Salam Pax

NPR's Terri Gross has interviewed the Baghdad blogger, Salam Pax.

"Pax" has been blogging from Baghdad since before the war. This was one of the most courageous acts I have heard of, and I was eager to hear what he thought about the war and its aftermath.

It is a generally upbeat interview - at times "Pax" is bubbly with excitement about the new Baghdad. He describes the unrest since the war, but he says its not as severe as the media has been portraying it. He praises the precision bombing campaign, and he says he feared Iraqis more than Americans during the war. He says that Iraqi policeman are now patrolling most of Baghdad, and life has pretty much returned to normal.

He has his criticisms of the US (mostly about issues of communication and international cooperation), but in general, he seems very relieved that Saddam is gone. He feels that the future in Iraq is bright, which is surely a shock to NPR's listeners.

I recommend giving it a listen here. (It is 30 minutes long, so be prepared to sit back!)
- posted by total @ 9/20/2003 07:00:00 AM .