Fault Lines / Al Jazeera – 2011-07-21 00:20:47

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/faultlines/2011/07/201171910277367770.html

The US and the New Middle East: Libya
Fault Lines / Al Jazeera

(July 19, 2011) — In the first of a two-part series, Fault Lines examines how the Obama administration is reacting to the enormous changes taking place across the Middle East. The decision by the US to intervene in the Libyan conflict has a profound impact on the future of the country. But what are the driving forces behind America’s decision to get involved?

Fault Lines reporter Sebastian Walker travels to the frontlines of the war in Libya to look at what US policy looks like on the ground.

White House officials claim that they acted to prevent a humanitarian disaster — but was such a disaster imminent and what were the other factors involved? Did the US intervene to stabilise Libyan oil production for the global markets? Did the White House decide to depose Muammar Gaddafi to send a message to others in the region? And how does this open up the US to accusations of double standards in its foreign policy?

Through interviews with senior American diplomats and policy makers in Washington, Fault Lines examines the motivation behind the US decision to intervene in Libya. We take a look at what it means for the future of US foreign policy in the region and what impact it has on the people fighting along the frontlines.

‪Plumes of Smoke in Libya:
The Challenge of Filming in Libya
Al Jazeera Fault Lines

(July 13, 2011) — Cameraman Ben Foley describes the worst moment while filming Libyan rebels in this video extra from the upcoming episode of Al Jazeera Fault Lines. 



“It hasn’t hit yet, and you don’t know where it’s going.”



(July 15, 2011) — Producer Jeremy Young on the reality of filming in Libya near borders and oil facilities in this video extra from the upcoming episode of Al Jazeera Fault Lines.



“I can’t tell you how many times on this trip someone has taken their hand and put it over the lens of our camera. We’ve actually had material that was forcibly deleted off of our cameras…there hasn’t been a lot of freedom for us to operate.”



The new episode of Fault Lines, “The US and the New Middle East: Libya,” first aired on Al Jazeera English on July 18, 2011 at 2230 GMT.

Fault Lines airs each week at the following times GMT: Monday: 2230; Tuesday: 0930; Wednesday: 0330; Thursday: 1630.