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As an American, why would you travel to the Middle East?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ As an American, why would you travel to the Middle East?
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 6:29 PM
Ever since 9-11 (really even before obviously) Americans, like it or not, are a target in that region of the world. Having been there myself (in Navy) during non war time there is still hostility towards us. I bring this up because of the Egypt situation and the reports of news crews being attacked and assaulted, like this one:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110215/bs_yblog_thecutline/cbss-logan-suffered-brutal-attack-in-egypt
CBS News correspondent Lara Logan "suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating" on Feb. 11 in Egypt, according to a network statement.
I don't feel sorry for these news crews that put themselves in harms way. Yes we want to see the news but do we need a bird's eye view of it?

So I ask you, why would you go there for any other reason except a military assignment?
Feb 15, 2011 6:29pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Feb 15, 2011 6:42 PM
Going there for military assignments and American reporters not being liked in the region are pretty closely related.
Feb 15, 2011 6:42pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 6:45 PM
I Wear Pants;679699 wrote:Going there for military assignments and American reporters not being liked in the region are pretty closely related.

I won't disagree with that at all, or for any citizen for that fact that chooses to travel there.
Feb 15, 2011 6:45pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 15, 2011 6:53 PM
I like it over here.

I mean, random violence happens here too against people, but normally that's either a form of social darwinism or somebody realllly brought it upon themselves before hand.

So no, no way I'm going over there
Feb 15, 2011 6:53pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
Feb 15, 2011 6:58 PM
To see the places of historical significance, I probably would. Otherwise, it would take an act of God to make me willing to go over there.
Feb 15, 2011 6:58pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Feb 15, 2011 7:02 PM
Dubai is a pretty major economic hub - and the UAE is a fairly moderate state. My father-in-law travels there often and we're scheduled to go there in July. Hey, they have a pretty major golf tournament there plus they have an indoor skiing facility and the world's tallest building which I guess Tom Cruise sat on top of for the next Mission Impossible movie. Regardless of the political state, the middle East/southern Asia has a crap-ton of people and is getting bigger, and it is in everyone's interest, not just Americans, to provide services to them. Technically Iran is in my wife's region (she works for a British company so they do business there), there is no freaking way I'd let her go to Tehran, and even Kabul isn't on my list of cities she can visit, but she'll definitely have to travel to Dubai, Amman, and Instanbul often. It is just part of the job, if there are customers there businesses will do business there - if we don't someone else will.
Feb 15, 2011 7:02pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 7:05 PM
I do admit, Dubai is beautiful, been there many times myself.
Feb 15, 2011 7:05pm
Tiger2003's avatar

Tiger2003

Kill or be Killed

15,421 posts
Feb 15, 2011 7:30 PM
Yes. I have been to Israel and Lebanon.

We are talking about going to Saudi in the next year or so.
Feb 15, 2011 7:30pm
september63's avatar

september63

Senior Member

5,789 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:13 PM
A young woman that aspires to be a journalist. She gets hired by CBS News and her assignment is to cover the uprising in Egypt. She gets raped, pillaged and beaten. You dont feel sorry for her? Fab, you seem like a smart, decent guy. That was the dumbest thing you have ever said on here.
Feb 15, 2011 8:13pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:24 PM
september63;679784 wrote:A young woman that aspires to be a journalist. She gets hired by CBS News and her assignment is to cover the uprising in Egypt. She gets raped, pillaged and beaten. You dont feel sorry for her? Fab, you seem like a smart, decent guy. That was the dumbest thing you have ever said on here.

Ok I didn't mean it exactly like that, personally for her yes, CBS or the news network in general no! I don't wish harm on anyone but civilians (not military) have a right to turn down that assignment (I know it could be the end of her job) but dang I am not getting beaten, raped, killed for the sake of my company, sorry! Since I said that I'll use an example. Lets say victims of Hurricane Katrina were uprising in the streets against insurance companies for denying their claims similar to the situation in Egypt. There is violence, and unspeakable acts of humanity happening. My company says to me, go into the mob and get their thoughts, my response would be hell no, tell the suits to go do it!
Feb 15, 2011 8:24pm
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

Not Banned

7,817 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:29 PM
I Wear Pants;679699 wrote:Going there for military assignments and American reporters not being liked in the region are pretty closely related.

