Journalists under Fire: The Psychological Hazards of Covering War, covers in depth the psychological issues touched on via anecdote in The Bang Bang Club.
This is must reading for anyone thinking about photographing in conflict zones.
John,
Although I admire your thoughts, I must disagree with the links you posted. I was a USN Combat Photographer/Journalist in over 6 conflicts. We knew before we volunteered to be Combat Photographers, what we we were in for. We had to go through the same training as in-country combat soldiers had to do, SEAR, etc. Civilian Phojos also know, among the others knew what was going on and took the risk of venturing into war. Look into Africa, Nicaragua, Rhodesia, Cambodia, Sandinista, and all the rest.
The major change now in the Iraq/Afghanistan fronts, where they(insurgents) have no regard for human life or foreign journalists, and simply abduct you, and whack off your head on camera. That in itself would turn a lot of journalists away. Why do they keep coming back? The story. F*ck everything else, they want the Pulitzer or more, but if they don't get it, they will accept the SSI check because of PT SD.
Sorry to all the real phojos that really care, but as a Phojo from many conflicts, I am sick to death of the liberal whiners and their excuses.
My advice;
Civilian, Go into a combat zone, expect death, beheading, wounds, and now in Iraq/Afghanistan, death.
There is no hope for you, unless you know the odds.
ADDED-
I would go back tomorrow(war) if the price was right. I know the risks, and would add the ask the price to reflect the possible outcome of my not returning to my family. They know who/what I do for a living. They would be sad at my demise(I can only hope), but they would know I did to get the truth for all to see.