Asian Cup.

I'm not sure if it was major or minor news, but Iraq recently won the Asian Cup...a prestigious international soccer tournament. I imagine the victory is a tier or two down from the world cup ( I mean, it is Asian), but apparently the celebrations in Iraq were riotously joyful and euphoric.

I must add, of course, the footnote that several car bombs went off when they first made it to the finals, killing 50 people celebrating the joyous occasion....and that "celebratory gunfire" also killed several people, although only in the single digits.

Anyhow, the reason I mention this, besides the sort of small uplifting feeling I have when I think about it...is a picture I came across in the NYTimes. This picture haunts me...because this is the Iraq that I somehow don't think about as much, or I never really see...and it is really just hits me hard because this is where the car bombs land.


But, despite my outlook, she looks thrilled, and she looks like she still has a childhood....so that's good!