InfoAnda - For tourists, seeing Iraq one checkpoint at a time

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Expect feisty defense from China's disgraced Bo Xilai | | 1 November 2012
Obama may visit Russia in July: report | 18 March 2009
Taliban under attack in area where U.S. soldiers killed | International | | 5 October 2009

Hot in Cleveland renewed for second season | | 8 July 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : For tourists, seeing Iraq one checkpoint at a time

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: For tourists, seeing Iraq one checkpoint at a time By KIM GAMEL,Associated Press Writer AP - Sunday, March 22 BAGHDAD - The Western tourists had their own reasons for joining the sightseeing tour: One wanted a glimpse of ancient ruins, another liked to visit countries in the news. ADVERTISEMENT But traveling Iraq for two weeks in the first organized tour since 2003 wasn't quite all they had hoped, what with the hours wasted at checkpoints, and visits cut short or scrapped altogether because of security concerns. The eight adventurers included four men and four women from Britain, the United States and Canada. They said they made it from the northern city of Irbil to the southeastern tip of Basra _ about 560 miles with side trips in between _ without directly encountering the violence that has been a hallmark of Iraq's daily life for so many years. "It's really affirmation in many ways that security has improved _ the fact that we were able to travel to so many places," said David Chung, a 36-year-old employee of an investment management firm in New York. The journey, scheduled to end Sunday after a tour of the ancient ruins of Babylon, gave the travelers a taste of the hardships facing Iraqis as they emerge from war, ranging from electricity shortages to traffic jams to the overwhelming presence of U.S. and Iraqi security forces. The travelers got quizzical glances but said they never felt in danger, although explosions sounded near their hotel in Baghdad late Friday on the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion. "We just would not have been allowed to come here if it was too dangerous," Bridgett Jones, a 77-year-old historical researcher from London, said as she drank a glass of red wine in the hotel lobby. "I never felt any hostility." She said she bought the wine at a local liquor store. Navigating the checkpoints proved the greatest hassle. Roberta Wong, a 58-year-old former librarian from Vancouver, said she counted 40 blockades from the southern city of Basra to Baghdad, a 550 kilometer (340 mile) trip, and 24 on the 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the northern Kurdish city of Irbil to the capital. She had plenty of time to keep track during the hours they were held up by guards unsure what to make of the bus full of Westerners. "You appreciated that they had to have the security. If they didn't have the security we couldn't have been here," said Jo Gilbert, 79, of Menlo Park, Calif. "But there's no way between the checkpoints and the speed bumps that you're going to get anywhere fast." Gilbert said she wouldn't recommend the trip to average tourists used to comfort. The tourists also were disappointed that they didn't get to see Iraq's restored National Museum, infamously looted as U.S. forces seized control of Baghdad in 2003 and recently reopened to great fanfare. Iraqi authorities reneged on promises to let the group visit this time around. "There were various sites that we couldn't get to because we were told they were too dangerous or because they were occupied by the Iraqi military," said Geoff Hann, the British managing director of Hinterland Travel. The Westerners even went to the site of the destroyed golden domed shrine in Samarra, one of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam, where a 2006 bombing triggered months of sectarian violence. But the visit was short due to security concerns. On Saturday, the tourists traveled south of Baghdad to see the Ctesiphon Arch, a Persian ruin on the Tigris River near Salman Pak _ once one of Iraq's most dangerous towns. They also went to the heart of the American effort in Iraq, the heavily protected Green Zone, and had their picture taken with U.S. soldiers at the famous Crossed Swords landmark. The arches, depicting two hands holding swords, lead into parade grounds that Saddam Hussein had built after the Iran-Iraq war. In a reminder of the dangers that still face Iraqis, a member of a Sunni group that has turned against al-Qaida in Iraq was killed Saturday when a bomb attached to his car exploded in a village south of Baghdad. Some Westerners have tried to visit Iraq unofficially but usually have been expelled by the military. Shiite pilgrims from Iran and other regional countries frequently travel to holy sites. But the current trip marked the first officially organized and sanctioned visit by Western tourists outside the semiautonomous Kurdish region since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Hann, who plans more trips in the near future said Iraq is ready to receive tourists _ but just barely. "Administratively it's been difficult and the checkpoints have been difficult," he said, adding it "will take a lot of effort and a lot of hard work." ___ On the Net: http://www.hinterlandtravel.com/ Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: World Senegal holds local electionsAFP - 1 hour 13 minutes ago Obama defends Geithner, budgetAFP - 1 hour 17 minutes ago Obama's Afghan task 'tougher' than IraqAFP - 2 hours 5 minutes ago UK-World SummaryReuters - 2 hours 6 minutes ago More 'fight club' allegations at Texas schoolAP - 2 hours 20 minutes ago Most Popular – World Viewed Madoff loses bail appeal as victims' rage revealed Obama budget deficit could hit 1.845 trln dlrs Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 22 March 2009
