The Circuit (2 page)

1

Another violent day in Ramallah. West Bank, 2002.

2

An IDF patrol rests on a street corner in Ramallah. The Russian-Israeli soldier put the gun to my head approximately 600 metres from this location. West Bank, 2002.

3

Palestinians rally in support of Yasir Arafat during Operation Defensive Shield. Ramallah, 2002.

4

My favourite photograph. One of Arafat’s PLO bodyguards stands inside a large hole punched into the Mukhata by Israeli forces during the ten-day siege of Arafat’s compound. Ramallah, 2002.

5

The bridge leading to Basra where ITN’s Terry Lloyd and his crew were apprehended by the Fedayeen. Basra, 2003.

6

The destroyed Iraqi ammunitions truck where young children were playing with live shells. Basra, 2003.

7

Statues of Iraqi generals who commanded during the Iran-Iraq War lining the Shaat al Arab waterway. The statues were torn down by the British following the 2003 invasion. Basra, 2003.

8

A motorway sign indicating we’re not far from Baghdad city centre. I first saw this sign driving to Baghdad from Amman, Jordan, when doing so was still considered reasonably safe. Abu Ghraib, 2004.

9

First light outside the Palestine Hotel, surrounded by rings of physical security. Baghdad, 2004.

10

A view of a mosque from behind the security of the Palestine hotel. The statue on the right replaced the statue of Saddam Hussein that was pulled down by US troops following the fall of the Iraqi capital. Baghdad, 2004.

11

An old man dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing. Northern Iraq, 2004.

12

What remained of Nabil’s restaurant, a favourite among westerners, including journalists, after it was attacked by a suicide car bomber. The incident was a wake-up call for internationals who believed they were somehow immune from Baghdad’s escalating violence. Baghdad, 2004.

13

CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson and me on a hilltop overlooking the Afghan capital. Kabul, 2004.

14

A diversion on the Kabul to Kandahar road, one of many possible ambush locations. Afghanistan, 2004.

15

The left side of our convoy driving across the desert to Lashkar Gah. We opted to drive off-road in order to avoid Taliban and bandits. Afghanistan, 2004.

16

Our local drivers and guards blow out air filters during one of several stops on the way to Lashkar Gah. Afghanistan, 2004.

17

Sculduggerers-in-arms: poppy farmers, Afghan police, drug lords and Taliban gather for the eradication of a poppy field outside Lashkar Gah. Afghanistan, 2004.

18

Taliban observing the token eradication of a poppy field outside Lashkar Gah. Afghanistan, 2004.

19

In Paktia, mixing with Patcha Khan’s people during his road closure. I was very aware that I was the only westerner for miles. This picture was taken by my local driver using my ‘small camera’. Afghanistan, 2004.

20

My dress to travel in vehicles around southern and eastern Afghanistan. I’m not trying to be covert, just low profile enough that I won’t stick out to those looking to target westerners. Afghanistan, 2004.

21

This picture was taken right after Patcha Khan had lifted his road closure just for our convoy. The crowd is a mix of Patcha Khan’s supporters and truck drivers. Afghanistan, 2004.

22

A graveyard of Russian armour east of Kabul. Afghanistan, 2004.

23

Three Afghan women clad in burkas - garments which, in my view, are oppressive and dangerous because they rob women of peripheral vision. Afghanistan, 2004.

24

A mountain range between Kabul and Kandahar, an example of Afghanistan’s diverse landscapes. Afghanistan, 2005.

25

An Afghan landmine disposal worker hard at work north of Kabul. He and others like him are the unsung heroes of post-Taliban Afghanistan. By co-operating with the international community, these brave men have become prime targets for insurgents. Afghanistan, 2005.

26

Riyadh’s glittering city centre. Saudi Arabia, 2004.

27

Two traumatized brothers stand outside their bullet-ridden school, located in the neighbourhood where Saudi troops engaged in a heated battle with militants at an al-Qaeda safe house. Many have mistaken the location in this photograph for Baghdad. Riyadh, 2004.

28

A footbridge over the filthy Kabul River, a health hazard which has yet to be tackled by the international community. Kabul, 2005.

29

Security on a mosque rooftop. Kabul, 2005.

30

A US commercial CP team looking after Afghan President Karzai assumes what I view as an overly aggressive stance. This kind
of modus operandi
reflects very poorly on a client. Afghanistan, 2005.

31

You’re never far from poverty in Kabul. A mother and two children begging on a street corner. Afghanistan, 2006.

32

Instructing a diplomatic CP team on a live fire drill. I’m second from left. Afghanistan, 2006.

33

Yasir Arafat holds his first meeting following the ten-day siege of his compound. Ramallah, 2002.

34

Me with Yasir Arafat following Operation Defensive Shield. Ramallah, 2002.

35

Me with Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the father of Palestinian suicide bombing. Gaza City, 2002.

36

The man claiming to be an ex-bodyguard of Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar. I took this picture covertly whilst observing him through my ‘big camera’ prior to our arranged meeting on the banks of the Helmund River. Lashkar Gah, 2004.

37

The group of young Taliban I approached by the banks of the Helmund River. Lashkar Gah, 2004.

38

Afghan warlord Patcha Khan of Zadran addressing his tribal elders. He had just closed a critical commercial route through his fiefdom. Paktia province, 2004.

39

Me with Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law, Mohammed Khalifa. This photograph was taken following CNN’s interview with him at his restaurant. Saudi Arabia, 2004.

40

My private meeting with Patcha Khan at his safe house in the dark side of Kabul. Qadeer, my good friend and interpreter for almost four years, is pictured to the far left. Kabul, 2006.

41

Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the radical cleric from Islamabad’s infamous Red Mosque. I took this picture prior to CNN’s interview with him. Weeks later, Ghazi and scores of others were killed when Pakistani troops stormed the mosque. Islamabad, 2007.

42

Me with Mullah Zaeef, former Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, following CNN’s interview with him. Kabul, 2007.

43

Looking for Taliban in an area of Quetta populated by Afghan refugees. Pakistan, 2007.

44

A Talib (student) from a
madrasah
in Quetta. Pakistan, 2007.

45

A Kutchi family travelling between mountain ranges. Afghanistan, 2007.

46

A Blackhawk helicopter coming to collect my clients and me from a US base in Kunar province. Afghanistan, 2007.

47

Mountain ranges surrounding the Afghan capital. Kabul, 2007.

48

A US military defensive position in eastern Afghanistan close to the Pakistani tribal area of Waziristan. Afghanistan, 2007.

49

Tribal elders in Khost province. These men and others like them hold the key to winning local support for Afghanistan’s coalition-backed government. Afghanistan, 2007.

50

Another tragic day for coalition forces in Afghanistan. An American flag flies at half-mast to honour a fallen soldier. 2007 proved the deadliest year to date for coalition forces since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Somewhere in Afghanistan, 2007.