“The psychology behind the decision to stay or to go is complicated and doesn’t depend on the intensity of immediate danger. Some people are too old, too sick, or too fatalistic to move, even as shells fall nearby and as their windows are blown out. Others, like Denys, have family they don’t want to abandon. Some are just too attached to the comforts of their apartments, to their household possessions, and can’t imagine going to a remote, unfamiliar city—even if doing so would likely save their and their children’s lives. This lack of imagination, or outright self-delusion, rattled me at times. But such an inclination to minimize danger, and to believe oneself to be somehow protected, is natural.” War Book:Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence Source: Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence
“What I found most ironic is that the safest part for us as journalists was during the actual war. Back then, during that stage of fighting, we were not targets. After the war itself, during the first month or two, it was extremely safe. We could go anywhere in Iraq, talk to anyone, and didn't have to worry about anything.” FirstsTwoWarFightingFoundWorryStageMonthsSafeIraqJournalistTargetIronic Author:Yaroslav Trofimov
“Long before 9/11 and the war in Iraq, a lot of people hated the United States and the West. But what the Iraqi war seems to have done, at least in... I mean, I'm just reporting what I see from the people on the ground, is that it has silenced many pro-American forces in the Muslim world.” PeopleWorldMeanLongWarStatesDoneSeemsForceUnitedUnited StatesWestIraqHatedMuslim World Author:Yaroslav Trofimov
“So our own actions sometimes have undermined our safety, in our efforts to fight terrorism. The only way this can work is if we are aligned with liberals, with moderate Muslim forces. But if our war on terrorism is seen - as it is seen by many Muslims - as a war on Islam itself, it's very hard for us to have Muslim alliances, because America and the West have become so toxic.” IfsWayWarSometimesHardActionAmericaFightingForceEffortSafetyWestIslamTerrorismToxicModeratesAlliancesWar On TerrorWar On Terrorism Author:Yaroslav Trofimov