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It's really strange how things and situations change dramatically and suddenly in Iraq! As I believe this is one of the main causes that any Iraqi can't have a clear plan for the future, no one can make a plan for him self because no one knows how the situations will be the next day.
I have wrote this article two weeks ago and saved it as a draft, and now I smile when I read it, how things have changed! have a look at it.
In a day that appeared very similar to the days before, and after a long time since I took a vow on my self not to go Adhamyia unless it was a matter of life and death because of the situations that deteriorates more and more every day there, specially after Al-Qaida has stopped a doctor's car that I know with his wife, dragged him out and killed him and his wife in the middle of the street in cold blood and no one could do anything for them. After Al-Qaida entered a house of newly wed couple, locked the husband in the bathroom and they raped his wife one after the other and finally killed her while the husband couldn't do anything other than screaming in the bathroom, things were getting really dangerous out there.
At 4 p.m. that day my wife's mobile rung, it was her grandmother who lives in Adhamyia saying that she feels so sick and she is going to die, I couldn't sit there and prevent my fear from saving her life, it's a matter of life and death now, I have to go or I'll never forgive my self for the rest of my life, although it's more like a suicide to go to Adhamyia at that hour.
Adhmyia is considered to be one of the old and respected neighborhoods of Baghdad that lies in its northern part. After the war Adhamyia became one of the main strongholds of Al-Qaida and other Sunni insurgents in Baghdad, so when ever I want to go there I must prepare my self for the shock because I'll witness more destruction and violence than the last time I've seen it, although every time I go there, I take a taxi but this time I had to go in my car because I have to take the grandmother to the hospital and it's impossible to find a taxi there at that time, it'll be great if I found any car in the street at that time which is considered late in Baghdad.
As I reached Antar's square which is the gate of Adhmayia after its wall construction had completed, I was so astonished for the number of cars getting in, the streets are somehow clean! The streets lights are working! I felt some safety which is a forgotten feeling there, I knew something had happened but I didn't know what it was.
I reached the house and took her grandmother to the hospital, she had elevated urea level, so they gave her some medicines and a diet control and I drove her back, it was dark at that time, but still I felt safe although my car was the only one cruising the road, maybe because the conditions in all Baghdad seemed to be a bit better these days, at least that's what I thought at that time till I figured that I was so optimistic because after few days I had to finish some paper work in the ministry of health which is near the forensic medicine building, and due to the massive number of coffins and the people crying their beloved ones that were taken out of there, I realized that things aren't better at all, we just got used to it.
I got back home in one piece and I was so thankful for that but I decided to do a little investigation about what has happened there.
The next day as usual I went to the governmental clinic and after I finished treating all my patients I joined my colleagues in drinking tea and having some conversations, it came to my mind that one of them lives in Adhamyia and seemed to know a lot about what happens in his neighborhood, so I seized the opportunity and asked him about what has changed there? He laughed and said" Haven't you heard about the fliers? They (he meant the insurgents) have published fliers 3 days ago in which they announced they will be good guys" but it seemed that he didn't trust the others, so he immediately changed the subject, later he gave me a vague idea about it but that didn't satisfy me.
Now I was so curious to know the real story and it's time to go there, visit some friends and people I know and make a little search for the truth, I went to an old friend who told me what did those fliers contain and then directed me to our friend who owns a shop in Adhamyia who was supposed to have those fliers but when I asked him to show them to me, he trembled in his speech, apologized and said that he got rid of it "You don't want me to be behind bars for a flier, do you?" he said, he told me exactly what did they contain and from him I went to some other friends and shop owners that I know, all of them were so afraid to show me the fliers but all of what they said was identical.
Al-Qaida and the other Sunni insurgents in general in Adhamyia neighborhood had re-evaluated their behaviors, protocols and style. The have literally turned it upside down.
The bottom line for those fliers is that four armed squads: The Islamic Army, Iraq's Islamic state, Al-Rashideen's Army and Ansar Al-Sunna has joined forces together for the best of the residence of Adhamyia by getting rid of what they called sneaking and embodied members in the resistance who wanted to scar the image of the resistance and Al-Qaida in the people's eye by killing innocents and trying to elevate the level of sectarian violence and for that they want to thank the residents of Adhmayia and Raghiba-Khatoon (beside Adhamyia) for their tolerance to those criminals and their greatly appreciated part in getting rid of them and helping in getting the things to normal in their neighborhood.
