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Very Important:
3 am at November 4, a very very close friend of mine was captured by the US troops after they got attacked in his neighborhood, he and a bunch of young men in Almansoor neighborhood was arrested because they suspected that they might be behind the attack, but I know him very very well, he can't be behind it, he is a dental student that just wants to finish his college and be a dentist, please if anyone can help with this I'll be more than grateful.
It has been four days and no one knows anything about him, his family is dying, they are very concerned about it, please help needed as soon as possible.
At least we want to know if he's OK and where he is?
Contact me on my email if you can help with anything.
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When I want to clear my view about the differences in Iraq before and after the war in the shortest words, I would say "Bad things got worse and good things are lost".
I'm sitting in my garden trying to relax, smoking a grape flavoured Hubble-bubble, I'm seizing the chance that the weather is so great and I'm trying to remember how we used to live and how we live now, remembering the good old days. Can you imagine that a 25 years old man is remembering the good old days! this thing should be for old people not a young man, but in Iraq even young people aren't thinking or living the same way young men do in other countries.
I was thinking how would it be now if the war didn't happen? I'm thinking what would I be doing at this moment? it's 8p.m. I might be in my clinic that I fear to open, I might be with my wife having a drive in the beautiful streets of Baghdad or at least I would be having dinner in Al-Ilwia social club but sure I wouldn't be at home.
I'll give a quick idea about the life in Iraq before the war, The electricity was no problem since the year 2000, before that the cut-outs were programmed so the one can know when it will come and when it will go out, the water was certainly not a problem, the fuel was not a problem in fact it was so cheap that no one cares about it. No one should be afraid for his life or feel threatened unless he is interfering in the politics, joining the apposition or a party against the regiment or if some one talks bad about Saddam and his regiment or makes jokes. Those were the boundaries so if some one wants to live peacefully he shouldn't do those things, it's true many times innocent people are killed because they suspected they were against the regiment but the numbers are way less than the numbers killed these days, at least there were boundaries that the one knows about, but now anything you do is against the boundaries.At that time Saddam didn't allow people to travel easily, they should go through many processes to do that if they were allowed, for example doctors and members of the army were forbidden from travelling unless they were sent by the government, but they could forger a passport that says they are not in the forbidden categories like my sister and many many did and it costs less than getting a new (G) legal passport now, and now all the countries are not accepting Iraqis like they have a lethal disease or they are some kind of freaks, Syria made visa for a limited slice of the society, Jordan is a known story and so on..... it's almost impossible now to leave Iraq, it's more like a big torturing prison.
When I think about what did the Iraqis benefit from the war and the alleged freedom and democracy I only find: Mobile phones, Satellite dish and the increase in salaries which was accompanied by a horrifying increase in the cost of living. At that time the opposition (who took control now) was screaming about the innocent Iraqis who were killed for no reason by Saddam and his regiment, where are they now? where are they from the shocking number of dead innocent people? where are they now from the millions who got threatened? where are they from the millions who were forced to leave Iraq? I know where are they, they are counting the money they are stealing every day with a disgusting satisfied smile on their ugly faces, that's if they were not involved in the joy of killing innocents for sectarian reasons or for no reason at all. If we count the number of innocent people Saddam killed they wouldn't exceed the number of people that dies in 3 months (I'm not counting the war casualties, because it's a war no matter how wrong the reason was). I'm not defending Saddam or his regiment and will never do, he was a tyrant, a dictator and a criminal but he isn't worst than the ones who govern us now,in fact he was better at least he kept some dignity for the Iraqis, at least he did some good things, I want one good thing that the post-war government did?or built?
Saddam was hanged by Muqtada's followers at a holy day for the killing of 148 civilian in Al-Dijail (if that number was true) , but I want to know how much did Muqtada kill? a 148 civilian is the count of deaths in Baghdad for a peaceful week. am I wrong or what? why aren't the responsible for the killing of innocents now hanged also? at least that would be justice.
The picture above is for Baghdad before the war (from Zeyad), I wish I could take a picture now in the same spot to make the difference clear but I'm afraid that's impossible, because there will be no lights, a complete darkness, the river wouldn't be captured because of the concrete blocks and simply I can't stand there and take a picture because it's a sensitive area and every body knows what will happen to me, but you can put a black picture with a grey line at the bottom(the concrete wall) and it will be the recent photo!
I don't need to talk about the safety and going out now because everybody knows about it, but I need to say that in the past I used to go out till 3 a.m. and sometimes later without any slight fear on my life or my belongings and believe me when I say it was safer than the US because from what I've heard it's not that safe there to be in the streets at that hour. In the social clubs you could see families having lunch or enjoying an evening or a party till that hour, Oh how I miss those days.
I was reading the news yesterday and I noticed something that got my attention, they were saying that October was the best month in this year regarding the casualties and explosions and that they arrested many terrorists I would say that this might be true, the conditions are a bit better but it's still not good or even close to that, it's only a bit better. it came to my attention that the number of the people they have arrested are so similar each month, it's like a joke, it's like they have a certain number that they should arrest and in my opinion that's the cause the national guards or the police sometimes goes to a certain neighborhood and arrest everyone they see, even kids sometimes, they have a required number of arrests no matter whether they were innocent or guilty! because as I think it's impossible that they suspect and arrest almost the same number every month.
And finally I would like to mention something that really teared my heart apart and made me loose the hope even more in a good future for Iraq , a friend of mine X who is still in college (dentistry college) has failed in the Orthodontics for the 5th time, I couldn't believe that he is so dull that he couldn't pass it after all these tries and repeats, I asked him before the last exam about his continuous failure and he said "I swear I answered well, I'm sure I should have succeeded but I don't know what's wrong?" but after he failed for the fifth time he went to the chief of the department and asked him about his marks and why did he fail. He answered him calmly with a smile of revenge on his damn face :"weren't you in the student's union before the war?" and X told him"Yes, I was!!!" the doctor said"That means you were in the Baath party, right?" X answered with a shock"Yes , I was. but every one who wants to be in the union must be a Baathiest!!!" so the doctor said with the ugliest smile "Then don't dream of the success in Orthodontics, you will never do"
That was a highly-educated Orthodontics specialized doctor who thinks, behaves and talks that way, how could Iraq rise up again with those sick idiots in it, now I wouldn't blame the uneducated young people who got driven by the sectarian current, if the educated are like this.
Poor Iraq , Poor real Iraqis.
144 comments:
So much injustice. What if the competing armed sectarian factions decrease or altogether cease their attacks in order to lull the Iraqis and Americans into a false sense of security that would justify a major troop pull out? The Republicans would tout it as a victory and the Democrats as something long since overdue. Then, with the Americans mostly gone, the final struggle for power in Iraq enters its final violent stages. There needs to be a sustainable and fair foundation of government and security before a troop pullout. Otherwise chaos can quickly grow. This could take many more years.
Great blog.
The difference between Saddam and the current government is that the current government can be voted out. Since we never hear shia or kurds talk about "the good ole days",we're left to assume you experienced a slightly different living standard than the average Iraqi Mohammed. As your friend found out after his 5th exam,it helps to be part of the "in" crowd.
perry1961, you shallow bastard. Shia have suffered especially from the marketplace bombs in Sadr City in the past two/three years - I am sure that if you really looked, you would find plenty of Shia talking of the good old days. (Kurds, while living under a no-fly protection zone to defend them from Saddam, had good old days that were even better than those of Sunni and Shia in the rest of Iraq.)
I find it especially disgusting that you appear to condone collusion with the "'in' crowd", if one wishes to pass exams.
Mohammed,
"I'm trying to remember how we used to live and how we live now, remembering the good old days."
That was a good post but a very sad post. Like you I remember "the good old days." Keep strong and stay safe.
I agree "how could Iraq rise up again with those sick idiots in it"
"Poor Iraq , Poor real Iraqis."
Um Ayad
"Shia have suffered especially from the marketplace bombs in Sadr City"
With you cheering for Al Queda the whole time Indigo/Rachel. Shame on you. I don't doubt that a small minority of Iraqi's would like Saddam back. A very small minority.
perry1961,
"Shame on you." Is it hard for you to understand that the majority of "decent" Iraqis long for the "good old days" back and that includes Shia. It is not Saddam they want back it is their old way of life like having electricity, clean water, petrol and above all safety and security. As Mohammed said those who are ruling Iraq now are far worse than the tyrant and dictator, Saddam.
Um Ayad
"Is it hard for you to understand that the majority of "decent" Iraqis long for the "good old days" back and that includes Shia."
It's harder than you think Um Ayad. According to this poll only 26% preferred Saddam. Hardly a majority.
"The poll, the biggest since coalition troops entered Iraq on March 20, 2003, shows that by a majority of two to one, Iraqis prefer the current leadership to Saddam Hussein’s regime, regardless of the security crisis and a lack of public services."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1530526.ece
And,as Mohammed admitted himself,things have improved somewhat since that poll was conducted in march.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."(Lord Acton 1887)
The above quote reminded me of the brick wall your friend encounted in trying to pass his exam.
It is hard to even think reconstruction or any kind of normality while honest Iraqis want for the most basic needs, ie electricty etc. The corrupt will always feed off others despair.
It is a sad, but honest post you wrote. Thank you for that, as without it people would not understand how things are for you and others still living with this..
Take care always..
The picture above is for Baghdad before the war (from Zeyad), I wish I could take a picture now in the same spot to make the difference clear but I'm afraid that's impossible
And this is what the Americans came and did to Baghdad:
http://img.timeinc.net/time/2007/iraq/images/march_2003.jpg
Never forget. Never forgive.
Dr. M.: Check out Times OnLine for an article called "Rising Trade & Safer Streets" (11/3). I'd appreciate it if you could comment. Things sound like they are improving in
Baghdad.
Indigo: Is every one "shallow" to you? Seen your comments 3 times, and in 2 called someone shallow.
Tom in South Texas
perry1961
This is from your link:-
"One statistic that bodes ill for Iraq’s future is the number who have fled the country, many of them middle-class professionals. Baghdad has been hard hit by the brain drain — 35% said a family member had left the country."
Also over 4 million Iraqis have fled their homes and 1.2 million Iraqis have been killed. They were not included in the poll!
I tend to ignore polls they are usually not very reliable.
Um Ayad
"and 1.2 million Iraqis have been killed."
I heard it was 15 million. Maybe even 40 million. I think that's a bit conservative. More likely,every Iraqi died several times. LOL!
It's absolutely insane that in the year 2007,people would actually argue that a repressive dictatorship is preferable to a democracy. Bizarre even. Trotting out ridiculous numbers of dead civilians doesn't make it any less insane Um Ayad. Al Queda lost. Get over it already.
As bad as things are there, I'm just glad you can sit in your garden at 8 p.m. and enjoy your hubbly bubbly. It's not like before the war and probably won't be. Even should good times return, they will be different. Be happy for the moments when you can enjoy the quiet. Be happy the hot days are over and you can get a good sleep. Cold weather will be coming. Try to take it a day at a time. I'm sorry for your friend being treated so shabbily at the dental college.
