Mohammed at Iraq The Model has an encouraging story of a trip to the southern part of Iraq:

The point behind all these pictures and stories I mentioned is that the people started to speak out and express their feelings and here we’re in great need for support from the free world to back the progress. Moving back is absolutely unacceptable; we’ve put our feet on the right way and we need help from the others. Never let the bad pictures lay their heavy shadow on the good, bright ones. The negative media want our eyes to pause on the bad events to win time in this worldwide battle and to make us forget the good pictures that encourage us to keep the momentum. This includes most of the major western media.

I'd *really* like to know how the blogosphere has verified the creditenials of these "alleged" Iraqi bloggers.

Let me be clear: I'm no "moonbat lefty." I've supported Bush in the Iraqi War.

But I'm a bit leary of all these quotes from "Iraqi Bloggers" when I don't see any way to verify that they are Joe-in-the-Street Iraqis.

I don't know if it has. It's simply interesting reading, to which you're welcome to assign as much, or as little credibility as you wish.

"But I'm a bit leary of all these quotes from "Iraqi Bloggers" when I don't see any way to verify that they are Joe-in-the-Street Iraqis"

There is the same credibility problem when you see sources quoted in the news, fwiw.

Ya'll need to read this! It's encouraging.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040516/D82JRHQ80.html

cj:

Good question, and I don't have an answer either.

BUT, if you look around, you can find a variety of Iraqi bloggers, from Salam Pax (who was a quiet anti-Hussein type and a louder US-out-of-my-country type); Riverbend (who is distinctly disappointed w/ the entire venture); Iraq the Model (who seems more accepting of our presence), etc.

Of course, they could ALL be made up, or at least unrepresentative, but at least you're wondering about it. Given the relatively unabashed acceptance by the media of Arab-in-the-street opinion in the days when Mukhabarat "translators" were with every CNN crew, I'd say that this is a step up, if only b/c there's more divergence among the highlighted populations.