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.