He speaks from experience. Once, while driving from Amman, Jordan, at night, he was chased by a carload of gunmen outside the city of Ramadi, a former insurgent stronghold. He cut his lights and floored it all the way to Baghdad, never touching his brakes for fear the lights would give him away.
About 18 months ago, he and a friend were stuck in Baghdad traffic when a car pulled alongside and four armed men emerged and ordered them out of the car. Against Ghulan's advice, his friend got out. But when the driver of the armed group's car left his vehicle, Ghulan hit the gas, jumped the median and took off at top speed against incoming traffic.
His friend was left behind and received a beating.
