Ahmed from America

<i>Ahmed from America</i> is my account of visiting countries considered a threat to the West. The truth behind the news! Are we the Ugly Americans? News reports paint a discouraging picture but can't the average citizen separate the government from the governed? Although not a journalist but a seasoned traveler turned circumnavigator I intend to seek the truth by asking questions. This is a story of how traveling and listening contributes to better understanding and empathy for those least understood.</p>The story begins in Eastern Turkey along the Iraq Syrian and Iranian borders where the PKK is threatening to establish a Kurdish homeland in Turkey. Our next stops are Syria and Lebanon where we travel to Hezbollah controlled areas and talk with militants and others to better understand their intimate thoughts. We met Egyptians Iranians and others who contributed to a better understanding of how the U.S. is viewed today not just by fanatical fundamentalists but by moderates who feel forced to realign their political allegiances.