Mr. Allbritton: As a contributor to your trip to Iraq earlier this year, I wish you would return to Iraq and provide an outlet for the collective voice of the Iraqi people. I have always been against the invasion of Iraq. I continue to oppose our administration's policies. I feel that we are imposing our will rather than respecting the wishes of our fellow human beings. Would you consider returning to Iraq with the purpose of finding out just what the Iraqis want from us at this point? With both sides of the political fence failing to find answers, it just seems to make the most sense to turn straight to the source for answers. If you cannot or choose not to return, can you please create a post that summarizes popular opinions of the various Iraqi factions towards the state of the country and the continued U.S. presence? Or can you create a post that points to the best WWW outlets for this kind of information? Thank you. Sincerely, Andrew Brenner Whiting, Indiana USA
Andrew graciously allowed me to republish his note and use it as a starting to point to talk about some things.
Since the end of April, I've been back in New York, worked up a book proposal -- which is currently circulating; my agent reports that editors are making interested-sounded noises -- taught a class at "NYU":http://journalism.nyu.edu on Digital Journalism and stewed and steamed while two countries that I love, the United States and Iraq, march further down the road to a major league cock-up.
I'm not doing anyone any good here in New York. The action is over there, and while there are more reporters doing the journalism of every day life, something -- I'm not sure what it is, exactly -- is missing from the coverage.
So it's time to get a move on and go back. But not as a reporter who goes there for a month and comes home. This time I would stay, perhaps permanently. My goal is to work up a return to the region, basing myself in Baghdad and freelance for major organizations and continue running Back-to-Iraq.com. In short, I would be your man in Baghdad, bringing my voice and experience that I gained during the war back to you.
This is not some gung-ho charge into the lion's den in search of The Truth. I've stopped believing there's any such beast; there are only stories to tell. But as during the early part of the war, in which donors directed coverage by emailing me suggested assignments, I would do that again. This time, however, it would be on a long-term basis with an eye toward longish pieces that were both appealing to you and marketable as freelance pieces (a guy's got to earn a living, even there.)
No embedding, no hiding behind the skirts of the U.S. military. The Iraqi people would be front and center, and the big media corps can cover what they do. B2I would cover what _we_ want. I'd likely start with an emphasis on the Kurdish/Arabic/Turkoman powderkeg known as Kirkuk, but only because it's a good starting point. I'm most familiar with the issue there. However, the Arabs got short shrift on this blog during the first part of the war. I'd like to remedy that.
My goal is to have enough money, $10,000 or so, in time to be on the ground and running by March 26, 2004 early- to mid-May. Why that date? Because that's exactly a year since I landed in Istanbul and started work as the Web's first fully reader-funded journalist-blogger I have teaching commitments at NYU that end May 3. This time, the money would go for setting myself up and having a small padding to make it through the time before freelance cash begins to come my way.
I'm working out plans now for what to do with my apartment, where to move to in the meantime to save money, since that's impossible on New York professor/freelance wages. I'll probably be out on my brother's couch in California for a few months before heading over.
And so we come to the crux of this note. You all were so generous last time, and I hate to ask, but I ask you all to feel invested again and donate to this endeavor. Same deal as before. Donors get on a special listserv that gets dispatches before the Web site does. They will get extra dispatches and photos. They also get a pipeline to me to act as assignment editors.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, you all should know that this endeavor can't be the not-for-profit jaunt the last trip was. Then, I specifically rejected freelance assignments from magazines so I could concentrate on pure blogging. I can't do that this time, as the money raised from this fund-raising call, as well as my own savings, will go for the initial costs of establishing a presence in Baghdad. After that, I'll have to support myself with stringing and freelancing. But I promise you that B2I will remain a non-commercial blog with you, the readers, and the Iraqi people front and center. No one will edit this blog but me, and I won't let other freelancing interfere with it.
So what do you say? Shall we suit up again for New New Journalism? I hope so.
Wow Christopher! I can’t believe you want to go back with all the problems Westerners are facing in Iraq right now. Very commendable. I have no doubt that you will be able to raise the money and I look forward to reading about your new adventure. Good luck as this new project gets underway!
Suit up again. I’ve sent my donation. I’m looking forward to your posts from Iraq.
Chris,
You are indeed courageous to undertake a second trip to Iraq at this time. The risks are palpable for any American who, no matter how well known and loved, looks like the enemy to so many Iraqis. I will be pleased to contribute in my own small way. And there are at least two urgent topics on which the mainstream media have utterly failed to report: (i) the probability of Iraqis supporting an Islamic government, independently of whether it would be dominated by Shiites; and (ii) the extent to which the bombings and ambushes were planned and organized by Saddam BEFORE the invasion. (On the latter point, Scott Ritter recently reported that during his tour as a weapons inspector, he witnessed the training of Iraqis in bomb building, but of course that was some years before the 2003 invasion was imminent.)
Are you kidding? OF COURSE we will help. OF COURSE you should go. You have to go! You are in the position as our proxy for those of us that would dearly love to be there but can’t. Every voice of reason that gets the news out of there is precious. There are others, but the more the better. Get your bags packed, your papers in order. You’re on assignment again…for us!!
