Ex-Marine Blogger killed by Iraqi police

Zangas, another CPA employee and their Iraqi interpreter were killed Tuesday evening when Iraqi policemen chased the vehicle in which they were riding, forced it off a road and then executed them with a hail of machine gunfire.

The three had been on a return trip to their fortified compound in Hilla after they had visited a newly opened Women's Rights Center in Karbala. The other American, Fern Holland, had worked as a lawyer in Oklahoma before coming to Iraq.

The FBI is investigating the killings.

It remains unclear why they were targeted. But newfound freedoms for Iraqi women have angered some in this country, where many still observe strict Muslim traditions.

From his last blog - I was able to provide the Human Rights Group here in Hilla with some equipment for their media center. Their response was, “we would also like to have…..” It is a bit disheartening. I know it is not my money that I am giving away and I am not interested in receiving thanks. But it points out to the fact that this is a society that is in desperate need of everything. It is like pouring a cup of water out in a dry desert. The water disappears and you are left with the feeling of “did it do any good?” Sometimes the answer is “yes.” Sometimes the answer is “no.” Sometimes you wait for the flower to grow. I don’t mean to sound depressed because I am not. I am enjoying this work immensely. It is very gratifying…as long as the flowers grow eventually. I have hope that they will.

Speaking of flowers…I also did some media training for the women who will run the media centers in their respective Women’s Center Media offices. It was fun and I am not wrong when I tell you that not many American MEN get to teach Iraqi Women. I think I might be the first, in that respect. Of course not everything I told them was full of deep, intricate or complicated technology. They are smart (an engineer and a veterinarian were in the group) but they were not journalists. I am not a journalist, but I can talk like one! But they said that the things we discussed were all new concepts and ideas to them. So, it was a success. Here is a picture of some of the ladies.