Bright lights and shining stars in L.A.

The Iraqi women of the McClatchy Baghdad Bureau completed their North American Courage In Journalism tour in Los Angeles Tuesday night. As in New York and Washington earlier in their visit, their award from the International Womens Media Foundation and Sahar Issa's remarks stirred the capcity crowd in the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom.

And yes, former journalism student Meg Ryan was on hand to introduce them, huddled in conversation with Sahar throughout dinner and warm and expansive in her remarks about the brave work they've done to shine light into the darkness of the Iraq war.

We were proud just to be in the room with them. Now we're home in Sacramento and Sahar and Bureau Chief Leila Fadel head back to Baghdad. God speed to them all.

Meg Ryan, a journalism major at New York University, pictured with McClatchy Baghdad staffers (not pictured for security reasons) and on the big screen making the Courage In Journalism award in Beverly Hills.