They announced that Shiites should feel safe unless they are in a militia, they promised they will clean the streets, fix the street lights, assure the safety of all the shop owners and they strongly encourage them to reopen their shops and they will help them financially and by guarding them so they shouldn't be afraid of anything, they determined the prices for rents as 50,000ID (40$) for the shop and 100,000ID (80$) for the house and finally they gave the green light for the residents to work with the FPS as long as they will not guard the ministry of anterior or the ministry of defense or any of their facilities and who ever do that will greatly regret it (before that it was totally forbidden to join the FPS).
And if I wasn't there and saw it by my own eyes I wouldn't believe it, they have actually started a campaign to clean the streets, they hired kids and teenagers from the neighborhood to do the job. They contracted with electricians from the neighborhood also to fix the street lights, they started painting the shops' façade and fixing some of the damaged ones, I was so happy to see that, they even roamed the streets announcing in speakers that people shouldn't be afraid anymore and asked them to go out to the streets and have a normal life, I was so happy to see all those things, I even saw some families walking in the street and they seemed to enjoy it, some of the closed shops have opened (although few in number) but that's great.
My self and most residents of the neighborhood are still waiting in cautious to see if things will continue like this, they are concerned and afraid about the sudden changes, they fear that it's a trap or something that wouldn't last long, and in another hand we have the confrontations and the arising hatred between the Awakening council and the insurgents that continues till this moment.
I found out that many aren't supporting the Awakening council but I didn't know why because I was deceived by them like the majority, their image is the savers of the civilians and the only ones who put an end to Al-Qaida in Anbar and that they are the hope for the civilians in Baghdad, and I hoped that what happened in Anbar could happen in Baghdad and we get rid of all the armed militias, although this is more like a dream because Baghdad is never like Anbar, it's far more complicated.
The Awakening council started to make some disgraceful deeds; they took violence and terrorism as a method for action, one of my relative neighbor's son who is 9 years old and mentally retarded was kidnapped by the awakening, they took him and tortured him, they wanted confessions from him about who is in Al-Qaida from the people he knows, how could a 9 years old retarded boy knows someone in Al-Qaida?
After hours of torture they let him go with a broken arm and black eyes after they gave up from getting information from a retarded kid who could barley say his name when I visited him, he was in shock and afraid of everyone, he cried hysterically when he saw me because he though that I want to hurt him, poor kid, I really felt so sorry for him and hated them for that. Many stories like this happened they took many innocent civilians just because they suspected they are in Al-Qaida while the truth is they haven't done anything.
I think like many do; that this change in the behavior of Al-Qaida and the Sunni insurgents is not for nothing, and I'm sure everyone agrees with me on that. It's not like that they suddenly found themselves wrong and wicked, and wanted to be good to people, it's far beyond that. After their drastic defeat in Anbar and the strong hits they received in Baghdad added to the fierce competition on the control of neighborhoods and the people's tolerance to them and their disgraceful deeds reached the maximum so they had to do that, it was obligatory to them that they try to regain part of their power which is the support of people and their belief in them, also they were smart enough to figure out the final result that they will be defeated if they don't change, so they decided to keep the control and give up the violence.
Now, as many knows, the Awakening council is the dominant power on Adhamyia, each day after 2 p.m. the sounds of explosions and bullets almost never stops till the early hours of the morning, I haven't gone to Adhamyia since the awakening has taken action because the situation is very tense. but from what I have heard that the members of the awakening are the same of AQ's , they have only changed their name, so it's not that different. the situation is troubled again, it's like they are annoyed if the situations is a bit settled, as from what I have heard that they destroy civilians cars claiming that it is an explosive car, they arrest. torture and kill people claiming that they belong to AQ, I'm not sure about that till now, as soon as I go to Adhamyia, I'll try to find the truth, I'm going to go there very soon.
