Images of Iraq and the stories behind them
Nine years after it began, the war in Iraq has come to a close. But the images from that conflict continue to tell a powerful and dramatic story of a country going through an enormous evolution.
Photographer Ben Lowy spent time working in Iraq during the war. He's put some of his iconic images together in a pair of books titled "Iraq Perspectives." Errol Barnett recently sat down to talk to Ben about his work and what it was like to be a witness to the conflict.
You can see more photographs by Ben Lowy on the CNN Photo Blog. For more on his career, check out his website: http://benlowy.com
Giving a Voice to Abused Women
Raped, beaten and abused. Afghan women have suffered in silence for years. But a television show called "The Mask" is finally giving them the opportunity to speak out. Producer Sami Mahdi first introduced "The Mask" last year. On the show, women wear masks to conceal their identity as they talk openly about the injustices they've suffered. CNN's Arwa Damon took us behind the scenes of the show earlier this year.
A few weeks ago, we touched base again with producer Sami Mahdi to find out what the show has achieved over the last year.
And now to another story of injustice that played out recently in Afghanistan. A woman named Gulnaz was imprisoned for adultery after a married relative raped her. She was recently pardoned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Gulnaz talked about her heartbreaking ordeal with our Nick Paton Walsh from a safe house in Afghanistan.
Inside the auction of Michael Jackson's belongings
Two years after his death, fans and collectors got their chance to own a piece of Michael Jackson history. More than 500 items from the home where the pop icon died went on the auction block this weekend in California. We're talking everything from furniture to paintings to rugs. Our Alan Duke got a closer look at the items before they went up for sale.
Home from the War Zone
At the height of the War in Iraq, there were 170,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. As of today, there are 6,000 American troops and four U.S. military bases still operating inside the country. All of those bases are located south of Baghdad. Soon, they will be dismantled and the troops will return home. Kyra Phillips talked to some servicemen and women who's already returned to the United States. They told her about their experiences in Iraq, for better and for worse.
Reflections on the Iraq War
After nearly nine years in Iraq, the United States military is packing up its gear and bringing its troops home. The U.S. says the war is over, and Iraq is now a stable, sovereign country. If you ask Iraqis how they feel after almost nine years of occupation, the answer is not so cut and dry.
Arwa Damon and Michael Holmes have been covering the war since the beginning. John Vause talked with them to help put it all in perspective.
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Actor Christian Bale, CNN crew roughed up trying to visit Chinese activist
In China, after he finished shooting his new movie "Flowers of War", actor Christian Bale traveled with a CNN crew to visit Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng. The "Batman" actor said he admired and wanted to meet Chen, a blind self-taught lawyer who has spoken out against China's One Child policy and forced sterilizations. Chen and his family have been under house arrest in their Shandong Province village for some time now, but as recently as last week, the government had apparently eased restrictions on the Chen family allowing them to receive a delivery of medicine, and permitting his 70-year-old mother to go out and get groceries.
When Bale and the CNN crew tried to enter Chen's village, a group of unidentified men stopped them and forced them to leave. See a full report on the altercation HERE.
John Vause spoke with Christian Bale about his experience. (See that above)
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Iraq as the War Ends
CNN's Michael Holmes gives us a look, through his camera lens, at some of what he has been working on while in Iraq. The U.S. says it will end the war in Iraq by the end of 2011.
The High Cost of Saying Goodbye
Across Africa, laying a loved one to rest can be an event rivaled by none other. In some cases, funerals are more important than marriages and births, and no expense is spared. But as our Robyn Curnow discovered, even the simplest of funerals can put many families in difficult financial situations.
Afghanistan blast witness shares story
Photographer John Wendle was recording in Kabul the moment a suicide blast happened. He shares his video and experience above.
See the full report from Nick Paton Walsh here:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai visits the wounded:
Sesame Street.. Afghan Style!
Did you know that there is a brand new edition of the children's classic show "Sesame Street" now showing in Afghanistan? Pretty cool, huh! We wanted to learn more about the production of "Sesame Garden" in Afghanistan, so we called on Sherrie Westin, the executive vice president of Sesame Workshop.
About The Revealer
A new Back|Story series that unearths fascinating new secrets about places and stories you thought you knew. Every other Thursday on Back|Story“The Revealer” Game
Join the action on our new series, “The Revealer.” Use the photo clues to figure out what the subject of this week’s episode will be. Click on the picture to the left for more.
