HW25: Baghdad Burning

I thought the Forward and Introduction of Baghdad Burning were interesting, and open-minded. In the Forward, by Ahdaf Soueif he tells us about a young Baghdadi woman who blogs on the Internet about the war. She goes by the name “Riverbend” and her blog is called “Baghdad Burning.” Soueif tells us that this war in Iraq has changed Riverbend’s life. On her blog she explains how she loses power, and there’s water shortages. As I was reading this, Soueif also quoted her on how people in Iraq actually felt bad for the troops. “There was a time when people here felt sorry for the troops. No matter what one’s attitude was to the occupation, there were moments of pity towards the troops, regardless of their nationality. We Would see them suffering under the Iraqi sun, obviously wishing they were somewhere else and somehow the vulnerability made them seem less monstrous and more human, That time has passed.” (Riverbend, viii) I like that he included this because to me, it seemed like they hated the troops that are there, and for her to state that actually opens my eyes to the war. In the Introduction, by James Ridgeway, he explains everything in depth. He tells us about Riverbend’s background, and how her “culture is rooted in one of the oldest and richest civilizations in the world.” (Smithway xiii) Smithway also tells us how Riverbend is not only living through the war not, but she also grew up when the Persian Gulf War was occurring.