Iraq

IRAQ: In Iraq, young people trust neither the politicians nor the parties. MODERN TIMES has met the director and producer of the film Baghdad on Fire, which deals with the mobilization of the youth fighting for change in the bad governance of the country's leaders. Karrar Al-Azzawi says the following about the US invasion in 2003: "They brought 'democracy', but we got only chaos and corruption – with politicians who only wanted to steal. The religious leaders were also involved in this."

PRESS AND MEDIA : After several hundred thousand dead, it is time for a pause to think about the war in Ukraine. What we in the press do is propaganda, and the price can be high. News is often created within a self-referential framework, writes war correspondent Ragnar Skre.

IRAQ: The Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad has written an excellent book that dispels the typical view of a sectarian and divided society as the main cause of Iraq's long and continuing tragedy.

SYRIA: Carsten Wieland uncovers a large number of mistakes in the Western donor countries' handling of the humanitarian crisis during the Syrian civil war. He also mentions how rebel forces have deliberately starved local people to attract aid: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda.

MODERN TIMES CONVERSATIONS: From someone who should know the intricacies of foreign policy and geopolitics: Thorbjørn Jagland on military rearmament and enemy images – when it comes to the USA, Russia, China, Turkey and Libya.

NOTICE We need a media culture and a society built on accountability and truth. We do not have that today.

PRIORITIES: Many who question the legitimacy of the US wars seem to be pressured by research and media institutions. An example here is the Institute for Peace Research (PRIO), which has had researchers who have historically been critical of any war of aggression – who have hardly belonged to the close friends of nuclear weapons.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Beauty, suffering, wealth, poverty, superficiality and raped children are different sides of the same coin, says photographer Marco Di Lauro, who spent a week with the Red Cross in Bergamo during the covid-19 outbreak.

resurrection: The three books are equal parts revolutionary manifestos for those who want an analysis of the state of affairs, and strategic manuals for those who have already taken to the streets and revolted.

cinema Relevant The Outpost confirms the turn American war films have taken from system criticism of the hero cult.

WAR INDUSTRY:When the oil age is over, we can survive war – if we turn right. Drama series Made in Norway raises ethical issues for the Norwegian arms industry.

PORTRAIT FILM: War Reporter Robert Fisk has the courage to monitor and challenge. He is known for reporting from the front lines in violation of the official line of politicians and authorities.

ITS OWN ROOM: In Women of Kuwait, we get an insight into the lives of various Kuwaiti women through their bedrooms. Apparently there is little that separates them and other women in the world.

CHRONICLE: Is there any reason to cheer for the arrest of Julian Assange?

SOLDIERS: What are the consequences of «outsourcing» the war in such a sensitive area as the Middle East?

muzzle: Power abuses, war of attacks and mass murder are carried out today without anyone lifting a finger, since all criticism is dismissed as "conspiracy theory".