Watch your back, fella.

inshallah,

I’ve read somewhere that they are suposedly going to stop harrassing you media/reporter types.

from you blog;

…”an Iraqi reporter who helps TIME out has reported that people in Najaf are sick of the Mahdi firing mortars …”

Those “common man” street reports I hope you get to interview.

The shrine may be a safe place for you to talk to the various pilgrims or foot soldiers by then?

I hope you ask people their opinions not of Sadr but of Al Sistani.

btw,

on a side note question…

Maybe you can ask them about their Olympic soccer teams progress ? AT least those fortunate enough to view the games.

I for one am shocked that they have an outside chance of maybe bringing home any medal.

I’ve read the players stand to make $25,000 each when it’s all said and done ( Sports illustrated net story )

Stay safe, I’m sure you’ll stick out like a sore thumb just the same ;)

Have a safe trip.

God speed Chris.

Hey Chris,

I don’t know if you watched any of the Olympics but the American basketball team isn’t a dream team and pretty much deserve to be sent home.

New Zealand on the other hand has a pre game ritual.

I swear they have such a Polenesian(sp) influence. A war dance done in unison that pays respect and honor to the opposition in the upcomming contest.

There is no “I” in TEAM on their squad .

If you haven’t seen it, well, I can’t do justice in explaining.

Well!

I just found out the Iraqi soccer team beat the Australian team.

Iraq advances to the medal rounds!

GO for the Gold Iraq…

inshallah

Chris. Jack Sunday, KFGO-AM Fargo North Dakota here. You did an interview with me some months ago. You did well and I thank you again.

All I ask of you this time is to tread carefully and trust few…

Good luck, amigo

Chris-

Keep your head up and your eyes open. Cant wait to see the information your trip provides.

Good Luck !

Keep safe.

Ben P

Hey, if you hear something about an italian Journalist that’s missing in Najaf or maybe Kufa, please report to us: he’s disappeared 2 days ago, and we are hardly looking for him!

Thanks

p.oddone [at] warnews.it

Oh, I’ve forgotten to say that his name is Enzo Baldoni.

A weapons hunt? Nice.

Sounds a little bit crazy for me; A trip to Najaf!

And by the way; Go for the Gold Iraq!!!

Good Luck & Keep safe!

Take good care - of COURSE, good luck to you, and come back safely and soon.

I hop I can join you in such great trip..

Some notes that might help you

1- Iraqis were not used to reporters. Most of them would feel more confort if you talked to them in private session.. I would write down some questions in Arabic .. And ask they to reply by ticking options.. The answer paper should not be read by your translator in front of the interviewee.. I heard from friends in Annajaf that local people are not feel free in reply, they affraid of revenge by Sadrees ..

2- Try your best to visit some ordinary families at their houses and eat their food. Sharing somebody food, in our culture, is a great honor and is a good introductory to people open harts and trust.

3-Try not to talk about politics directely , ask them about their normal lifes, schools, marriage , love, drinks, food.. Their replies might give you indirectly some insight about the real situation..

Good luck and Salam aliakum

i heard allawi doesn’t want any journalists around there, be careful . well you already know that. hopefully you will write something insightful

Thank You for doing this for us. Good Luck!

Several Iraqi blogs claim that public opinion in Najaf is extremely anti-Sadr. I’ll be curious to see if Chris confirms this….

Chris,

   Good luck and watch yourself....

Thanks for doing this chris - as ever there’s so little info available about what the ordinary people in the street think (or not in the street if you’re in najaf) that its hard to know what’s really going on.

good luck..

Good Luck Chris. Stay safe!

Would anyone in Najaf who supports the Al-Sadr Army tell an american journalist that they do????

Hi Christopher, first time “commentor” so im sorry for sounding stupid… you’ve done a brilliant job here i only discoverd this web site recently and was blown away by your commitment to publish news about the events in iraq as honestly as one can be…again well done and dont give up because the world needs more people like you to highlight the plight of the iraqi people. Inshallah your trip to najaf will be safe and successful and i think you are very brave in doing so. Thing is iraq has always been avery unpridictable…when i went to visit (as a child) in 1993 after the gulf war i was amazed by the hospitality of the people there considering what they going through as i expected something totally diferent, it was a very pleasent trip and i am certain you will experience the same regardless of the conflict. I would love to visit iraq again… however when i spoke to my uncle in baghdad earlier today he threatned to stick me in a cardboard box and ship me back to london (little does he know i will be there sooner than he thinks!!) I really do belive what your doing is very brave and please never give up no matter what happens…we are all proud and greatful of your work…and i hope to see you in iraq!!! Alla Ma’ak

X

Airedale:

The New Zealand team’s pre-game ritual (if I guess correctly, I haven’t seen it during the Olympics) is called the Haka, and it originates in Maori dance. The NZ rugby team (the “All Blacks”) performs it in the faces of the opposing before games. Check out:

http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=haka

And Chris, by golly, be safe. And thanks. And keep up the good work.

Good Lord man,do take care,you will be in our thoughts and hearts.

Nana

I was in Najaf yesterday and witnessed a strange exchange in the courtyard of the shrine.

A young fighter, who seemed somewhat fearful, was shouting insults toward American sniper positions. “I am still here, I am still standing!” he said. “Your bullets mean nothing to me, as I am in the service of Allah!”

A portly cleric nodded approvingly, but then approached the fighter and whispered “Your bravery is compelling! However,” he said, motioning toward the seat of the young lad’s robe, “It is obvious that you have a large jihad going on in the seat of your garment. Please clean this up lest the rumour spread among your fellow fighters that the US forces possess chemical weapons of ass destruction.”

With that, the young man scrambled back into the mosque frantically trying to find the nearest WC.

I was jogging through the streets of Najaf today (serpentine maneuvers only), when I came upon a wizened old mystic, selling tomatoes and dates against the exterior wall of the mosque compound. Much to my dismay, he seemed oblivious to the fact that there were bullets whizzing by, and that it was hard to breathe due to the smell of cordite in the air.

I asked him how he was feeling this fine day and he replied that his joints did tend to ache a bit in the 120 degree heat, but other than that, he was coping. Making conversation, I replied that summer was waning, and at least we could look forward to some relief in the near future.

“Infidel,” he replied with a knowing grin, “in Iraq, the weather yesterday and today may have been Sunni, however by tomorrow expect it to all go to Shiite.”

I then declined his offer to escort me to a local barber shop that he claimed could “take a little off the top,” and was equipped with “a first-rate video surveillence system…”