greenwald

The media in the U.S. like to refer to the corrupt government in Afghanistan, but new reports from the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) say that about three-quarters of its active corruption investigations involve Westerners. Who's really corrupt? Thanks to Brave New Films for the video.

The spotlight is on Afghanistan, but are we asking the right questions? Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films has released several installments of his series, Rethink Afghanistan, over the last several months calling for a different kind of dialogue. What is social capital? And can it save your career? Juliette Powell, author of "33 Million People in the Room," has some answers. And a commentary from Janet Raiffa, a recruiting agent who lost her job in March. (Thanks to Cassidy Friedman and MoveOn.org for video.)

Keith Olbermann wrote to me apropos my F Word on Monday. Following news of a corporation-brokered truce between MSNBC and FOX, I'd written that while the two networks pose as divided - and play up social divides for ratings - they actually stand united when it comes to corporate profits. According to a New York Times report, General Electric, which owns MSNBC, reined in their host Keith Olbermann  as part of a deal to call off Bill O'Reilly's questioning of GE's business. A notable example of corporate interests trumping ratings - several commentators thought - myself included.