Very shocking what I read. Telling you to be optimistic might sound like a joke. But from my far away country, Peru, I tell you that everything will change, I hear that violence is decreasing in certain areas, and security is coming from small tribes. You are the voice of your country, you might read some wrong comments, from people who don't know what happens there indeed. Remember that you and Iraqis are not alone. And Baghdad will be again the capital of lights, a princess in the desert.
Thank you, and the oppressed people in you country must thank you too.
Jayme
I think that the way I found your blog is not the most usual. I was finding information for our media-project of social sudies - my topic is the everyday life in Iraq. It's hard to even imagine the life there from here far-away Finland, even harder than I thought - not the easiest topic to write about, but after all I'm happy for choosing it.
Take care.
My heart cries for you and for all the fine people in Iraq who have had their world blown out from under them. I also hate what this administration has done. We are working in America to change it our way thru elections. I hope we can do it in time, before even worse situations unfold. Many of us here in the United States deplore this. We wish peace for you and for your people.
Xavier,
good point, really good , that missed me and a lot of people too.
Thanks for the note.Looking to see you again here.
Perry 1961,
Do you know why the government haven't been voted out? you should read the Iraqi constitution well , and you should know that it can be voted out by members of the parliment who happens to be in the same parties of the government and taking the share of the shocking number of cash being stealed from Iraq every second. it's politics, it's a dirty game and you should see that easily.
and by the way Kurds don't have good old days I agree with that because their situation hasn't been changed in fact it got better, But I swear and believe me that Shiite civilians will talk the same way I do, we are real Iraqis no matter what sect we belong to, that's how we used to live and want to live now, believe me shiites who live in Iraq wants the old days back.
and by the way, me and my family were damaged from the former regiment and we had many rights that we couldn't have because we weren't in the Baath party, I wouldn't say that I was poor or rich or with power, we were moderate in everything and still the same but i'm crying my country not my self.
And about the story of the student it was told to me by a joint friend who is Saeed that means he is an original Shiite who said literally when I asked him about the party that doctor belongs to "That doctor is one of those dirty Shiites" did you get the picture, I raqis used to live together in love no matter what their sect or religion is and they still want that , and you should know that majority of my friends are shiites but they are real Iraqis. Hope you could understand the nature of the Iraqi society and if you couldn't try to read a book and I would recomend the Author Ali-Alwardi (who is a shiite) to understand why all of this is happening, I wish you have it translated there, he is an old author and his writings are old also.
Indigo,
A good point Indigo, a good proof.
and there are many others and I'd like to say that even Shiites are not satisfied with the Shiite militias or it's better to say disgusted by them just like the Sunnis with the Sunni militias, it's not about sect or religion it's a gang war.
Um Ayad,
Thank you very much, you are the kind I'm talking about when I say real Iraqis, you where faster than me in the reply. I'm glad to know more real Iraqis.
Perry,
Don't make me crazy, what has improved? Mobile phones? screw them we didn't need them at that time because we didn't have to worry about anyone when he goes out, it's the only cause we use it now, just to check on our beloved when they are not infront of us.
Satellite recievers, we used to have one and so did many at Saddam's time although it was forbidden, we knew how to hide them, and even though we didn't have it, screw TV when you have safity, TV is for people that don't have anything to do, we had alot of things to do at that time,
What else.
The Salaries? I said that it was accompanied by a horrifying increase in the cost of living so it's the same.
By the way I was making fun when I called those achivements.
gale,
Thank you very much, and I wish I could give you a more clear image of every thing in Iraq.Thanx
Anon.
I have many recent pictures from Baghdad that truely speeks what's going on, and I have captured all of them, many are not in my blog but I'll build a website just for the pictures and make a link for it here in the blog, I'm in the process of doing that.
Tom in Texas,
Will look into that. I said in the post that things are a bit better, but not that better, do you know what I mean.security has very slightly improved.
and about Indigo saying shallow, I don't remember the two times before this but this time i think she had a point because you should take the words from the people who lives in the field not from the mass media that has some goals in anything that it says, otherwise why should people read Iraqi blogs?
Perry,
Respect the dead Iraqis and don't make fun of them, no one said 15 million have died, where did you get that?
and it's true every Iraqi died several times, and that was the best thing you said.
and about democracy let me tell you something an American soldier told me today in the email, he said lietrally "I agree with your latest post that Saddam Hussein was actually the best thing going for Iraq. I didn’t realize that until I actually started meeting Iraqis and realized that a majority of Iraqis need someone to slap them around so they stay in line…if you let them roam free you invite Al Queda and other crooks and power hungry freaks to come in and beat up the peaceful civilians."
and I totally agree with this soldier and will write to him so he make comments here. Democarcy can't be that easy in Iraq, you should read about the Iraqi society as I told you, then you will understand why, I wish that real democracy can be in Iraq although it's so hard to achieve that.
Ljm,
Thank a lot and that's what I try to do, I try to enjoy the moment and live day by day.
Jayme,
Thank a lot, and I answerd that already that things are a bit better, but not that good.
Thanks for what you have said about Baghdad, it really brought joy to my heart, no one lived in Baghdad and didn't love it. I wish it could get back to what it used to be.
Anon,
Thank you and I'm glad that my blog was helpful.
Anon,
Thanks a lot, I know that there are many good Americans who wishes the best for Iraqis, after all we are all humans no matter what our nationality, race, religion is. we are all humans.
Mohammed,Um Ayad,and Iraqis that think like him,is the reason Iraq is in chaos. You fell for the Baath/Salafi strategy of making Iraq so much of a living hell that Iraqis would rather another madman. Be careful what you wish for. The next madman will be an al Sadr,not a Hussein. You might wish a return to the blessed 7th century,but at least your grandchildren will have a fighting chance at liberty and freedom.
perry1961, have you been on the moon for the last four years? Go to the bottom of the class. Iraq is like it is now because of an illegal US-led invasion and occupation, the sacking of thousands of Baathists (ordinary people who had to belong to the Baath party if they wanted to work, ordinary civil servants, teachers, engineers etc) and extraordinary incompetence by the US/UK.
The UK are not the good guys, either. Read this The report, drawn up in late 2006, suggests that Britain and the US may have breeched the Geneva Convention by failing properly to conduct their duties as "occupying powers". Or this, The Iraqi defector {Rafid Ahmed Alwan} whose fabricated account of Baghdad's biological weapons programme was crucial to the US case for war will be identified today on American TV as an accused thief and failed chemical engineering student.
I hope and trust that those responsible, in both the US and the UK, will be tried for war crimes at The Hague. I am more optimistic that this will indeed happen than I was six months ago.
Your analysis perry 1961, is so cravenly ill-informed and deluded, it is awful to behold. The US already has a madman in charge - your President - who has overseen the destruction of Iraq.
perry1961, nothing will ever justify what has been done to Iraq. Nothing.
You don't have to believe Fox News or neocon lies. Americans are the most brain-washing nation on earth yet, with Internet/web technology now available to everyone in the US, there is no excuse for you and your compatriots' ignorance of the war crimes being committed by your country in your name.
America TOOK AWAY liberty and freedom from Iraqis. America stole the pursuit of happiness in Iraq. America destroyed the lives of millions of Iraqis who were just getting on with growing up, earning their living, getting educated (free of charge), bringing up families, taking care of the elderly and sick, enjoying life. America took away all that - in a bid to control the price of oil.
Me again, sorry, it really gets my goat that here we are - the conflict in Iraq has now lasted longer than World War I, modern cities (eg Fallujah) have been flattened, four million Iraqis driven from their homes by the violence, the occupiers are doing nothing to help the woman-headed households feed their children (so that they don't have to raid rubbish dumps or go into prostitution), human bodies drilled in the head lie composing in the streets, a generation of children have been traumatised, the international relief agencies still cannot operate there, cholera has broken out - and the benighted perry1961 thinks that America is doing good things in Iraq. Americans are just sitting in the Green Zone, shuffling paper, getting paid, supping cold beer and stuffing their faces with pizza. According to some sources (see the Democratic Underground Forum), the soldiers now only pretend to patrol: they go out in their armoured vehicles and park on a bridge and pretend to be patrolling. They could, instead, be protecting Iraqis who go to the morgue to look for their missing family members, protect them from becoming kidnap victims too. But, no, they pretend to patrol. Your US tax dollars at work.
Perry,
I think you have been reading my blog long enough to know how do I think, and if you didn't pay attention, please review the older posts so that you could know that the top hated thing for me is:
1-Al-Sadir and his militia
2-AQ and any militia that kills civilian.
3-anyone responsible for the killing of innnocents and spreading sectarian hatred or stealing the people's money, in a way or another.
so don't come to me after all of this and say that I support Salafi or AQ or that I wish Al-Sadir will be our president!!!
you and many others think that every one in Baath party is a criminal but Indigo told you the real story, you have to be in Baath to be able to find a job, sometimes you can have a job but you will not get the promosions you deserve like my father who wasn't in Baath and couldn't get what he deserves because of that.
What I wish is a strong leader who is loyal to Iraq and only Iraq and only wishes the best for Iraqis and doesn't believe in sects and punsih everyone who causes sectarian hatred or violence, a man that is able to govern Iraq by an Iron fist through punishing every one causing violence or do wrong, situations like in Iraq now requires a strong man not a tyrant or cowards, pupets or thives like the current government.
When you find one real achivment that they made through all these years, then you can disagree with me and tell me that they are good guys.
I'm the one wishes and tries his best to end the chaos, not the cause of it. It's sad that you can't figure the truth till now.
"America TOOK AWAY liberty and freedom from Iraqis."
You're pathetic Rachel. NOBODY besides yourself claims Saddam allowed a shred of liberty or freedom. Not even the people blowing up Iraqis are as sick as yourself.
"so don't come to me after all of this and say that I support Salafi or AQ or that I wish Al-Sadir will be our president!!!"
I said no such thing Mohammed. I said you fell for their strategy,which has been to make Iraq such a bloody mess that people would rather another madman like Saddam.....which you have said you do. I also said to be careful what you wish for,because the next madman will be an al Sadr,not a Hussein.
Indigio:In between pizzas and raping Iraqi children, this is what they do:
"The Longest Morning": The story of Heroism, Courage, and Loss in the Face of Impossible Odds
http://jeffemanuel.blogspot.com/2007/11/longest-morning-story-of-heroism.html
Vernon Richards said...
"Thank-you soldiers all, and also to Mr Emanuel for bringing it to us. Brave men like Morley, Willis, Moser and Corriveau are all that stand between our children and bearded pukes trying to reach their 72 virgins via murder, rape, slavery, and other forms of Islamic piety."
Mohammed:In addition to calling perry shallow (above), Indigo has previously also called Michael Yon shallow. What reporter in Iraq does she think is deep? Yon (the Ernie Pile of IRAQI FREEDOM) deserves a Pulizer, but it'll probably go to Gore.
Are there no LEADERS of IRAQ that the PEOPLE can support????
