A preview of PBS documentary series on post-Sept. 11 America

Local Iraq war vets Ed Hrivnak and Jack Lewis, along with Muslim author Irshad Manji, will speak Thursday evening in Seattle as part of a panel discussion tied to a new PBS documentary series. The 11-part series, "America at a Crossroads," examines the country post-Sept. 11. It will be shown in its entirety April 15-20 on KCTS.

KCTS, the King County Library System and the World Affairs Council are also presenting several free screenings of some of the documentaries, as well as public lectures, over the next couple of weeks.

For a full description of the documentary series, as well as individual air dates, go to www.kcts.org.

The public events are as follows:

• "America at a Crossroads: Meet the Filmmakers." Manji, Hrivnak and Lewis and clips of two documentaries, "Operation Homecoming: Writing the War Experience" and "Faith Without Fear." 6 p.m. Thursday, Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.

• "The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom." A film that looks at former Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle. 7 p.m. April 3, Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way.

• "Gangs of Iraq." A film that looks at Iraq's sectarian militias. 7 p.m. April 4 at Redmond Regional Library, 15990 N.E. 85th.

• "Faith Without Fear." A film about Muslim dissident Manji, author of "The Trouble With Islam Today." 7 p.m. April 5, Fairwood Library, 17009 140th S.E. Renton.

• "Warriors." A film that explores how soldiers and civilians perceive one another. 7 p.m. April 5, Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 First Way S.; 7 p.m. April 11, Redmond Regional Library, 15990 N.E. 85th.

• "America's Muslims." A film about the diversity of U.S. Muslims. 7 p.m. April 9, Federal Way Regional Library, 848 S. 320th St.; 7 p.m. April 11, Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way.

• "JIHAD: The Men And Ideas Behind Al Qaeda." The inside story of three Al Qaeda leaders. 7 p.m. April 10, Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way.

Florangela Davila: 206-464-2916 or fdavila@seattletimes.com