May 18, 2006

Changing the Subject

Enough about me!

One of my closest friends is currently living in Northern Iraq doing service projects. She's learning Kurdish and training nurses in neonatal care. I'm really proud of her (and a little jealous--although Palo Alto does have desert-like qualities in the summer. It also has mountains! Hmm...). She sent me a link to a freelance journalist who moved to Iraq. He's supported himself there through his blog, Paypal and publishing articles. Here's one he wrote comparing/contrasting Iraq and Vietnam.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually so far in the first two years of the Iraq War the casualty totals are larger than the first two years of the Vietnam War. It was in the third year of Vietnam that the numbers exploded. Makes you wonder what the future might hold for us all.

"Never fight a landwar in Asia". – Princess Bride

rdmeeker said...

... but what is being fought for in Iraq is fundamentally different from that which was being fought for in Vietnam. Any and every grateful Kurd will tell you that if you ask.

Heck, they'll tell you that on the street unprovoked.

weigook saram said...

I don't know that the Iraq war is like Vietnam, but I still think it's an ill-conceived disaster. There have been fewer American casualties, but so many Iraqis have died, directly or indirectly, because of our presence there.

Here's another Iraq blog you might want to check out, if you haven't already.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

Snickollet said...

No deep thoughts from me, but I did notice when I visited his site that Mr. Totten is from Portland, OR. Woo-woo! My hometown and the place I love most in the world! Go, Portlanders!

OTRgirl said...

Interesting point, OTRsis. I keep hoping things are starting to stabalize but it's easy to be scared it might get worse.

RD, I like that you have the 'on the ground perspective'.

WS, I like that blog. I suspect the perspective of someone in Kurdistan is very different than someone in Bagdad. I also have friends in the south and it's different there, too.

I agree that there was much that was ill-conceived. Rummy went in there wanting to prove that the US was adept, agile, and quick. So, the take over was all that but the aftermath has been very chaotic and mishandled.

Snickollet you are too funny! What is it with people from Portland? I've yet to meet one who wasn't pining for home or telling me how great Portland is.

CancerDoc said...

Hey, thank you for your very sweet and generous words. It's funny, as much as your hubby is the ultimate science guy, he's one of the really talented physicians around.. I've liked your blog... I pop in a read it from time to time... you should get the husband going.. I'm sure he'd have a lot to say.. CancerDoc

Anonymous said...

A blog from Jrex - that would be great! I so rarely get his perspective on things...

OTRgirl said...

Great idea about Jrex blogging. He's so careful with words though that he's the poet in the family while I'm the blogger. It's torture for him to write (even though he's really good at it).

But there ya' go, hon, you could do a blog and get revenge for all my misrepresentations and drama queen moments!

And otr sis, you're one to talk! Where's yours? (I know, I know, salt on the wound. Sorry...)