Amidst our self absorption with our own casualties (which while devastating to those to whom they are familiar, are trivial in the context of other wars, many less momentous than this), it’s easy to forget the suffering and fright of the innocent Iraqis who must live with and through the current chaos. Sadly, sometimes necessary things have calamitous effects on those who had no part in the making of them, and it’s hard to take a long-term view when bombs are falling.

To the proprietress of the Riverbend blog, and others like her, I can only offer trite, but often true cliches–it’s often darkest before the dawn, and sometimes the only way out is through. For those of my readers of the praying type, say one or two for her and hers, and I hope that she knows that she is in our hearts at this time of crucial point in her country’s history.

[Update a few minutes later]

And for contrast, I hope she hears and appreciates what compatriot blogger Mohammed has to say.