[the baghdad blog]

Two things strike me while reading Ian Katz's (Guardian Features Editor) introduction to The Baghdad Blog:

• Katz sees Salam Pax's (his real name is unknown) account of the war in Iraq as "simply the reshest, most exciting writing coming out of Iraq."
• Katz seems to see Salam's portrayal of Iraqis as redeaming in a certain kind of way. With Salam's writing suddenly "we" (Katz's word) see that Iraqis are not necessarily "poor, anti-Western, frequently hysterical, and altogether very different from us; here was one who addressed us in perfect idiomatic English, was obsessed with David Bowie lyrics and awaited the release of the new Massive Attack album as eagerly as any Glastonbury regular" (ix).

Now, is it just me, or does it seem like Katz is an example of why people might be annoyed with "Westerners." Katz sounds exsaperated and relieved that *finally* "we" (who is that really?) can identity with an Iraqi. "We" don't try to understand the pain/turmoil/distress that someone is experiencing but, for Katz, we can understand his "perfect" English and admiration of Western musicians. Not that there is anything wrong with enjoying this type of music but why is it this that holds the key to "our" ability to identify with the trauma Salam was experiencing? How do these superficial qualities find resonance within "us"?

Amazingly Salam survived undetected (fueling rumours he was some kind of secret agent) and I think that it is his (or her, as the case may be) bravery with which we should identify for "we" who fight for a voice are brave in our own (very different) ways.

"Raed is in Baghdad after a trip to Basra (south of
Iraq). He is at the moment crashing on my couch. He wears that
t-shirt24/7. It says MY LIFE IS HAPPY. Yeah, right. And I have a body like
Schwarzenegger's" (8).