Safe Iraq Departure?

After going through an initial security checkpoint at the mouth of the lonely stretch of road leading up to the airport, we very slowly slalomed back and forth through huge concrete barriers that hardly left any room for the turns needed to successfully navigate them. There were ten or twelve of them in total. Designed to prevent a speeding vehicle from plowing through with bad intentions, they were imposing sentinels protecting the small airport.

Next came iron barricades fortified with many ominous spikes protruding out at dangerously-sharp angles. Quite a few of these 12-inch spears were bent this way and that on one of the rusty sections. A past impact?

We then progressed through security checkpoint number two and on to security checkpoint number three, where our cases and papers were inspected. Our belongings were x-rayed and personally rummaged through.

From there we boarded a bus full of security personnel and traversed the remaining few miles to the terminal, a former military center and landing strip under Saddam Hussein. As we entered, our luggage was again x-rayed and examined by officials.

After making sure our tickets were in order we went through, yes, another x-ray and thorough bag scrutiny. Needless-to-say, all these security measures were certainly welcomed and appreciated.

Following a long wait in a common area with no air conditioning, we were ushered into a departure lounge with, yep, no air conditioning. A wall of glass separated us from the tarmac and radiated the 115 F heat in from outside.

Just when we felt that we had finally completed the multi-step security ordeal, everyone was then asked to leave the departure lounge and line up outside. We subsequently re-entered the lounge after having our papers assessed by two separate people (one Iraqi, one European) at two separate stops in the line. Iraqi nationals had to go through yet a third evaluation.

Safely back in the sweltering lounge, we patiently waited to cross the security-lined tarmac to our nearby plane. A large military cargo plane was the first to land and provided a further reminder of our locale.

But...

A lone individual approached a national security officer and motioned to go outside to smoke a cigarette. The officer smiles and is given a cigarette himself. They opened the door and stood outside laughing, smoking. Others, seizing the opportunity, asked to do the same. Pretty soon, eight or so people were loitering outside, sending up puffs of smoke with a few of these officers.

Huh????????

Mike and I incredulously watched the whole scene unfold. After steering through so many checks, double-checks, triple-checks, etc., this amazing security lapse occurred with the simplest request and gift, a 20-cent cigarette. I asked Mike, "Can you believe what we are seeing here? Don’t they have a clue as to how bad this is?"

I surveyed the things immediately outside. A trash can here. A cart there. Service items everywhere. Plenty of places to have had an accomplice sneak across an open field at night to hide weapons or explosives. Plenty of opportunity to now retrieves such items. And what about the cigarette lighters? Where did they come from?

 

 

(Images: Iraq Airways plane just outside the waiting lounge)

Finally, after twenty minutes or so, another security officer exited the building and quickly motioned the group in with a look of displeasure on his face.

No matter how many precautions, no matter how many checks, no matter how many systems...it can all break down with one individual. In this case the individual was a security officer that succumbed to a well-dressed Iraqi who approached him with a flashing smile and extra cigarette.

Safety is not found in men. It is only found in the Lord, according to His will and purposes.

Comments

[Libby Hellinger]

Your last two lines say it all. Praying for a safe trip home.