This is for the American Repugs and fundies here; it's from an e-mail to a Mr Larrabee posted this morning on the web elsewhere: I love it:
Are you aware of the co-relation of 666 and the word "FOX" as in FOX news for example ....
Give a number in order to the English alphabet and be amazed by what results....
A = 1 , B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, E = 5, F = 6, G = 7, H = 8, I = 9
J = 10, K =11, L =12, M =13, N =14, O =15, P =16, Q =17, R =18
S = 19, T =20, U =21, V =22, W =23, X =24, Y =25, Z =26
F = 6
O = 15 (1+5=6)
X = 24 (2+4=6)
FOXnews = 666News...
F O X - the only letters in the Western alphabet that add up to the Number of the Beast.
Oops, anonymous at 11:37 was me.
@tom in texas, November 5, 2007 6:49 AM Are there no LEADERS of IRAQ that the PEOPLE can support????
None of the current lot, I guess, because they are American stooges - drawing the US dollar, flying out of Iraq for three-month holidays and medical treatment whenever they wish.
America wants a supplicant government in Iraq so it suppresses (in more ways than one) those individuals who could command Iraqi respect and loyalty.
The Arab world respects a strong man. That's the last thing America wants - a sovereign country of Iraq ruled by a strong man. Dear me, no, Iraq might then refuse to sell oil to America.
Hey man, I like you're blog, although I'm really sorry to hear about alot of your problems. My name is Brent, and I'm almost 18. I think this war is stupid. .... I'm American..
I almost didn't put that I'm American.. There's a lot of people who think all Americans are scumbags who just want money and/or oil or power or whatever. I really hope you don't feel that way. I can tell you that America really is a friendly place. I visited Germany, and most of the people I encountered were much more rude than Americans, (but I'm NOT saying the majority of Germans are like that), and when I went to London, England, everyone seemed very nice, and it seemed very much like the states. It depends on where exactly you go I guess.. I'm sick of people assuming things about America, like:
"None of the current lot, I guess, because they are American stooges - drawing the US dollar, flying out of Iraq for three-month holidays and medical treatment whenever they wish.
America wants a supplicant government in Iraq so it suppresses (in more ways than one) those individuals who could command Iraqi respect and loyalty."
, which you probably realize was another comment from someone on here.. I admit though, discrimination like that which you and your wife experienced in Jordan is worse than what Americans like me have to deal with most of the time. I wish I could do something to help you out..
You sound like a cool dude. I hope everything turns out even better than the way things were for you and your country. Be strong and stay safe.
@ Perry1962
"NOBODY ... claims Saddam allowed a shred of liberty or freedom."
Actually Mohammed makes that claim in this latest post of his, in a way:
"No one should be afraid for his life or feel threatened unless he is interfering in the politics, joining the apposition or a party against the regiment or if some one talks bad about Saddam and his regiment or makes jokes. Those were the boundaries "
Now, I'm no fan of Saddam and I realise there were also completely innocent victims of his regime. And of course that someone "making jokes" about Saddam risked his life is completely insane.
But the bottom line is that there existed a set of pretty established "rules" you could follow to keep yourself out of harms way. Now there are no such established rules and you might end up kidnapped or shot or blown up or tortured to death for any reason or no reason at all.
This is why your commentary is somewhat ignorant, such as:
"It's absolutely insane that in the year 2007, people would actually argue that a repressive dictatorship is preferable to a democracy."
People in the year 2007 would rather live in safety under a repressive regime than live in complete insecurity and with constant mortal fear as so many do today in Iraq. It has nothing to do with wanting to live with a repressive regime. It's that they rather live under Saddam than die by an electric drill in their brain. Is that really so hard to understand?
You may question the figure 1.2 million dead, I do myself, but surely you must realise that overwhelmingly many Iraqis are worse off today than under Saddam. Why else are millions of them fleeing?
Marcus: You need to keep up.
“Thousands Of Iraqis Moving Back To Baghdad” Nov. 3, 2007
http://patdollard.com/2007/11/03/thousands-of-iraqis-moving-back-to-baghdad/
Indigo: Yes, yes, I've heard all the claims about the puppet Iraqi leaders. Let me rephrase my question: Who are the leaders (outside the current crop of corrupt puppets) that the Iraqi people support? It seems Anbar Province & the Kurds have found their leaders. What about the rest of the country? Who would Dr. K support as his representative(s).
Tom in Texas, you cite an extremely far right American blog as a reliable source? That risible.
Many Iraqis will have had to return to Baghdad when they could not extend their visas any longer to remain in Syria or Jordan, or when they ran out of money.
Then, too, Syria introduced new visa requirements, with the result that - according to the UN -
Iraqi refugees continue to arrive in Syria in much smaller numbers than before now that new visa regulations are in place which can require applicants to travel to dangerous areas to process the paperwork. “One told of the insecurity they faced reaching the embassy in Baghdad's Al Mansour district and said applicants had to wait a long time before being helped due to limited staff,”
Here is a UNHCR statistical document on displaced Iraqis around the world.
Nothing like as many Iraqis are returning to Iraq as have so far left, at a rate of 60,000 a month.
To 17-year-old Brent, posting above from "friendly America".
Prepare yourself for multiple shocks, young man. Your country - completely unprovoked - invaded another sovereign country and used its obscene military strength just to destroy several modern cities, the country's infrastructure, its civil service and its civil society. Your country broke another country, an Arab country, and not just any Arab country - your country broke the cradle of civilisation - and did not protect the civilians from the violence, so that over four million of them fled their homes, and around one million of them died.
You think that America is friendly because most Americans are completely insulated from what is done in their name - the US foreign and military policy. Your country shot whole families at checkpoints, your country ran cars full of children off the road, your country drove its tanks through the walls of poor homes, your country has still detained thousands of Iraqis without recourse to either legal representation or humanitarian aid. There are now 300,000 woman-headed households in Iraq (the men having been killed), and the US occupiers are doing NOTHING at all to relieve their suffering and that of their children.
Your country has totally squandered the sympathy of the world that it had after 9/11. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Indigo:Point taken. I see where you are coming from - you consider a military blog to be "extremely right wing".
Actually, the story was originally posted by AP writer Stephen Hurst (left wing MSM, as opposed to DU or KOS, which are extremely left wing, as opposed to Code Pink, which are anarchists).
And thousands returning is just a drop in the bucket compared to the billions that left. I understand that. But it is a start.
The next elections in Iraq are not scheduled to take place until late 2009 (unless the current government is removed by parliamentary means or a new general election is held at the request of a majority of the body).
- from the NYT (I need to quote from left wing sources so you take the info as fact).
A repeat of the question: Where are all the NEW leaders of Iraq that the people support? Is the country capable of putting forth leaders who are patriotic - I am an Iraqi, not a Shiite, not a Sunni, not a Kurd,(and I am not a crook). Like their soccer team.
And I'd still like to know which reporters in Iraq you think are less shallow than Yon. John Burns, NYT?, Katie Couric, NBC?. Does anyone from the BBC have the balls to go into the Red Zone without being embedded?
I am so sorry Mohammed. It made me very sad to read your report Saturday, November 3, 2007. I am the mother of a son the same age as you. You have had to go through so much already. You are a brave young man; and I am so sorry about my country's (Britain) involvement in the recent tragedies that befallen your people. I shall visit your blog again and read - all I feel I can do is bear witness. Take care.
"But as I write these words, the explosions—cannon fire reverberating day and night, rockets exploding on base, the rumbling and crumpling sounds of car bombs—are the very pulse of this war. This war cannot yet be dissected because it still lives—wounded, angry, thrashing on the table, but alive. We can only hack into it, diagnose it, treat it, knowing each attempt at a cure affects the pulse. Doing nothing causes tachycardia. Much of what afflicts Iraq was here before America was born. But when we elected to perform surgery on this sick land, we used hacksaws and sledgehammers, and took an already sick patient and hacked off some parts while pulverizing others.
Meanwhile, there are stadiums full of people shouting at the doctors, threatening to fire them or revoke their licenses, or at the very least to cut off the lights mid-surgery. In the din of the mob, few seem to notice that the patient, screaming to be healed, is much more alive than dead. The patient roils in agony with every new cut, slashing at doctors and self. Some say we’ve done enough and it’s time for the patient to heal itself. Others are saying we should put it out of its misery, but surely this thing will live, and drag its mutilated self out of the hospital and follow us home, no longer seeking a cure but intent on revenge."
the shallow Michael Yon
Tom in Texas:
"Marcus: You need to keep up.
“Thousands Of Iraqis Moving Back To Baghdad” Nov. 3, 2007"
Wow. 3000 families returning during the last 90 days. Perhaps volontarily and perhaps for lack of options.
That only leaves about 4 million people then. No biggie, right?
At 3000 families per 90 days and let's say a family consists of 10 people to be optimistic. Well, then 4 million should only take 12.000 days. That's only about 33 years. Great! And here I was thinking things were not A-OK, silly me!
And ONLY 30 sectarian executions per day last month?! I almost feel like moving there myself, it sounds so nice.
I DO need to keep up. Thank you for showing me the light.
Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.
Us President John Quincy Adams
I think of this quote often as I read these blogs. I hope the present generation of Iraqs will make use of it. As for the younger generation of Iraqs like Mohammed, I think they will.
Mohammed,
Your blog is on the BBC web site.
"Mohammed is a 25 year-old dentist in Baghdad. In the first of two extracts, his experiences seem to support the latest figures suggesting a recent fall in the number of violent deaths in Iraq."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/7069943.stm
Hope you and the family are keeping safe.
Take care of yourself.
Um Ayad
Former Shiite officials can face trial over hospital deaths, an Iraqi judge rules.
No extra commentary necessary.
I just want to appologize for all the sorrow our country has brought on to you and your people. Over here in America support for the war is dwindling and many of us are ready to get out I dont know what your feelings are in us leaving. But I just wanted to appologize for our shitty stuck up government. I wish all of you peacfull days and look forward to the time when I can come visit your country as a tourist
Most of you people are pathetic.
Wake up, and learn the history of what led up to this war.
Saddam violated the 1991 ceasefire agreement. Thus America had every right to invade. Saddam ignored 17 UN resolutions, and Iraq IS a member of the UN. But no, you want to say Saddam was innocent and America is evil and wanted to harm your people and destroy your cities. If America wanted to destroy your cities it would of happened, and most of you would be dead.
What next, will you complain when America does nothing about Iran's nuclear weapons program? Or will you complain if America does something about it? No matter what America does, people like you act like children.
Do you actually believe a country can experience war and not suffer? Do you actually think innocent people do not suffer during war? Perhaps you've been watching too many of America's fictional movies.
If Iraqis did not want to suffer for Saddams actions, they should have removed Saddam from power. But they didn't. And now you will suffer for your government's (Saddams) actions, just like EVERY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD: Germans, Japanese, Italians, etc.
You long for "the good old days", when people other than yourselves were tortured and executed because they didn't want to live under an unelected tyrant like Saddam. You make me want to throw up.
Someday oil will be obsolete, and your part of the world will return to it's natural state, like that of Africa. Perhaps then you will realize what an opportunity your people had, and opportunity they threw away because they were ignorant and lazy.
