Irish minnow wins contract to restart ravaged oilfield in Iraq

Irish cool saved Carroll's life

23 October 2005 By David Horgan

Rory Carroll's adventure offers useful lessons for people working in dangerous locations. The Guardian's Baghdad correspondent put himself in danger by visiting a family in a poor district to report on their reaction to Saddam Hussein's trial.

Most of his colleagues would have skulked behind blast walls sourcing their material from hearsay sources.

Carroll was in danger to do his job.

This may seem foolhardy, but he got the story he sought, and bigger stories besides.

He faced danger and escaped unscathed. Every moment must be sweeter - from the air he breathes to that first beer.

This may seem irrational, but you can become addicted to adrenalin. According to internet bulletin boards, I have died on three occasions. It is an odd experience reading your own obituary.

Carroll escaped because the Irish authorities reacted intelligently and fast. They had a clear view of an unclear situation and a contingency plan.

Irish diplomats and consuls are enterprising. They can call on international goodwill in emergencies.

Our Iranian friends seem to have called in favours: Ireland has long been blessed with excellent Iranian diplomats, and vice versa. It is easier to get an Iranian visa in Dublin than London.

Iraqi Shia neighbourhoods are increasingly influenced by Iran, which has generally acted as a moderating influence.

Irish officials learned from the Bigley tragedy, and they knew the need to get their account out fast: it was critical to brand Rory as Irish and friendly.

Views form quickly and are hard to change. Ken Bigley was seen as an English military contractor with an Irish mother. Iraqis aren't stupid: they know that former UDR and RUC officials working as mercenaries for the US-led coalition forces are entitled to Irish passports.

They know that many British military may choose to hide behind an Irish grandparent, much as SAS undercover soldiers may disguise themselves as Arab civilians.

Carroll was positioned as a fair reporter working for an international paper sympathetic to ordinary Iraqis. They would have been less sympathetic to the Telegraph or Daily Mail.

Developing countries are dangerous. The main hazard is road accidents.

For all my close shaves, I was only seriously injured once - when a car rolled on a dirt road, killing the driver.

In Africa it's common for night-time traffic to drive down the centre of bad roads without lights.

The second hazard in many countries, especially Africa, is malaria. No prophylaxis is completely effective, as new strains develop. Europeans lack the natural resistance of indigenous peoples. Some workers forget to take tablets, and fail to wear long sleeves at dusk and use insect repellent.

Crime is a serious hazard in many countries. And in many the authorities themselves may shake you down at the airport or checkpoints.

In Africa and the former USSR, police and mafia are sometimes intertwined.

Colombian businessmen won't give their names to the military, as required when travelling to remote locations, for fear they'll be kidnapped by right-wing paramilitaries colluding with rogue soldiers.

And how do you survive?

If you are snatched, it's crucial to establish personal rapport - it's harder to kill someone you know. Carry photos of a baby, even if it's not your own.

An Aussie who once worked for us had previously been kidnapped by leftist guerrillas in Colombia who intended to shoot him on video. He convinced them, in pidgin Spanish, that he was not American. He even insisted that Americans hated Australians and they would celebrate his murder.

Eventually they cut a deal whereby he agreed to buy his freedom with food and medical supplies.

Kidnapping insurance is available, but may become invalid if you discuss it - supposedly to deter opportunistic snatches, but maybe just another example of underwriters wanting their premium while dodging responsibility.

When an abducted executive is taken, the underwriter retains the right to negotiate.

Unfortunately, his overriding concern is not necessarily to get you released.

He has a book of business and is keen not to encourage future abductions. While arguably a social objective, this may not be your priority while in custody!

No matter what the ideological motivation, cash is effective at solving problems. An honourable kidnapper is one who honours the deal. A dishonourable one is one who kills you anyway.

Given the individuals involved in Rory's release, it is likely that somebody “said it with cash'‘.

David Horgan has survived some hairy situations in his work for Irish exploration companies Petrel Resources and Pan Andean Resources in Iraq and other danger spots.