Reporters on the Job
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A JOURNALIST, NOT A GI: As more US troops, advisers, and special-ops personnel enter Central Asia (
see story), the Monitor's Scott Peterson is giving more thought to his grooming habits – or lack thereof. "I don't cut my hair before I travel, and sometimes I won't shave. I don't have any illusions about looking like a local, but I don't want to look like any Rambo stereotypes that locals may have about American soldiers or agents. That means no crew cuts and definitely no wrap-around sunglasses."
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RACING AGAINST THE NIGHT: When the Monitor's Ilene Prusher arrived back at the Khost (Afghanistan) Guest House after a day of reporting, it was late afternoon. "The electricity only comes on between 6 and 9 p.m., and the rooms were so dark that I couldn't read my notes," she says. Ilene went outside onto the second-floor balcony to write in the last few minutes of daylight. But there was one persistent distraction: the crackle of nearby gunfire. Two pro-government factions were fighting amongst themselves (
see story), and one group of troops had conveniently taken up positions for the night on the rooftop of Ilene's guest house.
She moved inside at nightfall, but just after 9 p.m., the lights went out. "I sent my last take of the story while holding an oil lamp and a satellite phone in one hand, while typing with the other."
Although Ilene was advised to keep a table in front of her door that night, no one seemed particularly bothered by the gunfire that continued until dawn.
"The next morning, no one seemed concerned that the troops – both pro-government, anti-Al Qaeda forces – were firing at each other. A big deal, one Afghan said, is when they lose 20 or 50 men. So, I was told, last night was nothing to get excited about."
David Clark Scott
World editor
Cultural snapshot
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SHIELDS INTO SHOWER CAPS:
Indonesian riot police - outside the parliament in Jakarta - take cover under their plexiglass shields during a rainstorm.
DADANG TRI/REUTERS
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