Marcus: Not only do you need to keep up, you need to read Indigo's sources a little closer (rather than just the first line).
"4 million displaced"
1 million displaced BEFORE 2003.
2.2 million displaced INSIDE Iraq (like moving from Baghdad to Mosul on an temporary extended vacation, to move in with family or friends till the violence subsides}.
"Next, consider the numbers and trend lines for Iraqi civilian deaths. This is a core indicator not only for moral and humanitarian reasons but because protecting Iraq's civilian population is a central goal of Gen. Petraeus' new counter-insurgency strategy. Iraqi civilian deaths are down more than 60 percent since their peak last December, from 3,000 that month to just over 700 in October. That's still too many, of course, but in a nation of 25 million people beset with sectarian violence and terrorism, a two-thirds drop in civilian deaths is a remarkable achievement."
"As with U.S. casualties, the trend line for Iraqi civilian deaths is steadily declining, particularly since the surge offensives aimed at clearing and holding strategic population centers gained momentum this past summer."
"Securing greater Baghdad against terrorist attacks is a surge priority. Results? The incidence of mass-casualty terrorist attacks (truck bombs, car bombs and the like) in Iraq's capital city is down 75 percent in recent months."
Now Marcus, if my math is correct (and the UN numbers are not exaggerated like they sometimes are, e.g. aids), that leaves 800,000. Still a large number, but 1/5 your BS 4 million number.
Anonymous,
"Most of you people are pathetic.
Wake up, and learn the history of what led up to this war."
YOU are pathetic. Some of us here know Iraq's history more than you could ever know.
"Someday oil will be obsolete"
Do you think we don't know that? Is that why America wants it NOW before there is none left?
To quote the words of a well known Iraqi historian. He died in his nineties during the bombing of the first Gulf War.
"It was a black day when they found oil in our country. Now they will never let us live in peace! The fools don't realise water is more precious. We can live without oil, without water we cannot. The future wars will be about water".
Um Ayad
Um Ayad: Do you know how many barrels of oil the US could have bought on the open market for 1 TRILLION dollars??? And saved 4000 American lives in the process.
"The Red Building in Suliamaniya, Iraq, is a legacy of Saddam Hussein's brutal state. It is shattered and dormant it is like an extinct volcano in the middle of the city, reminding everyone that hell once ruled here. This is where the Hussein regime took suspect citizens and held them for years to break their families."
"One place left without any ornamentation or even a placard is the rape room. Off by itself on one end of the prison area is this reinforced concrete structure. One wall is a set of windows, the largest windows in the entire compound, and they are facing the prison block. There is enough room for dozens of guards to watch the proceedings, as well as the husbands or fathers of the victims being abused. When they captured the Red Building in 1991, they found women's underwear inside, but now it is scrupulously clean."
"The Rape Room at the Red Building: The most despicable theatre on Earth."
Tom in Texas said...
"Do you know how many barrels of oil the US could have bought on the open market for 1 TRILLION dollars??? And saved 4000 American lives in the process."
Sure, I know... but then you would not have had your bases in the major oil producing regions so you could have control of the area and there was the problem of oil producing countries selling oil in Euros and not Dollars. Then there is the other matter of U.S. Corporations earning millions out of the war.
U.S. Corporate Contracts in Iraq (Partial List)
Halliburton and Kellogg, Brown and Root: $8 billion (oil, private security)
Bechtel: $680 million (infrastructure)
MCI WorldCom: $30 million (wireless network)
Dyncorp: $50 million (law enforcement)
Flour Corporation: $100 million (construction for army)
Perini Corp: $100 million (construction for army)
Stevedoring Services of American: $4.8 million (manage ports)
Skylink Air and Logistic Support USA: $10.2 million (manage airports)
Louis Berger Group: $4.8 million (harbor cleanup)
Research Triangle Institute: $167 million (set up local governments)
Creative Association Int. Inc.: $62.6 million (revise educational system)
Um Ayad
Tom in Texas,
Here is some more for you:-
Are U.S. Corporations Going to “Win” The Iraq War?
Many of us have been saying since before the war began that corporate interests have taken precedence over those of the Iraqi and American public. Reconstruction—that is, the lack thereof, has become an increasingly recognized cost of the Bush administration’s corporate agenda. Another “big cost,” although one receiving far less attention, may in fact be the “big prize:” Iraq’s oil wealth, which is poised to change hands from the Iraqi public to U.S. oil corporations. And, since saying, “I told you so” is inappropriate during wartime, I’m instead going to suggest that we can repair both of these situations by ending both the U.S. corporate and military occupations of Iraq.
While dozens of U.S. corporations have received contracts for reconstruction work in Iraq, the seven largest contracts went to: Parsons Corporation of Pasadena, CA ($5.3 billion); Fluor Corporation of Aliso Viejo, CA ($3.75 billion); Washington Group International of Boise, ID ($3.1 billion); Shaw Group of Baton Rouge, LA ($3 billion); Bechtel Corporation of San Francisco, CA ($2.8 billion); Perini Corporation of Framingham, MA ($2.5 billion); and Contrack International, Inc. of Arlington, VA ($2.3 billion).
These companies are responsible for virtually all reconstruction in Iraq, including water, electricity, bridges, roads, hospitals, and sewers.
http://www.gregpalast.com/are-us-corporations-going-to-%E2%80%9Cwin%E2%80%9D-the-iraq-war/
Um Ayad
Um Ayad: A very impressive (partial) list which adds up to $9.2 billion (PEANUTS).
$1000 billion - $9.2 billion = $991.8 billion, which would still buy a crapload of oil.
Um Ayad: Another impressive list. And the point being?
That the whole trillion should go for reconstruction and the companies should do it for free?
I'm afraid you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of companies to sign onto that deal.
Your 2 lists add up to $32 billion.
Still peanuts. About $100 per person in the US. I spent that much last night for dinner and a show (for 2).
I'm also ready to spend that much for cruise missiles for Iran.
Thank you Mohammed for writing, I hope you and your wife are safe and doing well.Hey I think we're classmates, I spent 2 years in Dentistry College, University of Baghdad, starting from year 2000...Anyways, thank you for posting photos in your blog especially those ones about our college...
I currently live in Canada, and would love to help if i can, here's my email: get_farah_here@yahoo.com
please stay safe!
Ok, everybody...
Whether we (Iraqis) think that Saddam was better than U.S. led occupation or not...It is our right -as "liberated people"(and that is even common sense too)..
Whether we choose to live in 7th century or not...it is our choice and "democracy" should enable us to make such a decision...
Although I personally DO NOT like Saddam or living in the 7th century but, if I am a free person living in a democratic country I should not be obliged to explain and apologize if I DO.
You cannot argue that "America" has sacrificed a lot for Iraq's democracy and then tell us what we should do or think..(for God's sake we can't even complain!!!)
Iraq rose with or without oil, and it is oil that is causing all this mess!!! We do not need other people to "modernize" us, we have one of the highest percentages of educated people per capita in the whole world! And furthermore, we did not invite the benevolent people who all they care about is our prosperity and freedom.
I also think it is absolutely silly calling this invasion a "war" because superpowers cannot just impose dictators on other countries, make them go hungry for 12 years by nonsensical sanctions and make every possible effort to disarm that country also for 12 years, and then claim that the U.S. is fighting!!! Whom are they exactly fighting?? Iraqi people to whom they want to bring democracy? Or Bin ladin company ltd. who did not have anything to do with iraq until spring 2003? Or just revenge from anything and anybody that happens to share the same religion or ethnicity (or even colour) with the people responsible for 9/11?
This country has been invaded many times, and each time the invaders played the same game,like the shiite-sunni or arab-kurd conflicts
However, eventually iraqis like so many other colonized nations around the world managed to "kick them out" and this occupation is not at all different!!!...
I hope I can live long enough to see Iraq again (truely free!!!)
Cheers
Tom In Texas
"2.2 million displaced INSIDE Iraq (like moving from Baghdad to Mosul on an temporary extended vacation"
Are you fucking kidding me? Vacation? You must be sick! Have you seen pictures from the refugee camps? Hundreds of thousands of people living in tents. And you talk of vacation!?
Tom in Texas is crassly ignorant and perverse. I can't be be bothered to correct all his evil red herrings.
Tom, it is four million displaced civilians since the illegal invasion of Iraq - not "before 2003" - the source of this information is the UN refugee agency. Displaced = fleeing the violence that overwhelmed their neighbourhoods and places of work, and driven from home by kidnapping and death threats towards their loved ones.
If you read the Mosul-based bloggers, you would know that things have got spectacularly worse - eg car bombs - in Mosul since the "surge" reduced the violence in Baghdad. Many families have died; many children have been injured and deeply traumatised by the "75 per cent reduction" in violence in Baghdad that the US is complimenting itself on.
Indigo,
"Tom in Texas is crassly ignorant and perverse. I can't be be bothered to correct all his evil red herrings."
I agree with you. I shouldn't have bothered. He didn't address the other points about the permanent bases or oil being sold in Euros. Nor the fact that instead of paying US companies Iraqis are capable of doing the work themselves as they did after the bombing in 1991 and 1998. That would have been better than lining the pockets of the "Bush Cronies". Who does he think built those buildings and infrastucture they bombed and destroyed!
Pity he didn't choke on his $100 meal, when so many Iraqi children are hungry.
I also agree with the brilliant post of Anonymous who posted at 6:12 AM.
Um Ayad
for who sais that Iraqis are getting back to Baghdad.
It's not because the conditions are much better so they want to come back, but for many reasons like:
1-Money can be finished! if you know that specially when you live in a country that doesn't allow Iraqis to work.
2-The scools and colleges have begun so they have to get back.
3-everyone should know that most iraqis have a strong attachment to their country so they have a strong home sickness.
4-Visas and residancy is a major problem for Iraqis now, specially when no one wants them anymore!
and for the record, I didn't say that people have freedom or liberty at Saddam's time but as Marcus said, you know your limits so don't cross it and you'll be fine.
Another thing, is that there's no political leader that Iraqis might have a hope in, and even if there is one, he will not be given power.because the higher authorities will not give him that, but there is one in my opinion (although many might disagree with me) who is Ayad Alawi, he isn't that good but in my opinion he is the best one among the bunch. At least he is secular.
Also posted this on Zeyad's blog.
The Iraq war has become a disaster that we have chosen to forget
With the media subdued, governments have not been held to account for the biggest political calamity of our time
"All of which makes the achievement of the few who do break through this news blackout all the more remarkable - Ghaith Abdul-Ahad on this paper, and the Guardian's Emmy-winning film made by an Iraqi doctor on his Baghdad hospital, for example. This week a book is published by another: Dahr Jamail was a mountain guide in Alaska in 2003 who began to take an interest in US foreign policy and ended up picking up his backpack and swapping American mountains for Baghdad and Falluja, driven by a fierce moral imperative that "as a US citizen he was complicit in the devastation of Iraq". After more than three years of reporting he has post-traumatic stress disorder, but has not lost his conviction that "if the people of the United States had the real story about what their government has done in Iraq, the occupation would already have ended".
