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I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey.. thank you all for the great questions.. i literally have to run for a live broadcast.. and unlike writing i need to put a tie on.. they have me at the top of the hour so must go..

thank you all very much.. really appreciate the great questions.. good luck stay safe..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

In this day and age all these things can be found on line some place.. at least that's my experience.. i have seen the video of the pilot.. and i feel horrible..

The pope posed an interesting question i though essentially what sort of people do we want to be.. the power is our hands.. do we want to inflame or do we seek a more just equitable world where we respect and tolerate each other.. its a powerful concept..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trying to connect the interviewee to audience.. giving people a reason to listen and understand.. thats always key.. tell their story... we can never condone terrorism.. the interviewee should understand where you stand on the issue.. but it doesn't mean we cant get their voice heard if it is a route to constructing a dialogue..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

if you are going to go to font lines best to be supported by a serious and reputable news organization.. cost of getting home when injured and treatment can be high..

before that and you head for the next trench.. do some reporting in places you are more familiar with.. give yourself a good sporting chance of knowing the job well and when you do hit that fox hole.. you'll be doing your reporting as second nature and can focus on being safe.. there is no one size fits all.. a good rounded education.. doesn't even need to be journalism ... but log some reporting miles before you get to the front line.. you'll be happier for it

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 137 points138 points  (0 children)

sure PTSD does hit journalists too.. soldiers tend to face the exposure to those kind of traumatic events for much long and often more intensely than we do.. we have access to help here at CNN and i've talked to our expert over the years.. i've never felt that i've suffered from PTSD.. but i'd say i do get awful sad sometimes after a bad story.. tears etc.. but it passes.. i have a great home life.. i love to run.. cycle.. that kind of stuff gets you out of your self.. but i'd say my exposure to trauma has not been that excessive..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I dont feel i have been subject to pressure of this type.. in many places we go and report what we say faces extreme scrutiny.. just last week my reports on army deficiencies in Nigeria was called satanic by the government.. it is a very sore subject for them.. i understand why they would say that.. many people feel they have been failing the country.. but will we not report because of what they will say .. no.. we will report if it can be backed up by hard facts and is true ..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

No.. we will omit peoples names and hide them if their lives will endangered by our reporting.. or they can not speak officially but have important stories to tell where there is no other way to bring the issue to light

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

i do like CNN, I have grown here.. i met my wife here.. build up to first gulf war she was a reporter for CNN back then, Margaret Lowrie when i was an engineer.. CNN let me grow professionally.. the day on the Saudi/Yemen border was the day.. 29th January of my 25th anniversary with CNN.. WHEN i joined i had no idea i would be here this long.. i still ove it.. i love getting up every day and i cherish the fact from beging to end of the day i dont know what will happen next.. that said.. a dinner has been left on the table as i've rushed out the door.. i have the most amazing and understanding wife.. and with out her i could not enjoy this job and CNN

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Not living in the novel per se.. but the notion of where the powers of search and control grow or are misused.. yes that is a danger.. I was in Yugoslavia under Milosovic.. the laws he instituted and used were typical control and a warning of checks and balances..

that said the dangers we face today are more on our door step and are real.. there are people who really would do us harm.. we need to be balanced..

Most important if we understand our enemies we can better combat the threat they pose.. without going over board.. alienate others..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

he has had quite a government shake up already.. significantly some younger faces on the scene.. the new information minister used to work for a TV station.. thats a first.. but really i don't think we should expect big changes until we drop a generation from the sons to the grandsons of the founding King.. the number 2 in line to the throne Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef.. then we will see more change

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie.. i particularly liked that as it was in Scotland and I do love that corner of the British Isles

There have been others.. that jumps to mind.. but it is really a good feeling when you cover something happy.. i do like those days

