HW 32:

Response to Baghdad Burning (70-97):
On September 21st 2003, there was an attempted murder on Akila Al-Hashimi. Riverbend describes Akila as "one of the decent members on council (Riverbend 75). Akila worked extensively with foreign affairs. From my perspective she seemed to be a well-respected woman in Iraq. It is sad to think that woman who work so hard o defend their country is injured in the process. "Two pick-up trucks with armed men cut off her car and opened fire on her and her bodyguards-her brothers"(Riverbend 75). When this woman and her brothers went under attack, neighbors came to her aide. The two sides began shooting at each other. Akila was wounded in the foot, shoulder, and stomach, she taken to a hospital called Al-Yarmuk (Riverbend 75). There Akila's stomach was operated on. After that she was shipped off in an American ambulance. Riverbend stated that no one really knew where this woman was being sent to. I have to admit I'm confused. She is obviously innocent, and working towards the benefit for Iraq and it's people. Some claimed that this was still the work of Saddam followed out by his loyalists. Apparently, Akila was not respected by all. "There has been bitterness towards her by some of the more extreme members of the governing council- not only is she female, wears no hijab, and was the first actual 'foreign representative" of the new government , but she was also a prominent part of the former government"(Riverbend 76). Akila seemed like a well-established woman, who had earned her title and the respect she deserves.