"What is chilling about Jamail's accounts is the routine destructiveness of the US forces; how they demolish nearby homes after a roadside bomb, leave unexploded munitions in the fields of farmers who don't give information, bulldoze orchards. Livelihoods destroyed, families displaced every day, incubating hatred. One of the worst episodes occurred when Jamail's friend was caught by chance at prayer time in a mosque when worshippers were shot dead, with children trapped in the mayhem: a holy place desecrated in a US operation. We may know nothing of such routine details of the prosecution of this war, but these are the stories filling the Arabic media. Across the Muslim world they are taken as irrefutable evidence of the humiliation and persecution of their Islamic faith. We can only pretend we don't understand."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/ S...2205308,00.html
Um Ayad
um ayad & other traitors.
you will not know one minute of peace.
those who welcome the thugs nd rapists in their country, need to accept them.
no peace for traitors,
You are another imbecile who needs ignoring.
Mohammed, is this possibly the raid where your friend was captured? Hopefully he'll be released soon after questioning, if he hasn't been already.
Are there any mechanisms set up for Iraqis to learn about the status of people who've been detained? Like a number to call, or a neighborhood representative to speak with?
Stay safe.
Mohammed,
Sorry to hear about your friend. His family must be going through hell. I hope he is released soon or that you get some news as to where he is.
Keep your head down and stay out of harms way.
Um Ayad
The brave resistance will kill as many Iraqis and blow up as many power plants as possible to defeat the invaders and occupiers.
If I were in your shoes, I'd want the secular candidate. Given that your constitution says the job has to go to a Shiite, it doesn't leave much room for choice. I still don't like that Allawi sold the war to the Brits under false pretenses, while Chalabi worked Bush and Cheney.
And for the anon who wrote about the "brave resistance" blowing up power plants and Iraqis, about all I can say is, are you a friend of barabie's? That's about the most self destructive rant I've read so far on this blog. It isn't about "defeating the invaders and occupiers" anymore. They all would love to leave Iraq and go home. It's about Iraqis getting it together or at least federalizing into regions that can at least get along.
"are you a friend of barabie's?"
LOL, no dude, barabitch hates me and I hate her. I was making fun of the "brave" resistance for mass murdering Iraqis in order to defeat Americans.
46,000 Returned to Iraq Last Month
By LAUREN FRAYER
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Why the US does not need bases in Iraq:
Nuclear-powered super aircraft carriers:
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS George Washington (CVN 73)
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77)
Each carrier is the center of a strike group consisting of 9 ships (1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, 2 helicopter squadren ships, and an explosive disposal ship). Each strike group consists of 17,000 men and 85 aircraft. Being nuclear, the carriers have unlimited range.
I was heartbroken the day my country invaded yours... and I was heartbroken all over again reading your post.
SLAVERY in the U.S.
"After many failed resistances and torturous years under the whip, many slaves began to change their ways. They soon accepted the whole white premise of slavery, believing they were lesser people, that they were meant to be slaves. This turned out to be a somewhat better fate for the slaves themselves, as well as their overseers and masters. Because of their newfound belief system, the slaves started doing their duties much more willingly, without putting up any resistance. In turn, this lessened the beatings and cruelty towards them, as the white overseers saw their new behaviour, so there was not as much need to beat them because they were doing what they were supposed to be doing anyway. This tended to continue through the generations, as the general ritual was that the older generations taught the new generations."
This is Brent again. yeah... the 'friendly American'..
Okay Indigo.. I know, and I agree with you on most of those points. I do not think the U.S. should have invaded Iraq, and I think that it's stupid to put the fate of millions (Americans and Iraqi's) into one, or a dozen people's hands. I do think that part of the reason the government decided to do it was oil, and I'm very ashamed to have to admit to being apart of their nation for that.. Although, w/e that one guy said on here, Saddam violated the UN stuff, yeah yeah.. And he was obviously a very bad man.. I think that's a unanimous agreement. And I think that it's bad that we're still there. I think they have some specific reason they're still there, but I don't necessarily like reading up on the War.. It's depressing, and I can't even vote yet.. (Isn't one of the main problems people other than the U.S.? Like the sniper and guys who took his camera and phone? Will they stop if the U.S. retreats? Just wondering..)
I think the death of civilians is unacceptable in a war that didn't have a clear purpose to begin with.. (it's always unacceptable, but it's a war.. personally I think war should not be taken so lightly either..) (I think you're right, Iraq wasn't involved in 9/11). Bush said he declared war on terror. ... .... Dumbass.. Are we going to kill the Tamil Tigers too? They're terrorists technically... (but from the very little I read about them, they're more 'rebels' from their government.. I'm not saying they're bad people..) anyway..
NO, I do not believe America is friendly because most Americans are insulated from what is done in their name. I think America is friendly because there are good people in America, as everywhere else in the world. Understand man that I'm not defending the war, or the atrocities, or the bullshit that is happening.. I'm defending my country (and only the country and it's people, not it's actions). and if you're going to give me shit about that on THIS site...
I have complete sympathy for Iraq, and I think just about all of the American public is hoping this will end, and whenever the war comes up in a conversation they'll just say 'it wasn't our finest hour', because it isn't.. and I know that. I hate this for the Iraqi people, and I hate this for the American people who are now getting all this shit because of a few men who decided to take things way the fuck further than they should have.
And also, I know this will be hard to accept, and I will completely understand if some of you people (especially living in Iraq) don't want to hear this, but most of the troops we have over there too I really believe are good men. They're just clinging to the hope that what those fucking 'leaders' did was right, and they're just doing what they're told. Trust me, they want to be home.
You don't need to convince me that what's going on is wrong. I know dude, I know.
.... and btw, putting quotes around friendly America was a nice touch.. come on man, I know it's a shitty subject, but try not to be so negative.. at least to other people.
Mohammed, I am very sorry to hear about your friend being detained by the US military.
Time for the "friendly" Americans here to stand up: this dental student detained by the US has rights under international law - right to see a lawyer, right to be either charged with something or released, right not to be beaten up for fun by Blackwater - and under humanitarian law his family should be allowed to know how he is. Pick up the phone to your senator and tell him/her that America's global reputation is already in the pan but s/he light a candle in the darkness.
In practice, I think that the "solution" will turn out to be to bribe someone - a contractor, probably - to find out what happened and to "spring" him. And if s/he does not do this, then look out for karma. This is the freedom and democracy that America has brought to Iraq. American occupation of this sovereign country has made things no better than when Saddam was in power. Rather worse, in some aspects.
iraqis are going back to Baghdad because Syria has closed its border and is only allowing professionals etc to have visas. Yet, look at how the Western media has portrayed it!!! MILLIONS RETURN TO BAGHDAD AS SECURITY IMPROVES!! What bullshit!!
A horrible thought occurs to me. This friend captured by the US military is not Nabil, is it?
Sarah
Mohammed, the life of an Iraqi is valuable...its not tit for tat, what Saddam killed, what Muqtada and Al-Qaeda are killing now, its all wrong wrong wrong. Whether one person killed 1 Iraqi or another person killed 100 Iraqis, it is wrong to see the person who killed 1 Iraqi as 'less bad' than the person who killed 100 Iraqis...they are all bad people and must be eliminated from Iraq.
Maybe life might have been better under Saddam for a privileged few, but you fail to take into account that his regime came at the cost of freedom of expression, freedom of thought, and just about every human right and civil liberty available. I don't blame you that you don't acknowledge these things, because you never had the fortune to experience such things in Iraq before.
You also fail to recognise that 4 million Iraqis left Iraq during Saddam's time. Iraqis like members of your family and that of your wife's with the forged passports...by the way, why did they leave Iraq under Saddam's time?
I'm also horrified that you question the number of those killed in Dujail, we all know what happened there. Mohammed it is a shame, your blog is good but now you are showing signs of sectarianism...remember who you are and your intellect, don't let it slip. You will be doing yourself and your country a great injustice. It will mean you are as bad as that awful college professor who denied that guy the chance to be an Orthodontist.
"Yet, look at how the Western media has portrayed it!!! MILLIONS RETURN TO BAGHDAD AS SECURITY IMPROVES!! What bullshit!!"
The western media is saying that "millions" are returning to Baghdad? Is that what Uruknet is saying?? Or is that just a rumor spread by Arabs? Sounds like ARAB bullshit to me.
"A horrible thought occurs to me. This friend captured by the US military is not Nabil, is it?"
Is Nabil a dental student?
we have an absolutely great democracy in iraq. sarah shud be very proud.
its the democracy of mass graves.
to hell with all of ya
Amazing and very shocking interactive map here, on the BBC web site. It shows the sites of bomb attacks (and numbers killed) but also, dramatically, how far ethnic cleansing within Baghdad was already almost completed by January 2007.
The violence that the Americans said would happen if they left Iraq has happened, on their watch.
Also posted to Healing Iraq blog.
Let's leave Iraq and see what happens.
Mohammed,
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I second everything that Rhus said. If there is a number to call to contact the MNF, I would try that, if they haven't already.
If he was picked up in the raid that Rhus linked to then they may keep him awhile for questioning. That sounds rather serious.
Brent - the friendly American,
Indigo's name is Rachel and she is a British citizen living in London. She has been around since 2003 trolling the comments sections of blogs. You will find that reasoning with her is rather futile as she is very, very anti-American. No other viewpoints are allowed.
Rachel,
Why on earth would you think the person described by Mohammed is Nabil? You know very well his field of study was not dentistry. And last we heard he was in Jordan.
No of course it's not Nabil, Nabil is in Amman.
Sarah,
Thank you because you see my blog worthy and good, and I totally agree with you that killing one or a thousand is the same, they are all bad, but some are worst than others.
Are you saying that we have freedome or liberty now?
I hate AQ and Almahdi Army, can I go in the street and shout "I don't like what you are doing AQ and Mahdi Army?" can I?
And you should know that I'm the last one you can call sectarian, because it's the most hated thing to me, I don't like all who hurts Iraq and Iraqis whether they were Sunni or Shiites, It doesn't matter, and if you could open your eyes more you would see it's a gang war, it has never been about religion or sect, make that clear, it's about money, control and power.
and If i was sectarian how could I hate both the Sunni and Shiite militias who kills Iraqis, all I want to say in simple words, Saddam was bad but his time was much better than now, he was bad but he had good achivments, the simplest is the free education.
No one till this moment in the political scene is better than him or even like him, all of them are worst than him.........I don't know if you got what I mean and I'm not saying this to you only but to anyone who might think of me like you do.
Wish you can go deeper in understanding the real thing.
truth is not so simple all the time.
Mohammed, before 2003 could you go out in the streets and yell "I don't like what you are doing Saddam Hussein"? Could you?
I guess things haven't changed much in Iraq.
Mohammed,
Your present government was not really the peoples' choice.It's more America's choice.If you have a fair election tomorrow, the government would fall like a ton of bricks.
