I don't know that any of us can be certain on much of anything at this point. You've known me for quite awhile- I've had no problem when my daughter has deployed three times over there, but my future SIL is headed there this week and I am not in a good place about it at all. Maybe it's just all the focus in the news.
In any regard- YOU STAY SAFE, and do what your gut tells you to do no matter what.
Nothing is drastically different here now. She should be OK. I'll keep her in my prayers.
Things are actually much better now than they were two years ago. Even one year ago.
It's just that the problems have pretty much centered on Baghdad now. (It was quite noisy today!) But action is being taken to quell that. I believe there might be a showdown with Sadr and his Mahdi thugs, but that's what needs to happen to get this place back on track.
The U.S.-Iraqi coalition will defeat Sadr and his thugs.