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holoholo girl
Joined: 16 Jun 2010
Posts: 58
Location: Mesopotamia
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 Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:02 am Post subject: Iran visa run |
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| Cartago are you American? I'm curious to know if Americans can cross the border into Iraq. Very interesting if so... |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| americans better not cross the border into iraq. america just destroyed a sovereign nation and i think the iraqi people are pretty pissed off about that genocide/nation building adventure. Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites, it doesnt really matter which iraqis, i think its a bad idea for americans to go there. they may get what they deserve. |
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cartago
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Iraq
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I am American. Americans and I think most other Western nationals can get a 10 day visa at the border. This is a separate visa for Iraqi Kurdistan, not the Arab parts. The Arab parts are considerably more dangerous.
Americans there certainly don't get "what we deserve." Admittedly I was only there for a couple of days but I mentioned to everyone who asked that I was American and I had absolutely no problems or negative reactions. I've also seen posts on other message boards from Americans who visited and experienced no problems. If you're interested, go for it, it's a really interesting place to visit. |
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westbrook1
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| gloomyGumi wrote: |
| americans better not cross the border into iraq. america just destroyed a sovereign nation and i think the iraqi people are pretty pissed off about that genocide/nation building adventure. Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites, it doesnt really matter which iraqis, i think its a bad idea for americans to go there. they may get what they deserve. |
leave the forum, please. |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| leave the forum, please. |
i.e. the truth hurts, doesn't it? |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| Americans there certainly don't get "what we deserve." |
guess you haven't been following the hundreds and hundreds of kidnappings, assaults, etc. of Americans in Iraq over the past few years?  |
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cartago
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Iraq
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| Where did those kidnappings occur? Some areas like Mosul, Kirkuk, Tikrit and Baghdad are very dangerous for everyone, not just Americans. In northern Iraq many Americans and other westerners have visited Erbil, Suleimaniyeh, Duhok and Ahmediya without problems. Believe me, I've been there and it's not that dangerous for Americans. |
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holoholo girl
Joined: 16 Jun 2010
Posts: 58
Location: Mesopotamia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:42 am Post subject: Iraq touring |
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| Great to hear Cartago as the entire Fertile Crescent is embedded with such fantastic archaeological ruins I'm sure. I'll soon be close to the Syrian border and hope the same applies for these 10 day visas. As well, I'm looking forward to areas east & south of Lake Van. All that delicious Kurdish food to boot! Cig Kofte... |
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Urban_Kitten
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| gloomyGumi wrote: |
| americans better not cross the border into iraq. america just destroyed a sovereign nation and i think the iraqi people are pretty pissed off about that genocide/nation building adventure. Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites, it doesnt really matter which iraqis, i think its a bad idea for americans to go there. they may get what they deserve. |
Americans are well received in Kurdistan. This region is the first I've lived in abroad which is so overtly welcoming to and supportive of Americans. There are no issues vis-a-vis Yanks crossing the border. Do your homework.
Last edited by Urban_Kitten on Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
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cartago
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Iraq
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:53 am Post subject: |
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I think it's probably very difficult to visit Syria these days because of the political problems although I don't really know for sure. Even in the past Americans normally couldn't get visas at the border but had to arrange it in advance.
Iraqi Kurdistan is much easier to visit fortunately and there's also plenty to see in Turkey. |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Try to study a bit more and not swallow all the mainstream media garbage:
"March 5, 2011
The continued demonstrations & civil unrest in Southern Kurdistan (the part of Kurdistan under the rule of Kurdistan Regional Government-KRG-) has taken us into the crossroads that will bring disaster (civil war!) and probably NOT the escalation of the democratic process of civil society. "
or how about:
"Iraqi Kurdistan Region now feels safe and protected only because of temporary deployment of US and Allied forces in Iraq. This situation will not last forever. Already plans are drawn for the withdrawal of these troops from Iraq in a few months time. There is no guarantee that a very strong and sound democratic and federal system of government will have been established in Iraq by then. There will always be dangers of the political system falling back to its old habits of military rule and non-democratic forms of governance by nationalist or political Islamist groups...... "
".....
The Kurds have been more open with their anger at the United States recently but they're not ready to show their cards yet, not ready to storm out of the press conference. They're waiting. With their long history of being stomped on, they are a very patient people. "
(This Paper was prepared for: The Conference: �Kurdistan in a Dynamic (Ever Changing) World- An Academic and a Political Dialogue� , Arbil � Iraqi Kurdistan � 16-18 October, 2010). |
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cartago
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Iraq
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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I can go on the internet and find a blog with alarming news about any part of the world or hear about anti-American sentiment in South Korea or France. Does it mean those stories are false? Probably not but they don't present the whole picture any better than the mainstream media.
My information comes from having visited the place and from talking with others who have, in urban kitty's case it comes from having lived there. I'm not saying it's completely safe and sure it's an unstable part of the world but it's not full of angry people waiting to lynch the first American who wanders into the place the way you seem to present it. Most people are actually friendly and hospitable.
It sounds like you're letting your political opinions cloud your judgment. It's like you want to believe that everyone in Kurdistan hates Americans and that they all believe that Americans bear a collective responsibility for the actions of our government the way you seem to.
As it stands now, there isn't any reason an American should avoid going to Iraqi Kurdistan, it's reasonably safe to visit and many have without experiencing any significant problems. |
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Englishteach
Joined: 01 Oct 2010
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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"Americans might get what they deserve"... I wonder why anyone would write such a stupid thing in a forum.
What is it Americans deserve?
In this day and age of violence everywhere, against all kinds of people, we should do our best to discourage violence and not incite more violence against others.
Maybe this "wise" person has some other thoughts about others and what they might deserve. Care to share more of your interesting thoughts, gloomyGumi? |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:32 am Post subject: |
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we should do our best to discourage violence and not incite more violence against others.
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Arm-chair quarterbacking is easy. Let's see how Gandhi-like you'd be if your family turned out to be "collateral damage" (yeah---WHOOPS! We just droned the wrong "suspected militant hideout", oh well).
Cartago I do agree most people are nice, everywhere in the world in fact. Its the 5% minority however that can really do the damage. |
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westbrook1
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| gloomyGumi wrote: |
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we should do our best to discourage violence and not incite more violence against others.
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Arm-chair quarterbacking is easy. Let's see how Gandhi-like you'd be if your family turned out to be "collateral damage" (yeah---WHOOPS! We just droned the wrong "suspected militant hideout", oh well).
Cartago I do agree most people are nice, everywhere in the world in fact. Its the 5% minority however that can really do the damage. |
Yes and unluckily for you, you're in that minority when you make stupid comments like 'Americans will get what they deserve'. |
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