I am not a great fan of Saddam,but at least you don't see innocent civilian dying in the streets of Baghdad almost every day.Who !, do you think brought this calamity to Iraq? It's none other than the bloody American moron in the White House.He has killed more Iraqis than Saddam and he thinks it is justified because Iraqis lives are cheaper than American.
Where are the WMD and the terrorists?Who brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq? Again it is the moron in the White House.There was no Al-Qaeda in Iraq before because Osama hates Saddam and thinks he is unIslamic.
I think the American should fuck-off from Iraq and leave it to the Iraqis to re-build or destroy themselves.
Anonymous at 3:17
"Mohammed, before 2003 could you go out in the streets and yell "I don't like what you are doing Saddam Hussein"?
I know this was a question for Mohammed but I thought I would just give you my opinion.
No, you couldn't. But at least you could go out in safety, you had electricity, you could work the air conditioning to sleep in the heat of the summer, fridges and freezers worked to keep food and drinks fresh. You had clean water, children could go to school safely, you could visit friends, relations, go out to a restaurant or social club, women had more freedom to dress as they liked, you didn't have to queue to buy petrol.... I could go on and on. That is what Mohammed means when he says life was better. He is not saying Saddam was good he clearly states he was a tyrant and a dictator ... just that things were better than now. Saddam has been replaced with something far worse. Now you cannot go out and shout in the streets about the present people ruling Iraq so nothing has changed. Before you knew how to avoid danger, now you don't and the standard and quality of ordinary life has deteriorated. Iraqis did not see any benefit from the so called freedom and democracy only pain and suffering.
Um Ayad
"It's more America's choice."
Actually a man named Iyad Allawi was America's choice. Schmucks love to blame everything on America. America made some terrible mistakes, but we did not choose Maliki or any of the clerics to lead your fucked up country. Perhaps the notion of democracy in Iraq was a mistake.
Um Ayad, do you think the insurgents have prevented reconstruction to take place in order to make life as difficult as possible in the new Iraq? Or is everything America's fault?
it is clear now that the saddamists allied themselves with the salafi types to fight the americans, the shia government in baghdad and any iraqi who was in favor of democracy. the scorched earth policy has back fired, it seems.
I am sorry about your friend and hope his family hears something about him soon.
Thank you Lynnette for the info.
And Indigo,.. Rachel, I didn't mean to come off as angry or anything.. at least at you.. obviously this is a touchy subject.
I'm sorry to hear that you're anti American.. I'm really not a bad person.. and I hope the only Americans you have met haven't been just on this blog, because there does seem to be a lot of them acting like douches on here.. giving the rest of us a bad name...
... btw, I loved London. Out of the small selection of international places I've visited, London was by far my favorite place. I stayed at the Apollo hotel 2 blocks from Queensway station... *sigh*..
Really, I don't know why there is so much negativity on some of these comments. (I'm not talking about you Indigo) Like not just about or from Americans or Iraqis. Some of the stuff I've read on here is just uncalled for. We're all, and I especially want to stress the Iraqis, humans. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has the chance to be good people. Judge people for what they have done, not for their beliefs/nationality/religion/etc. and the average Iraqi does not deserve to be treated like a terrorist. "Don't judge a tree by a few rotten apples". I mean there's bad apples coming out of every nation. American has plenty, as I'm sure so does Britain, Germany, Austria, China, and all the rest of the world. I really got pissed of when I read about Mohammed and his wifes trip to Jordan, when they were denied entry. "Why does everyone treat Iraqis like this? We're not aliens!" He said something like that.. That's what I wanted to know too..
Srry for that rant.. I just wanted to say something about it..
Mohammed, the picture you have of how your town used to look at night looks very beautiful. I'm soo sorry about all the trouble you and your people have had to put up with.. Saddam, terrorism,.... bad American plans or w/e you want to call them.. I'm sure one of these days this will be all over.. You guys will have the 'good old days' back. I know it's easy for me to say, but try to have patience friend. And, I love your blog. It sometimes makes me feel bad that good people like you and your wife have to live in that world when so many people are living here and thinking their lives suck.. I admit to thinking that myself a few times.. We gotta be happy for what we get I guess..
No I couldn't go an yell"I don't like what you are doing" not at Saddam's time and not now,
And that was so simple to understand if you only read the title of the post
Bad things are worse, good things are lost.
and the commenters replied for me, thanks for that.
And to the people who thinks of the people who believe it was better before that war that they are Sadamiests, you are wrong, we love that time not because saddam but because it was better than now,
No one minds if an Iraqi buddist came to Iraq and became a prime minister as long as he loves Iraqis and loyal to iraq and really wants to build the country and stop the violence, make that clear.
We didn't have freedome or democrasy and we still don't have it.
Mohammed, you are a good and patient man, and I admire your persistence in correcting those that would scatter their nonsense and lies here.
Iraq before the invasion was not a nice place to be, by most accounts, but now that it is under Occupation it is unlivable. I really hope that things begin to improve there, and that Iraqis get rid of all the foreigners that have come there in search of plunder and power.
Keep safe.
Perhaps the security situation was better during Saddam's time because the Iraqis who were against Saddam did not blow up marketplaces or police stations.
I think the name Mohammed chose for his blog "Last of Iraqis" is quite telling, as if the Iraqis who remain in Iraq are not true Iraqis. Thank you, Mohammed, for your honesty.
It is time for America to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq. I am very sorry my country invaded yours, Mohammed. It is time to say goodbye and good luck.
American: For better or for worse, withdrawal of troops begins in the middle of Dec. 2007.
America, what's not to hate?
Iraq's new crisis: Moms, dads abandoning kids CNN 9 Nov 2007
The head of Iraq's main humanitarian group said an 18-year-old approached him with a baby suffering from leukemia. The desperate mother said she'd do "anything" for treatment for her child -- and then offered herself up for sex.
A baby with leukaemia - that would be because of the depleted uranium weapons the US used in attacks on civilians in Iraq.
Red Crescent has the monumental task of treating and feeding more than 1.6 million children under the age of 12 who have become homeless in their own country. ... Many of the families are living in areas without basic needs, like water and electricity, and there are no jobs available. "It's a desperate situation," he said. "Children are becoming a liability for both the father and the mother."
The greatest concern is the ripple effect it will have in the long term -- an entire generation lacking basic life skills, surviving with no education, no income and no families.
But America prefers to go on spending billions on manufacturing, selling and using arms, wrecking children's lives, and stoking up the world's contempt for the next 100 years.
America - where greedy and incompetent business interests dictate military and foreign policy, and no one cares. Meanwhile, in the Green Zone, they fill their faces with pizza and beer and have boob jobs (see NIW blog).
*sigh*.. I see what you mean Lynnette.
You talk of America as though it is one person; one who you already know to be an extortionist and murderer/rapist/pervert/evil... The thing is, millions live in America, and you obviously don't know all of them, or even a fraction worth mentioning of them. Nobody cares? I know I do, and more than one other American on here has said they wished we were out of there as well and apologizing for the actions of a leader who most people in America are now ashamed of.
I'm not saying these things don't happen in America, but it's not that much at all. Why judge us all by what a few people do? Don't make me say the tree quote again.. :p
I was one of the many Americans who protested the sanctions and the use of depleted uranium during the first war. It was too late to protest after the fact, I suppose.
Thing is, you can't walk away from sharing responsibility for what your leaders have done. Your leaders act as if they are unaccountable; your military certainly seems to be unaccountable; that leaves you and all your fellow Americans. As your elected leaders, your paid military, don't take responsiblity for their war crimes, it all devolves to the American people to whom they are supposed to be accountable.
You can be sure that, in the long run, Tony Blair is not getting away with his part in the illegal invasion of Iraq. He is already such a has-been, almost forgotten - except for his disastrous decisions about Iraq. It has to be said that his war crimes pale into insignificance alongside those of Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush, Rove, and the people who carried out their orders.
That the American people do not hold their leaders to account does not mean that the world will not hold the American people to account for the destruction of Iraq.
Put simply. We all have to live on this one planet. So the rest of the world has a right to hold the American people to account for what has been done in their name - even if the American people fail to hold their politicians and military to account.
I know that Americans find this hard to understand because most of them didn't personally kill an Iraqi. But that's your problem: as a nation, Americans have a poor understanding of what accountability means. Even now, most Americans believe what Bush and Fox News say about Iraq.
But the world sees it differently. You are all going to be held to account because you let war crimes be committed in your name. You didn't bother to find out what was happening. You voted Bush back into office. Sins both of commission and of omission.
Over a million civilian Iraqis have died - who would not have died otherwise - and over four million are refugees, who would not have been driven from their homes if America had not invaded Iraq without provocation. Saddam was no threat at all to the West; he had even offered to go into exile, if he was paid several billion dollars. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
"Your leaders act as if they are unaccountable; your military certainly seems to be unaccountable; that leaves you and all your fellow Americans."
The same could be said for the Brits, indigo.
Indigo: I read on Daily KOS that Bush has decided to run for a 3rd term.
4 more years...4 more years
c'mon, Indigo, pick up the chant
4 more years.
Indigo: "Saddam was no threat at all to the West; he had even offered to go into exile, if he was paid several billion dollars. "
Saddam coulda gone into exile on his own, with whatever Billions he had stolen from Iraqis:
"Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours." (1)
_
Tom in Texas, November 10, 2007 4:12 AM, Indigo: I read on Daily KOS that Bush has decided to run for a 3rd term.
Which would be a breach of the American Constitution, wouldn't it? Whether or not you know it, you live in a dictatorship. (Look up all the powers that Dubya has arrogated to himself in the last four years.)
Anonymous November 10, 2007 1:35 AM, "Your leaders act as if they are unaccountable; your military certainly seems to be unaccountable; that leaves you and all your fellow Americans."
The same could be said for the Brits, indigo.
Not true - you evidently don't read our press reports; our tv and printed mass media is independent and free in a way that the American mainstream media (MSM) can never be because the US MSM is shackled to its shareholders.
Also, no one in the UK now - bar Tony Blair and a couple of cronies - is making any attempt whatsoever to defend the indefensible: viz, invading a sovereign country that was no threat at all. On the contrary, there is quite a determined process on-going to distance the UK from the consequences of US aggression and war crimes. The UK values Arab and Muslim friendship.
RhusLancia, November 10, 2007 5:07 AM, Saddam coulda gone into exile on his own, with whatever Billions he had stolen from Iraqis:
"Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours." (1)
"... leave Iraq within 48 hours", and then the US invaded a sovereign country and in three years killed more innocent Iraqis than Saddam had managed to kill in the previous 25 years.
Amazing hypocrisy being shown by Americans in Iraqi blog comments.
It is perfectly acceptable to hate evil; and from the point of view of ordinary, real, Iraqis leading blameless lives under Saddam, the US has been the greater evil.
Indigo, you missed the point. Which was: you alluded to the recent revelation of Saddam's offer to go into exile if he could have a billion dollars too. I was just pointing out that "exile" was no secret option to avoid the war that wasn't pursued because Bush's mind was made up. He himself said Saddam & sons should leave Iraq within 48 hours to avoid the war. In that respect, the war was Saddam's choice.
