Chapter 15: There would be

consequences
Summary:
Megan Stack arrives in Baghdad, Iraq, where she is looking for a young Shiite to interview.
There she meets Ahmed; a twenty-three old, Shite living in the urban killing fields of
Baghdads Hay al-Amal neighbourhood. Over the weeks, when Stack interviews Ahmed, they
start to discuss the dangers of life in Iraq, the threats that his family face, the fights between
him and his father and his complicated love life. After sometime, he brings Birak (his
girlfriend) with him. However, one day the both Ahmed and Birak seem to be agitated where
they have been recognised by someone. If they are associated with an American, there could
be a potential death sentence for both Ahmed and Birak. They both leave the caf, but Stack
is not sure what happened to the couple. For this she feels very guilty about her actions and
endangering the safety of Ahmed and Birak.

Who is involved?
Megan Stack- an American journalist, who at the age of 25, was sent to cover the conflict in
Afghanistan and Pakistan in the post September 11 era. She travels to war ravaged Iraq and
Lebanon along with other war ravaged countries such as; Israel, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. In
this chapter, she is in Baghdad, Iraq.
Ahmed- a twenty-three old, Shite living in the urban killing fields of Baghdads Hay al-Amal
neighbourhood. He is very athletic, has competed for the national team in running. He is
constantly opposing his fathers wishes to remain indoors for his own safety, but he continues
to rebel against him. He is also involved in a complicated relationship with his girlfriend,
Birak.
Birak- She is Ahmeds girlfriend. Birak is a beautiful twenty-three-year-old temptress who
Ahmed is incredibly in love with. He is besotted and obsessed with Birak, and is fighting to
keep her returned love.

What are the causes of the conflict?

The war
The 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States of America had toppled the Saddam Hussein
government. The U.S claimed that Hussein had held weapons of mass destruction, although
there were never any found. In December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured and executed
by the military court three years later. However, following Saddam Husseins demise led to
widespread sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis.
The relationship between Ahmed and his father:
In the 1960s, Ahmeds father had a disagreement with a Tikrit Guy as he shot the Tikrit guy
in the leg and had a constant grudge with him. This unfortunately led to his father being
arrested, imprisoned and tortured three times. It is because of his past experiences that he
does not want Ahmed to go outside and interact with the American soldiers, in fear he will
put himself and the family in danger.
Friend being a U.S translator
One of Ahmeds friends was a translator for the U.S army. He was kidnapped by from his
house and they had his body, being badly tortured and his throat cut and wrote on a piece of
paper Dont work with foreigners.

What are the consequences of conflict?

Stack pushes and endangers the safety of Ahmed and Birak by asking for too many meetings.
Eventually they are caught by one of Biraks colleagues. As they left Stack, she does not
know what happened to the couple; whether they were caught and tortured for being with her
or could have faced the death sentence. Either way, Stack knows that is responsible for their
safety.
Ahmeds fathers grudge with a Tikirt guy, had led him to be; arrested, imprisoned and
tortured three times. His unfortunate past experiences had led him to be overly protective and
possessive of his family. As Ahmed rebels against his fathers concerns, he risks both his own
and his girlfriends lives in order to tell his story that he hopes will be published in America.

How are we positioned as the reader to view this conflict?

As a reader, we are shocked and disbelieved by the level of aggression and dislike there is
towards the Americans by the government of Iraq. Though many readers would be aware of
the unnecessary invasion of Iraq, committed by the United States, many would find it
confronting the harsh consequences that the citizens of Iraq face if linked to an American,
such as; the reality of facing the death penalty or being tortured. The reader may question and
condescend upon Stacks actions, as she was mostly responsible for endangering Ahmeds
and Biraks lives. She bargained and gambled with their lives, to just write a story that was
never even published in the LA Times, that didnt even have an ending.

What is it that Stack is saying about conflict in describing this incident?

There are many forms of conflict that occur everyday life; whether it be the violent conflicts,
disagreements between two people or personal conflict, some to choose to stand up and fight
against them, even with the knowledge of the consequences that follow it. Stack, Ahmed and
Birak were aware of the consequences every week, when they met up at the caf. Still,
Ahmed and Birak pursued and persisted with the interviews hoping for his story to be heard.
Even Stack was aware of the consequences, yet she pushed for the interviews, and in the end,
when they both leave (Stack still to this day has no idea what happened to them) took full
responsibility for the danger she had placed upon both Ahmed and Birak.

What evidence is there to support this view?

- glimpse the faces of the Iraqis who lied to their families and neighbours about working
with foreigners. Everybody had too much to lose.
-Everybody is getting killed these days.
-Why did he keep coming, risking his life?
-I was pushing my luck, asking for too many meetings.
-Consequences. That American upstairs.
- could be as good as a death sentence for Ahmed and Birak.
-Either way, I know that I am guilty. I took a chance with their lives, walked up to the table
and gambled.

Sample paragraph
A journalist, who embarks to report in conflicted areas affected by war and crime, has the
intention to interview and find out the main cause of the war torn area. They report to expose

the truth of the conflict, even with the knowledge of the consequences that they burden upon
themselves and on the others they interview. Many journalists, including Megan Stack,
choose to take the risks and challenge the consequences, by reporting the stories of the lives
affected by the war. The people who are interviewed are also wary of the consequences they
could face. In some countries, there are laws implemented to prevent citizens from
communicating with foreigners, in an attempt to prevent information about the conflict to
spread. In Megan Stacks autobiographical account Every Man in this Village is a Liar; she
interviews young Shite, Ahmed, over a few weeks in Baghdad. If Ahmed is caught with an
American, he could face death penalty which Stack questions, why did he keep coming,
risking his life? Unfortunately, he and Birak (Ahmeds girlfriend) are caught with Stack by a
fellow colleague of Birak. They hurriedly leave, as they do not want to face the death penalty,
a consequence of participating in the interviews held by Stack. Journalists also risk their
safety and lives in reporting in war torn countries. They are very aware of the consequences
they could face, if they are not careful about what they report about. In the case of LatvianAustralian journalist, Peter Greste, who was arrested by the Egyptian authorities, found guilty
and sentenced to seven years of incarceration. He was later released on 1st of February 2015
he was deported back to Australia. Grestes consequence of reporting in conflicted affected
area, had risked his rights to reporting and his freedom. Both journalists and people being
interviewed in these conflicted areas, risk facing the consequences that can endanger their
lives and losing their freedom.