Rory Carroll (1972 ) is an Irish journalist working for The Guardian. He studied political science and economics at Trinity College and a master's degree in journalism at Dublin City University. He began his career at The Irish News in Belfast, and in 1997 moved to London to join the team of The Guardian. Besides covering conflicts in Yemen , Serbia , Afghanistan and Pakistan , it has been a correspondent for this medium in Rome , Johannesburg and Baghdad. From 2006-2012 , he was assigned to Caracas, where he served as a correspondent for Latin America . He currently lives in Los Angeles, and is in charge of covering the western and southern United States. Commander is his first book.