Farewell to Basra
The British are fully withdrawing from Iraq today, leaving a legacy, for the second time in a century.They were occupiers of Iraq once before, after World War I; their dead…
2 Comments
July 31, 2009
After the ceremony
After the military ceremony, after the body comes home quietly, unseen by most of the world, after the remains forever join the earth -- that's when the suffering surfaces in…
July 29, 2009
A wretched anniversary
It’s been four years since AJC photo journalist Bita Honarvar and I took a C-130 military transport from the safety of Kuwait into the horrors of Iraq.We were just starting…
July 27, 2009
Night and day
I once witnessed a total eclipse of the sun. I can't recall the year -- just that I was young. And that I was home in India. It was supposed…
July 22, 2009
Living in space
Kevin left for a two-week road trip today. I woke up to an empty house. Made me think about how much space we are used to having in our American…
July 20, 2009
A dear friend's visit
My friend Robin came to visit me for a couple of days. She lives in San Diego and was on her way to the North Carolina mountains to spend time…
July 16, 2009
A sheik and his desert pets
Some people have asked me about the photograph of me with the camels.It was taken in Ramadi, Iraq, in April 2007 by my friend and former colleague Louie Favorite. We…
July 14, 2009
Wine unwind
I relished a glass of Oregon pinot noir at 8 a.m.Good wine is, well, good wine. Though, the sun, already blistering in the sky, took away from the elegance of…
July 13, 2009
Vampires of news
I started working overnights this week at CNN.I haven't worked into the wee hours of the morning in about 17 years. Then, I was more eager. Now, I am middle-aged.I…
July 11, 2009