Reporters, Officials Are Targets in Iraq

[Barrett808]

Reporters, Officials Are Targets in Iraq
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

MAHMOUDIYAH, Iraq - A 15-mile stretch of road south of Baghdad has become the most dreaded in Iraq after a series of high-profile kidnappings and deadly ambushes targeting foreign journalists and prominent politicians.

Heat and boredom aren't the worst aspect of being trapped in the gridlock that unfolds every day in the street running through Mahmoudiyah's main food market.

My traveling companion on a recent trip was an Iraqi with a farm in the area. Not that it'll help much, he warned; his local connections were scant protection against those known here as mujahedeen, or holy fighters.

We set out in his 2001 Chevrolet Caprice, but he decided it was too noticeable and changed to a 14-year-old Mercedes when we went out again the next day. Still, there were plenty of other giveaways, even for an Arab foreigner — having the wrong accent, or no mustache, wearing a seat belt or reading a book while traveling in a car.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040916/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_treacherous_road&cid=540&ncid=1480

[daleo]

1. Journalists aren't too safe around U.S. helicopters either n/t

n/t

[Cocoa]

2. every time a journalist gets killed

Zell Miller celebrates.