The blue (from cold) zone

Goose bumps speckled my arms, the hair on the back of my neck bristled and tears formed in my eyes as I watched today’s ceremony to mark the handover of the green zone from US to Iraqi control.
Rather than overcome with emotion, however, the lumps, bumps and runny nose were brought on by relentless gusts of icy wind.

Admittedly coming out in a thin shirt with no coat was not the smartest move for a morning spent standing outside in winter, but fellow reporters were also suffering, even those with the foresight to bring a wooly hat, gloves, scarf and warm jacket.
“My hands are too numb to write,” was a common complaint over the chattering of teeth and shivering of limbs.
One interpreter even said he was too cold to interpret. Understandable. I was too frozen to think, let alone take notes, while snapping pictures almost resulted in finger-loss through hypothermia (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea).
The problem is that because Iraq is usually so stiflingly hot it takes a while (for me at least) to adjust to the fact that the winter months have the capacity to become bitingly cold, as experienced during today’s sovereignty proceedings.
Here are a few pictures of cold members of the foreign press pack.

Amit Paley, Washington Post, followed by Campbell Robertson, New York Times.

Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, followed by Leila Fadel, McClatchy Newspapers.

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, National Public Radio, followed by Tim Cocks, Thomson Reuters. 

Comments

[RiskManager]

So, after 6 years of struggle against lies about US intent in Iraq the war is won. So what do the "journalists" report?

They were cold

Its breathtaking. Truly disgusting

Some sort of award called for?

Iraqis are free, despite most and in spite of most. Thanks god for G W Bush.

[alex marks, cornwall, uk]

do bog off riskmanager - and take your comically righteous indignation with you.
this piece is clearly meant to be a bit of lighthearted nonsense.
click here for one of the the many genuine news stories on the handover.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article5425730.ece
not for the first time, your oh-so-patronizing contribution to this blog is tedious in the extreme.

[michèle bobramsen]

This may be a filler article, but we've been very interested in your series of articles on interpreters in conflict zones.The International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) would like to create a project to help these interpreters and is organising a Forum and then a debate on the subject at its congress at the Acropolis in Nice, France this January 11th. Deborah or any of her interested colleagues would be most welcome to come along.

[Scott]

You may be cold, but you look hot (wink, wink)!

[Elaine Jones]

I want to thank the London reporters for bringing to light what is actually occuring in Iraq since our American media and journalist are morons and apparently don't know how to report news truthfully.

[Hannah]

haha, nice one!
Apparently, my gran sat next to your Aunt in the fish shop (Ramsbottoms, Northampton) the other week. I say apparently, because she is nearly ninety and has told me twice about it, but even so - small world!

[catcherinthe]

I'm amazed that someone who is seemingly intelligent is obviously weather-challenged, neglecting to wear sunscreen or protective covering in blistering desert heat and warm covering in colder temps. It would seem Ms. Haynes needs to brush up on her life skills.

[Robbie G]

… and Catcherinthe, it would seem that you, in turn, need to lighten up a bit.

Why the negativity, man?

Are you telling me that you have never in your life been inadequately attired for the cold or heat?

Quit taking yourself so seriously, dude, and admire the fact that here is a woman who is able to take time out from a dangerous job in order to poke a little bit of harmless fun at herself for the entertainment of others.

Jeeez.