Here are links to a selection of eye-opening passages from Riverbend’s Baghdad Burning II: More Girl Blog From Iraq, as they were first published on her blog. I’ve probably included too many, but I circled even more page numbers in the book. So many entries contained information I hadn’t known, or a viewpoint I hadn’t considered, or simply put it all together in a compelling way. If you only have time to follow one of these links, read the last entry. Maybe it’s a banal observation on my part, but realizing that we share some of the same pop culture with Baghdadis seems to illustrate our common humanity better than any platitudes could.
Fuel Shortage . . .
Our country is going to be led by members of religious parties and tribal sheikhs–can anyone say Afghanistan?
The Phantom Weapons . . .
We were never a threat to America . . . Congratulations, Bush–we are a threat now.
And Life Goes On . . .
“Please dress appropriately next time you come here.” The man said to me.
Chalabi for the Nobel Peace Prize . . .
And that is why Ahmed Chalabi deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
September 11, 2005 . . .
We didn’t have the problem of Muslim fundamentalists–that was a concern for neighbors like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Movies and Dreams . . .
Congratulations, Americans–not only are the hardliner Iranian clerics running the show in Iran–they are also running the show in Iraq.
Thank You for the Music . . .
I found out very recently that the interpreter killed was a good friend–Alan, of Alan’s Melody, and I’ve spent the last two days crying.
