From The Iraq War, A Troubled Romance In America

[UmmSqueakster 54]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=95799727

I don't really have a comment on the story itself. I was thinking more about the couples we have here on VJ who have sucessful relationships with people they met while serving in Iraq. Perhaps some of them could write NPR about doing a follow up piece where the relationship is a sucess?

[caybee 21]

Heartbreaking story.

I like your idea though.

[doodlebugg 10]

What is wrong with this country??? Why on earth is this woman not in jail? Unbelievable.

[Nothing1234 2]

That story is just outrageous. Your idea is a good one...although most news folks love drama and avoid happy endings.

[HLM 1]

My heart is breaking for that little angel Bradley and the husband!! but the woman i dont care whatever happens to her she sure deserves it.

That story is just outrageous. Your idea is a good one...although most news folks love drama and avoid happy endings.

Also they might be trying to warn Americans from marrying Iraqis!

Edited October 18, 2008 by HisLittleMasriyah

[S and S 12]

I hate when they post stories like this. You know only bad stories make for interesting reading. It is like another case I read about where the soldier married an Iraqi woman. Things went fine for him, but he stayed in the Army. They had a child together and he had her here in the states, but then he got deployed to Iraq again. On that second deployment to Iraq he was killed and now the Iraqi woman is left alone with their child here, so sad.

There are other cases that things have gone fine and I know of one besides mine personally. I showed my husband this story and he made a good point. If the person is not respected and acting well in their own country, you can't expect them to be good in yours. I think he is right as this case in the story seems to hold true to that.

[caybee 21]

I hate when they post stories like this. You know only bad stories make for interesting reading. It is like another case I read about where the soldier married an Iraqi woman. Things went fine for him, but he stayed in the Army. They had a child together and he had her here in the states, but then he got deployed to Iraq again. On that second deployment to Iraq he was killed and now the Iraqi woman is left alone with their child here, so sad.

There are other cases that things have gone fine and I know of one besides mine personally. I showed my husband this story and he made a good point. If the person is not respected and acting well in their own country, you can't expect them to be good in yours. I think he is right as this case in the story seems to hold true to that.

This is a good point. Also, imagine if the woman were American instead of Iraqi. If she had grown up abused, being yanked around by her hair and so forth, she would be at greater risk of abusing her own child. Language and cultural barriers have made it very difficult for her to find legitimate work, but aside from that, this story plays out every day all over this country. Plenty of women who are otherwise employable choose to strip because the money is better, and plenty of abused kids grow up to abuse their own.

[bhajishah 4]

They both sound like wing nuts..ptsd peoples shouldnt really be having babies...

[S and S 12]

They both sound like wing nuts..ptsd peoples shouldnt really be having babies...

I think that is going too far. That would be saying all people effected by war shouldn't have babies. The point is to treat them so they can safely have children. Many people who have PTSD already have children so that wouldn't work anyway.

[bhajishah 4]

They both sound like wing nuts..ptsd peoples shouldnt really be having babies...

I think that is going too far. That would be saying all people effected by war shouldn't have babies. The point is to treat them so they can safely have children. Many people who have PTSD already have children so that wouldn't work anyway.

Yes but thiers was most recent PTSD...the kids are in good hands now. They will have to get over it..maybe she wont. He has home support advantage..and better frame of mind. and in his part of country is very very family oriented..maybe there is help..soundsl ike she has lost it truely!! and is prob not indicative of all immigrant women. as readers might assume.

[S and S 12]

They both sound like wing nuts..ptsd peoples shouldnt really be having babies...

I think that is going too far. That would be saying all people effected by war shouldn't have babies. The point is to treat them so they can safely have children. Many people who have PTSD already have children so that wouldn't work anyway.

Yes but thiers was most recent PTSD...the kids are in good hands now. They will have to get over it..maybe she wont. He has home support advantage..and better frame of mind. and in his part of country is very very family oriented..maybe there is help..soundsl ike she has lost it truely!! and is prob not indicative of all immigrant women. as readers might assume.

From the sounds of it, her problems started before she even met him and just grew. Doesn't sound like being back home with her family would help either. She definitely needs help. That much is clear. These kinds of cases are truly sad.

[nowhereman 1]

I don't think you can draw any conclusions whatsoever from this story as it relates to marrying an Iraqi. I served in Iraq in 2005-2006 & worked very closely with interpreters. I knew some Iraqi women that I'm sure would make great wives & mothers for an American if they happened to fall in love. The real obstacle would be religion, because according to a strict Muslim they can only marry another Muslim.

This story could have been about two young, married rednecks in West Virginia who lacked parenting & decision making skills. It has almost nothing to do with cross-cultural marriages.

[warriorprincess 0]

It's a really sad story. My heart goes out to the children.

[Nothing1234 2]

It's a really sad story. My heart goes out to the children.

They are the innocent ones that are suffering.