Tom in Texas, November 9, 2007 8:43 PM, For better or for worse, withdrawal of troops begins in the middle of Dec. 2007.
I doubt it. America is not about to leave its 14 vast new military bases in Iraq to the Iraqis.
I was never a Bush fan. I have always voted Democrat. But Bush became my hero when he got on TV and told the world that Saddam and his sons had 48 hours to leave Iraq. I thought "FINALLY someobdy has the balls to stand up to that piece of SHIT and his filthy sons!"
"and then the US invaded a sovereign country and in three years killed more innocent Iraqis than Saddam had managed to kill in the previous 25 years."
Proof please, indigo. The Iraqis murdered by AQI and the "brave" resistance do not count as Iraqis killed by the US, sorry.
indigo, fyi, since 1980, NONE of my relatives and friends has been killed by Americans. MANY have been killed or imprisoned by Baathists and our Arab "brothers" who rushed to "defend" Iraqis against the invaders and occupiers.
Hi Mohammed,
No I'm not saying that you can go and say these things in the streets...unfortunately Iraqis do not have such freedom of expression etc as one would have hoped for in 2003 onwards.
The point is that even if we went back to the life under Saddam, when you compared it to other nations and the way other people lived, Iraqis had a pretty raw deal...neither the situation now nor the situation under Saddam is a way to live. Instead, we as Iraqis should strive to achieve an equal and free society for all.
What we find now is that our politicians, who were democratically elected, are letting us down badly. They are not doing their jobs and writing themselves big cheques. They should be made accountable and something needs to be done about them. I agree with you that Iyad Allawi is the best of a bad bunch.
I think what Iraqis should insist is that all the Iraqi politicians should go and live outside the green/international zone and see how Iraqis are living, maybe then they will make some changes! I object to this exclusive safe area when most Iraqis live in neighbourhoods where there is constant threat of attack, little electricity and water etc etc.
So my point is Mohammed that we should be looking to now and the future and what should be done, rather than harking back to the 'good' old days under Saddam.
All the best,
Sarah
p.s. I'm glad to see that you do not feel that you are sectarian but this is sometimes the vibe from your posts.
Excellent comment by sarah.
Hi Iraqi Mojo,
It's nice to see you here again and I agree with you that it was a good comment.
I totally agree with you in all you have said and that is what I say all the time (if you have read my posts and comments).
I don't know how I have been sectarian!!but I think you got that idea from the way I miss Saddam time, by the way i don't miss Saddam I miss that time.
Anyway it's good that the people finally realized that who they have elected is not functioning well.
Thank you Mohammed. I think it depends on which Iraqis you ask whether their lives were better under Saddam. As bad as the situation is in Iraq today, many Iraqis (especially Shia and Kurds) STILL believe that their lives are better now than they were before 2003. This is the case for many of my relatives. It is just very different for Iraqis who suffered horribly under Saddam. I won't go into details, but you can read my first post if you want to learn more about what happened to us and my relatives. And since 2003, the sectarian war was largely instigated by salafi groups like Al Qaeda and Iraqis who were loyal to Saddam. Am I wrong? The term "sectarian" is thrown around a lot these days, but I don't blame Iraqis for identifying with their sect. If you have time, read this article. Who knows what would have happened had the members of the Iraqi govt and security forces not been attacked like they have been since 2004. I doubt the Mehdi Army would have attacked innocent Sunni Arabs if Shia neighborhoods were not repeatedly bombed to begin with.
I agree with "theorist" above - the security situation was better before 2003 because the Iraqis who were against Saddam's regime did not blow up marketplaces.
I am saddened and embarrassed by the Shia militias' reaction to the bombings of Shia neighborhoods. I wish the stupid Mehdi Army had not killed any Sunni Arabs and escalated the sectarian violence in 2006. How horrible it must be for Iraqis with "Sunni" names to travel in Baghdad. And the imposition of Sharia law on Iraqis is simply backward. I am embarrassed by my "fellow" Shia who do such things.
Insha Allah Iraq will return to the way it was before 1980, the years I remember best, or even better before 1968, which my parents remember fondly. I think that even many Sunni Arabs would agree that Saddam's rule was horrible - even Saddam's relatives (like Abbas al Tikriti's family) would probably agree that the era of Saddam is not something we want to return to.
Thankfully Iraqis will not have to wait long to choose more capable leaders. Mohammed, do you think the system of lists is flawed? It seems unwise that clerics get to choose the Prime Minister. How would you structure the next elections?
Inshalla yiseer khair, Mohammed, and I hope that all of Iraq will see peace and prosperity soon.
Well, Mojo I have read your first post long time ago, and I'm so sorry for your family and the horrible things that they have been through. yes I'm sure your family will think that it's better now, because they have been directly harmed by the reigment, so only getting rid of Saddam is something very good and an achivment for them, but you should know that Saddam was harming Sunni and Shiite all the same, like one of my distant relatives who were killed by Saddam's dogs literally, he painted him with meat sauce and let the hungry dogs eats him alive then he killed his sons, he was a Sunni, what I want to say is that Kurds for sure see it now better and they should because it's really better for them, and Shiites and Sunis who were directly harmed by Saddam would see it better now also and they have the right in that, but the rest (Sunnis and Shiites) don't see it this way, not because they loved Saddam (believe me few does love him) but because it was better than now, I wish things get better in the future so we wouldn't see Saddam's time was good in anything and I totally agree with you that Iraq before 1980 was excellent.
anyway I'm glad that you are ashamed with what the Shiites militias are doing like I'm ashamed in what the Sunnis militias are doing, and I'm glad that I'm surounded by people who hate militias and their crimes in the name of sect and religion.
"Amazing hypocrisy being shown by Americans in Iraqi blog comments."
Hypocrisy is exactly the word that came to my mind, Indigo, when you expressed your "concern" about Nabil...considering the way you tried to coerce money out of him and all.
Bridget
It is so very sad to see so many people suffering such bad situations...my heart hurts for the children and all the people of this terrible war.
I wish it would all end....Peace, love and light to all who are in pain and who suffer at the hands of the jerks who are doing all of this crap.
Two of my closest friends are from the middle east and it hurts my heart to see them crying for their families and loved ones who are suffering and dieing and being taken as prisoners when they have done nothing wrong....
I am so sorry that America/Bush had stepped in and destroyed something that was at least kind of okay to live with. I hope something we do over there will actually bring about good change but I don't see how.
Mohammed thank you for doing this blog and letting us know how things are going there....I wish more Iraq people were able to let their opinions be seen or heard. The media has never really shown what the real story is.
Just for anyone who has just arrived. Bridget's allegation at 11 November 2007 5:12 PM is unfounded, untrue and defamatory.
Unfounded? A few highlights of the whole ugly episode, from Nabils comments:
Indigo said:
OK, my last word on this today. I am upset - not by the prospect of losing 100UKP (which would have bought me food for a month) but - by the rejection of my sincere offer to help Nabil escape from Hell. However, is as the case the world over, you cannot help those who do not really want to be helped - or who think they can be "choosy" and dictate terms. The danger is that, if one is too choosy, one day there are no choices left.
Now I must get on with earning my living and somehow replacing that 100UKP.
Nabil Said:
Indigo,
Its not that I want money from you, its about my future in England, I meant that my parents can not offord my studies in England thats all, I'm not underestimating your genuine offer for help, so without having the ability to offord the fees of my studying in England, I see no point in going through this.
And I'm sorry for your 100UKP I wish I can return it to you.
Thank you once again
Indigo said:
@Nabil, 11:14 PM And I'm sorry for your 100UKP I wish I can return it to you
If you were sincere about that, Nabil, there is a way to return it to me very easily. You could ask Zeyad to send 100UKP (which is about 200 US dollars) from his PayPal account to my PayPal account (see rachel@kittiwake.co.uk) which I use for buying and selling on eBay (my eBay ID is kittiwake2003). I could then fax and then post to Zeyad the ISIS college receipt I was given for the deposit.
Not holding my breath, though.
Indigo said:
TB 1:20 AM You did something noble, but you are now making yourself seem small. The money is gone and I feel certain you will not starve over 100UKP.
I didn't mention reimbursement until Nabil did. I decided to call his bluff because I am not a "mug". (Until persuaded otherwise, I believe he was bluffing when he wrote in this comments section - see 11:14, above - that he wished he could return the 100UKP to me.)
It's about a breach of faith, 100UKP is as good in my pocket as in that of ISIS, and believe it or not to me 100UKP is a "sacrificial" amount. I wish now that I'd given it to a homeless person in a London street, or to a member of my family (one of my brothers has just been diagnosed with leukaemia and may welcome assistance with private medical treatment), instead. It would have done more good that way.
Bridget
Get a life, Bridget.
I find it unbelievable on a blog so heart wrenching and individual that the same forces of left wing, right wing and ignorant of any view but their own see fit to try and pick at scraps to better dress up their own ideology.
All the numbers dragged out don't take away from the fact that this is a tragedy of huge proportions and on the individual level we should care for everyone caught up in this maelstrom. The author has only spoken well of most soldiers he meets and its his unique insight as an actual citizen of Iraq that makes what he says far more worthwhile than the most cynical fool who would call everyone in America implicit in the war or those so blinded by propaganda or their own moral superiority that the whole thing is viewed as a success.
This isn't about us comfortable arm chair theorists in the West its about the life and struggle of a very brave man. I honestly wish I could check these comments without people resorting to simple black and white opinions. Nobody should be called up on their place of birth as a means to push an agenda.
I want to wish you all the best in seeing this disaster through Mohammed and thank you for giving me a personal perspective on your country. It is never a good thing to remain ignorant of others and in the internet age doing so is truly repulsive.
Stay safe,
Matt
Honestly, Rachel, you're the one who went on and on about that 100UKP. When you mentioned Nabil in relation to Mohammed's friend here, that was my first thought as well. That you were still pissed off about it.
Very nice post Matt. I think that's one of the most intelligent posts I've seen on here yet.. (not to dis anyone..)
Indigo,
I'm not walking away from responsibility, I sincerely don't think I'm a part of that responsibility at all. Especially me, at my age, when I can't yet vote. I don't know if I would have voted Bush or not though.. I really didn't like Kerry when Bush was up 2nd term though. He was a proven liar.
If our leaders are acting unaccountable, they are wrong. Of course it was their faults, but I can't say that I would have made a different decision.. That sounds bad, but I'm just saying that, because I don't fully know their reasons. I do know that I would not have invaded Iraq for oil, if that was their secret reason, and I would have tried to be out of there as soon as possible, because statistics say that the killings have gotten worse and worse since 2003. Obviously something isn't working.
If the American's weren't there, would it really be better? It does sound like it, but nobody really knows.. There's so many factions inside Iraq that fight everyone.. I wouldn't know how to handle that, but I hope the way that Bush went was supposed to be the minimum possible casualties..
