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Snow in Baghdad!!! for the first time in more than 100 years....it was something coooool, we really enjoyed it.....it seems that strange things have no limits in Iraq!!.....I wish this is a sign for the begining of new situation.
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Hot NewsThe past two days were of the bloodiest days, Today the president of the Adhmaiya's awakening council was killed by a suicide bomber with an explosive belt, 13 other people were killed in that explosion, another explosion near the Technology University and many other explosions, Yesterday the president of AlSilaikh awakening counsil was also killed in an explosion also, then there was another explosion which I have seen it by my eyes (from distance), many were injured and many were killed, I saw the police carrying the dead bodies in the back of trucks, there were so many dead bodies, it was a really sad, horrifying and disgusting scene.The security situations is deteriorating rapidly, the violence struck back, the terrorism seems to be revitalized, it seems that AlQaeda is so serious about putting an end to the awakenings, it seems that god doesn't want Iraqis to have a relative peace, I'm so so so so so saaaaaaaaaaad, I don't want Adhamiya to be lost again, I don't want my beloved neighborhood to be dangerous again, I want to be able to go there, walk and shop, is that too much to ask? I really love Adhamiya, I don't want it to be under the control of the terrorists again, I wish the awakening will be able to keep it's control on Adhamiya…..It seems that AlQaeda is willing to put the awakening into a comma.Adhamiya was blocked today….no car can enter into it or get out of it, most of the streets of Baghdad was blocked today because of the numerous explosions, it was such a traffic jam in Baghdad, with great number of ambulances roaming the streets to collect the dead and injured. I don't want to expect what will happen next, I don't want to think about it…..because it's the last thing that I want to witness.
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Today I heard about something that I couldn't find a reason for till this moment, and I believe I won't.
One of my relatives who lives in Saidia and who had to leave their home (which is a very luxurious and rich house) for 6 months now because of the violence and the impossible to live-in conditions of Saidia and who used to visit their home every week or two to check it and be sure that every thing is alright, yesterday they received a call from the only neighbor who still lives in their block, he told them that the US troops with the National guards had broken their house to enter it, he also told them that they should come tomorrow because it's very important that they come, they didn't think anything serious had happened, they though that they have just broken the lock pads or the doors and they should come to re-lock it.
Today's morning they went, they went first to that only neighbor and took him with them, they reached the house and they were shocked, in fact they went crazy, the door was broken, all the windows were broken, when I say all I mean all, every single window was broken, they entered the house and they saw the unbelievable, every single thing in the house was broken, everything, the antiques (so many in their house), the crystal vases and cups, the expensive luxurious furniture ; every thing is broken and destroyed, the closets were completely wrecked, even the kitchen counters were pulled from the wall and thrown on the floor and everything in it is destroyed, even the door handles were twisted and broken although everything inside the house is not locked!!
They were crying and screaming, it's a disaster, I have seen their house before and if I want to estimate the value of their furniture and antiques I would say at least half million dollars at the minimum, they asked the neighbor about what had happened, he told them that yesterday the US troops and the National guards had broken the door and entered the house when they found that there is no one home they started breaking the windows and the furniture for no reason, the neighbor was watching but he couldn't do anything, they destroyed every thing and left the house to search the rest of the houses in the block, the did the same with every empty house, they destroyed the furniture of every empty house.
I don't know why did they do that? I was thinking and looking for a reason why did they do that? But till now I couldn't find any. If they wanted to search, then they could without destroying anything, there was nothing locked!! I don't know why.
I asked them about the conditions there, and about the awakening and their role, they told me that the conditions are miserable, the streets are empty and all the shops are closed, it looks more like an army barracks than a neighborhood. The awakening in Saidia had failed, majority of them were killed and the rest had resigned and escaped, their checkpoints are just empty destroyed spots now as they said, they said that as they were going out of Saidia and they saw a convoy of US tanks moving very fast and destroy everything in front of them, they saw the tanks crushes the cars and destroy the fences of houses for no reason!!!!???
And from another aspect, and about Adhamiya and the situation there; today there was an attack with mortars, four mortars targeted the awakening checkpoints, it seems that AlQaeda is willing to start a war against the awakening as Osama Bin Ladin said in his speech few days ago, when he was so pissed because of the awakening, and he referred to them as traitors, I wonder what will happen next?
