Hassan's lesson: more foolish than brave
It is good news that Farris Hassan is safely on his way home, after arriving in Baghdad earlier this week without telling his parents.
But, this is not the kind of place where you immerse yourself as a journalist. This place is counter-intuitive for what any good journalist would do. The natural instincts of a good reporter are constantly thwarted by the security and logistics of telling the story.
When we called the U.S. Embassy and the military for help in working this story - there was more frustration and anger on the other end of the line than anything else.
A usually helpful media officer for the military, today balked at our requests to get access to Hassan. "We're not going to make a celebrity out of this kind of stupidity, as long as he's in Iraq," grumbled the press officer.
In a place where logistics and security rule, enough resources were devoted today to chronicling this fool's errand. For anyone to have to retrace his steps is to ask for trouble.
For example, flying into the airport, taking the airport road into Baghdad, going to the Palestine Hotel, or taking a stroll onto Firdos Square outside the hotel to look for a sandwich - so appealing for the accidental tourist, but so deadly for the average Iraqi, and even more so for the foreigner. Who wants to be a moving target? You only do these things when you have to.
It will be better news if he can also learn that this was more foolhardy than brave-hearted. We're only thankful that tonight we're not reporting on what could have easily been a horrible tragedy.
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