Anyway, my point is that I do hold our leaders responsible for part of what is happening, and that I do not feel I could have possibly made a difference. And I don't feel the way my parents voted could have possibly changed anything. The rest of the world does NOT have a right to hold each individual American responsible for the war. If our leaders say this was done in the American publics name, don't believe them. The public may have been about 50/50 at first about this, but now for sure probably 80% at least of Americans want out, and our government acts like they don't hear. And probably most of that 20% that is left don't really know what is going on. They just don't want to read up and find out that their country was wrong. And if another president was elected, things might be even worse. Nobody knows. You can't say that these million Iraqis wouldn't have died anyway if Bush wasn't president. I only hope that this next election, we have a better choice of candidates, rather than people like Bush and Kerry to choose between. I hate the "party" system.. I don't give a shit if they're titled as a democrat or republican; what matters is their morals, ideas, integrity, and choices. People who just voted demo because they are one too, or same with republican, are ignorant.
And I'm sorry, I don't know who Tony Blair is. This is really my first in-depth look at this war, and with Mohammed's blog, I see how wrong things are going. And I do truly feel sorry for any Iraqi suffering because of America's "leaders" choices. I can only hope that what they did somehow saved more lives than if they didn't do anything.. Although, I'm sorry to say, that doesn't seem too probable.
Tony Blair was the British Prime Minister that was one of President Bush's biggest supporters of the war in Iraq
Ah. Okay, thank you. I've heard his name before, but haven't bothered to look him up. I hear too many names I don't know to look up each one..
@friendly american, November 12, 2007 6:31 AM, I'm sorry, I don't know who Tony Blair is.
I rest my case. Un-fracking-believable insouciance and indifference.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1700881,00.html">Blair-Bush deal before Iraq war revealed in secret memo Guardian, 3 February 2006
Bush and Blair made secret pact for Iraq war Observer, 4 April 2004
Blair landed book deal with a pledge to tell all on Bush Guardian, 28 October 2007
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Prime Minister Tony Blair, welcome back to the White House. As you know, we've got a close relationship. You tell me what you think. You share with me your perspective -- and you let me know when the microphone is on. ... The White House web site, 28 July 2006
Blair and Bush 'conspired to go to war regardless of United Nations' Independent, 29 January 2006
And Blair will probably go to Hell just for failing to call a cease-fire after Israel attacked Lebanon (he could have saved hundreds of civilian lives), because Bush wanted Israel to do even more damage to Lebanon.
That first link corrected.
Blair-Bush deal before Iraq war revealed in secret memo Guardian, 3 February 2006
@Lynnette In Minnesota, November 12, 2007 12:41 AM, Honestly, Rachel, you're the one who went on and on about that 100UKP. When you mentioned Nabil in relation to Mohammed's friend here, that was my first thought as well. That you were still pissed off about it.
That opportunity is still open to Nabil - and he knows this - he only has to tell me on which date he wants to start at the ISIS college, and they will send another letter to support his student visa application.
Now, tell us, what are you doing to save the lives of Iraqis?
"That opportunity is still open to Nabil - and he knows this - he only has to tell me on which date he wants to start at the ISIS college, and they will send another letter to support his student visa application."
Hmmm, so, as long as he does things YOUR way, (leave his family and friends, abandon his studies, and spend all of his escape fund on 6 months in England studying English) your "help" is available. Otherwise, see if you can "guilt" him into forking over 100 UKP that he needs a hell of a lot more than you do.
Bridget
That's not helping him. That's helping him do what you want him to do.
Bridget
It was through this address http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/7069943.stm that I came to your blog this morning (as indicated by a previous poster).
After reading "Bad things got worst, good things are lost", I read through the thread (although I get a tat saturated by posters arguing with each other, or with you, and become less diligent with my reading through those postings). I understood through my first reading that your nostalgia was fo greater peace and comfort, not Saddam.
Your patience, as witnessed through your responses which always remain respectful... are consistently touching! How some remain insensitive to your plight and go on with their diatribes is... a sad testimony of their humanity, and only serves to make yours shine.
Although I completely believe it is absolutely impossible to "know" what you, and all those in Iraq, are going through -never mind for the rest of your lives- my heart goes out to you. There are no words.
And, yes, this one article certainly impacts one's view of President Bush, Tony Blair's and their respective supporters.
May you keep your courage and faith fortified; even more so in your moments of hopelessness.
Amitié,
Une canadienne
Canadian: That was a well-said comment, and I was about to say hear-hear until I got to the end:
"And, yes, this one article certainly impacts one's view of President Bush, Tony Blair's and their respective supporters."
I can only guess what the gist of that unbiased BBC article said, but you just had to get in a political jab.
tom, that's a French Canadian you responded to. They hate Americans even more than English speaking Canadians!
And I do not consider the BBC article that Une canadienne posted to be completely unbiased. I think all the bloggers they wrote about are Sunni Arabs. You see, tom, the Sunni Arabs of Iraq are apparently the "last" of the "real" Iraqis. Poor, persecuted souls. May God help them redominate Iraq so Iraqis can return to the peace they had under Saddam Hussein, and so the good people of the world can sleep at night knowing that Iraqis are living in peace once again, like they did before 2003.
Indigo --
Go easy on Friendly American. He's just a kid. And his heart is in the right place; he's at least looking for the answers. Most Americans have their heads stuck in the sand. Speaking of which ...
[rhus] "I was just pointing out that "exile" was no secret option to avoid the war that wasn't pursued because Bush's mind was made up. He himself said Saddam & sons should leave Iraq within 48 hours to avoid the war. In that respect, the war was Saddam's choice."
1: Saddam had no guarantee that he would not be hung later for his crimes without a formal deal
2: I give Bush 48 hours to step down as US president. If he doesn't, I'm gonna blow up New York. In that respect, any lives lost will be to Bush's choice. How does that logic work for you?
Bridget --
That attempt to stir up shit with the story of the 100UKP yet again was pathetic. Really, you SHOULD grow up. Or even better, try help out an Iraqi like Indigo did.
If Indigo was really trying to help, why did she ask for her money back??
"That attempt to stir up shit with the story of the 100UKP yet again was pathetic."
She who gets on her holier than thou high horse shall be reminded that we have seen the truth. :)
"Or even better, try help out an Iraqi like Indigo did."
As I think you well know, Bruno, not only have I tried to help out an Iraqi, I have actually done so.
Bridget
"I rest my case. Un-fracking-believable insouciance and indifference."
Hmm.. Good word choice.. I actually had to look 'insouciance' up. After all, I'm only 17 ya' know.
You know what I think is un-fracking-believable? You are being so hard on somebody not even considered an adult yet when they admit to not knowing someone mentioned; because every average 17 year old should of course know who he is, right? Would you have preferred that I lie and state my own uneducated opinion on him? Personally, I think I'm ahead of many people, even being on this site. Have you seen anyone else (that you know of) on here my age or less?
The definition of insouciance was 'cheerful lack of anxiety or concern'. Where in the sentence, "I'm sorry, I don't know who Tony Blair is" did you deduce that I was cheerful? Personally, I think you seem quite cheery about taking out your hatred of America on a teenager, as if he was the one responsible for what is happening in Iraq. You even went so far as to look up many articles, just to point out how abundant information on Tony Blair is. Listen Indigo, you seem like a cool person, and I'm totally jealous of where you live, but I've lost a lot of respect for you. You avoid most of my points, and only attack me with things like what you just did. Please just think over what I've said in previous comments about Americans, and stop taking stuff out on me.
Saying my lack of knowledge on the subject is insouciance is, I'm sorry, ignorant and just another assumption. It would be insouciance if you gave me all of those links after I asked who he was, and I didn't look at them. Oh, yeah, and I'd be cheery when I refused to look..
I look at an rss feed of the latest headlines from the BBC almost everytime I surf the internet, a few times a week. That's actually how I found out about this site. I've never seen Tony Blairs name on one of those headlines. Obviously, it's been on there, so, obviously I missed it. If I would have known one of the few times that I heard his name, some person on a blog would later accuse me of 'insouciance' because I didn't know who he was, I assure you that I would have looked him (and insouciance) up. I'm sorry I've upset you by not knowing one specific name out of all the hundreds I hear a month. That's my bad.
friendly american: yes, I am afraid I do expect 17-year-olds who grew up and were educated in a developed economy to know who the Prime Minister of Britain was for the last 10 years.
U.S. accused of ignoring crisis for 4.5 million displaced Iraqis 13 Nov 2007
Get this - The report is critical of the United States' inability to make good on its resettlement promises. Despite talk of allowing 7,000 Iraqi refugees into the U.S. this year, only 1,608 had been admitted by the end of September and another 450 entered in October. .. the U.S. government has resettled nearly three times that many Iranians this year — 5,481 — even though refugees from Iran share the same stories of religious and political persecution as their Iraqi neighbors
You contradict yourself. You say that you expect me to know who he was, and yet you say most American's in fact are ignoring everything. And if the general public isn't that globally aware, why would a 17 year old in the same country be? So it's not out of the ordinary that I don't know who he is, is it? But I assure you it's not that I was ignoring it that I didn't know who he was, I just simply never was in the position to learn about him when I asked about him in my head. But I'm not saying it's not other (older) American's fault for ignoring many things going on in the world today, more than just the displaced stuff. I admit, I think our nation is not nearly umm... international.. enough. Our school just recently saw some improvements with new language opportunities. I'm now taking Chinese, and Japanese and French are now available too, all online. Before, all we had were German and Spanish.
and in government class today I saw that (as of 1991 anyway.. it's an old book) only about 55% of Americans vote regularly. That's horrible. Americans typically don't really think their vote counts. That might be one of the reasons their not more involved with Iraq and stuff.. They think it doesn't matter what they think anyway?... idk.. It's just a thought..
And btw, you really should try to answer more than just one of my questions and/or points.. You answered one out of like 10 just from my last comment.
Oh, and by saying "you say most American's are in fact ignoring everything..", I know your article didn't say that, but one specific thing American's are 'ignoring', but I've heard you say Americans are clueless before and that's more what I was referring to. I just could see you commenting ONLY on that one fact that that's not what you said. Answer the majority of things in my comment for once. Actually I would rather you answer the comment on Nov. 14 - 5:25 fully, with this last post of mine in mind.
Quote : anonymous a dit...
"tom, that's a French Canadian you responded to. They hate Americans even more than English speaking Canadians!"
Here's my "Une canadienne" response:
Quote (somebody else, but who cares? ) "Now that Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking.
Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website. Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!
Q:I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow?(England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.
Q:Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.
Q:I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto-can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles -about 5 500 km-, take lots of water.
Q:Is it safe to run around in the bushes (forests) in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: What, did your last slave die?
Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.
Q:Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada?(England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female
population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round?(Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA )
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.
Amitié,
Une canadienne :)
I luv Americans... they just make me laugh!!!
Dir Docteur,
First of all, thanks for your blog. My name is Hugo, i m a french freelancer journalist. Currently, i m working on the "al sahwas" and i m very interresting by the story of your district before and after the Sahwas action. Please, contact me.
best regards
take care.
Hugo hayat
0033 6 88 32 21 21
hugo.moas@gmail.com
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