If you are an eighteen or nineteen-year-old with little education, as is often the case, and you're put in charge of many,… — Yaroslav Trofimov Absolute power Copy Share Image
The American official was trying to talk about aid and development projects and finally a local tribal chief got up and said,… — Yaroslav Trofimov Aids Copy Share Image
Even if you look at Iran, those campaigners for human rights there, they don't want to have anything to do with America,… — Yaroslav Trofimov America Copy Share Image
But in Afghanistan, the general rule was that since you were fighting the Taliban, which was not a lawful government force, the… — Yaroslav Trofimov Abu ghraib Copy Share Image
Now as to the behavior of the soldiers: occupations always corrupt the occupiers. — Yaroslav Trofimov Behavior Copy Share Image
I think the behavior of the troops has been a huge factor in the rise of the insurgency and in the rise… — Yaroslav Trofimov Anti american Copy Share Image
In a country like Iraq with its culture of blood feuds - is that the more locals are killed, the more motivation… — Yaroslav Trofimov Blood Copy Share Image
In the occupation in Afghanistan, there are tragedies as well. It's not as bad as in Iraq because there are fewer American… — Yaroslav Trofimov Afghanistan Copy Share Image
Because no matter how much money we spend there [in Iraq], as long as the people there see this money as... as… — Yaroslav Trofimov Assistance Copy Share Image
The other problem is that the priority of many soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan is operational security: not getting killed. Now that… — Yaroslav Trofimov Afghanistan Copy Share Image
I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and if… — Yaroslav Trofimov Differences Copy Share Image
So our own actions sometimes have undermined our safety, in our efforts to fight terrorism. The only way this can work is… — Yaroslav Trofimov Action Copy Share Image
Even if you are a liberal in the Muslim world, when you see Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, and you see all the… — Yaroslav Trofimov Abu ghraib Copy Share Image
What I found most ironic is that the safest part for us as journalists was during the actual war. Back then, during… — Yaroslav Trofimov Fighting Copy Share Image
I think in Baghdad, any westerner, journalist or not, has a big dollar sign on his or her forehead. So, first and… — Yaroslav Trofimov Baghdad Copy Share Image
And if you look at the experience of Turkey, for example, where the modern Islamists are in power and are doing fine… — Yaroslav Trofimov Democracy Copy Share Image
Long before 9/11 and the war in Iraq, a lot of people hated the United States and the West. But what the… — Yaroslav Trofimov Done Copy Share Image
The rules of engagement are so lax that soldiers are shooting and killing Iraqis under mere suspicion, and tragedies are everyday. There… — Yaroslav Trofimov Bombs Copy Share Image
Well, it's a problem in general with the American military. If you are the biggest and the strongest military power in the… — Yaroslav Trofimov American military Copy Share Image
