During my studies in college while working on a paper, I came across this blog. The story of Riverbend, an anonymous blogger inside an occupied city during the invasion of Iraq, is a mysterious and incredibly interesting story. The ability to see history from a whole new perspective with detail and emotion is amazing. Below is a small summary of Riverbend's story, Burning Baghdad. I wish to share her story with the YouthLead community so that you too can experience her story as well understand how something as small as a daily blog could eventually turn into something bigger.
On March 20, 2003, a United States led coalition invaded the state of Iraq with the intent to find alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction. After previous unanswered demands to the leader of the Ba’th Party and Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, to step down and leave the country, the invasion of Iraq begun. The attack was ferocious and precise. Predetermined bombings ripped apart Republican Guard military installations and United State and British forces moved in quickly to capture key areas. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, was a high priority for the coalition. Capturing Baghdad’s international airport was vital for the success of the invasion, allowing Americans to utilize the large runways to bring in additional forces and supplies for the future conflicts. After intense pressure, on April 9th, Baghdad was under United States control. Only less than a month later would President George W. Bush declare that all major combat operations be ended.
The state was left in a somewhat limbo state with no concrete government or ruling power. Looting became rampant and an internal conflict rocked the state. The economy was destroyed with much of the country’s main revenue source, oil, being destroyed. The invading force now had the responsibility of taking control of the situation and instilling some form of order. This was no simple task; guerilla fighters would ramp up their assaults on their occupiers and the new Iraqi government. Civil war would eventually break out further destabilizing the country.
Much of Iraq’s infrastructure was damaged during the attack and occupation. Electricity was cut in many neighborhoods leaving Iraqis often literally in the dark. Communication was also a problem; it was difficult for the world to understand what was happening inside the city. There were little firsthand reports from the people that lived there. The common scenes of American troops breaching through doors or marching next to tanks would flash across the screens of people worldwide, however, the world seemed to ignore the Iraqi perspective. There was no definitive voice. No way to understand how tough and sometimes inhumane conditions were in the occupied cities
Only three months after major combat operations were completed, the occupation was starting to ramp up. More skirmishes in the street scared occupation forces, resulting in an increase in firepower and prejudice. A young anonymous Iraqi woman by the username Riverbend began posting regular blogs and updates about the status of the occupation. Each post detailed day to day life of Riverbend living in Iraq’s capital. Soon nicknamed “Burning Baghdad” the blog would go on to cover a wide variety of issues, both Iraqi and global. Often talking about political leaders or news accounts she hears on TV, Riverbend provides an honest, down to earth opinion from someone ‘on the inside’. With no real audience, she began to speak her mind and post it to the internet. The blog posts often varied drastically: Riverbend listening to a music suggestion and comparing it to a Pink Floyd song, comparison pictures of what used to be bombed out buildings built anew, interviews, Q&As, and harrowing accounts of the danger she constantly lives in. She starts out as a charming and somewhat optimistic citizen, hoping that things will soon get better. Often replying to other bloggers and emails, she became an icon for the people of Iraq. No matter where the reader is from, they are able to relate personally to her stories and understand her perspectives.
As the blog continues, readers can see that her once defiant and humorous persona slowly started deteriorating as her country followed suite. Less water and food create panic and chaos. More shootings. More bombings. More frustrating politicians and their frustrating methods. Riverbend and Burning Baghdad evolved together into a narrative that most Iraqis shared. Her blogs continued to garner in more readers and fans. A publisher soon picked up her story and created a book of all her postings for mass production. However, by the end of the blog, Riverbend is a changed woman. Her tone drastically changed from her early blogging days into a more perceptive human. The countless war stories and days of survival have taken their toll on her and her family. Readers can feel her exhaustion as each blog post becomes farther and farther away from each other. Her family and herself were able to leave the country in hopes that another state would provide better security. Today the blog is technically still active, however Riverbend hasn’t said a word since 2013.
Riverbend started her blog with the sole intention to simply lay out her thoughts on the table for the whoever was interested to see. She didn’t even know if she could write effectively until she started Baghdad Burning. Riverbend was one of the more important symbols of the Iraq war. She was able to offer a different perspective on wartime that sometimes makes us feel uncomfortable with the reality. Whether or not readers agreed or disagreed with her statements, it achieved its goal of bringing about awareness and sparking conversation about the issues.
Access the original Baghdad Burning blog site and an interview Riverbend had with a reporter in 2006.
(Note the dates of the posts when accessing the site. You will most likely be at the most recent post instead of her first post.)