"Aside from Ayad Rahim's genetic heritage, what makes him any more credible as an observer than any other citizen of Cleveland (or Phoenix if you'd prefer)? . . . what information does he have? "
Granted it is anecdotal, but he mentions contact he has had with relatives in Iraq. First hand is better, but that is more than other citizens of Cleveland would have. Those few folks paint a better picture than most of the gloom and doom in the media. My guess is what is actually happening is somewhere in the middle.