Armed clashes kill 21 in Russia's Dagestan | International |
Israel breaks up Arab capital events in Jerusalem | International |
Obama's Afghan task 'tougher' than Iraq
Protesters march by Pentagon, call to end Iraq war
For tourists, seeing Iraq one checkpoint at a time
Israel marks soldier's 1,000th day in captivity
Obama defends Geithner, budget
U.S. hands almost all Sunni guards to Iraqi control
Prince Charles blue over green crusade
Chavez trims budget, adds debt to counter crisis | International |
Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed
Opel boss hints at closing German plants
11 dead as blasts mar Afghan New Year
Prince Charles blue over green crusade
2 US Navy vessels that collided arrives Bahrain
Canadian kidnapped in Darfur back home
Suspected drug cartel hitman arrested in Mexico
Danish premier hot tip for new NATO chief
Slovak presidential election goes to second round
Thousands march against mafia in Naples
Germany in mourning for victims of school massacre
EU rebuff Russian calls for new security structure
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report | Entertainment |
Province supplying Beijing water drying up: state
Mugabe's wife beats assault charges in Hong Kong
Depeche Mode prepares for Tour of the Universe | Entertainment |
Philippines, Red Cross clash over hostage release
Fire guts residence of former Japan PM Yoshida
Thai PM rules out cabinet shake-up
Pakistan's top judge back at work after protests
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report
Pakistan's chief justice reinstated
Tribune sues Warren Beatty over Dick Tracy rights
China quake school toll stirs grim findings and anger
Report: Nissan planning luxury hybrid in 2010
Fire destroys former Japan prime minister's home
'Modest' Japanese CEOs escape public ire
Malaysia's next PM calls for 'massive' change
1 million unemployed expected in Thailand
China sees stimulus package bringing growth
China horseman eyes Bejing to London ride
Minister: Japan needs aggressive public spending
Germany: no sex please we're in recession
SKorea, EU eye conclusion of free trade talks
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report
China wants to restructure auto industry
Couture's well-kept secret
Berkeley students dominate college TV awards
Nominees for the third Asian Film Awards
Korean Western top contender at Asian Film Awards
British singer Natasha Bedingfield weds in Malibu
Desperate tent city revival for America's homeless
Rachael Ray hosts SXSW party, Hold Steady headline
Turkey could block Rasmussen at NATO
Netanyahu seeks to reassure Egypt over FM pick
Sudan scholars tell president to drop Qatar trip
Lethal air pollution booms in emerging nations
Wife of founder of Iran's Islamic republic dies
Iran sets terms for U.S. ties | International |
Military hangs `Help Wanted' sign in Afghanistan
Pakistan's deposed judge resumes office | International |
Hamas leader welcomes Obama's "new language"
U.S. military, Afghan police dispute deaths in raid | International |
Poland hopes U.S. will not let it down on shield | International |
Hamas leader welcomes Obama's new language: report | International |
Chinese detain Tibetan monks after riot | International |
Pope, in Angola, recalls youths killed in stampede | International |
Israel says car bomb defused at shopping mall | International |
Sudan scholars tell president to drop Qatar trip | International |
Wen urges innovation to fight crisis: state media
'Tug-of-love' pair not in Russia: diplomat
Slovakia's president poll heads for second round
China arrests Tibetan monks after attack on police
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer | Entertainment |
Tibetan monks held after China police attacked
Chinese detain Tibetan monks after riot
Bomb near Philippine market injures at least 7
Iraqi PM says shoe-thrower had fair trial
Bikers brawl through Australian airport; 1 dead
Pakistan's deposed judge resumes office
India's Tata Motors to launch ultra-cheap Nano car
Pakistan reinstates chief justice
Jackie Chan lends star power to hometown festival
Man killed as bikers brawl in Australian airport
Natasha Richardson to be buried near upstate home
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
British reality TV star Jade Goody dead
South By Kanye West? Rapper plays SXSW
Reality TV star Jade Goody dies after cancer fight
`Hillary: The Movie,' now showing at Supreme Court
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
Can't decide which handbag to buy? Rent it first
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01