Count me in. I’ve made a first donation; I will monitor my finances and make continuing donations at regular intervals (barring my igloo burning down or something similar.) You are more than equal to the task and we will all benefit from the inside scoop. Thanks!
P.S.: My daughter and three grandsons will be leaving Iraq soon. They wanted to stay longer, but they are very ill with Malaria, and the situation is getting ever more dangerous, even in the north. Time to come home. My son-in-law will remain, continuing his job as interpreter/translator for the US Army through at least this coming April, probably beyond that.
Good on you, Chris. Would but all journalists had your style. A chance for me to contribute this time, and even though it will be relatively small in US$, in A$ it’ll be what I can afford to see you get back there and tell us all what it’s REALLY like.
Go.
I intend to make a contribution….
One thing though:
How’s your Arabic?
You have just enough time left for a crash course. Without speaking Arabic, I’d say you will inevitably only scratch the surface….
Language IS important.
I want you to go for our sake but I’m nervous for your sake. Suit up, we’re behind you, thanx.
Yes, I’d say it’s about that time, Chris.
You’ve certainly got my loose change.
L
Kodia—
Excellent idea on the Arabic, and I’m scratching out a little bit right now in reading it. (Self study and all.) Slow going. But, you’re right. Just enough time for a crash course. Luckily I have friends — Iraqi friends — that I trust there, and will be leaning on.
Great!
Maybe we in Sweden can be able to read about your work in the Swedish newspapers again. But how about you write for them instead? We need good reporters-I loved when Åsne S was reporting-and I love reading your stories.
Keep up the good work!
I will be contributing (again), of course.
While in California, please remember the Pacifica stations, I think many listeners would be interested in your stories and plans (I think I had mentioned in a previous note to you that a a listener/supporter to KPFK I felt your blog was a logical & wonderful step forward in independant reporting, which I fully support. Sonali Kolhatkar has a morning program, Uprising, which I listen to in drive time…don’t know any of the staff personally, but I think you would reach a good number of people who would be interested in your work.
Best of luck,
Lynda
is anyone else out there interested in pledging a certain amount monthly to help make this happen?
if enough of us send a little monthly, even the price of a month’s worth of newspaper, it could really help…tithing for the real news…
what do you think?
Chris,
After recently rereading these words from the Twilight Zone from our fearless Mr. Rumsfeld…
“Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
— Donald Rumsfeld, February 12, 2002
… I knew in my heart that more independent voices like yours are absolutely needed if the world is ever to learn what’s really happening in Iraq.
Hopefully too, your reports will be picked up by the normally spineless Japanese media and disseminated among the masses here in Japan. I’ve read that nearly 70% of the Japanese public don’t want their SDF (Self Defense Forces) sent to Iraq, yet Prime Minister Koizumi — ever the lapdog of the US that he and his LDP party are — has emphatically stated in the last few days that he will send them despite all the dangers and lack of any coherent plan. My feeling is that the Japanese public wants desperately to know what’s really going on, and they’re not hearing it from their media or from their government. Your voice can be a beacon here for those of us who want the truth.
Many thanks for all your work and dedication!
Ron
p.s. Just sent my latest donation too. Wish I could give more, and more often…
Boy, are you a brave man! You have my respect for sure. I am glad to see that you are going, but will worry about your safety while you are there. Maybe with you there, we can finally find out a bit more of what is really going on.
I read the blogs of Iraqis everyday, but that is still a small number of people telling their stories and opinions, compared to the country as a whole. I will be anxiously checking back to see what you have to report. We certainly all know we can’t count on the mainstream media to report everything we want to know.
Good luck.
If you go, please keep an eye out for Michael Birmingham, an Irish human rights activist working in Baghdad as a Voices in the Wilderness volunteer (michael@vitw.org).
In Ireland he works for homeless people in his hometown of Dublin. Since about this time last year though he has been in Iraq and at this stage I think he may be one of the only independent human rights activists from the west there. Like you, he can also write prophetically, and I’ve no doubt he would be delighted to bring you up to speed on what you’ve been missing — the untold stories — over a tea.
Ok, I just stumled onto your site Chris. I will make a contribution of significance. Have you seen the Riverbend Blog from inside Iraq? If you agree to look her up and give her half of what I send you, I will post off to PayPal promptly.
I am a war hawk republican. However, I beleive what we have done is wrong thing. I want to hear unfiltered what the Iraqis’ want. Our admin blows smoke worse than Bahgdad Bob did.
Let me know please.
I’m delighted to be able to make another contribution to a fine cause. In fact, this is my third contribution — it matters a lot to me to have independent inquiry into the state of affairs in Iraq (and among the Turkish Kurds as well). Best of luck to you, and please continue to accept our support. It’s the least we can do. Really.
I am looking for information about daily life in Northern Iraq. Particularly small villi ages. What do people eat? Drink? How is the quality of the water? Medicine? Any details as to food greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Blow up Spyradio!
WNEW is SPYRADIO
Haven’t they told you?
Count me in. I’ve made a first donation; I will monitor my finances and make continuing donations at regular intervals (barring my igloo burning down or something similar.) You are more than equal to the task and we will all benefit from the inside scoop. Thanks!