An American in Iraq – Not What I Was Told

American Thinker.com ^ | February 28, 2022 | Brian C. Joondeph

[Kaslin]

Many of our impressions of foreign countries are based on how the media portrays them, whether describing them as paradise or dangerous s***holes. Unless we happen to know someone personally who lives in or travels to these countries, our opinions are based on what we read in the newspapers, on the internet, or see on television.

Iraq is one of these countries, described as “The world’s most dangerous place” by the HowStuffWorks website.

The Australian government is even more emphatic, “Do not travel to Iraq, including the Kurdistan region of Iraq, due to the volatile security situation and very high risk of violence, armed conflict, kidnapping and terrorist attack.”

I am writing this from Erbil, in the center of Kurdistan, after a day of exploring the city, feeling quite safe. I saw no violence or explosions and was not kidnapped.

The U.S. State Department provides similar warnings: “Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, COVID-19, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.”

They take it even further, predicting death for the poor saps who dare visit Iraq:

[marktwain]

In America, there would likely not be the base of support for Jihad under the flag of Christianity given more attractive church alternatives like Sunday brunch or Netflix.

The author had to put a completely inappropriate anti-Christian jab in the article.

[PIF]

I saw no violence or explosions and was not kidnapped.

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Obviously the Viking Kitty Abduction squads are well camouflaged.