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On Aug. 12, FRONTLINE producer Martin Smith, his co-producer Marcela Gaviria, and cameraman Scott Anger set out on a two-month journey that will take them from London to the Persian Gulf to Pakistan and Afghanistan in an effort to find out what has become of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, Al Qaeda, since the U.S. launched its war on terrorism. In the weeks ahead, we'll be posting regular email dispatches from Smith and Gaviria as they report back to us on their progress, offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes perspective on a FRONTLINE documentary in the making. Smith's report will air in mid-November. | ||||||||||||||
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"Prisoners' Dilemma"
I did not set the alarm clock, thinking that the call to prayer would wake me up. For some odd reason, it never happened. I make my way to the bathroom and sleepily brush my teeth, to discover that the water tastes like sewage. I can handle the taste, it's the fear of contracting hepatitis that suddenly petrifies me. I wander over to the terrace's edge and look down as this little mountain town wakes up. There are no women to be seen. It is not uncommon. In the last few days, I have seen perhaps a handful, and even though they are covered in blue burkas, they turn their backs on cars passing by. It doesn't take long before I realize that I have been spotted on the deck without my shapata, or head scarf. This act is akin to wearing a bikini on the streets of Manhattan. I feel very conscious about wrapping my shapata in a way that covers most of my face. I haven't figured out how to do this without feeling suffocated. Even as I lumber beneath this scarf, there is no hiding under this get up. Everyone knows that I am a Western woman. It is strange for me here. I get stares that last for minutes: deep ones that unsettle me. For instance, there is our local contact, Latif Khan, a dwarf. He has not stopped staring at me since he's seen me. He jokes that he has two wives and could use a third. I tell him I'll consider the proposal if he gets us an interview with bin Laden. It is surreal to be here. The shapata. The dwarf. The anxious vibe. The fields of marijuana that carpet the landscape. And the stench of sewage. It seems to worsen as the day heats. We are not allowed to leave the hotel. We feel like prisoners in this town. And so on our little veranda we are visited by Mullas and doctors and shop keepers. We interview the local Major Sahibzada Tariq Ulla, who tells us that he has not heard of any reports of Al Qaeda in the region and that it is not his concern. We interview the local Mullah, Mullanha Qair Amin Ulla, who insists that all this talk of Al Qaeda near Dir are just lies. We talk to another local who told our driver that Americans had it coming, but on camera denied having anti-American sentiments, and of course denied knowing Al Qaeda. Fair enough. Perhaps all these news reports are incorrect. Perhaps Afghan intelligence is making up conspiracy theories. Perhaps Al Qaeda is further buried in the deep gorges between Dir and Chitral, and beyond. What makes no sense is the growing tension between our crew and our fixers. We have arguments. "You don't trust me. You don't listen to me. You cannot walk on the streets. It is too dangerous," says Shameem. "I understand," says Martin. "But everybody tells us there is no Al Qaeda. That it is safe. That there are no negative feelings. So I must go out on the streets and find people who will tell me what you are telling me." Shameem reminds Martin that a few weeks back a group of Western tourists were attacked by a grenade while on these very streets. It is a tale that we think of often, as we try to film the streets of Dir. It is frustrating. If Al Qaeda exists in this region, they have found a perfect alibi in these people. < (previous dispatch) · (next dispatch) >
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