Doing political travel writing on Kickstarter crowdfunding budgets offers modest economic returns. But emails like these, years after the publishing of “WAR: The Afterparty,” makes the effort sweet and worthwhile. The books opens with my two week visit to Guatemala, interviewing witnesses, professors, politicos and an exiled ex-president about the 1953 CIA overthrow of democratically …
One of the great joys of book publishing is connecting with people around the world who are inspired, delighted, or interested in past projects. I was contacted by an editorial staffer from a Swiss publication. She saw one of the photos I took in Guatemala City for “WAR: The Afterparty.” The photo, the journey, and …
Swiss Magazine kulturtipp Uses Guatemala Photo from “WAR: The Afterparty” Project Read More »
I learned from an Afghan friend that one of my most memorable Kabul interviews, Dr. Ayaz Niazi, was killed by ISIS terrorists at his Wazir Abul Khan mosque, the city’s largest. At the end of our interview, concerned that an intimate photo with a Jewish American writer could be dangerous, we posed for a photo …
Afghan Mullah, “Afterparty” Interviewee Dr. Ayaz Niazi Killed by Terrorists Read More »
One of the first public pieces by the new Quincy Institute was just published in the New Republic and it is worth a read. Adam Wunische is a research fellow with the Institute and a PhD candidate at Boston College. He served two deployments to Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army. “The Real Costs …
I completed my research for “WAR: The Afterparty” with a trip to Iraq in January. While I found most of my lodging for my round the world journey through Expedia, Airbnb and Lonely Planet, I came across generous Couchsurfing hosts in Afghanistan and Vietnam. And that’s where I encountered Samir Barznjy, a 31-year old surgeon and …
On The Road to Mosul: Iraqi Soldiers on The Origins of ISIS Read More »
Makhmour, briefly overrun by ISIS, is the staging ground for Iraqi Army, Kurdish Peshmerga and U.S. forces in advance of the retaking of Mosul. I spoke with a Peshmerga commander and the former mayor of Makhmour during my visit in January. From “WAR: The Afterparty,” available now on Amazon here. —- Samir takes me back …
As Troops Mass In Makhmour, Iraq, An Interview with Mayor Barzan Said Kaka Read More »
In my travels through the Greater Middle East for the Afterparty book project, I went out of my way to meet Muslims. I visited mosques in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, met with the leading Afghan Islamic scholar at his mosque in Kabul between afternoon prayers, discussed religion with secular, …
While en route to Kabul, Afghanistan for my ‘Afterparty’ journey, I was without lodging. To my rescue, via the quirky, unpredictable but sometimes wonderful Couchsurfing site, came an extraordinary offer. The CEO of one of Afghanistan’s leading IT companies, Farshid Ghyasi, offered me an ensuite room in the corporate villa in central Kabul. Three weeks …
A Farewell Tribute to Afghan IT Entrepreneur Javid Hamdard Read More »
