Iran, Iraq and North Korea Not Completely Off Limits to Travelers
Travel Expert Peter Greenberg told Harry Smith that there is an uptick in travelers going to unexpected destinations including Iran, Iraq, Cuba and North Korea. There's no figures on the number of travelers to these places so we don't think it is likely that the figures are very high. Greenberg says the tourists want bragging rights for having visited these unusual vacation destinations. There are some amazing views in these places but there are also dangers. North Korea can only be visited once a year in August and September on controlled tours. Greenberg says the tour brochures that say you can explore on your own are not accurate. You can read an article here about traveling to these destinations. Peter Greenberg also has more information here on his blog.
President Obama Orders Stephen Colbert to Get a Haircut
Stephen Colbert is broadcasting from Iraq this week to entertain the troops. In his first appearance before the troops, President Obama appeared via satellite to order the general to shave his head. Stephen did sacrifice his hair, but it was all for a good cause. It's pretty funny, take a look:
A fashion runway show was recently held in the Iraqi city of Arbil. Reuters reports that models on the runway wore Turkish designs.
Turkish model Tugba Karaca said, "I am very glad to be here because, before I came here, of course everybody says it is a little bit dangerous country, not about the people just about the war, the war effects. Before I came here I searched for, I am looking for how is the culture of Iraqians and Kurdish people's culture, when I looked, I see that the Turkish culture and the Iraqian peoples culture are the same."
President Bush Dodges Shoes at News Conference in Iraq
An Iraqi journalist in Prime Minister Nouri-al Maliki's palace threw two shoes at President Bush during a joint news conference. Fortunately, President Bush has fast reflexes and managed to quickly dodge the incoming shoes. Take a look:
An eBay entry (via AFP) claims to offer the solution to the Iraq War. The auction was put there by someone claiming to be a Military Intelligence officer in the United States Army with an extensive background in the Middle East. Here is what the auction listing's description says.
I am offering the winning bidder the solution to the war in Iraq. This is not a flippant or facetious offer. There will be no joke forwarded to you if you are the winning bidder. If you are the high bidder, I will send you a viable solution to the conflict in which we are currently engaged. I am a Military Intelligence officer in the United States Army with an extensive background in the Middle East. I speak the language and understand the culture, history, and religion, well enough to construct a fair, honorable, and successful plan. I have spent time in Iraq as an enlisted intelligence Soldier during Desert Storm in 1991 and as an intelligence officer during this latest action.
I have been involved in the planning of over 400 combat operations and have personally participated in over 300 combat operations that ranged from terrorist cell take-downs to single-handed arms market raids. I do not lack courage or the ability to act.
I have headed humanitarian efforts that varied from toy drives to bridge building to educational support. I do not lack heart or the ability to feel.
My passion for this solution is genuine and my zeal is not misdirected. I do not demonize any group for the actions of a few but neither do I deify any group in some misguided attempt to show my open-mindedness. I have grieved for lost friends, both American and Iraqi, military and civilian. This war is not a concept, a philosophy, or a political agenda to me. It is a highly personal issue that I have applied an objective detachment to in order to arrive at a logical conclusion.
This war has currently cost us somewhere around FOUR HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS and over 3500 American lives. My buy it now price of five million seems perfectly reasonable by comparison. I'm not even asking you to risk your life. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems that the most valuable things in life are the least valued. For this reason I am starting the bidding at only one dollar. Just to sweeten the pot a little, I will not only send you the solution but I will also make myself available to you for two hours to further explain my solution and answer any possible questions that you may have. (Transportation costs are the sole responsibility of the winning bidder if they choose to exercise this option.) If you work for a senator or congressman or a possible presidential hopeful, maybe you should get everyone at the office to chip in and purchase my solution for them. Some of them might even be able to foot the bill themselves.
The highest bid for the item has passed the $1,000 mark. There have been 54 bids so far.
The Iraqi Most Wanted cards have been in popular demand ever since they were introduced by Centcom as a method to help soldiers remember the names and faces of wanted Iraqi leaders. GreatUSAflags.com, a web retailer, has sold over 700,000 decks of the cards.
An eBay 