I wish the situations will settle soon, it's so sad to loose that settlement.and to be honest I'm so confused now, who are the bad guys and who are the good guys, every one says something different, each news channel says a different thing, and as I have always said, if the one wants to know the truth he must seek it by him self, and that's what I'm going to do.
19 comments:
thank you
Like Shakespeare wrote, "to thine own self be true." You can't ever be sure about the motives of all the people around you. I was hoping they were experiencing a peaceful revival in that neighborhood, too. I suppose there will be rival factions, like gang warfare.
The title of your post reminded me of the short poem written in 1937 and called "The Great Day", by the Irish poet, W B Yeats (1865-1939),
Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot!
A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar upon foot.
Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again!
The beggars have changed places, but the lash goes on.
Yeats was being sarcastic when writing "Hurrah".
Be VERRRRRY careful when doing your investigating. But then, you don't need me to tell you that, do you?
Thanks for the post, it was most interesting.
Maybe this is too much to ask for but if you get your hands on a flier can you scan it and post it on the blog with a brief translation or explanation of what the contents are? It would be very interesting to see and analyze the propaganda efforts that these various groups engage in. I'm not sure whether this might be too dangerous or unfeasible for you, but your site is raw/pure news from the streets, and as a result, I presume that many of your readers are very serious information gatherers.
Also, you're right, these groups haven't had a sudden change of heart. Their biggest obstacle is the American military juggernaut. Bringing down levels of violence is the ONLY way to get American troops out. I'm far from the war zone, so I cannot speak with authority, but my instincts tell me that regardless of their supposed change of heart, they need to be rooted out. Otherwise, the violence will spring up again later, and maybe worse than before. There should be no quarter, especially if they are taxing homes and businesses. Who do they think they are? Unrelenting pressure needs to be exerted on these groups until they break up.
Mohammed ... as always your wifes & your safety is paramount...I think you are right to be skeptical, and mistrustful of these sudden changes...you own good instincts have got you this far...
Take care of both of you always
Love Abbey
ps...did you find your friend from the last post...I do hope so, if you've said and i missed it I do apologise (it is hard to read through 142 comments...smile)
Love & prayers
From Iraq the Model:
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Troops and locals stop twenty car bombs from reaching the streets of Baghdad.
Yesterday a joint US-Iraqi force with help from local anti-al-Qaeda awakening fighters in the Adhamiyah district in northeastern Baghdad found and disarmed more than 20 vehicles rigged as VBIEDs in a parking lot.
This is a great find by any standards but the timing makes it all the more significant.
The significance comes not only from the quantity of bombs, cars and other resources that al-Qaeda has been denied the ability to use. It comes from the amount of frustration they have to deal with right now that all these preparations and resources are lost.
What makes me think that this will indeed frustrate them is that al-Qaeda chose to mass this great number of VBIEDs instead of deploying them to the streets one, or a few, at a time fresh from the factory. Two possibilities arise here; they either couldn't find the means and safe routes to deploy the bombs and so they had to wait for more favorable circumstances, which is good news since it means their ability to conduct missions has really been reduced to a great extent.
Or it could mean that they were planning for something big, and I'm more inclined to think that this was the case.
Apparently their cells in Adhamiyah (in my estimation the strongest remaining in the eastern side of Baghdad proper) were planning a spectacular comeback during which a wave of car bombings would have sought to undermine the improvement in security.
A week of several car bombings a day would have been seen as a huge setback following several weeks of great decline in violence.
Fortunately this has been prevented and whatever their plan was, it's vapor now and they will have to start all over again… That's if they don't get caught, killed or kicked out of the neighborhood, which seems to be happening quite often these days!
@ Tom in Texas, November 16, 2007 3:30 AM.
Oh dear genius with four hands, it was for sure vewy vewy intelligent on your part to quote the comical baloney that the two US-paid clowns write at 'Iraq The Minion'.
Our host Mohammed did write, instead:
"the members of the awakening are the same of AQ's , they have only changed their name, so it's not that different. the situation is troubled again, it's like they are annoyed if the situations is a bit settled, as from what I have heard that they destroy civilians cars claiming that it is an explosive car, they arrest, torture and kill people claiming that they belong to AQ".
