Iraq 2003
Four Peace Boat staff and a photojournalist visited Iraq February 17-23, 2003. Most definitely NOT human shields, but to see the condition of people, and build connections with folks whom we could work with later on humanitarian projects.
We went in the context of a big, rather silly "Interntional Youth NGO Anti-War and So On" conference, but spent most of our time weasling out of that, and into the Iraq - Baghdad and Basra - which we'd come to see.
And, despite the fact that my country was very shortly going to open an apocolyptic can o' whup-ass on their country, the Iraqi people were easily the most friendly and welcoming I had ever met. I've got a bit more to say, but hopefully that story will come soon in the words section. It is awful hard to write coherent when you want to go on a scathing rant about how wrong that war is.
Anyhow, hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think.
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