No weblog entry today, but we have a couple of exciting ideas in the works with regard to The NewStandard's Iraq coverage.
First, something we've been wanting to do for a while and can't wait on any longer: Dahr Jamail has expressed an interest in fielding brief queries from our readers about his work in Iraq, so we're going to give you an email address below to which you can send all those questions you've had rolling around your head about the situation in Iraq.
As his primary editor, I would like to add a request that people who appreciate Dahr's work send letters expressing that sentiment. Dahr has not made his email public previously in large part because he gets a significant amount of hate mail and death threats for telling the Iraqi people's side of the occupation story.
But Dahr does appreciate feedback from his readers -- including critical feedback -- so long as it does not include abusive language, personal attacks or threats. PLEASE feel free to direct any questions (or praise) you have for Dahr to this address:
Dahr will do his best to respond to all of the mail over the next few weeks, and some of the responses to questions posed to him will be published on his weblog and/or, in some form, on The NewStandard website. Dahr will also consider questions or suggestions that may lead to a story he can investigate during his remaining days in Iraq, though of course his ability to pursue answers to questions he doesn't already know will understandably be quite limited.
We do not know how much mail this call will generate, so please be patient if it takes Dahr a while to respond or if you do not get a direct, personal response but one appears in public. The situation is extremely tense in Baghdad, as you all know from having read Dahr's weblogs and articles -- right now, that means sending a letter of praise or affirmation might go a long way toward keeping Dahr's spirits up.
We will honor any requests to publish questions anonymously.
The second related item we have coming will be showing up in your email box on Monday. It is a very special message and appeal regarding the case of Sadiq Zoman, the Iraqi family man who was apparently tortured while in US custody and whose story Dahr first covered in January, and then again for TNS last month. Please be sure to pay attention to that message when it arrives -- it's going to contain something rather different than you've seen from us so far.
Third, we are currently building software to host photo galleries on our site. We are honored that the first such gallery will contain some of the incredible photography Dahr has taken over the past 10+ weeks in Iraq. Keep an eye out for that some time this week, if all goes as planned.
Dahr Jamail is Baghdad correspondent for The NewStandard. He is an Alaskan devoted to covering the untold stories from occupied Iraq. You can help Dahr continue his crucial work in Iraq by making donations. For more information or to donate to Dahr, visit The NewStandard.
