Here’s Washington Post assistant managing editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran on the Daily Show last night. He’s talking about his new book, Imperial Life in the Emerald City, which tells the inside story of the American administration of Iraq from within the infamous Green Zone. He starts off gamely matching Jon Stewart’s banter, almost as if he were one of the show’s fake correspondents, such as Aasif Mandvi. But watch how the audience stops laughing, and Jon becomes speechless, when Rajiv starts breaking down specific stories of the lack of preparation and incompetence of the enterprise. Powerful and shocking. [Part 2 of the segment is here.]
December 15, 2006
Rajiv Chandrasekaran Runs the Voodoo Down Too
19 comments
on December 15, 2006 09:45 AM · Direct link
Oh man, TPM Cafe had excerpts of this book online about a month ago and it looks amazing. The parts I read were scathing critiques in and of themselves, but it doesn't seem to be written from an "I told you so" perspective. I definitely want to pick this up.
on December 15, 2006 09:50 AM · Direct link
Rajiv rocks. Great interview.
on December 15, 2006 10:19 AM · Direct link
Yeah it was kinda funny how he kept coming back at Jon's punchlines. Nice to see that some people can pull their heads out of the sand tell the truth about what's going on in Eye-Raq.
on December 15, 2006 10:31 AM · Direct link
Rajiv was also nice to Jon when Jon mispronounced his last name like "chandra-seee-kureen" and went "I nailed it.. !! I nailed it!!". Also, this lead to a loooong explanation of this last name funda to my friend this morning; anyway, it would be interesting to read his book.
on December 15, 2006 10:32 AM · Direct link
The book is a remarkable one -- one of my "best of" picks for 2006 in any category, and one of the best non-fiction books I've read in years. Though I haven't yet finished "Fiasco" by his Wash Post colleague Thomas Ricks -- the two of them really packed a powerful one-two punch this year.
on December 15, 2006 10:35 AM · Direct link
I read this book after seeing a Frontline episode where Mr. Chandrasekaran was interviewed. It's outstanding, very well written and very well researched. My guess is that he'll be preaching to the choir for the most part, as those who read it will be those who are already most critical of the war effort. Still, it's an important contribution to the discussion.
on December 15, 2006 10:38 AM · Direct link
loved the interview, and have made respect for rajiv. but i didn't care for Rajiv's acceptance of Jon's Armenian-ization of his name at the end of part 2. chandra-sekarian, what kind of a desi name is that? oh well, what's a southie to do, right? ;)
on December 15, 2006 10:58 AM · Direct link
As a fellow Southie I was a bit irked by the utter slaughter of his name as well. But, at the end of the day it's nice to see the brother getting his name out there.
on December 15, 2006 11:01 AM · Direct link
And I'm also glad he didn't cleave his name into Chandra, or Sekaran. My parents did that. On the one hand, it does make my life easier in a lot of ways, but on the other I would've liked to keep that tie to the homeland.
on December 15, 2006 11:06 AM · Direct link
Jon Stewart dropped his own "ethnic" name of Liebowitz, so what else do you expect from him? The funny thing is, he seemed proud of himself for getting the name right. I probably wouldn't correct Jon Stewart on national TV either. At least he got his first name right.
on December 15, 2006 11:33 AM · Direct link
The book was a fantastic read - modern imperialism courtesy Halliburton, CPA (coalition provisional authority) and Pentagon. The stories and anecdotes were illuminating of the kind of governance that US had in mind for Iraq. The British colonial experience must have been very similar.
on December 15, 2006 12:38 PM · Direct link
Jon's Armenian-ization...
Succint, Naina. I like.
on December 15, 2006 12:42 PM · Direct link
As the resident neo-con or war-monger, I am not ignoring this. Will address when I have more time (and can listen to the interview).
on December 15, 2006 01:27 PM · Direct link
I probably wouldn't correct Jon Stewart on national TV either.
Jerry Seinfeld corrected Jon on his pronunciation of sanguine last month. That was pretty darn funny.
on December 15, 2006 03:15 PM · Direct link
I too was irked by the butchering of the name (armenianization is exactly right), but otherwise it was a good interview (though having heard all of his appalling stories on previous talk-shows, i wasn't so shocked).
Suggestion: could you embed part 2 of the video below the fold so that we don't need to actually go to comedy central's clunky, pop-up-infested, senses-assaulting site ?
Thanks.
on December 15, 2006 05:29 PM · Direct link
The stories and anecdotes were illuminating of the kind of governance that US had in mind for Iraq. The British colonial experience must have been very similar.
Yes, I thought so too. The stupidity, racism and arrogance. Isn't it flat-out illegal to ask who you voted for in an interview? I would love to see the people who didn't get jobs in Iraq as a result of Democrat affiliations sue the goverment.
Anti-war from the very beginning, listened to Rumsfeld's plans for agile troops and tactical assults with disbelief, paid attention to the no-bid contracts, was called anti-american and a conspiracy freak by some of my own friends....but Jesus F Christ - even in my most cynical assessments, I didn't think the administration was this stupid and self-serving. Definitely buying the book.
on December 15, 2006 08:22 PM · Direct link
Thanks for the heads up, I am goign to catch the rerun tonight. SAJAForum has an interview with him.
on December 16, 2006 12:31 AM · Direct link
He is going to be the keynote speaker at this year's SAAN conference. Held at the University of Michigan Jan 26-28 Find more information at www.saanconf.org
on December 16, 2006 12:01 PM · Direct link
if you're interested in learning more about aasif mandvi (erm, mandviwala actually), you might want to check out the jan issue of nirali magazine.
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