"just and holy"

March 1, 2010 9:34 AM

The Secret Life of Radovan Karadzic.
A 45 minute documentary made by Rageh Omaar who travels to Serbia and Bosnia to investigate the decade-long period the former president of the Republika Srpska spent in hiding and examines his legacy in present-day Bosnia and beyond. (Warning: graphic and disturbing in parts).
As his trial for Genocide finally commences Karadzic defends his actions as "Just and Holy" ( Meta Related 1; 2; )
posted by adamvasco (13 comments total)

It's good to see him finally facing international justice.

And btw, nice to see a non-western journalism source posted here - not that there's anything particularly great about Al Jazeera, but the variety is nice.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 10:24 AM on March 1, 2010

Actually, I had Al Jazeera English/Int'l as a news channel while I was in Paris, and it consistently gave me better coverage and more interesting special-analyses than CNN or BBC.
posted by LMGM at 10:43 AM on March 1, 2010

sorry, </derail>
posted by LMGM at 10:44 AM on March 1, 2010

Good post. But I'm also reminded of that great Nietsche quote from Beyond Good and Evil: "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you."
posted by bearwife at 10:44 AM on March 1, 2010

I recognize Rageh Omaar from elsewhere, maybe he was on another big network previously. Either way, he is good.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:46 AM on March 1, 2010

Meatbomb - like many Al Jazeera journalists he went through the BBC.
posted by adamvasco at 11:59 AM on March 1, 2010

In a sense, all genocides ARE "just and holy" because those who commit them set themselves up as doing The Work of a Higher Power, because only God can make such decisions, and when is God NOT just?
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:55 PM on March 1, 2010

As for the "Just and Holy" defense, I wonder how much of that line he actually believes, or if he simply took that view as a means to power.
posted by karmiolz at 2:10 PM on March 1, 2010

I'm sorry, I just always raise an eyebrow when something regarding someone I've never heard of is referred to as "the secret life of..."

I also feel like an utter twit not knowing where Srpska is or why they can get away with having those 5 consonants together, no vowel.

Good stuff, though.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 2:41 PM on March 1, 2010

The Rageh Omaar Report. First in a series. Looks good. But I can't find a way to track new videos via RSS.
posted by stbalbach at 4:38 PM on March 1, 2010

Actually, I had Al Jazeera English/Int'l as a news channel while I was in Paris, and it consistently gave me better coverage and more interesting special-analyses than CNN or BBC.

I was reading about this very recently - maybe here?

Anyway, story is that - in a time when most media companies are cutting back on actual reporters on the ground & investigative journalists; instead relying on regurgitating news feeds from elsewhere - Al Jazeera is about the only station in the world with a real (and growing?) force of actual, you know, journalists.

So, it shouldn't be very surprising that they give better coverage & in-depth stories.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:56 AM on March 2, 2010

Grat documentary, very accurate and it gives a pretty good overview of the war, especially regarding Sarajevo.

I'm sorry, I just always raise an eyebrow when something regarding someone I've never heard of is referred to as "the secret life of..."

Never heard of one of the most infamous monsters of post-WWII genocide?
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:25 AM on March 2, 2010

Never heard of one of the most infamous monsters of post-WWII genocide?

I knew of the evil deeds, I guess I never heard his name.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 12:14 PM on March 2, 2010