Riverbend is leaving Iraq

Some of us read Iraqi blogs to find out what's actually going on inside Iraq. These blogs, written by educated, moderate Iraqis have been essential to understanding the impact of the war on daily life. Some of the bloggers have a good command of English, others rely on translators. Some have always lived in Iraq, others have traveled - and even spent time in the US. What they've offered is a window into activities as mundane as daily shopping and as important as perceptions of Iraqi leaders and the American occupation. Some, like the Jarrar family and the mother, Faiza Al-Arji gave up long ago and scattered to Jordan, other mid-eastern countries, and the US.

Riverbend, a young Iraqi woman, stayed. Those who follow her blog have been concerned during the last year as she's posted less and less frequently. Has Riverbend been killed or jailed - has she left Iraq? When she does post, what has been clear is the deteriorating state of her country - the destruction of infrastructure, the danger, the deaths of friends and relatives, the lack of electricity, the hour's-long wait for gas to fuel generators, the maneuvering of politicians.

When all is said and done, her posting has fallen off primarily because she's been depressed. But still, she's stayed, because it's her country and she didn't want to leave everything of value to her. Now she and her family have decided it's too dangerous to stay. Read her posts over the last year - there aren't many - (and Faiza's as well). I suspect you'll have a picture of Iraq that you don't get from the TV or newspapers. Her comments about the violent conflicts between Shias and Sunnis (that Riverbend feels wasn't there before our invasion) are particularly interesting. And the suffering and the fear are palpable.

Let us all hope that she and her family are able to get out. Of course, with the departure of each moderate, peace-loving, educated family, Iraq is poorer - and will be less able to rebuild if there is ever the opportunity to do that.