World
from the December 29, 2003 edition

Reporters on the Job

Hanging with Charlie Company: Reporter Dan Murphy spent some time with Charlie Company in Tikrit while reporting today's story ( see story). Their home for most of the past year has been in Saddam Hussein's "Birthday Palace," a compound of marble and stone buildings complete with its own reviewing stands for annual parades in Mr. Hussein's honor. Despite its grand name, and the opulence of its sweeping columns, up close the place is a mess, says Dan. "The marble is badly installed and chipped, the plumbing doesn't really work, and there's no insulation against the surprisingly cold Baghdad winter, almost like a metaphor for the rot at the heart of Hussein's regime," he says.

Nevertheless, the soldiers have settled in, including adopting a few of the local stray animals, who've been fattened up on Army food. When Dan went out on a frigid midnight foot patrol with a squad, two of the dogs trailed them the whole evening, even settling down quietly and nuzzling up with the troops when they hid for an hour at an abandoned building.

David Clark Scott
World editor

Iranian quake relief

How to Help: Many aid agencies, including the ones listed, are accepting cash donations to assist the relief effort in Bam, Iran.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
www.ifrc.org
In the US, 1-800-HELPNOW

World Vision
www.worldvision.org
In the US: 1-888-56-CHILD

Mercy Corps International
www.mercycorps.org
In the US: 1-503-796-6827

UNICEF
www.supportunicef.org
In the US: 1800-367-5437

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
In the US: 1-888-392-0392

• Let us hear from you. Mail to: One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115 or e-mail.




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