Return

I've been back in Baghdad a couple days now after more than a month away. Last month six of our female Iraqi reporters, who have risked their lives during the 4-plus years of this war, were honored for their courage by the International Women's Media Foundation. In New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. they told American audiences about the daily dangers of their lives in Iraq both as an Iraqi and as a journalist. Even in the safety of American cities they could not be photographed, could not be revealed for what they are, journalists.

It was an honor to watch them be recognized. So often the Iraqi journalists that work in western bureaus here do not get the credit they deserve. They are our guides through the streets of Iraq and our eyes and ears when we cannot travel their ourselves.

Now I'm back and things seem to have changed. The streets are quieter. But Iraqis are tentative to except the lull in violence. So many are waiting for the next flare up. Today one official told me that security-wise Baghdad is better but life is not better. Unemployment rates are still high, displacement has tripled since January and children are the biggest victims.

I'm glad to be back and I'm sorry I was gone so long. I'm a journalist but I'm human to and I hadn't seen my family for a year.

Comments

[ursus]

Welcome back. I started looking for your material exactly 30 days after your departing notice and have been impatiently checking since.

[RJ Adams]

It's good to know you're back, and reporting the truth about Iraq, but sad you had to leave your family and return. Take care and stay safe.

[Subhasree Banerjee]

Hi leila....I came across your blog surfing for news on iraq today and a hollow feeling came in the pit of my stomach...especially when u mentioned in one article about the luxury ppl NOT living in iraq / afghanistan/ congo/somalia/sudan/rwanda have of surfing channels, of turning the pages of a newspaper and escaping from the reality of the lives of the ppl in these countries. I hate myself at times for not being able to do anything for these ppl or of those ppl closer home in my country- India who live in a war like zone. Pls. carry on the good work and know that your words are shaping opinions of ppl in some corner of the world and one day, this sad situation will change, this sad situation HAS to change.

[dwg]

So glad you're back, but will keep you, your colleagues and and everyone there in my thoughts for your safety and sanity.

Your reports are invaluable to me and I often send links to you blog entries to my friends who support an end to U.S. occupation of Iraq and a sane restoration of that country through peaceful means.
Salaam Aleika!

[Leila]

Thank you all for the kind words. Sorry I took a little longer than 30 days to get back here. I'll post something new today. Thanks for reading and sticking with me even when I have to duck out every once and a while.