Clearing up some confusion

First of all, so many people have been visiting that I suspect the server is straining. That’s, uh, good, I suppose. At any rate, it’s a good problem to have. The Wired.com story was great for getting attention, but it seems to have created some new problems. I’d like to clear up some misconceptions:
1. I’m not in Iraq at the moment. I’m still raising funds via PayPal to get there. Departure date is around the beginning of April depending on when the visas from Syria/Turkey/Iran come through. I’m not sure where the impression came that I was there already, but this trip is still coming together. Currently, donations total more than $5000, but to jet off to a war zone for a month with less than $10,000 is suicide. I’m got my own savings of $1,500, but that’s not quite enough yet.
While I wish I could be there to be shocked and awed, the beginning of April will be a good time because by then, the northern front will be a _most interesting place_, with Iranians, Turks, Kurds, Americans and perhaps Iraqis running about.
2. I’m independent, not unbiased. There’s a difference. And when one is still in New York, working from your own sources as well as what’s out in the mediaverse, columns are what one writes. I never claimed to be unbiased, but my biases are clear and my reporting is transparent. The stories I will and have been reporting hopefully will stand up to scrutiny and history. That will be my credibility, not whether a reader agrees with my stance or not.
Yes, I’m opposed to this war, although I’m not opposed to war in general. I think this war is the wrong war at the wrong time. One of the things that this web site allows me to do is to call bullshit when I think I see it, and last night’s presidential address was an opportunity to do that. Other than a 48-hour deadline, it was the same arguments that have been presented for months. (For that matter, the anti-war crowd has hardened its positions — we’re now in ideological trench warfare.)
So I hope this clears up some confusion. And to people who have donated and/or written to express your good will and well-wishes, thank you so much. If I haven’t responded to you yet, please be patient. I’ve been swamped and it’s been a busy few days. I will write you today or tomorrow, depending on what happens in the world.