Only a fool would believe the two scoundrels at 'ITM' rather than Mohammed, don't you think ???
Apart from that, I know that it is difficult for you, but do an attempt and REASON: since not even a cart is able to leave Adhamiyah without being fully searched, what would be the use of making car-bombs there, if you then cannot use them anywhere ???
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Police units involved in Operation Iron Hammer discovered caches containing more than 2,900 liters of nitric acid, a car bomb factory and more than 340 mortar and artillery rounds of various caliber in addition to large quantities of military equipment in the al Jazeera desert, Western Salah ad Din Province, Iraq, Nov. 10.
The caches, discovered by 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, also contained four DSHKA anti-aircraft machine guns with more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 1,000 47mm anti-aircraft rounds, 32 anti-tank mines, detonation cord and small arms with ammunition. Iraqi Police detained 12 men for al-Qaeda related activities.
In addition to arms, the car bomb factory contained seven vehicles, welding equipment and auto parts to reinforce suspensions and heavy duty struts, which enable vehicles to carry increased loads. Two 36,000 gallon capacity fuel tankers used to transport black market fuel were also discovered.
Iraqi volunteers find 5 car bombs (Adhamiyah)
BAGHDAD – Five vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were uncovered in the Al-Rhabi neighborhood of the Adhamiyah District Nov. 13 thanks to reports from Iraqi Security Volunteers.
Members of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment and elements from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division blocked off the Al-Rhabi Gardens in northeast Baghdad to dismantle five car bombs found in a parking lot.
Once isolating positions were established by the U.S. and Iraqi platoons, an explosive ordnance disposal team began investigating several cars, discovering the presence of the explosively rigged vehicles.
Coalition EOD personnel conducted controlled detonations of the five vehicles, rendering the area safe. There were no casualties or collateral damage to the surrounding area.
The Adhamiyah fire department was on site and quickly extinguished the flames after the explosions.
“Today’s successful elimination of these weapons is a result of the ISV, ISF and U.S. working together to make Adhamiyah safer,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of 3-7 Cavalry. “Because these brave people in the ISV decided to stand up against terrorists, we have been able to reduce their effectiveness.
The terrorists can no longer hide in the shadows to torment the good people of Adhamiyah.”
Following the mission, the Adhamiyah Security Volunteers continued to man their checkpoints.
The volunteers are men and women from this Sunni-dominated district who were trained by the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to provide security for critical sites throughout their local neighborhoods.
The ISV operates a liaison cell at the Adhamiyah District Joint Security Station, which also houses elements from the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Army and Soldiers of 3-7 Cavalry.
This cooperative effort has resulted in 14 weapons cache finds and the identification and eventual detainment of 12 suspected extremists by Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces.
Iraqi Police receive tip of car bombs in Kirkuk
KIRKUK, Iraq – Iraqi Police received tips from a local citizen which thwarted insurgent efforts to detonate two car bombs targeting security forces and innocent citizens in Kirkuk city
Police discovered one of the vehicles while responding to a separate attack on an Emergency Services Unit patrol while a second vehicle was discovered after a concerned citizen phoned in a suspicious truck in the neighborhood.
Iraqi police from the Meghdad police station had responded to an improvised explosive device detonation on the ESU patrol, when an officer identified a suspicious vehicle parked in the vicinity. The police called additional ESU forces and expanded their cordon to include the suspect vehicle. The vehicle detonated prior to the arrival of an Iraqi explosive ordnance team, but caused no casualties or damage.
Police were later alerted by a citizen’s phone call through the Provincial Joint Coordination Center of a second car bomb north of the first incident. Both police and an Iraqi explosive ordnance team responded and confirmed the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The Iraqi team conducted a controlled detonation of the vehicle resulting in no casualties and minor damage to a nearby store.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment were alerted after the local Iraqi Security Forces had managed both sites.
“We’ve seen a growing capability from the police to coordinate among their own units to deal with these threats,” said Capt. Sean Lucas, commander for C Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry. “The cooperation between the Iraqi police, ESU, and EOD demonstrates not only a concern for the security of the people, but their ability to provide that security.”
