His room at the hotel in Baghdad hotel wasn‟t posh by any means, but was certainly a step up from the one in Sierra Leone. He checked in and sat waiting in the lobby to meet the news reporter his American contacts had arranged to show him around.
Warren wasn‟t there as a tourist, but to research first hand what the conditions really were. Ralph Jones showed up right on time and they went out to scan the rubble strewn city. As they crossed a street entering a shopping area, the reporter remarked.
“See that.” he said pointing at a small beat up car. “Watch out for cars like that.
A perfect vehicle for a suicide bomber .”
The small auto pulled ahead of them and into the crowded market place. Warren kept an eye on the vehicle and as it reached the middle of the crowd there was a huge explosion. Warren barely caught a glimpse of flying body parts and groceries before his companion pushed him to the pavement. Seconds later, Jones leaped up and ran toward the disaster. Over his shoulder he shouted:
“Come on!...should be safe now!”
Warren got up slowly and, partially deafened by the explosion, hurried after the reporter. Wanting to get closer to the action, yet dreading what he‟d find, he ran on. As he arrived at ground zero he saw the disaster was far worse than he‟d imagined--even more heinous than the incident in Sierra Leone. There were many wounded who were still alive and screaming in pain. Bodies and body parts lay everywhere, some together and some dismembered or partially torn apart by the blast. The areas not strewn by bodies were covered in blood. The reporter, had apparently seen such grisly sights before, and went right to work taking pictures and gathering information for his story: estimating the toll of the dead, and the injured. Very shortly, ambulances and trucks began to arrive to clean up the carnage. Warren, sick to his stomach, realized this was his reason for coming to the war zone. He grit his teeth and followed the reporter around. As in Sierra Leone he took many pictures with his digital camera. The sight of all the men women and children suffering or dead and beyond suffering was deplorable to him, How is it possible for human beings to do these things? He was viewing the proof he‟d traveled halfway around the world to find: evidence some people get gratification from doing violence to others. Some who enter war have sociopath tendencies. and enter battles with a psyche preprogrammed to hurt, damage and kill.
The sight sickened him, but confirmed his suspicions and strengthened his resolve to do something to counteract mankind‟s depravity.
As he and Ralph Jones finished their grim task, medical and clean up teams went about theirs. Sadly Warren sensed they‟d all been there before and this was just another routine suicide bombing.
Finally the reporter shrugged and turned to Warren. “Well. that‟s it. Gotta file my story, Why don‟t you go ahead to Army headquarters and check in for tomorrow morning‟s patrol duty.”
Ralph Jones and Warren managed to grab two local taxis and took off in opposite directions. Jones to the hotel that housed his news department, and Warren to Camp Victory, the army camp outside Baghdad responsible for area security. At the gate, Warren presented his pass and papers and was escorted to the tent/ office of a Major Lees. The Officer was expecting him and they held a brief conference in which the Major outlined the possible dangers of Warren‟s accompanying his men into the field.
Though Warren was aware there were risks, he was willing to put himself in danger to see how soldiers were affected by the angst of war.
After conferring with the officer and checking out some safety gear, Warren returned to his hotel for the evening. Events of the day left him with no appetite, but he‟d agreed to dine with the reporter and his news gathering friends. His dinner companions were a mixed lot, but all seemed cynical as they regaled him with their war experiences. He took mental notes of all the horrors they described and would add their comments to the laptop computer he‟d brought for the purpose. Though the conversation was anything but appetizing, he managed to force down enough food to keep going. Tomorrow promised to be another trying day and he‟d need all his strength. He retired early and his exhaustion pushed him into a series of bloody nightmares.