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Letters From Baghdad

 Damien Harvey, '80, in front of a mammoth sculpture
of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

More of the Harvey Photo Album

To all of the McQuaid Alums, students, faculty, family and friends, as salaam alaykum from Baghdad!

In the proud tradition of the Harvey teaching family and being that I’m a McQ graduate, I find myself sharing 20 years of video and film production experience with others. This time on the other side of the world. A dangerous side at that.

A few years ago I relocated from Rochester to Washington, D.C., to get involved in political television production. After landing a producer's job with a well known consulting firm and having a very successful political season in 2004, I started shopping the D.C. market in search of a new firm in 2005.

Fortunately, my resume was well received and among the emails that were sent to me by interested firms was this one…. “We look forward to meeting you next week, but in the mean time, would you consider the possibility of spending a good part of this fall in Baghdad, Iraq, as the Senior Consultant of the Baghdad Media Center." WOW! I sat there staring at my computer screen speechless, a thousand thoughts spinning in my head!

A week later I was in Rochester for my 25^th McQuaid reunion. During those few days I had the chance to pass the idea by my former classmates, friends and family. The majority of women were very concerned and said, “Don’t GO!” The men were all saying, “What are you waiting for!” So, being the guy that I am…I’m here!

My position at the Baghdad Media Center, a facility operated by the International Republican Institute (IRI.org) is to manage and teach Iraqis, ages 25 to 30, video production. This includes creative design, script development, graphic design, production techniques, camera work, on-location production, editing and delivery to the client. As you can imagine it’s a busy job.

Our main goal is to provide the various political groups in Iraq an outlet to produce political programming. It’s not unusual for the Media Center to have Sunni and Shia Clerics, women’s rights groups, secular groups, and other Constitutional Committee groups all in the Media Center for talk shows and TV commercial production in a single week! The work is fascinating, and it’s a thrill to be in a country during the birth of a democracy.

I stay in a secure compound in the Red Zone in the center of Baghdad. It’s made up of 20 very nice houses, some rented by the IRI from Iraqi’s to house the IRI staff and myself. In the compound we have guards from Black Water Security. The Black Water staff is made up of former Marines, Army Rangers and MP’s, Navy SEALS and Air Force Special Forces. As you can imagine they are all very professional, well trained and very serious. I’m glad they’re on our side. I have a Black Water guard next to me 24/7. When we travel in Baghdad, it’s in armored cars or motorcades. At times it's very dangerous and nerve racking, to say the least.

As you can imagine and probably have heard, Baghdad and Iraq in general is a dangerous place. From my conversations with many Iraqis, I’ve learned that it’s dangerous because there is a small element of the population determined to keep democracy from developing in the Middle East. It’s as simple as that. The vast majority of Iraqis want what we have: the ability to determine our own futures. They are in a struggle, but with our support and their determination they will win.

So that’s it for now. As I sit here writing this to you, I’m enjoying my Friday off, and another 115-degree day! The Arab work week is from Sunday through Thursday.

Good luck, and Godspeed to the McQ football team and to all of the McQuaid family.

Damien Harvey, '80

PS: My oldest brother, Tom Harvey, AQ 1970, can’t believe we beat them! Way to go McQ football!

DH