Winning hearts and minds in Lashkar Gah

(Video) Operation Panther's Claw has pushed the Taliban in Helmand province out of the area along the Helmand river between Lashkar Gah and Gereshk.

The British military say it should enable the 80,000 people who live in the area to vote in Thursday's election. Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala
Tags Help
Subjects: World
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Kaizar Campwala - Aug 19, 2009 - 7:05 AM PDT
Content Type: Video
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Kaizar Campwala - Aug 19, 2009 - 7:05 AM PDT

Reviews

Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
Fabrice Florin
3.9
by Fabrice Florin - Aug. 19, 2009

Good reporting about a British military operation against the Taliban in south Afghanistan. This video segment is factual and fair, and features interviews with Afghan residents, local officials, as well as the British ambassador visiting that region. This report provides useful context, by showing how different stakeholders view the repeated attacks by the Taliban - as well as by Western forces.

I was struck by the muted expressions on Afghani people's faces, which were more telling than anything else. This report does a good job at showing their reluctance to risk their lives by voting in this week's election.

See Full Review » (12 answers)
Kaizar Campwala
4.5
by Kaizar Campwala - Aug. 19, 2009

A very strong piece. I especially like how they juxtaposed the very honest interviews with the Afghan men voicing frustration with the NATO effort and election, with the governor's unconvincing talking points meant to assure foreigners.

See Full Review » (10 answers)
Christine Giannini
3.9
by Christine Giannini - Aug. 20, 2009

Video account of final days before the election in Helmand province. Good coverage of the British envoy holding a meeting with local elders and their take on the war and voting.

The Afghans have a deep distrust of any govt not locally based. It will take a long time for them to believe in anyone at this point. Can see the point of the elder who said "either have a big war and get rid of them or go away without wrecking anything more". He definitely has a point!

See Full Review » (7 answers)
sally ballard
4.4
by sally ballard - Aug. 19, 2009

seems to give both sides - balanced report

See Full Review » (6 answers)
Roy Fuchs
4.0
by Roy Fuchs - Aug. 19, 2009

If it's not quality, it's the best available. The reporters are serious people working in a dangerous place. The story was well done. The viewer has to take it at face value. Whether it is news of propaganda, the viewer will never know.

I'm never certain of the "truth" in such stories. Editors have their intellectual, political and moral biases, the subjects have messages they want to communicate. Do the Afghanis want the outside world to intrude? How do the benefits promised by westerners compare to the their accomplishments? Are these agents of the west any different than the Christian missionaries of one or two hundred years ago? Aren't the just selling a new brand of westerization to a culture far older ... More »

See Full Review » (6 answers)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

4.1

Good
from 6 reviews (53% confidence)
Quality
4.1
Facts
4.2
Fairness
4.2
Sourcing
4.4
Style
4.7
Context
4.0
Depth
3.7
Enterprise
3.7
Relevance
4.3
Popularity
4.0
Recommendation
4.3
Credibility
3.6
# Reviews
3.0
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

No links yet. Please review this story to add some!