The following is an archived copy of a message sent to the CASI Analysis List run by Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq (CASI).
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[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] [Following mail originally posted by Tom Young, edited by CASI moderator.] Regarding my views on Robert Fisk 'I attach from Tom Young's Baghdad experience the relevant paras. I have telephoned the Foreign Editor of the Independent, who states that Robert Fisk drove in from Jordan, which as I had understood his (Fisk's) take. He even talked of the same old bribes on the border, which Iraq travellers were?are familiar with. I gather the American's at the border are also profitting - allegedly )' Firstly as regards to my claims about Robert Fisk and Baghdad airport they are derived from this article http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5743.htm "Feb 22, 2004: (The New Nation) Running the gauntlet of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades after check-in at Baghdad airportBaghdad, Iraq --I was in the police station in the town of Fallujah when I realised the extent of the schizophrenia" In fairness I think the website made a mistake and the article refers to late last year. Secondly, my experience with the Iraqi border crossing with 5 other backpackers and 20 other Iraqis was that there was not even the hint of wanting a bribe. All officials were friendly and welcoming. The US soldiers arent a big presence, although one came aboard to check the bus and said "welcome to the fun". Having talked to numerous low ranked British soldiers I can say they all very much believe they are here to make Iraq a better place and simply cant understand why they are meet with such hostility. I am sure the same is true of American GIs too. I dont 100% agree with their views but I certainly understand why they have them and appreciate their sincerity. So I treat all stories of coalition brutality, corruption, thieving and those who disseminate them with absolute scepticism. On the other hand, I do believe that high levels of coalition authority are capable of doing deliberately provocative acts to enflame situations and this is what I think has sparked the rising tensions here. As to Robert Fisk, I would also refer to his story on the burial of Uday and Qusay Hussein with its lurid details of graves of young teenagers killed in bombing raids and giant mausoleums of Saddam's mother and compare that to the picture gallery of the burial site published at the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3119821.stm and elsewhere. 360 degree views can be found. None of these features are visible, indeed nothing looking remotely like a cemetary. Oh and suddenly and without explanation I was released early this afternoon. Shows what posting on casi can do. Tom Young At liberty in a very edgy Basra. _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk