The Red Zone: reporting from outside Iraq's Green Zone

The Green Zone is the American sector of Baghdad, protected like a Citadel from the rest of Iraq. Most reporters hide out there, and venture outside into the real "Iraq" only during the day and only with armed escorts. Not so with Steven Vincent, a former art critic from New York City, who travelled to Iraq as an independent journalist to document the US transformation of that country after the invasion. He was motivated by 911 - he felt that the same forces behind 911 were behind the enslavement of people in Iraq - what he calls "Islamofacists." Using Islam, combined with gunpower, to enforce a medieval code on modern Arab world. He encountered many good people, but overall he was disturbed by a lack of empowerment of the Iraqi people, that they could make a difference in post Saddam Iraq. They seemed opposed to the American "occupation" (which he thought of more a "liberation") but not supportive of any alternative other than another "strong man" who wouldnt be as cruel as Saddam. He also noted that tribal customs dominate Iraq, customs that enslave both women and men in roles that are in conflict with individual liberty, freedom of choice - heck, any notion we westerners have of "individual freedom" (we are "free," to do whatever, as long as we don't harm the freedom of others, the so called "no harm" principle of 19th century liberalism). He became somewhat disillusioned with the fractured nature of the Iraqi "nation," a combination of different ethnic groups, religions and tribes. He especially was offended by the status of women in Iraq. He was also confused (as we all are) by the different interpretations of the Koran by different religious leaders (the Shia have a temporary status for unmarried women that essentially treats them like whores). Any way, he published the Red Zone, a great book, then wrote articles for the New York Times. He fell in love with his Iraqi translator in Basra, and criticised the Basra police for being corrupt (how shocking) and in with organized crime with the backing of phoney religious leaders (fraud, black marketeering, protection rackets, smuggling exist with support of criminal gangs and some mosques). He was kidnapped along with his interpreter and killed. I am not sure if they found her body, but they found his in a ditch, shot several times. Who did it? Round up the usual suspects: there is no sense of "justice" in Basra. The british authorities train the police, but the police are not necessary on the side of law and order (only their notion of law and order, and the death of an American journalist who criticizes them and has an affair with a muslim women is not worth investigating, especially if the police were behind it). So read The Red Zone by Steven Vincent, and say a prayer for him and his muslim friend. Sad. Very Sad.