February 18, 2009
On the Road, Briefly
I told myself I wasn’t going to travel again for a while unless I had a really good reason because I have so much material to write up from Iraq and Lebanon. But I was invited on a short last-minute trip that I could not possibly turn down, and I have some terrific material already. My location needs to remain undisclosed for the next couple of days, but I’ll be home soon and will tell you all about it. Stand by.
Posted by Michael J. Totten at February 18, 2009 1:29 AMwaiting patiently :o)
Posted by: Aram
at February 18, 2009 6:21 AM
Cool. Can't wait -- I've got a whole list of places I'd like you to go to.
Posted by: AZZenny at February 18, 2009 7:13 AM
Hmmm... Syria?
Posted by: AZZenny at February 18, 2009 7:30 AM
Have you considered that there might be a big plot to make it so you can never write another article. Wonderful offers of magnificent and important travel will just keep piling on and piling on.
They better start offering your lady travel pretty soon.
Posted by: Patrick S Lasswell at February 18, 2009 8:55 AM
My location needs to remain undisclosed for the next couple of days
So much for the undisclosed location. I hope you're doing all right and that your future travel companions have a better sense of propriety and self-preservation!
Posted by: calbear at February 18, 2009 3:27 PM
Michael,
you okay? Rumour on the street says you had a rough time in Beirut.
Posted by: Carlos at February 18, 2009 6:48 PM
If it were Thanksgiving I would've said you accompanying Obama while he is visiting troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
PS. Syria-Shmyria. Iran.
Posted by: leo at February 18, 2009 7:40 PM
Yeah, Iran, that too. I just thought since there's a congressional junket in Syria right now...
Posted by: AZZenny at February 19, 2009 12:24 AM
Just heard you were with Hitchens in Lebanon. Is it true he got beat up by some SSNP thugs?
Posted by: DagneyT at February 19, 2009 5:33 AM
Ace has a full description of "What happened with Hitchens"
Posted by: maryatexitzero at February 19, 2009 7:33 AM
Well, WSJ online, shall we say, "beat you to the punch" and it appears you were in Beirut where a scuffle broke out. Hitchens seems to have provoked it, by justifiably mocking a swatika on a flag. Whatever brought this on, let's hope the ruffians got as much as they seem to have given. What idiots to try and defend their swatika with fisticuffs.
Really disgusting. I just hope Michael, Christopher, and Jonathan were not too badly hurt. Maybe Michael will tell us the story. Maybe not. Personally, I hope he and his buddies kicked ass. But getting jumped provides little preparation for a scuffle, and Christopher is not a spring chicken. Michael looks in strong shape, I do not know Jonathan. It they did not get the best in the scuffle, I hope local police picked up the slack.
DD
Posted by: MontanaMan at February 19, 2009 1:47 PM
Geez, this story is in the Wall Street Journal? Can you give me a link, please?
I haven't yet read a single accurate account of what happened.
Yes, I will write about it. My account will be far more interesting than anything anybody has read so far because I was actually there.
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at February 19, 2009 3:19 PM
Wow, I heard from a friend that Hitch got attacked but I didn't know you were with him! I hope you're OK!
Posted by: Phil C at February 19, 2009 6:02 PM
Michael
It is not in the WSJ per se, but was mentioned in passing in James Taranto's Best of the Web Today, sponsored by WSJ online.
You can see it at wsj online under the opinion page
Posted by: MontanaMan at February 20, 2009 9:58 AM
The WSJ snippet is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123505515951422771.html ; in response to the second-hand report saying it was a miracle Hitchens came out no worse than he did, Taranto snarks about miracles for atheists. That's about all the original content they gave; we all await the real story.
Posted by: calbear at February 20, 2009 10:29 AM
I know what happened.... it's quite a story...
Posted by: Microraptor at February 21, 2009 3:01 PM
