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Baghdad
From Wikitravel
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Baghdad is the capital of Iraq.
[edit] Understand
 WARNING: Baghdad is an extremely dangerous city. It is considered to be in the current war zone. Bombings, killings and severe acts of violence are notorious and can randomly happen. Under no circumstance should any tourist visit. |
Once one of the greatest centres of learning and culture in the Islamic world, Baghdad has a long and illustrious history. Once a favored destination on the 'hippie trail' and packed full of sights; since the "war on terrorism" of 2003, Baghdad has since become one of the most dangerous cities on Earth. Hopefully peace will return to the city, and Baghdad will regain its rightful place amongst the best cities, but for now, it will come as no shock to anyone who has watched the news in the past decade, that Baghdad is strictly NO GO.
Travel to Baghdad is emphatically not recommended at the present time (2010), owing to wartime instability and security concerns. Westerners are particular targets of kidnapping and assassination by militant and extremist groups.
[edit] Get in
There are fligts from İstanbul to Baghdad every day at 03.15 on Turkish Airlines. [1]
There are scheduled commercial flights from Amman on Royal Jordanian Airlines [2]. This is probably the best way into Baghdad if you are not traveling on official business. You arrive in the commercial portion of the Airport.
The easiest way into the military portion of the Baghdad airport is using Gryphon Air. They fly from Kuwait. Of course, for military personnel and others traveling on official business sanctioned by the United States, the US Air Force offers flights from neighboring countries.
All flights are subject to suspension for reasons ranging from insurgent attacks on the airport to sandstorms. Realistically assume 3 or 4 days to fly in from the United States unless you have commercial tickets the whole way.
One can also enter Iraq overland from Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Turkey or Iran.
An alternate way to get to Baghdad is to fly to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on Austrian Airlines [3] and then travel across country. Of course, the travel between Erbil and Baghdad will be quite dangerous.
[edit] Get around
The preferred method of transportation is helicopter. If helicopter transport is not available, use of a fully armoured car or Rhino (armoured bus) is recommended.
Within the International Zone (formerly known as the Green Zone) there is a free shuttle bus service by KBR. You can also walk to many destinations in the International Zone or use a bicycle.
[edit][add listing] See
The Monument to the Unknown Soldier
The Monument to the Unknown Soldier is said to be inspired by the glorification of a martyr from the Iran–Iraq War. The Monument represents a traditional shield (dira¹a) dropping from the dying grasp of an Iraqi warrior. The monument also houses an underground museum. The artificial hill is shaped like a low, truncated cone of 250 m diameter [1]. It is surrounded by slanting girders of triangular section that are covered with marble. Red granite, stepped platforms of elliptical form lead to the dome and cubic sculpture. The steel flagpole is entirely covered with Murano glass panels fixed on stainless steel arms and displaying the national flag colors. The cantilevered dome is 42m in diameter and follows an inclination of 12 degrees. Its external surface is clad with copper, while its inner surface features a soffit finished with pyramidal modules alternating steel and copper. The promenade is covered by a semi-circular, flat roof supported on a triangular steel bracing. The roof is covered with a copper sheet and the soffit displays V-shaped panels of stainless steel and Murano glass.
The cube beneath the shield is made of seven layers of metal, said to represent the seven levels of Heaven in the Islamic faith. Inside the layers of metal are sheets of red acrylic, said to represent the blood of the slain Iraqi soldiers. The cube itself is connected to the underground museum by a long shaft with windows that allow light to shine in from above. Inside the museum, visitors can look up at the ceiling and see through the openings leading to the cube above e.Visiting the monument is permissible during daylight hours, although visitors must ask for permission from the Iraqi soldiers who guard the monument before approaching the monument.
The al-Shaheed Monument
The al-Shaheed Monument, also known as the Martyr's Memorial, is a monument in the Iraqi capital Baghdad dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iran-Iraq war.During the 1970s and 1980s, Saddam Hussein's government spent a lot of money on new monuments and the beautification of Baghdad, which included the al-Shaheed Monument .The monument consists of a circular platform 190 meters in diameterin the center of an artificial lake. On the platform sits an enormous 40 meter talllsplit turquoise dome, which resembles the domes of the Abbasid era. The two halves of the split dome are offset, with an eternal flame in the middle. The shells are constructed of a galvanized steel frame with glazed turquoise ceramic tile cladding which was pre-cast in carbon fiber reinforced concrete. The rest of the site consists of parks, a playground, parking lots, walkways, bridges, and the lake.
A museum, library, cafeteria, lecture hall and exhibition gallery are located in two levels underneath the domes.
The monument is on the East side of the Tigris river, near the Army Canal .
[edit] Work
There are several ways to work in Iraq. Most obvious is the United States Military [4]. Next are the government contractors, such as KBR [5]. Many contractors hire personnel with prior military experience to return to Iraq. Persons with military experience or fluent in Arabic are especially sought after. Lastly, there are civillian government agencies in Iraq. USAID [6] and the United States Department of State [7] send their own personnel as well as contractors to Iraq.
The agencies above are all relevant for US citizens; citizens of other countries with a presence in Iraq can apply for work through the respective agencies in their home country.
WARNING: Employment arrangements are always made in your home country. Do not come to Iraq on your own to look for work. People have been killed attempting this. |
[edit][add listing] Buy
Rugs and DVDs are available to buy. Inspect the quality of rugs carefully, some are cheap Chinese made rugs, and many are extremely overpriced.
[edit][add listing] Eat
There are some Iraqi run restaurants in the International Zone. There's also Burger King, McDonalds and Subway. Lastly there is the cafeteria run by KBR.
[edit][add listing] Drink
Yes, there is drinking during down times. The International Zone is truly international. Many organizations have their own bars, some open to all.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
Sleeping quarters will depend upon your organization and your rank. For many, a half-trailer is sleeping quarters. Others have a shared half trailer. A few have villas or apartments.
[edit] Stay safe
The easiest way to stay safe in Baghdad is not to go there in the first place, except for official reasons.
Movement within Baghdad is difficult and entry into the International Zone, a.k.a. Green Zone, requires a pass or that you be accompanied by authorized officials. Iraq is a war zone and even if you're from a country which is part of the coalition, you will not be granted entry into the IZ without authorization. Most ex-pats and business travelers to Iraq hire a security detail which constantly monitors the security situation within Iraq and around Baghdad.
Travel outside the IZ is extremely dangerous. Roadside and car bombs are detonated every day in Baghdad. Many Iraqis are armed. Markets and popular gathering places are frequent targets of bombers. As a foreigner you are more likely to be targeted for kidnapping. Kidnappings are often financially motivated. These threats are not restricted to Americans or women.
You are also likely to be refused access to accommodation as Iraqis will fear being targeted for supporting the occupying forces.
See also War zone safety
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