Gilbert Achcar teaches politics and international relations at the University
of Paris. He's the author of the recently released book, "The Class of
Barbarisms: September 11 and the Making of the New World Disorder."
He was interviewed on the KPFA Morning Show on March 3, 2003 -- to discuss
his book, Iraq and the war on terrorism.
DIAL-UP VERSION (16kbps, 2.7 megs)
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here to download mp3
- Chick
here to stream
BROADBAND MP3 (56kbps, 9.9 megs)
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here to download mp3
- Chick
here to stream
mp3 runtime = 24:50
One of the refreshing things about Achcar's analysis is that
he contends France and Russia approach the Iraq issue from self-serving economic
prerogatives. Achcar's characterization of France's initial less than noble
orientation speaks to his lucidity as an intellectual -- and to his honesty.
I'd argue that even though the French government started down
the current path for primarily economic and geopolitical interests, the fact
that the French populace is strongly against war on principle makes it
particularly difficult for the French government to flip-flop even if they
wanted to consider U.S. bribes or other friendly forms of persuasion.
I haven't read the book yet so I can't comment on it. Here's
the publisher's page, with further background on Gilbert Achcar:
http://www.monthlyreview.org/clashofbarbarisms.htm
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KPFA's Morning Show airs at 7-9am, Pacific Time
http://www.kpfa.org
