ABOUT THE PROGRAM
A global lifesaver and self-styled troubleshooter, Fred Cuny often kept pace with the news headlines. For over two decades, Cuny's professional journey would lead him from Biafra to Bosnia to save the lives of countless people trapped in some of the world's most desperate situations. But Cuny also relished the adventure of arriving in the middle of a crisis to tackle insurmountable problems. He was a man prepared to bend the rules or to make enemies if necessary, a man whose resolve often provoked larger questions about America's role and responsibility.
When humanitarian relief was used more and more as substitute for decisive political action, Cuny grew increasingly angry at what he believed to be the cowardice of the world's governments. His aspirations would reach beyond field work; he wanted to be w player on the political stage. And that ambition may have cost him his life.
"The Lost American" profiles one man's contribution to the changing face of humanitarian relief efforts, which in recent decades have rivaled the military operations of the major powers. It spotlights what one person can accomplish to change the world Cuny's story provides inspiration and motivation to viewers, while raising the larger discussion around humanitarian relief issues and U.S. involvement in countries in crisis.
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