Baghdad Burning

The following is an excerpt from a fellow Blogger, a girl who is living in Baghdad:

"The looting and killing of today has changed from the looting and killing in April. In April, it was quite random. Criminals were working alone. Now they’re more organized than the CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) and the troops combined. No one works alone anymore- they’ve created gangs and armed militias. They pull up to houses in minivans and SUVs, armed with machineguns and sometimes grenades. They barge into the house and demand money and gold. If they don’t find enough, they abduct a child or female and ask for ransom. Sometimes the whole family is killed- sometimes only the male members of the family are killed. "

Baghdad Burning is a heart-breaking account of daily life in Baghdad, written by a strong, intelligent and courageous woman. I strongly encourage everyone to read it regularly. My thoughts are with you and your family, "Riverbend".