This International Dateline episode includes four segments: Back to Vietnam, Rob Stary Interview, America's Army, and Douglas Wood Follow-Up Interview.
America's Army
With public support for the war in Iraq plummeting, President George Bush pleaded with the country and military forces to "stay the course" in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, with US casualties rising daily, the task of persuading Americans to enlist in the armed forces is becoming increasingly difficult. For the fourth month in a row, the army has fallen short of its recruitment targets. The government is now turning to some rather unconventional methods to persuade young Americans to fight for Uncle Sam.
Back to Vietnam
Australian veterans are returning to Vietnam for the first time - 30 years after the end of the war. For many, the decades have failed to erase the trauma and feelings of guilt over the death and destruction they caused. Over the years, things have actually become worse for many veterans. Dateline's renowned cinematographer, David Brill, travelled back to Vietnam with the vets. David filmed much of the war and still carries a bit of psychological scar tissue himself.
Rob Stary Interview
Following raids on homes in both Sydney and Melbourne, a serious political debate has taken off in Australia about the extraordinary powers currently held by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization in the "fight against terrorism." ASIO's legislative powers are under review. The Howard Government has already indicated it wants to scrap the sunset clause in the act and retain the sweeping powers given to ASIO in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001. On the heels of leaked newspaper stories about the two-city raids, former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has warned that Australia could be losing its democratic values. Other critics have gone even further, describing ASIO's powers as the beginning of an era of totalitarianism. In response, Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has consistently refused to either confirm or deny details of the raids. He points out that no charges have been laid, despite leaks about specific terrorist targets. Dateline's George Negus speaks with lawyer Rob Stary, who represents people targeted in the recent raids.
Douglas Wood Follow-Up Interview
In his television interview and press conference, recently released, Douglas Wood spoke of his two Iraqi colleagues - Fares Shakir and Adel Najm - who were killed, presumably because of their association with Wood. While his rescue was being understandably celebrated, we've heard practically nothing from or about the families of the two dead Iraqis. Dateline contacted both families in Baghdad and was able to speak with Haider, the 28-year-old son of Faris, Douglas Wood's assistant and friend.
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.
