Saturday, May 15, 2004. Summary and Analysis

In the last few diary entries of Riverbend's blog of Baghdad Burning, we see Riverbend's reaction to the horrible news of Nick Berg's death, the ongoing hostilities in the Holy City of Najaf, and the institution of an Iraqi government (replacing the Governing council).

Riverbend's very first diary entry records her reaction to the journalist Nick Berg's death, who was beheaded by an extremist group in Iraq. Riverbend feels awful and humiliated herself as she denounces the group; claiming that they cannot be Islamic or even Muslim.

Over the next month, Riverbend recounts how Chalabi has finally been brought under investigation by the Iraqi Supreme Court for his alleged money laundering, and association to kidnapping through his militia. Riverbend is cynically grateful, and completely unsurprised that Chalabi has finally been investigated and charged. Rather, she believes it is more...