So here's whats what.

I will be attending University in Europe next year - over Easter Holiday a friend and I will be flying to Istanbul and getting a 3 day train to Tehran for some R&R (and basically the experience).

Long story short I was thinking of hiring a guard and maybe making an excursion into Northern Iraq which seems to be the safest area. My friend mentioned the idea of maybe getting another guard and trying to find our way into Baghdad for a day or so...My question - what risk do you suggest we run of getting kidnapped or killed, we're both 20 years old, white, and speak English and very, very poor Arabic. I suggest that this is a bad idea but my friend seems all for it...I think I might just cool my heels in Tehran but what do you guys think?

That is a horrible idea plain and simple. Northern Iraq and the Kurdish areas are probably significantly safer, but still that is a huge risk. Baghdad should be out of the question. Why would you want to take such an outrageous risk?

I agree with the stapler. That is an absolutely awful and clearly not well though-out idea. You wouldn't even be able to get into Iraq without permission, and that is quite simply not going to happen.

It's too bad, an old boss of mine said Iraq under Saddam (in the 80s) was actually quite an intriguing place to travel through -- of course, he was still scared shitless, but I'm sure he got a unique perspective from travelling there.

Ah, Iraq.

The one place in the entire world I can say that I have no desire to visit anytime soon. I did Cuba last summer as an American, would love to go see Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, etc etc... but Iraq is a place I'm content to stay away from for a good number of years. It just seems like a horrible idea... you wouldn't be able to trust anybody, meet anybody, soak up any real culture, and would most likely be bogged down in Kevlar and a hotel room all day. Unless I was actually doing paid, war reporting... with an arranged professional guard unit... I can say without blinking, "fuck that."

If you do go though, make sure you do it right. It could be your fucking head. Literally.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=18&keywordid=73

Ah, Iraq.

The one place in the entire world I can say that I have no desire to visit anytime soon. I did Cuba last summer as an American, would love to go see Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, etc etc... but Iraq is a place I'm content to stay away from for a good number of years. It just seems like a horrible idea... you wouldn't be able to trust anybody, meet anybody, soak up any real culture, and would most likely be bogged down in Kevlar and a hotel room all day. Unless I was actually doing paid, war reporting... with an arranged professional guard unit... I can say without blinking, "fuck that."

If you do go though, make sure you do it right. It could be your fucking head. Literally.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=18&keywordid=73

You do know that alot of parts of Afganistan are still warzones, do you?

You do know that alot of parts of Afganistan are still warzones, do you?

Yes, I do. I'm not saying its NOT dangerous, or anything of the sort. I'm just saying that I personally feel that Afghanistan would be a much more rewarding, perhaps even a more relaxed trip than Iraq.

There was a phase in my life when I really wanted to be a war correspondent, and to this day Afghanistan intrigues me as a place I would love to visit, assuming I did my homework and plan the trip right. I just get a different vibe from Iraq right now. Everywhere I drove/walked I'd be worried about IEDs blowing up, etc. That, and I get the impression that Afghanistan is not quite as completely shattered as Iraq is right now. Still fighting, still a lot of bad things going on... but I feel like it'd be easier to experience the Afghani people, than it would be in war torn Iraq.

Perhaps these reasons are all ungrounded, and simply not the case. Could be. I'm just saying its the way I personally feel. Afghanistan sounds appealing. Iraq, not so much.

The reason I was thinking of going there is because I am currently studying to be a journalist and I think it would be a good experience for any books I might write in the future. After further thought you guys are probably right, Baghdad would not be a good idea - I'm still debating Kurdistan though...And you don't need authorization to go in - apparently the border is very porous...a few dollars to grease the wheels can go a long way.

The reason I was thinking of going there is because I am currently studying to be a journalist and I think it would be a good experience for any books I might write in the future. After further thought you guys are probably right, Baghdad would not be a good idea - I'm still debating Kurdistan though...And you don't need authorization to go in - apparently the border is very porous...a few dollars to grease the wheels can go a long way.

Definitely hit up the link I posted above. Lonely planet seems to have a somewhat active Kurdistan traveling community. Worth looking into... I've heard some seriously frightening horror stories, but for the most part it seems like it would be one hell of an experience, especially with your interest in journalism.

Good luck, be safe, etc.

You know the Turkish/Iraqi border is a warzone right?

I feel like it'd be easier to experience the Afghani people, than it would be in war torn Iraq.



I don't think any of the Afghani people really want to be experienced. Not saying you're a bad person or anything, it's just that from what I've read, they seem to pretty xenophobic. A lot of the people, especially the Pashtuns, live 1000 years in the past and are pretty closed socially. These are the people who have been forced to fight the Mongols, Persians, British, Soviets, and now the US. I just think you might get a lot of blank, uninterested stares as you try to communicate.

There is also still a significant amount of Taliban activity, especially near the Pakistani border. Combine that with a country covered by awful terrain, I just think that trip might suck.

To be honest though, I don't know anything about the city of Kabul... that may be cool.

Dude. Stay away.

Anyone white is going to stick out. Every city has enemy intelligence networks. You will get picked up because you could be an integrated intelligence officer.
If americans find you, you will end up gagged and riding in the back of a humvee and get sent out of the country. Kurdistan is realativly safe but many sections of the kurdish army are violently anti-american.

Basically, no one in the whole country will be happy that you are there.

im heading off to the middle east this week for buisness stuff so ill let you know when i get back! might make a blog if anyones interested?

Remember also that any guards you hire short of a small squad of foreigners(that is, not Iraqis) are going to desert you if anything gets harry. Also, you probably wouldn't be able to afford quality security while in Iraq.

yeah your looking at around $1000 a day for a decent private security contractor, and thats per person.

You could go to Toronto instead. Theres lots of sandniggers to gawk at.

yeah your looking at around $1000 a day for a decent private security contractor, and thats per person.

they charge around 45 dollars an hour, so I doubt you'll get to 1000 dollars a day as you don't need them the entire day ;)

they charge around 45 dollars an hour, so I doubt you'll get to 1000 dollars a day as you don't need them the entire day ;)

If I'm ever travelling thru Iraq, and I get the choice between paying $45 an hour, or $1000 a day, I know which one I will choose. But in all honesty OP don't go to Iraq, what a fucking terrible idea. My cousin is serving in Afghanistan, as part of a unit and he says its scary sometimes, so in Iraq, as a civillian, with sum querky foreigners 'protecting' you................really?

they charge around 45 dollars an hour, so I doubt you'll get to 1000 dollars a day as you don't need them the entire day ;)

with which company exactly?

Man, you're going to need more than a couple guards for protection in Iraq. If you had the money, clout, and connections, you may be able to hire a personal security detail for you and your friend from a private security company like Blackwater, Triple Canopy, Dyncorp International, etc, but I doubt that'll happen to be honest.

with which company exactly?

Pretty much any competant high risk private security company, such as the three I previously mentioned, among others.

You can go here and ask more questions and they will gladly answer provided you don't sound like an idiot, a know it all, or a reporter and make an honest introduction post first along with providing profile info.

http://www.secureaspects.com/forum/Forums.html