Phoenix in the US Military: Wei Jing's War Diary

Author: Wei Jing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: Most Chinese people around the world only saw the US-Iraq war on TV. Even the journalists who went to Iraq at the time were merely waiting on aircraft carriers to act as "second-hand" reporters of the battle situation. The only one who went deep into the US military base and experienced the frontline combat was the female reporter Wei Jing from Phoenix TV. On the first anniversary of the US-Iraq war, we present this extraordinary war diary to the readers, joining you in recalling that extraordinary experience. On March 20, 2003, the US officially began attacking Iraq. About two weeks before the US declared war on Iraq, the author, as a reporter from Phoenix TV accompanying the US military, embarked on a journey from Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, with camera operator Xiao Yan to the Gulf to report on the US-Iraq war. In the following two months, they were stationed at the US military base Arifjan in Kuwait to interview the US military preparing for battle. On March 26, when the Iraqis were still resisting fiercely, they entered Iraq for the first time. On April 12, three days after the US captured Baghdad, they began traveling north from Kuwait along the coalition's supply routes to Baghdad. In Baghdad, through the experience of eating and living together with the US military, especially the soldiers of the main combat unit, the 3rd Infantry Division, the author witnessed the many differences between modern and traditional warfare and personally experienced the daily lives of US military personnel. The author visited Saddam's palace and parade ground, which were occupied by the US military, participated in patrols by the US military in the city of Baghdad, and heard complaints from Iraqis about the US bombing. As the only female reporter from the Chinese diaspora who accompanied the military to cover this war, the author hopes to share this special experience with the readers: tell you about the excitement, frustrations, sweetness, and fear she felt at the time; tell you some stories behind the news that few people know. The book is vividly written and illustrated.