Few days ago there was a big problem in Adhamiya, and till this moment no one knows exactly what had exactly happened, I was going to Adhamiya when I saw a car without license plates (Toyota MarkII) stopped by the awakening checkpoint and they were searching it, few hours later I came back near that checkpoint and the car was still there! And there was a large number of national guards and awakening members around it, it was clear that something wrong had happened, at that night the bullets continued for about an hour with sounds of explosions and finally there was the sound of a jet fighter flying in the air (it has been a long time since I heard a jet fighter), then there was silence, I read about what happened in the news papers and asked many people about it too, everyone says something different, but all of them had common points… the car that was stopped was for 3 terrorists, some say they were Iranian, some say two Iranians and an Iraq and some say they were an Afghani, an Iraqi and Iranian; the car contained weapons or explosives, they were arrested by the awakening and the national guards and they were carrying police IDs, they were arrested and no one knows where they were taken, and at that night a police patrol came to Adhamiya and headed to the awakening head quarters and wanted to arrest the awakening members who were responsible for the arrest of the terrorist, of course the awakening didn't allow them to take their members and then there was yelling and fighting and one of the awakening pulled his gun and shot on the pavement and asked them to leave immediately, they moved away a bit and they started shooting at the awakening and the awakening started shooting back at them, then there was more police and more awakening and more fire power of course, until the US troops came in small number but couldn't do anything, then there was a larger US force with air cover and finally the police left and the situation settled.
I should mention that the police is forbidden from entering Adhamiya because majority of them are corrupted and members in criminal militias, and I should also mention that the ministry of anterior replied to formally to this incident that those IDs were forged! And I would like to ask if they were forged how could a large number of police came to rescue the arrested terrorists!
91 comments:
"I don't know why did they do that? I was thinking and looking for a reason why did they do that? But till now I couldn't find any. If they wanted to search, then they could without destroying anything, there was nothing locked!! I don't know why."
Perhaps the American visitors to your blog could enlighten us.
My guess is that it was both envy (many US troops are drawn from very, very poor areas in America, the military recruiters promiset them a college education and a pension if they join the US army) and also perhaps, for some reason, America wants to create permanent Iraqi refugees by making it impossible for people to return home.
America - you suck.
Indigo.
Incorrect. A LOT of US troops come from middle class or wealthy families. You have to pass tests to get in. It's not like the poor run to the Army office asking to be let in for a free meal.
I don't know why this happened...war makes ZERO Sense.Just today we hear that some iraqi soldier shot two of our troops.
How does that help saying America Sucks? It doesnt, either does it help to say YOU suck. Lets just work together to fix the problem so we can get the H out of there and come home where we belong. Mkay? Trust me, we want out just as much as you want us out.. in fact Id say its MORE
"America - you suck."
That's a non-sequitur if I ever saw one.
If indeed the soldiers had no reason for destroying the house, then what they did was completely wrong and despicable. I would be furious if the same thing happened to me, and would be very angry with the people who did it and their commanders who didn't stop them from doing it. I felt ashamed and angry myself when I heard this story, and I'm very very sorry that the military of my country did such a thing. It was wrong.
But to say that America sucks because of the actions of a few of its soldiers is paramount to saying that Islam is evil because of the actions of a few terrorists. Honestly, this line of thinking is no different from the line of thinking in America that drove us to invade Iraq, to commit the abuses at Abu Ghraib, and quite possibly that drove these men to vandalize this house. If we follow this line of thinking, we are allowing ourselves to be swept into a terrible cycle that will only bring more destruction. It is wrong, and there is a strong desire to bring those who committed this crime to justice, but we need to be able to think and see clearly and not reject the good because of the bad.
One thing we can agree on is that the situation is horrible and that we need to change it. I'm sorry that these things are happening at all, whether or not its in the name of my country.
i very fine to died many iraq peaple, and so many children married with usa people, iraq is very stupid conutry, and you will die, usa man. mai to me.
I am sorry this has happened to your relatives, it is not an isolated incident, homes left unattended in Raghba Khatoon were being blown up by the Americans some months ago (Alive in Baghdad video).
As far as the second event, there have been news reports of at least one Iranian in a Toyota (reportedly Basra plates) being picked up around Maktabat Al Sabah a few days ago, according to the same source he and his group were handed over to the Americans after their offers of bribes where refused.
Two US soldiers were shot and killed by an Iraqi soldier who saw them beating a pregnant woman. (There were witnesses who have testified to the fact.)
I would say the luxurious house described here was then destroyed as an act of revenge by US troops for the death of the two soldiers.
This seems to be par for course with American military behaviour.
Why do you call Iraqi Army National Guard Mohammed?
The 6th Iraqi Army Division became Iraqi army in the spring of 2004. And it has now split into 2 divisions, 6th and 11th IAD.
Has anyone requested an investigation on the part of the IA and MND-B? If so, what is the result?
Try to get monetary compensation.
