"Iraq: Inside the
Surge"
Monday, April 07, 2008
Michael's
second special aired on CNN International last night,
and it is a powerful, insightful summation of what
the surge has been all about. Many of the concepts
are ones we've heard him discuss often, especially in
recent months, but they are woven together in a tight
package that is a perfect precursor to the
Petraeus/Crocker testimony which begins tomorrow in
DC.
I don't want to describe too much -- a great believer
in "show it, don't tell it" am I, and thanks to
Délie, the clips are converting and will be available
on the site tomorrow -- but I have to mention two
things: one is how striking it is to see Michael out
in the open in Baghdad (in the GZ at one point, but
in other locations as well). It truly is amazing that
the rooftop is ever able to contain him at all.
There is also an incredible "reveal" in the first
section, one of those moments when you know what's
coming but hope you are wrong. A reveal is a dramatic
term, and to me it was dramatic, although It was
written and edited so well -- not hyped up, just a
simply reality in Baghdad -- it's not even shocking
or surprising. It just ... is. I've always
appreciated the understated way he draws us into his
work. It serves him well (as always) in this special,
and I grieve for a man whose face I had never before
seen.
I am going to post some screen grabs on the blog, and
will get the clips (as well as his two appearances on
Domestic today) posted as soon as they are
ready.