HDNet World Report Goes Inside the Iraqi Transition

HDNet World Report Goes Inside the Iraqi Transition

Special Correspondent Tamara Banks embeds with U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers and speaks to CENTCOM Commander, General David Petraeus in an EXCLUSIVE interview - Tuesday, September 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- HDNet World Report special correspondent Tamara Banks travels to Iraq to paint a unique picture of the Iraqi transition, Tuesday, September 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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Banks, who was embedded with the soldiers of the MNSTC-I (Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq) and the Iraqi Security Forces, was given extraordinary access to top commanders including General Ray Odierno, the commander of all coalition forces in Iraq and General Frank Helmick, the commander of MNSTC-I. Banks examines issues that the Command must deal with in helping the Iraqis learn to govern themselves amongst the myriad changes faced by this war-torn country.

Training and advising the Iraqis is becoming even more challenging as violence continues and U.S. forces face a deadline to withdraw from Iraq.

But, for many soldiers, this is also a humanitarian mission. Banks reports on this first-hand as she travels with soldiers to visit neighborhoods in which homeless Iraqis live in bombed out buildings, many with no electricity or running water. The soldiers bring clothing, food, diapers, school supplies and other necessities to these poverty-stricken people. These extraordinary men and women do this on their own time, with no body armor or heavy support, and with goods contributed by their families and friends at home.

And while many Iraqis now view American soldiers as diplomatic ministers of hope, instead of fearing or hating them, critics are concerned that we are creating dependency. The Iraqi government does not have a program for public assistance and many are worried that when the US leaves the country, these people will have no help whatsoever.

Exclusive Interview with General Petraeus

Upon her return from Iraq, Banks obtained an exclusive interview with CENTCOM Commander Gen. David Petraeus. Petraeus describes the situation in Iraq as still ". . .fragile and [progress] is reversible." Petraeus also describes what lessons learned in Iraq can be applied in Afghanistan (and what lesson cannot be), his opinion of President Obama, and the chances that he'll run for President himself someday.

For still photos and video clips of this story please click on the following link:

http://www.hd.net/wr730.html

"HDNet World Report: Inside the Iraqi Transition" premieres on HDNet, Tuesday, September 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET with a re-air midnight ET to accommodate West Coast Prime Time.

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