The Balloon Goes Up

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As the attack on Iraq begins, we read a soldier's emails about the war so far: &quotWe; all just wonder, just like the people back home, when or if the balloon will go up (that's what we call the start of a war)." If everything goes as planned, we'll also have these stories: David Sedaris files from Paris. Gulf War vet Anthony Swofford (author of the war memoir Jarhead) watches and critiques the TV coverage. Sarah Vowell tells the story of the first time the United States invaded another country to enact &quotregime; change" and free an oppressed people. It was back in 1898 and in the long run, didn't work out so well. An Iraqi explains what it's like to hate Saddam Hussein and have the U.S. dropping bombs on your city. And more.

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Ira Glass