Jim Spiri in Iraq

I had prior to that, and since that time traveled to many different countries on the planet, with wife and four children in tow, just for the adventure(s) of it all. One day, the children all grew up. And we, the wife and I, were still too young. Then came the invasion of 2003 into Iraq. I determined that I would somehow get to the war zone and take photos. By March of 2007, I began doing what I had wanted many years earlier.

In years past, war zone travelling was simple, for a "freelancer". The image of the character that Dennis Hopper played in the movie, "Apocolypse Now" has always stuck in my mind. That was even a longer time ago, long before Central America came onto my plate.
But now, moving about in Iraq, under very different circumstances is a story all in itself. It is not easy. Quite frankly, for the weak at heart, it is a logistical nightmare just to take a thirty minute flight that so far, has taken me 7-days to pull off.
And still, it's not accomplished. It is no one person's fault, it is just the way it is now for freelancers and anyone else to move around in Iraq, in 2007.

Those of you that are following what I'm doing need to be impressed with one major point in particular regarding how I'm getting around as an "old school"
roadie, in the "high tech" world of todays news game.
Never have I had a "backer" like the snobs from CNN, ABC, NBC and the others. I don't have any super fancy equiptment such as a laptop, sat phone, satelite communications gear, expense accounts, secretaries, and all the other things that the general public sees on TV or hears on radio, or surfs on the internet while dinner is being served. I am really doing this the old fashion way, and for the most part, it is somewhat successful, but it is quite trying at times.
The analogy that might explain more clearly would be trying to find a pay phone in the world of cell phone useage. Just not that many left these days.

Filling out the paper work is always the most difficult. It is the same paperwork for everyone, it's just designed for the big boys. But, for the little guy, the "freelancer" there is a thin, hidden path that can be embarked upon with much persistence and lots of patience. The big organizations have offices and scores of personell solely dedicated to handling such matters. The military calls it the S-1 side of the house. Nothing gets done without paperwork being filled out and being filled out correctly. However today, most of it is done via computer, so, if one does not have a computer, well, you just have to find one and improvise. That is what I spend a great deal of time doing.

Most people that watch stories of movies about travelers in war zones like myself, think they stay in marvelous hotels like the Al Rasheed, or the Camino Real. That simply is not the case, for the old school freelancer in today's war in Iraq. I've never had a problem sleeping, when I get really tired, no matter where I am. I have yet to sleep in a "hotel" in Iraq, nor would I really desire to.

Gone are the days when one can just hop a bird and get from point A to point B. There is a process and it has to be followed. It is a built in safety factor which everyone who knows anything about Iraq and shoot downs during daylight hours knows. It is something that one just adapts to. Yet, night after night, awaiting a flight, just to get to another location to be able to push more north, takes a toll on the weak.
But I must take it in stride. There is no choice.

I am amazed at how some people have their entire life completely planned out from moment to moment, day to day, month to month and year to year. My mother in law is like that. I admire such organized people.
But I have never been able to function in quite that manner. One day I have a plan, and the next day, the plan gets altered by circumstances far beyond my control. I wonder how the big boys at the major networks get around all that. Oh, that's right, they have unlimited expense accounts because their main purpose is to sell advertising, not report history.

If an embed wants to change locations, it takes lots of communication on several entities parts. So far, my experience has been somewhat positive on this front, although there are times I need to remind this person in Baghad to talk to this person in TQ, via email so the person in TQ can remind the person in Fallujah, that the person in Mosul might not be expecting the freelancer that is currently stuck at some helipad in the middle of Iraq. And the only way I can get that message across is to find some MWR facility that has some KBR civilian worker who might be awake regulating sign up slots while he listens to his IPOD or DVD player and really could care less about the urgency of anyone else's particular situation. Oh well, all part of the journey.

Jim Spiri
July 18, 2007 camp Fallujah, Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com