GEOFFREY ROBERTSON QC INTERVIEW - 11th March 2009
This week George speaks to Geoffrey Robertson QC, about the impending
closure of Guantanamo Bay prison. Earlier this year, newly elected US
President Barack Obama pledged to turn a page in US history and ordered
the closure of the prison, one of the most controversial detention
camps in the world. Mr Robertson is a Human rights lawyer, UN war
crimes judge and author who has been a longstanding critic of the
detention compound and America's stance on capital punishment.
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PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI INTERVIEW -22nd March 2009
This week Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks exclusively to
Dateline about the future of his war torn country. While he describes
his country as “torn
and shattered” when he took
over , he says democratic reforms now mean, “We are not
worried about Iraq.” Mr al-Maliki who was on his first visit
to Australia also says the issue of a resurgence of Al Qaeda in Iraq is
over and the possibility of his country becoming a home for terrorist
organisations “ has finished.”
He also declares
that “The
sectarian war has ended in Iraq. We have destroyed
it …”
The Iraqi Prime Minister is also unconcerned about US President Barack
Obama’s pledge to withdraw U.S. forces.
"… he means
by it that the situation has settled in Iraq and
that Iraq is not in need anymore to have these forces there for
extended periods of time". From that perspective, the
situation in Iraq
because of the progress that’s taking place, will definitely
head in the better direction".
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DAVID
IGNATIUS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, ‘THE WASHINGTON POST’
INTERVIEW - 29th March 2009
This week, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Washington in his first
one-on-one with President Obama, George speaks with the Washington
Post's David Ignatius about the US-Australian alliance and Mr Rudd's
global economic ambitions.
Ignatius, an associate editor and columnist on global politics and
economics, was a moderator at this year's World Economic Forum in
Davos.
Earlier this week, Mr Rudd got an "A+" from embattled US Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner for his views on handling the global
economic mess. "If we did what he advised, we'd all be in a better
place," said Geithner.
After lengthy talks with President Obama about the global crisis and
finding a global solution to the issue, Mr Rudd also welcomed "the
return of US global economic leadership".
With his views on International Monetary Fund reform and China's role
in rescuing the world from the current financial maelstrom, Dateline
asks David Ignatius how much of a mark will Australia's PM will have
going into next week's highly anticipated G20?
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WILL HUTTON Guardian Columnist - 5th April 2009
This week George speaks with British economist and Guardian columnist
Will Hutton about the global financial crisis - post G20.
With the world's financial and power elite, including US President
Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, descending on
London this week for what has been billed as the most significant
economic gathering since World War II, we discuss the potential impacts
of a global new deal.
Shortly after arriving in London, Mr Rudd said the main aim of the G20
summit was to restore the balance in the economic system.
"We must act with every
resource we can, with every agency of government, with every action of
community, to tend to the wounds of those who now suffer through no
fault of their own," Mr Rudd said.
But with leaders heading to the summit very divided on the solution,
how can a one-day talkfest possibly fix the world's deep economic woes?
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THE ZUMA CONSPIRACY? - 19th April 2009
With South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) widely
expected to win this week's general election, Dateline examines the
political ramifications as controversial party leader Jacob Zuma
prepares to take on the presidency.
We speak to ANC Deputy Secretary General Thandi Modise about the long
campaign and the watershed election that has split the party and
changed the country's political landscape.
We follow with a discussion with veteran South African editor and
journalist Allister Sparks about Zuma - a leader who portrays himself
as a champion of the poor.
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CLARENCE PAGE INTERVIEW - 26th April 2009
It's
been a tumultuous few months for new US president Barack Obama.
As he nears the 100 day mark of his presidency, we speak with
Pultizer-prize winning columnist for The Chicago Tribune Clarence Page
about the dramatic changes that have overtaken his country since
Obama's inauguration.
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Please Note: More interviews will be added as time permits.