Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/30/6 |
Title | Julian Borger |
Date | 2 June 2003 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 2 AIFF files (278.7 MB) |
Creator Name | Borger, Julian; journalist |
Description | Interview with Julian Borger, Guardian Washington correspondent. Conducted by Leslie Plommer on 2 June 2003. This interview is part of a series of interviews with Guardian staff who covered the Iraq War of March-April 2003. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Track 1 00.09 Introductions. Covered Iraq War from America 00.35 Disbelief in Britain that war would take place. Different view in America 01.25 Inevitability of conflict 01.50 British support for America. Endorsement of Tony Blair 02.35 Different styles of George W Bush and Tony Blair. Legacy of Second World War 03.20 Recovery of special relationship following Vietnam War the wrong war 03.50 British support of Iraq War essential in shaping American attitudes 04.00 Being a British reporter in Washington 04.50 Colin Powell as a spokesperson corresponding with the foreign press 05.05 Whitehouse and Pentagon officials unlikely to talk to the Guardian 06.00 American views of the Guardian 06.20 The run up to the war 06.55 Coverage of the war once it started 07.05 Guardian given access to Pentagon. Difficulty to access independent reports 07.55 Differences between American and British military spokespersons 08.15 Typical day of war coverage. Monitoring news outlets. Spending time in the Pentagon 09.55 Lack of negative reports to come from the Pentagon
10.15 Remembers army briefings. Upset of army general over army set up 11.45 Questions over the future of the US military 12.00 Guarding of information 12.28 More information available on the ground 12.50 Unable to make phone calls from the Pentagon. Logistical difficulties faced 14.50 Discussion of Donald Rumsfeld sessions, briefings from the US defence secretary 16.00 Bemusement at presence of British journalist 16.30 Development of coverage. How he saw Washingtons role in Guardian coverage 17.25 Night duty of Washington coverage. Differences in time zones 18.18 Being a British man in Washington at that time. Private dismay seen against build up to war. Did not come across to US audiences 19.52 Socialising difficult due to hours of the Pentagon
20.35 Time spent with American journalists. Many became 'Pentagon loyalists'. Journalists reflecting the institution they serve in 22.00 Being embedded in Washington
Track 2 00.10 Lessons to be learnt from his coverage 00.47 Need for someone to be permanently embedded in the Pentagon 01.19 Need for a journalist on the ground. To be embedded with American military 02.10 Interest in the daily life of the American military 03.00 Discussion of Audrey Gillans coverage of everyday life of the British military 03.20 The military speaking uncensored. Gives different view of war |
Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Minidisc recording |
Printed document |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Julian Borger |
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