Vanguard | January 17, 2007 | 34 comments

Mogadishu Madness

Christof

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After 15 years of anarchy, Current's Kaj Larsen and Christof Putzel venture into Mogadishu, Somalia to explore how the city is adjusting to the new self-proclaimed government, the Islamic Court Union.
  1. groups:
    On Current TV,   Outro,   Vanguard,   Vanguard Weekly Special,   11 more
  2. tags:
    On Current TV Terrorism Africa Islam 22 more
  3. credits:
    Christof Producer, Christof Starring, julian_robinson Editor, more
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34 comments // Mogadishu Madness // Video

  • nickgrowsontrees
  • cairo926
  • DJ23
  • JEREMIAHSKYE
  • chughey
    • 0
      chughey  
    • Unbelievable piece. I got chills watching it. Thank you for having the courage to tell some of the toughest stories in the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • JEREMIAHSKYE
  • huntre
  • bishopobispo
  • bishopobispo
  • onelove75
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • This is what makes Current TV. Your Vanguard journalism team cannot be beaten. Excellent coverage of what is happening in Somalia. Thank you for bringing this to us.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ice_cream_Man
    • 0
      Ice_cream_Man  
    • This makes the US relationship with Islamic countries worse. I see why they think that we are attacking Islam when we're always threatening them or backing other countries invasions. I pray for peace.

    • 3 years ago
  • indigenousprodigy
  • uroborus8
  • hotboyz34
  • mrkyon
  • nickhayfield
  • JoeVisco
    • 0
      JoeVisco  
    • HOW!? How did you get the ability to do this kind of work??? I have been following the Somalia transformation for the past two years. The ICU and the fall of the ICC has been an incredibly interesting and relevant story for everyone to hear about. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot tell you how excited I was! No major media source has covered the story like this.

      I am amazed.

    • 4 years ago
  • razmigh
  • dfroth
    • 0
      dfroth  
    • Well done, depicting the raw nerves, the scarred country and the hopes of Somalis. Brave work from two young journalists. Bravo.

    • 5 years ago
  • charla
  • kenda
    • 0
      kenda  
    • I wanted to let Current TV know that I really appreciated the work Kaj Larsen and Christof Putzel did on the "Mogadishu Madness" documentary. They did a fantastic job covering such a timely, important issue. It''s so refreshing to see journalists focusing their attention on meaningful issues like the one Kaj and Christof covered.
      Thanks again,
      Kenda Williams,
      Florence, Ala.

    • 5 years ago
  • Optimistic
  • blueflame
    • 0
      blueflame  
    • Excellent reporting! This is really the best of Current. Nowhere else on tv can you find such in-depth on the ground international coverage. Keep it up!

    • 5 years ago
  • RoaringLamb
    • +1
      RoaringLamb  
    • Totally admire your courage to venture into such a dangerous and chaotic place. That was a scary moment you endured at the checkpoint -- and helped the audience get an upfront view of the lawlessness of Mogadishu. You were both amazingly calm and steady during that episode, kudos.

      I liked the brief interview you did with the Berkeley kid who came back to start a communications company. I wonder why he had so much hope this time, and how he expects to start a business with so little infrastructure and rule of law? Does he have connections to the ICU, beyond the interpreting role?

      You captured the sense of hope that residents had for peace/security with the ICU group. But other news reports said their support was very limited -- I suppose it''s a challenge of reporting when there aren''t public opinion polls to find on the Web, and finding a contrary opinion would be risky for both journalist and interviewee.

      Did you have other material in your interviews with ICU leaders where you push a little harder on the subject of terrorism and support for al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden? Seems like the video cuts just when there''s an opportunity for a follow-up question. I realize I''m sitting in front of a computer asking you this in hindsight, while you were probably surrounded by ICU men armed to the teeth -- willing, able, and experienced in killing. But if you have more footage of the interviews, those were really compelling, in part because your interview was apparently an exclusive and a first.

      Incredible work, solid journalism, a wealth of context leading up to the trip -- liked the obvious Black Hawk Down reference and really appreciated the old photo of the building that''s now shelled and abandoned -- brave camera work, superlatives all around.

    • 5 years ago
  • ChrisKinch
    • 0
      ChrisKinch  
    • Great work. I admire the guts these VJs have. Working in combat and "on the cusp" journalism is something that changes you. Once you''ve actually been in the sh*t, you understand a lot more about life and the world. It takes a lot to keep the camera pointed in the right direction. Cheers!

    • 5 years ago
  • rnaber
  • one4love
  • embolo
    • 0
      embolo  
    • Excellent job guys! Would love to see it on NBC! Yeah right -- its way too informative for mainstream America. How do I send comments to The Vanguard Team? -- Gary, New York City

    • 5 years ago
  • Bwittany
  • CrazyDave
  • idlethink
    • 0
      idlethink  
    • Holy crap, this is awesome. Somalia has always been just words on a page for me -- bad, miserable, vague words, but words nonetheless. This technicolour account of it has completely overhauled my worldview. Thanks to those responsible.

    • 4 years ago
  • mshen
    • 0
      mshen  
    • Image
    • Reporters Without Borders says Somalia is one of the most dangerous places in the world to work.

      It was interesting to edit this piece, not least because it contains a more nuanced portrait of the former Islamic government than was available through many Western news sources.

    • 4 years ago

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