About the Author

Richard Downes is a journalist living in Dublin. For three and a half years he crossed the African continent covering wars, insurrections and catastrophes. His BBC posting Jordan brought him to the Mideast in 1998, and he subsequently found his niche in Iraq. Vincent Browne, prominent Irish columnist and radio host, described him as the best reporter covering the war. He has continued to travel to Iraq in the chaotic post-war era.