MOST PEOPLE WOULD rather undergo several root canals than go to Iraq. Most reporters would, as well. But there are a tiny number who actually feel the need to do so–even to the extent that they’re willing to pay all their own expenses in the hope, but nothing more–of recovering part or all of those expenses through donations and selling articles about their experiences. These are the citizen embeds, and I am one of them. I was supposed go over in February, but I didn’t, and the reason I didn’t is of more than personal interest.
Originally I had planned to go to al Anbar Province for the fourth time in February. Then I decided that it was more important to cover the “surge” in Baghdad. My editors at THE WEEKLY STANDARD agreed. Yes, I knew the area would be swamped with mainstream reporters–all the more reason for some citizen embeds to be there.
