Link TV presents, exclusive in the U.S., this special International Dateline episode segment: Abu Ghraib - The Sequel. A serious warning - some of the images in this program are very disturbing and may offend.
This International Dateline episode includes three segments: Abu Ghraib - The Sequel, Hollywood Saves the Planet, and The Open Mosque.
Abu Ghraib - The Sequel
International Dateline broadcasts shocking new photos and video of abuses committed at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Before SBS Dateline's original broadcast in Australia on February 14th, these images were never shown to the public.
These new images reveal further widespread abuse including new incidents of apparent torture and sexual humiliation. What is shown in the photos suggests the abuse that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003 was much worse than previously reported.
When the original Abu Ghraib photographs were leaked to the press in 2004, members of the U.S., Congress were given a private viewing of additional photographs and videotapes including the images which appear in this Dateline program, according to the producers. The images shown to Congress were not released to the public, reportedly due to the fear that the release of these images showing American military personnel and contractors would inflame passions in the Middle East. Despite the currently heated international climate, the Dateline producers in Australia decided to air this footage now because they believe it conveys the extent of the horror that occurred at Abu Ghraib.
Since the 2004 leak, the ACLU has sued the Department of Defense for withholding photographs and videos depicting abuse at Abu Ghraib and other detention facilities. In September 2005, a federal judge in New York ruled that the government must turn over the Abu Ghraib images, as well as other visual evidence of abuse, noting "the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed." The decision is currently on appeal by the government. The ACLU said it does not know whether the new photos aired by the Australian Dateline program are the same photos being withheld by the government.
Hollywood Saves the Planet
In the last 12 months, Hollywood has produced a series of highly political films, which have turned out to be box office hits. Dateline's Thom Cookes takes a look at the man cashing in on the power of the moving image to motivate public opinion. EBay entrepreneur, political activist, and now Hollywood producer, Jeff Skoll is behind the recent wave of movies with a message from Syriana, North Country, and Good Night and Good Luck, scoring 11 Academy Award nominations this year.
Thom Cookes talks to the people behind the films - from the actors to the former CIA agent who was the inspiration for the main character in Syriana, played by George Clooney.
The Open Mosque
Dubai businessman Abdallah bin Serkal runs the Jumeira Grand Mosque, which each week opens its doors to visitors of other faiths. Abdallah bin Serkal and Dateline's George Negus chat about relations between the Islamic world and the West and the future of the Middle East in light of the Hamas victory.
About International Dateline
SBS Dateline, which began in 1984, is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program. It has a well-earned reputation for authoritative and incisive reporting. Dateline has taken the traditional way of producing TV current affairs and turned it on its head. Reporters who used to travel with a cameraperson and sound recordist now travel alone and have the responsibility of both filming and reporting their stories. The reporters became video-journalists, gaining access to people and places that the conventional camera crews cannot.