@one-eyed-light, 6 January 2008 8:21 AM
But to say that America sucks because of the actions of a few of its soldiers is paramount
Where have you been since 2003? America sucks because it has been committing international crimes and war crimes in Iraq for the past five years, with complete impunity. Its military are out of control and/or psychotic and on recreational drugs.
I hope that this very brave and noble and heroic Iraqi soldier shooting US soldiers because they were beating a pregnant women is the beginning of a fight-back. Iraq for Iraqis. Iraqis, you are absolutely within your rights to do whatever is necessary to expel the illegal invader and occupier.
In the UK, it is common knowledge that if the US were to invade or declare war on us, the FIRST thing that would happen is that British military personnel on US bases would shoot dead their American colleagues.
To Iraqis, I would say that you must bury your valuables to preserve them from being destroyed by delinquent Americans. (That is what people have done for centuries, bury their precious things until they can return to recover them.)
If the houses are of displaced people as you seem to indicate, perhaps the national police which in Saidiya is just a cover for militias lured the Americans into destroying them.
Saidiya is a mixed, contested area and the armed groups there have been expelling people from the other sect - I´m not sure but I think Saidiya was majority sunni and most of the killing was by shiite militias trying to "conquer" the neighborhood. Thus if the houses of expelled people are destroyed, they can´t come back and the armed group (mahdi army?) step by step gains control of the area. I don´t think the Americans did it on purpose, they don´t seem to know what´s going on and just histerically arrest everybody when a bomb explodes or they receive a tip. In this case the police could have "tipped" them into destroying the houses, as i said if true this would put the police as criminals and americans as criminals too or at least incredibly stupid.
In fact there was a great controversy with the Saidiya awakening and that the central government was trying to undermine it and saying that its members were militias themselves and were displacing shiites, but i lost track on the issue.
By the way Mohammed there´s been a lot of talk also about awakening groups in Dora which are said to have clashed with iraqi army, nobody knows exactly what´s going on but yesterday six bodies were discovered there which is very worrying.
Mohammed I pray that finally iraq´s problems are over and that violence does not reignite, sadly right now the situation with many of the awakening groups seems to be extremely tense, in diala province too.
@dorksaywhat, 6 January 2008 4:19 AM
A LOT of US troops come from middle class or wealthy families. You have to pass tests to get in. It's not like the poor run to the Army office asking to be let in for a free meal.
As a matter of fact, the US military aggressively targets poor, uneducated young people - that usually means young African Americans and Hispanics (as well as young, lower class whites, Asians). The 3 billion dollars/year "Be all you can be" advertising campaign on billboards and tv, the telephone calls to young people's homes asking for them by name in the months just before they turn 17. (No Child Left Behind mandates that the names and contact information of students wishing to receive federal aid for college are given to military recruiters. That is so sinister.) The Bush regime has deliberately cut funding for public schools in America to give more money to corporations, the wealthy and the military - for the poor there is no real alternative to allowing themselves to be preyed on by US military recruiters - but, somehow, there is always money to fuel the illegal American invasion and occupation of Iraq where 58% of US soldiers killed in Iraq were between the ages of 18 and 25.
Mohammed,
I am so sorry to hear about what happened to your relatives home. I have heard of this happening to several people. Others have been in the home when it happened to them. Not only was their home wrecked jewellery, money both dinars and dollars was stolen. One family complained and reported it, they were compensated with some dollars but none of the dinars or jewellery was returned. I think your relatives should complain and ask for compensation.
I agree with Indigo when she wrote "it was both envy and many US troops are drawn fom very, very poor areas in America" They have probably never seen crystal vases, expensive luxury furniture or antiques in their family homes.
dorksaywhat (January 6, 2008 4:19 AM) lies when he writes "A LOT of US troops come from middle class or wealthy families." Those of us have been to the US and know how, who and where they recruit.
Take care of yourself.
Um Ayad
US Deaths in Iraq by Race
(2006 population % in parentheses)
White: Deaths: 74.5% (pop.67.0%)
Hispanic: Deaths: 10.8% ( " 14.9%)
Blacks: Deaths: 9.4% ( " 12.9%)
It should be noted the the "poor" minorities, while making up 27.8% of the population, only make up 20.3% of the US military deaths.
Tom in Texas
American troops tend to come from well educated and affluent backgrounds.
I think that many who don't serve in the military are jealous that GIs are smarter, more affluent and successful than they are. I find this envy to be very ugly.