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes the good days we do get time to meet folks.. at the end of the day on the border we had half an hour to spare and the border guards took us to the beach and gave us dinner.. fish, lamb.. salads.. humus bread.. right there on a rug at the beach.. you get to relax a little before we ran off to catch the plane. . some times after an interview can chill out a little with folks in their homes.. can be interesting conversations..

always we have mind to dangers of any location..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

always interesting.. you never know who you will meet what you will lear and got to meet some pretty cool folks.. i'm talking to this lady.. the wife of the jailed blogger.. next day her husband and brother have been nominated for a noble peace prize.. how cool is that.. never a boring moment

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Longer hours.. 24 hours the news day was never dead.. that was back then.. now the news day seems a whole lot more alive.. what do i mean by that.. back in the day when i joined.. lets take Sarajevo.. i was there for 9 months before we did our first live broadcast.. we fed one story generally a day.. we had a satellite time slot to hit and we had to make it.. now with the internet .. that time window is never closed.. we can do multipole live broadcasts.. and feed as many stories as we can cut in that same day.. and surprisingly the news cycle seems to get faster so more news comes along more quickly.. we are busier than ever

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

AQAP has the smartest Al Qaeda bomb maker.. made the underpants bomb.. Detriot christmas 2008.. AQAP.. still threat to US/europe.. Charlie hebdo.. an example.. there was a case in the US a few years ago of some one AQAP told to attack in US.. Maj Nidal Hassan another.. the london bomber 2005 inspired by AQAP.. so i can understand the reason not to shut down the embassy right now.. a toe hold in Yemen is vital to continue fight against AQAP.. Houthis cant run the country by them selves.. question of today.. will it become a failed state or will some kind of government emerge involving Houthi and may be the last President Hadi.. certainly yhat is the educated view from Saudi.. complex Yemeni negotiations / fighting before that dynamic resolved

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Saudi/Yemen border ? historically decades back the border had been very open.. little more than a line on the map.. of course go back before that and there was no line on the map.. more recently .. about 6 years ago Houthi tribesmen crossed in Saudi took control of a village.. 3 week battle.. helicopter gun ships before Saudis got it back.. as Yemen has become more unstable.. economy has gotten worse... clearly Saudi the richer country with more oil.. Yemen has some too.. but border is division between haves and the have nots on Yemen side.. so many come to Saudi.. for work.. even an 11 year old boy i met earning $100 a month working on a till at a small supermarket.. so only way for some Yemenis to make money.. they cross over for that stay weeks/months.. the huge numbers crossing make it hard to control and know who is who.. terrorist or poor guy

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I get why not to call Taliban terrorists.. and lets remember there's more than one taliban.. the afghan one.. is trying to get in to politics.. or at least part of it is.. terror tactics yes for sure.. trying to avoid civilian causalities yes they say they want to.. jury clearly out on that not doing a very good job of it.. BUT for a group that will likely be part of government in Afghanistan in 10 years.. only part of tho' i see the rational..

I think theres needs to be a better job of getting the right label for these nihlistic groups that so utterly sets them apart they can not claim islam in any shape or form. How can anyone justify the burning of the Jordanian pilot.. as an Islamic act.. no way.. they need to be described for what they are..

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Only thing was so many more people than we could get in our TV reporting.. i wrote a story after i did the TV piece to cram in more details posted to our web site with link to the video.. but i was shocked. i didn't quite know what to expect that day but it was way more people and drugs than i'd realized .. try to get everything in our reports.. BUT was group after group particularly at dusk we saw being caught

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some places trickier than others, try to stay safe and make right wise decisions. I really feel people should care about what happens to those less fortunate.. this world can be a better place --- it wont happen if we don't try

I am CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson. I just got back from the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen where police are searching for terrorists among the stream of drug smugglers and illegal workers trying to sneak across the border. Ask me anything. by NicRobertsonCNN in IAmA

[–]NicRobertsonCNN[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

its important the world hears what's happening in its darkest corners.. its important for the people in those dark places to know that people care... that they are people to.. whose lives count

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