This story is just odd:
The mother of a 16-year-old prep school student who journeyed to Iraq on a journalistic whim hasn’t decided how her son will be punished. She’s just relieved he’s on his way home. Farris Hassan left Baghdad Friday to begin traveling home, drawing to a close an adventure that could have cost him his life. The high school junior took the trip without telling his parents.
“When he first gets off the plane, I’m going to hug him,” said his mother, Shatha Atiya. “Then I’m going to collapse for a few hours and then we’re going to sit down for a long discussion about the consequences.”
Shehnaz Hassan, Farris Hassan’s sister, said as of Saturday morning that her brother was in Kuwait City and was scheduled for a return flight Monday, although they hoped to secure an earlier flight on Sunday. She said her mother spoke with her brother and a U.S. official over the phone. No further details were provided.
I was unaware minors could take international flights.
StupidityRules
If what CNN reports is correct then his parents knew what he was up to before he entered Iraq.
He reports to his parents on the 13th about his intentions then stays with family friends for ten days before flying to Baghdad where he’s picked up by other friends of the family and then spends a total of 2 or 3 days in Baghdad before contacting US authorities.
There’s something fishy about this story.
Obviously a propaganda piece to show that it really isn’t dangerous in Iraq since a 16 year old boy can go there by himself. ;) Maybe Iraq can be the new hot place for backpackers? ;)
Evilbeard
When I first read the story I did a slight double-take when they casually mentioned he was able to get a passport because of his father’s nationality. I wasn’t aware that juveniles can get passports on their own.
Gary Farber
“I was unaware minors could take international flights.”
Setting aside that you clearly mean “without adult supervision”: why on Earth would they not be able to, above the age where they need help to go to the bathroom? At least hundreds do it every day. Have for decades, so far as I know.
I hope you appreciate my commenting, by the way, since I haven’t done so since last year.
I never get tired of that joke.
Gary Farber
And you didn’t even wish me a happy Blogiversary. I knew you hated me.
Krista
Fantastic thread title, by the way.
Bob In Pacifica
You can’t get an American passport on your own if you are under 18. Did the kid get a Lebanese passport? In any case, I’m not sure that there’s a whole lot of information to learn that applies to the general public.
Did anyone see an account of how much this little jaunt cost and where the kid got the money?
Dave_Violence
Regarding where he got the monty, I read in the NY Daily News that he “used” $1,800 of “the” $10,000 his mother gave him – as a reward for stock tips that netted her a 25% return. I don’t have the link (read the paper paper), but it’ll surface.
Sounds like the 1-time gift of ten grand, etc., etc. Not that it matters.
Sure, a minor can travel internationally. And a minor could buy a ticket. And he could have a passport already, etc.
People and children fly to all parts of the world all the time. Why should Iraq be any more dangerous than… Oh, yeah. Regardless, so the kid did it. Good for him, write about it, etc.
p.lukasiak
Just because his flight was charged to the Lincoln Group doesn’t mean that there was anything “fishy” going on here….
Andrew J. Lazarus
Airlines consider passengers aged 12 and up old enough to travel as adults. (Believe me, I know this drill.) The part that’s surprising to me is that the immigration officials at the other end let him in without an adult. However, for all I know, tucking a Benjamin into the passport may be all that’s needed.
AFlaTchr
Have you read his essay?
I give him an “A” for Effort;
an “F” for Content.
“Just the FACTS, Ma’am. Just the FACTS”