The final episode of Hometown Baghdad.

In the coming days, we will be transitioning to a brand new www.hometownbaghdad.com. I’ve combined a number of viewer suggestions with my own thoughts. The result is a new site layout that should help people find all the videos a bit more easily and help viewers engage in more conversation.

Also, watch out for us on ABC’s Nightline in the coming days.

Upon returning from a peaceful few weeks in Syria, Adel makes two upsetting discoveries.

In response to some reader demand, I put together a more extensive Behind The Scenes page that shows the producers at work on Hometown Baghdad.

Ausama also wanted me to share some videos from the great Iraqi Oud (Middle Eastern Guitar) player Naseer Shamma.

• Alamiryya Performance
• Hilal Alsaba Performance
• Naseer Shamma with a large orchestra/band

Adel in Syria.

A bit of recent history of Syria. Adel was in Latakia.

IMPORTANT: I just found what I consider a gold mine filled with gold mines. It is a blog that chronicles the emerging Iraqi blogosphere. It links to an incredible amount of blogs written by Iraqis both in Iraq and in exile. They aren’t afraid to give their own thoughts but they don’t censor the voices they don’t agree with. It represents everything that is great about this new era of citizen journalism. Anyone with even a passing interest in Iraq could get lost among these links for hours. They link everyone from my old favorite Healing Iraq to HTB viewer Konfused Kid to an unabashedly sectarian blog (speaking of which, there is an interesting defense of sectarianism on that blog). Also, as a devout beer enthusiast, I was completely intrigued by this guide to drinking beer in Baghdad. Forgive me if I never post any more videos here because I’m too busy reading all these blogs….

I know a few people saw us on NBC News. Can someone post in the comments what the story was like? Here at Chat the Planet we didn’t get to see it. Also, we have been getting some press in countries all over the world. Poland, Brazil, Denmark, etc. If anyone can snap pictures of themselves holding articles about us a la me and my colleague, I’ll be sure to post them.

Syria has been a refuge for Iraqis fleeing their dangerous homeland since the war began. Life as a refugee there can be incredibly difficult but hopefully things will start getting a bit better. In today’s episode, we get to experience what Syria is like from Adel’s Iraqi perspective. Though throughout his visit, Adel knows that he must return to Baghdad.

For a peak at Iraqi refugees in Syria, watch this.

Adel risks a few moments out in the open with the cameras to tell a story from his Iraqi heritage.

Update: Hometown Baghdad producer, Fady, sent me a great picture of a statue in Baghdad that depicts another story from the Arabian Nights. Read Fady’s brief description of it. Check out the photo below.

American troops in Iraq - threat or protection?

Murder in the name of religion.

Also, many people were confused by the episode of Hometown Baghdad, “Forbidden Salad,” because Ausama and his family talked about how a certain salad was banned by religious extremists. Some people thought they were joking. Some commenters on one site thought we were putting out Israeli propaganda (yes, they actually thought that). But I found a blog post that explains the thinking behind this ban on sexually indecent salad(!!!). It is from Nabil’s blog. He is another educated young Iraqi being forced to leave due to the violence that threatens him daily. Let’s hope that he, like Adel, Saif and Ausama, stays safe.

If you’re new to this series, catch up on previous installments using the episode guide to the left. If you’re a regular, check out our new episode below…

Nearly everyone who has seen Hometown Baghdad has been desperate to know what Saif, Adel and Ausama think about the American invasion/occupation. After having seen how it has affected their lives, their families and their friends, we now get to hear them talk honestly about it.

Tags: iraq, baghdad, documentary, politics, occupation, invasion, war