by Donna Mulhearn, Dec 2, 2004
(Donna was in Iraq prior to, during and after the US invasion of Iraq. She is from Australia and recently returned to Baghdad. Donna’s prior writings from Iraq.)

It all happened so fast as we turned the corner.

The US humvee seemed to come out of nowhere. It drew close to the car, aimed its machine gun at us and forced the car off the road.

A checkpoint heavy with Iraqi soldiers was right in front. We had no choice but to slow to a halt. As we did the soldiers, their faces covered with black balaclavas, surrounded the car and pointed their guns at us.

By Donna Mulhearn

Dear friends,

There’s a gun battle outside. It has been going ferociously for 20 minutes. There’s been several large and fatal bomb blasts today.

It is cold without electricity. I, and most families in Baghdad, now sit in the dark. My Iraqi friends are anxious and sad about everything.

But there is good news in Baghdad.