Introduction
posted February 21, 2008

    I had a chance to travel to Turkey and Iraq in the fall of 2006. My general goal then was to see how people go about life's daily activities in a war zone. Shortly, I will be returning to build on the things learned on that first trip. I have agreed to share some of my observations with the Janesville Gazette primarily by blogging dispatches back here to the States. 

    Although I have been employed by the Gazette in the past, as with my first visit to Iraq I will be leaving my position with them. I will not then, be under the employ of any media entity other than my own independent operation. Nor, do I have any affiliation with the military or any contractor. For the purposes of this journey as with the one before, I am a "traveler" taking a look at the culture in that complex region. 

    It is my goal to dispatch every day. However, if that is not possible it does not mean there is a crisis on my end. The electricity does not often work in the region I will be in. There is usually email access along the way as I dispatched every day last trip. But, it is often facilitated by generators and bootleg television satellite dishes. I may at some point run into a region without even makeshift amenities. 

    I hope as an independent traveler I can shed some small slivers of information about Iraq of which we are not already aware. It is a region and war we see back here at home as controversial. It is a world so very complex over there. And it is after all, a place we have invested so much time, money, and lives.

Bob Keith
Janesville, Wisconsin