News stories tagged with "bill-putnam"

(08/24/10) The war in Afghanistan continues to proceed with limited success and lots of violence. General David Petraeus said yesterday the Taliban's momentum has been reversed in many parts of the country. But he urged caution over hopes for an American pullback of troops next summer. Photojournalist Bill Putnam recently returned from Afghanistan after a six-week embed with an infantry company in the 101st Airborne. He spent part of that time at Combat Outpost Margah, not far from the mountainous border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. And he saw firsthand the challenges U.S. troops face trying to persuade local leaders to turn away from the Taliban. Putnam attended a "shura," or council, one day called by an American Army officer. The meeting was to discuss reports that local elders had been meeting with Taliban leaders in Pakistan. In this audio diary, Putnam reports the meeting went well - with one big exception.

(07/27/06) Photojournalist Bill Putnam was in the Army when he met David Sommerstein in Kosovo in 2002. He's been living in the heart of the chaotic, violent world of Baghdad for two years - one year as a soldier, another as a freelancer stringing for Time magazine and ZUMA Photo Agency. He's back home in Portland, Oregon now. Putnam spoke with David Sommerstein about war-time photojournalism.

(03/21/06) Yesterday, President Bush said Americans need to look beyond violence in Iraq for signs of progress. The president told an audience in Cleveland he understands why some Americans are disheartened by daily images of "savage" violence from Iraq. On Capitol Hill, Senator Joe Biden said Iraq is in what he calls a low-grade civil war, and may be on the brink of a full-blown civil war when militias fully engage in the violence.

However you frame it, civilians are dying every day as the war enters its fourth year. Freelance journalist Bill Putnam has been embedded with 10th Mt. Divison soldiers in Iraq this year as they've patrolled in and around Baghdad. Thousands of Iraqis come to the main American base - camp Liberty outside Baghdad International Airport to work every day. Most of their jobs are in construction or contracting. A few own stores at the local bazaar on camp. Putnam says local people are like ghosts to many American soldiers - seen but rarely heard. It's hard to have a conversation, but not impossible.

(03/14/06) Just last month, the 10th Mountain Division deployed to Afghanistan for the third time since 2001. Meanwhile, hundreds of soldiers in the division's 1st Brigade now in Iraq are veterans of the last deployment to the mountains of Afghanistan. Not everything the soldiers learned or experienced in the mountains there applies to the deserts of Iraq though. Freelance journalist Bill Putnam is embedded with the 10th Mt. Division in Iraq. He talked with soldiers with the brigade's 1st of the 87th Infantry about the differences -- and how they're applying the lessons they learned in the mountains to the deserts.

(12/15/05) In Iraq, tribal Sheiks are often central figures for the U.S. military. Unit commanders meet often with sheiks to talk about local events and act as a mutual bridge between U.S. soldiers and Iraqis. Lately, a lot of the talk has centered on Thursday's elections. Freelance photojournalist Bill Putnam recently sat in on one such conversation. Captain Adam Lackey of the 101st Airborne Division spoke with a sheik in Bayji, in the area known as the Sunni triangle. Their conversation was far-ranging, from the Sunni sheik's surprising support of a Shiite candidate, to concerns over ballot rigging and Iran, to the sheik's desires for a secular Iraq. Putnam sent us this audio postcard.

(11/30/05) The situation is Iraq continues to be very dangerous for foreigners. Yesterday the Associated Press reported 11 foreigners were abducted. Earlier this month, two car bombs targeted the Al-Hamra Hotel in Baghdad, where many foreign journalists stay. 8 Iraqis died in the blast. Freelance photojournalist Bill Putnam was staying near the hotel, at Time Magazine's house. He was in his room when the first bomb went off. He sent us this audio diary.

(08/05/05) More than 3000 soldiers from Fort Drum near Watertown will deploy to Iraq next week. The 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team has been training for the mission for months. On Monday during The 8 O'Clock Hour, David Sommerstein has a report on how the Army trains its soldiers to deal with the media, what they can and can't say, and how troops see the embedded reporters and cameramen on the battlefield. Today David's with us to talk about a deployment of a different sort. His friend, photojournalist Bill Putnam, is getting ready to return to Iraq as a freelance stringer for Time magazine. Last year, Putnam was sending us audio diaries from Baghdad, where he was stationed with an Army public affairs unit.

(02/22/05) For the last 10 months, we've been hearing audio diaries from Baghdad from Corporal Bill Putnam. He's a photojournalist with the Army's 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. He and David Sommerstein met in Kosovo several years ago. Earlier this month, Putnam completed his tour of duty in Iraq. He flew out of the country on a Blackhawk helicopter and sent one last audio diary.

(01/31/05) Iraqi officials estimate voter turnout was higher than the 57 percent predicted before the yesterday's election. Iraqis stood in long lines to vote in defiance of mortar attacks, suicide bombers and boycott calls. But in some regions, turnout is estimsted in the single digits, as the pace of bombings and other violent attacks dissuaded many from voting. The capital city, Baghdad, is among the most dangerous places. That's where Army photojournalist Bill Putnam is stationed. Putnam's with the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. He's been sending us audio diaries of his experiences. Today he tells us about the December interrogation of a suspected insurgent.

(01/10/05) There are fewer than three weeks until national elections in Iraq. Insurgent attacks on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and citizens continue. Last week, the commander of American ground forces in Iraq told the New York Times 4 of 18 provinces in the country are still not safe enough for people to vote. One of those provinces is Baghdad, where Army photojournalist Corporal Bill Putnam is stationed with the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. He's been sending us audio diaries. Troops frequently conduct raids to find insurgent leaders. Putnam went on one raid last month in the Al-Rashid neighborhood of Baghdad. Soldiers were looking for a suspected cell leader of Sunni insurgents. Here's Putnam's audio diary.