It was the most remarkable unremarkable evening. I just had dinner and watched a movie with a couple of friends. What made tonight a little more interesting than normal was the fact that the friends I got to hang out with are the family of Tahseen Sheikhly, the GOI official who got kidnapped and released by militants last week. Tahseen's family has been living in a hotel since the ordeal began; the attackers that kidnapped Tahseen launched RPGs at his home during the assault that exploded inside and burned the house to the ground. The family lost everything - save the life of Tahseen. I was meeting with some other Baghdad officials at the hotel today when I ran into the family having some tea with an Embassy colleague of mine. Tahseen's household consists of two married sons and a few unmarried daughters. Essentially camping out at the hotel for the past two weeks, they were getting cabin fever. The uncertainty of where they are headed next was clearly troubling them, despite their cheerful attitude and friendly demeanor. They know that so-called friends from their old neighborhood actually participated in the attack on their home and the seizure of their father - a well-known public spokesman for the government. My friend suggested that we take the group out on a "night on the town," which merely consisted of taking them to dinner at the Embassy cafeteria, giving them a quick tour of the Republican Palace (which, ironically and yet unsurprisingly, many Iraqis have never seen the inside of, while to many Americans posted here, it's the only thing they ever do get to see in Baghdad), and then taking a trip back to my hooch to play a little Guitar Hero and watch Jack Black in School of Rock, one of my absolute favorite films. Tahseen's children, all early- to mid-twenties, had a good time hanging out - or at least they convinced me that they did (I can get a little distracted when Guitar Hero is involved) - and I have to admit it was a great break for me to get away from the office. So often our work involves these grand strategies and intricate programs to win the 'hearts and minds' of Iraqis - yet, we almost ignore the living, breathing, friendly Iraqi people that are right here in front of us on a daily basis. Whatever report I had to write or emails I had to answer – I just don't think they'll ever be as critical as the few hours as I got to spend with these new friends. This is a difficult place to keep your perspective in, but every now and then you know you spent your time wisely. School of Rock cracks me up every time. And I know I wasn't the only one who got to enjoy the first good laugh in a good long while.
