Letter From America By Alistair Cooke: The Bush Jr Years (2001- 2004)

Alistair Cooke praises unseen fighter pilots protecting New York and examines the stepping-up of internal security and the publication of a list of nuclear threats to the US.

Alistair Cooke explores the difficult and exceptional life of champion American golfer, lawyer, scholar and engineer Robert Tyre Jones.

Alistair Cooke recalls his personal experience of the day in 1933 when every bank in America shut and the lessons it taught him about how economies work.

Alistair Cooke offers his view of the flawed ideology behind the idea of an "axis of evil" and the US's relationship with its traditional allies and its many new ones.

Why shouldn't Rudolph Giuliani receive a knighthood? Alistair Cooke reveals the historical objections and misconceptions of America's relationship with honours.

Alistair Cooke expresses his concern about the US government's conception of an "axis of evil", their desire to invade Iraq and the possible restraining power of the UN.

Alistair Cooke explains why we should all be interested in the President's budget; the new found importance of US homeland defence and the pork barrel metaphor.

Alistair Cooke examines the ever changing nature of war, the history of four Geneva Conventions and argues the case for a new convention for a new type of war.

Alistair Cooke examines the very real impact of inaccurate weather forecasts; the fall of Enron and the new US foreign policy being enacted at Guantanamo Bay.

Alistair Cooke wonders, upon considering the reality, why anyone would want to live like a Queen and examines the lifestyles of US presidents.

Alistair Cooke on how an unlikely political allegiance is transforming American education, the altered state of US law making after September 11 and Milosevic at the Hague.

Alistair Cooke considers change, the election of George W Bush, the transformation of Rudolph Giuliani after September 11 and Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New York.

Alistair Cooke questions why hearing the American national anthem should be uniquely affecting since the attacks on September 11th.

In the wake of 9/11, Alistair Cooke remembers introducing Bernstein to Handel's Messiah and admires the generosity of Tiger Woods. First broadcast 21 December 2001.

Alistair Cooke discusses the rumour of a potential attack on the San Francisco Bridge and the warnings by scientists about global warming.

Alistair Cooke considers the political and ethical dilemmas of "racial profiling" at airports since September 11th.

Alistair Cooke reflects on the horror of home grown terrorists used by al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells.

The coincidences between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy. Plus, the UN debate on war with Afghanistan.

Alistair Cooke discusses the creation of The Space Guard Project, invented to eliminate potential extraterrestrial catastrophes.

Alistair Cooke reflects on the outpouring of patriotism and the outburst of flag hanging in response to the September 11th attacks.