An Iraqi delegation is touring the country to learn about democracy in action:

The seven Iraqi civic and community leaders are in the midst of a three-week American tour, sponsored by the State Department, that also includes stops in Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago.

They are visiting Memphis to learn about the government process and the city’s place in the civil rights struggle.

When they got here:

• They weren’t picked up at the airport as scheduled. They ended up taking taxis.
• They couldn’t go to the National Civil Rights Museum as scheduled because a Hollywood movie was being filmed there and it was closed to the public.
• City Council chairman Joe Brown barred the visitors from City Hall:
  

  Elisabeth Silverman, the group’s host and head of the Memphis Council for International Visitors, said Brown told her he would “evacuate the building and bring in the bomb squads” if the group entered.

  Brown denied that, saying he was only concerned about the safety of the delegation and the people in City Hall.

  “We don’t know exactly what’s going on. Who knows about the delegation, and has the FBI been informed?” Brown said.

  Yet the group was dropped off at City Hall, blocks away from the new location.

• City mayor Willie Herenton and County mayor A C Wharton were unable to meet with the group. Herenton’s office said he “never received an official written request” and Wharton pleaded a scheduling conflict.

Finally, two of the members were robbed at gunpoint when they ventured out of their hotel at 10:45 p.m. to try and buy some film:

On the walk back, a pair of thieves snatched Hido’s purse, which contained $50, traveler’s checks and a camera. They brandished a gun at Fanari, demanding his wallet. When Fanari tried to signal the driver of a passing car, the thieves ran.

“They wanted to shoot me and steal my bag,” Hido said just before the delegation left for Los Angeles Wednesday. “It’s going to happen anyplace, in any country. The important thing is, we are safe. And my passport was in the hotel room.”

Good Lord, they come from a war-torn, unstable, fledgling country and get held up in Memphis. The irony.

Hat tip to Fishkite Mick for a post at Memphis Red Blogs.