It's too bad our leaders don't recognize that evident truth.

As for me, I have family in Lebanon and our family still owns a home there, so I'd go there. And as Otrap mentioned, I would like to go for the history. It'd be a little easier for me since I'd blend in better and I also am obtaining my Lebanese citizenship for dual citizenship in the future. But I can see how other Americans would be afraid, and rightfully so, to travel there.
Feb 15, 2011 8:29pm
september63's avatar

september63

Senior Member

5,789 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:35 PM
OK, Fab. I figured you maybe meant it that way. Problem is, CBS News would probably not look favorably on a reporter who turned down an assignment. Hence, career killer.
Feb 15, 2011 8:35pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:37 PM
"But I can see how other Americans would be afraid, and rightfully so, to travel there. "

Four words. No guts, no glory. We're a country founded on explorers, pioneers and people ready to take risks. To your point it is a lot easier if one has ties there, but Americans will have to be there, if not from a military standpoint from an economic standpoint. Risk is part of life.
Feb 15, 2011 8:37pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:37 PM
september63;679818 wrote:OK, Fab. I figured you maybe meant it that way. Problem is, CBS News would probably not look favorably on a reporter who turned down an assignment. Hence, career killer.

I agree and that is a shame to put people in harms way for a "scoop"!
Feb 15, 2011 8:37pm
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

Not Banned

7,817 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:41 PM
Manhattan Buckeye;679821 wrote:"But I can see how other Americans would be afraid, and rightfully so, to travel there. "

Four words. No guts, no glory. We're a country founded on explorers, pioneers and people ready to take risks. To your point it is a lot easier if one has ties there, but Americans will have to be there, if not from a military standpoint from an economic standpoint. Risk is part of life.

I agree to an extent. Sometimes the risk outweighs the reward.
Feb 15, 2011 8:41pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:46 PM
Hell no.
Feb 15, 2011 8:46pm
september63's avatar

september63

Senior Member

5,789 posts
Feb 15, 2011 8:49 PM
BTW, she is a CBS News correspondent born and raised in South Africa. Did her schooling in South Africa. It doesnt make it any better, but she is not based in the US. She told a story how she "begged" the Russian embassy for a visa allowing her to enter Afghanistan to cover the previous unrest there.
Feb 15, 2011 8:49pm
T

tuskytuffguy

Senior Member

615 posts
Feb 15, 2011 9:08 PM
Hell No! I don't care if you're a reporter, a missionary, or what. You are not going to change anything, and the vast majority will hate you no matter what good you can do or how harmless you may be. If you are American, you're screwed. Blow the freaking mid-east off the map, period.
Feb 15, 2011 9:08pm
september63's avatar

september63

Senior Member

5,789 posts
Feb 15, 2011 9:13 PM
The reporter wasnt an American!!!!!! How many times do I have to say this?
Feb 15, 2011 9:13pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 15, 2011 9:18 PM
I didn't know she wasn't but either way for any company to especially put a woman in danger is crazy!!

I guess you could even include with Americans, allies of the West as well!
Feb 15, 2011 9:18pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Feb 15, 2011 9:48 PM
I wouldn't, ever.
Feb 15, 2011 9:48pm
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Feb 15, 2011 10:03 PM
Not big on my list of places to visit. Egypt may have been cool to see the pyramids and stuff, but not to big on the rest. Dubai does look nice so maybe that would be one other place I'd like to go on works dime, but not my own.
Feb 15, 2011 10:03pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Feb 15, 2011 10:55 PM
tuskytuffguy;679856 wrote:Hell No! I don't care if you're a reporter, a missionary, or what. You are not going to change anything, and the vast majority will hate you no matter what good you can do or how harmless you may be. If you are American, you're screwed. Blow the freaking mid-east off the map, period.

what an arrogant remark, hence the reason the world hates America.
Feb 15, 2011 10:55pm
Tiger2003's avatar

Tiger2003

Kill or be Killed

15,421 posts
Feb 15, 2011 11:17 PM
tuskytuffguy;679856 wrote: Blow the freaking mid-east off the map, period.

And you sir are a fucking idiot.
Feb 15, 2011 11:17pm
rmolin73's avatar

rmolin73

Senior Member

4,278 posts
Feb 16, 2011 2:02 AM
I would blend in:D
Feb 16, 2011 2:02am