, there are more walls and barriers designed to keep the Northern communities apart.

Daylight Saving Time: War over an hour [audio 1st 5min]

The transition to Daylight Saving Time hasn't always been an easy one. From riots in Athens, Ohio, over shortened bar hours to time-zone separation anxiety in the Twin Cities, Dr. David Prerau, shares stories of Daylight Saving Time dilemmas. D is the author of Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.

History of air travel [audio 30min]

As well as its collection of military aeroplanes, Britain's Imperial War Museum, at Duxford, near Cambridge, is home to many historically important civil aircraft. Journalist John McCarthy visits the airfield and hears about the connections between the forces' planes and those used by the airlines, and how the famous wartime bomber, the Lancaster, became the York in post-war civilian life. McCarthy is joined by Richard Ashton, the museum director; Ken Pettit, a member of the Duxford Aviation Soc

History of sea travel [audio 30min]

Journalist John McCarthy gets on board the SS Great Britain, the world’s first steam-powered, propeller-driven ship, now restored as a museum in Bristol, England. It is the winner of numerous awards, and Bristol's Dockyard Museum charts the history of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's masterpiece. To hear how this first-ever luxury ocean liner transformed the way people travelled as its speed enabled the development of tourism by sea, McCarthy is joined by Matthew Tanner, Nancy Chambers and Capta

History of rail travel [audio 30min]

Journalist John McCarthy travels to Britain's National Railway Museum in York to meet its director Andrew Scott and Ian Macbeth, former Managing Director of Great Railway Journeys. They take a look back at the past of rail travel in the form of some of the great steam trains that once broke speed records which rival those of today. McCarthy also discusses the current expansion of Europe’s high speed rail network, looks at the viability of magnetic levitation, and hears about the first new steam

Irish activist Deirdre McAliskey on International Women’s Day & role of women in Irish peace process [video 7min]

March 8th has been International Women’s Day since 1975. Origins date back to the early 20th century. On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America held the first National Women’s Day in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike here in New York. This year, women are expected to lead gatherings and demonstrations worldwide. Journalist Amy Goodman speaks with Irish activist Deirdre McAliskey, daughter of the world-renowned civil rights activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey.

Voting fairness in America [audio 12min]

Journalist Farai Chideya leads a discussion on America's modern democratic process and whether the current electoral system is fair. She's joined by William Poundstone, author of Gaming the Vote: Why Elections Aren't Fair, and What We Can Do About It and Robert Traynham, D.C. bureau chief for the Comcast cable network, CN8.

35 years in Pakistan jail cell [audio 11min]

For 35 years, Kashmir Singh was imprisoned in Pakistan. His family couldn't find him. Indian and Sikh organizations spent years fruitlessly searching for him. His case had long since been forgotten, even by his captors. And in the end, he was discovered purely by accident, during a routine jail visit by a group including Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights. After that chance discovery, Kashmir Singh was pardoned by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf -- and at long last, is now home with his w

Scottish kilt or plaid skirt? [audio 7min @22:15]

A warning to all proud Scotsmen: according to Howie Nicholsby, that so-called "kilt" you're wearing may be nothing more than a simple plaid skirt. Mr. Nicholsby is an Edinburgh kilt-maker. And, while you could argue he's got a vested interested, he believes that a true Scottish kilt isn't the real deal unless it's made of wool, hand-sewn, and made in -- you guessed it -- Scotland. And he's behind a new campaign tailored to make the European Commission bestow protected status on the 16t

Robin Wright interview [audio 51min]

Two award-winning journalists Diane Rehm and the Washington Post's Robin Wright discuss the future of the Middle East. In her new book, Dreams and Shadows, Wright shares insights from 35 years covering the Middle East and why she believes a growing culture of change may reshape the political landscape.

Kucinich wins Ohio primary ... for House seat [audio 1st 11min]

Hilary Clinton is proving she's still a fighter, after primary victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island. For the New York senator, yesterday's contests were all about survival. But, while Clinton scored big with the popular vote, she has only managed to collect a small number of pledged delegates -- meaning her opponent, Barack Obama, still has the lead in overall delegate counts. Meanwhile, their common rival Republican Senator John McCain has sealed his nomination, getting the nod from his f

Revenge of the nerds: D&D master Gygax dies [audio 7min]

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax died this week. First published in 1974, the fantasy role playing game has been ridiculed as the pastime of supergeeks, but don't dismiss D&D. Time magazine columnist James Poniewozik says the game has had a profound influence on today's popular culture.

Economic costs of military operations in Iraq [audio 51min]

Some analysts estimate that the U.S. is spending about $12 billion dollars a month to fund military operations in Iraq. Award-winning journalist Diane Rehm explores different views on the economic costs of the war and what we gained as a result. Her guests are Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow in foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution; Linda Bilmes, Professor, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Winslow Wheeler