NPR

I listened to the NPR broadcast with Terry Gross interviewing Aram's Roston's about Ahmad Chalabi. I got the impression that they had a previous rapport. She was aware of Aram's Roston's resume. She was versed enough with his writing that she could hand him a quote of his as cue as to which chapter from his book that she wanted him to address. The interview lasted 38 minutes.

It seems to me that Terry Gave Aram a lot of latitude. When you talk about a major government agency I feel that you have to quote sources especially thoroughly; especially if you are NPR criticizing the government or Fox News criticizing Moveon.org. She never asked "How do you know" "Where did you hear this." "Did you talk to the CIA?" Basic questions but very important.
Aram in the very beginning of the interview he leans on saying things like" Some people say." when he is talking about aspect of his thesis that may make or break his case. When quoting politicians he would say "they said" never mentioning a specific name or title or position "they" only being identified as neo-conservative with that term being as big a blanket as "liberal". Terry never followed up and asked "who?". An anonymous source? Strom Thurman? Don Rumsfeld? Or someone who in fact has no clue what was going on and wasn’t really in a position to know? We don't know because Terry never checked, and I don't plan on buying this man's book to follow up. Perhaps his sources are better addressed in his book.
This was a softball interview and Terry never once challenged her guest who was talking about events that we all know happened but I question his ability to prove some of the motives he accuses people of, specifically those in the American government. Were there neo-cons who ate up everything Chilabi said, certainly. Where they in a position for their opinion to effect policy? Who knows since he never names those involved in the romance he describes.