U.S.-Iraqi forces found weapons depot in Baghdad
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Thursday , 15 /11 /2007 Time 8:14:01
Baghdad, Nov 15, (VOI) - Joint Iraqi-U.S. forces found on Thursday morning a weapons cache in al-Zaafaraniya region in southern Baghdad, a police source said.
"A joint force of Iraqi-U.S. personnel waged at dawn a crackdown operation in a garden, north of al-Zaafaraniya region, where a weapons and ammunition depot were uncovered," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) under condition of anonymity.
"The depot contains 60 cannonballs, a group of missiles, and various kinds of bombs," he added.
"The forces arrested three suspected gunmen near the site," the source also said, adding no more details.
7 car bombs found in Adhamiya- official
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 13 /11 /2007 Time 6:29:04
Baghdad, Nov 13, (VOI) – A joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol found seven car bombs in Baghdad's northern area of Adhamiya, an official spokesman for the Baghdad security plan said on Tuesday.
"A tip from Iraqi residents led the joint patrol to find seven explosives-rigged cars in al-Rahbi garden in Adhamiya's Ishreen street," Brigadier Qasim Ata told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Massive raids are underway in the area to track down gunmen, Ata added.
Ata did not provide further details.
Yesterday, concrete barricades were removed off the streets of Baghdad's Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya following armed clashes that broke out on Saturday between Iraqi army forces and local Awakening Council members on the one hand and al-Qaeda militants on the other.
Italian: You need to expand
your news gathering beyond kos & the DU-mb, or the BBC and CNN.
(1) Maybe M. or O. exaggerated (5? 7? 20?) or maybe he meant a nation wide total of 20.
(2) Iraq / Baghdad is rampant with rumors - he said that b. said that his bro said...
Have you heard about the military's x-ray sunglasses?
Or their chill pills?
So it's possible that even the fliers are a rumor - I think the good doctor M. said that no one would show him one.
(3) Have you met Indigo? I think you 2 might hit it off. 2 deluded souls who forgot to take their meds.
(4)What I do for a living requires me read dozens of news sources daily. As I mentioned to another troll/snark recently: "do try to keep up if you intend to post obnoxious comments."
Italian: AQ must be fools if they thought they could get 5 or 7 car bombs through a check point - or maybe their plan was to explode them at the check points or somewhere else in the neighborhood. Please try using some imagination.
Mohammed, thanks again for a very interesting post. It is always insightful to see another perspective on the goings-on in Baghdad unfiltered through our media.
It is a good reminder as well that the issues that we out west often Blog about are often unimportant in the big scheme of things. Life for us goes on largely uninterrupted regardless of what the government or interest groups are doing at the time.
I look forward to your next post, and good luck with your investigations.
11 days... I am glad you are well. I have been wondering since, how you and your wife are. Reading through all of those one hundred something posts, I had noted that you responded rather diligently. Nearing the end, I thought, as I wrote, did something happen to you, as you had not posted in a while? But you return with encouraging news, but still much doubt. You do not mention your very close friend... no news?
Kindly,
Une canadienne
I'm sorry your country is filled with physcotics.
Hello :) I thought maybe I can give you some information, hopefully without getting myself in trouble. Al Sahwah, if it is the same group, started fighting Al Qaeda in Al Fahdl. It started about 10 days before Ramadan ended. By the time Ramadan was over Al Sahwah won complete control of the Sunni areas of Al Fahdl. Soon after that the citizens living in Al Muthanabi area asked that we get Al Sahwa to patrol their streets as well. Ofcourse we agreed and made the coordination to prevent friendly fire. The American comander from Adhamiya had a meeting with the leader of Al Sahwa in Fadhl and soon after that they were in Adhamiyah. I dont know about Adhamiyah but I know in Al Fahdl, all the members were soldiers of the old regime. They are very good and highly organized. They wear the red checkered head dress and Camo pants. They don't like Americans... but they have accepted our help. Hopefully we can leave before the tension between us reaches a boiling point and violence starts again. Peace be with you.
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