Riverbend: Populations don’t make history. Historians don’t write history. News networks do.

[kpete]

a snippet:


❖ Riverbend began blogging from Iraq in 2003, eventually fled to Syria, and went silent in 2007, leaving readers fearful for her safety. She has suddenly reappeared, though she advises her latest entry may be the final one.

Baghdad Burning

... I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend...

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Ten Years On...

...........................................


We’re learning that the leaders don’t make history. Populations don’t make history. Historians don’t write history. News networks do. The Foxes, and CNNs, and BBCs, and Jazeeras of the world make history. They twist and turn things to fit their own private agendas.

We’re learning that the masks are off. No one is ashamed of the hypocrisy anymore. You can be against one country (like Iran), but empowering them somewhere else (like in Iraq). You can claim to be against religious extremism (like in Afghanistan), but promoting religious extremism somewhere else (like in Iraq and Egypt and Syria).

Those who didn’t know it in 2003 are learning (much too late) that an occupation is not the portal to freedom and democracy. The occupiers do not have your best interests at heart.

We are learning that ignorance is the death of civilized societies and that everyone thinks their particular form of fanaticism is acceptable.

.............................


very informative (of course) entry:
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com.au/

[Suich]

1. Wow! "Baghdad Burning."

I never thought we'd hear from her again! Glad she's ok! I hope she posts more...

[TexasProgresive]

2. I have worried for her

I hope she starts to post again- but it is enough that she is alive.

[rog]

3. Thank you so much for posting this.

I don't think I missed one of Riverbend's blog entries, right up until the time they got into Syria. I remember reading that last blog from 2007 at the time. It is great to hear that she and her family are doing "ok," and that they managed to get out of Syria. Of course I wish the best to Riverbend and her family. I've thought about her often since '07 ... was just telling someone (one of my students) about her the other day.

Again, many thanks.

.rog.

[kpete]

4. MORE:

What about George Bush, Condi, Wolfowitz, and Powell? Will they ever be held accountable for the devastation and the death they wrought in Iraq? Saddam was held accountable for 300,000 Iraqis... Surely someone should be held accountable for the million or so?

Finally, after all is said and done, we shouldn't forget what this was about - making America safer... And are you safer Americans? If you are, why is it that we hear more and more about attacks on your embassies and diplomats? Why is it that you are constantly warned to not go to this country or that one? Is it better now, ten years down the line? Do you feel safer, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis out of the way (granted half of them were women and children, but children grow up, right?)?

And what happened to Riverbend and my family? I eventually moved from Syria. I moved before the heavy fighting, before it got ugly. That’s how fortunate I was. I moved to another country nearby, stayed almost a year, and then made another move to a third Arab country with the hope that, this time, it’ll stick until… Until when? Even the pessimists aren’t sure anymore. When will things improve? When will be able to live normally? How long will it take?

....................

For those of you who have been asking about me and wondering how I have been doing, I thank you. "Lo khuliyet, qulibet..." Which means "If the world were empty of good people, it would end." I only need to check my emails to know it won't be ending any time soon.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com.au/

[madfloridian]

5. So good to hear from her again.

So sorry what we did to her and to her country.

"Those who didn’t know it in 2003 are learning (much too late) that an occupation is not the portal to freedom and democracy. The occupiers do not have your best interests at heart"

[madrchsod]

6. i always wondered what happen to her

i do know that several of the best bloggers in iraq have moved to the us.