FYI, for a breakdown of the IA and the ISF in Baghdad, please see:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/oob/index.php
http://www.longwarjournal.org/multimedia/wiring%20diagram%20Baghdad%20Sector.JPG
http://www.longwarjournal.org/multimedia/wiring%20diagram%20Baghdad%20Sector.JPG
Within months, the Lt. Gen. Abud Qanbar’s BOC (Baghdad Operational Command) will assume full control over security from MND-B for all of Baghdad province.
Mohammed, are Baghdadis looking forward to Baghdad PIC (Provincial Iraqi Control)?
Are they confident that the ISF will do a professional, fair, nonsectarian and capable job with security? Do Baghdadis have confidence in Lt. Gen. Abud Qanbar? Do Baghdadis look forward to MND-B (MNC-I soldiers in Baghdad) soldiers pulling back to operational overwatch? Will Lt. Gen Abud Qanbar be able to work with the Awakenings and CLCs effectively, as well as mediate disputes between Awakenings/CLCs and IP/INP?
Did your relative who lives in Saidia file a complaint with MND-B? What was the result of his petition? What is the procedure to file a complaint with the IA (Iraqi Army)? How comfortable are Baghdadis with filing complaints to the IA? How well does the IA deal with complaints?
After PIC, all Baghdadis will have to file petitions for grievance or assistance through the provincial government of Baghdad, provincial IP, INP, or IA.
I won’t comment on the incident in Ninevah because no one knows what happened yet. Indigo, you shouldn’t comment either, until you know the facts. If you do know the facts, please let the rest of us know what they are, along with your sources.
I can't explain what happened to your relatives. The explanation about the militias and the ethnic cleansing makes about as much sense as anything. Going in and smashing up a house would be pointless, unless they had a tip AQI was using the house and they were looking for explosives and such.
Your relatives should seek compensation from anybody they can if the Iraqi forces and US forces were involved.
I'm sorry for their loss. I'm glad they seem to have somewhere else to stay.
I HEARD that it was a UFO from TURKEY and that I should take seriously only the claims made by fat rich kid losers that dont have the guts to get off their asses and actually do something about evil dictators that oppress ungrateful muslims!!
I HEARD that I graduated from seaholm high school in birmingham michigan the wealthiest suburb of detroit aside from bloomfield hills or grosse pointe (but they dont have 'kids", that makes you fat), spent years in the Army and watched all your poor undereducated morons get big and strong and go home better off than any of their coward friends hiding in the dorms where only the brightest abound. riiight. FOAD, your slandering of our troops is laughable.
Before you start throwing all your vicous barbs, could at least get some PROOF?!! Oh, but your opinion is just killing me. Liberals and socialists from around the world DONT LIKE ME!! I'M SOOO CRUSHED!!
WHAT WILL I DO TO GET THEM TO LIKE ME AGAIN?!! HOW WILL I LIVE?!!
s/off
Did the owners of the house go to the local combat outpost and ask why their house was destroyed? I'll bet they'd find that one of their own neighbors had told the soldiers that it was a bomb-making facility or Al Qaeda safe house.
My guess is that they'd prefer to wallow in a cesspool of conspiracy theories. Come to think of it, a blog entry that starts out "Today I heard about something..." is probably just rumor or conspiracy theory itself.
Rachel,
Perhaps the American visitors to your blog could enlighten us.
Certainly, Rachel. I would hazard a guess that there is more to this story than Mohammed has posted here.
We (Americans) broke all the shit in those houses because we can. We're evil bastards, every one of us, and we won't rest until every person on the planet admits to our dominance.
We do what we want Indigo. You can whine about it for the rest of your life but you're just wasting your breath. We're the greatest country in the world in so many ways, and our isolationist past has led us to think of ourselves first.
Talk shit, cry, write a book, we don't care. We're still the world's daddy, and the truth is, we don't have to answer any of your stupid questions.
Why did we do that? Why didn't we do something else? Simple, because we could and we felt like it, end of story.
I do understand the hate though. Jealousy breeds contempt.
Indigo, you claims as laughable and false. The US military does not 'target' young blacks, hispanics, or other minorties.
No Clild Left Behind was the idea of providing a metric test to the scores of our students and to award them and their schools based on improving test scores.
Army recruiters get ASFAB test scores from all public schools and call on those with the best and brightest scores for recruitment.
For example, I got a perfect score on my math section of the ASFAB and the Navy contacted me to work in their nuclear sub division for a 6-8 year commitment.
Try to get your facts straight before you continue to brainwash all of those who will listen to your tripe-filled Anti-American rantings.
Hester, I take that you haven't yet heard about this: Britons richer than Americans BBC 7 Jan 2008
Part of the reason for that will be because the US is throwing a shedload of money that it doesn't have at a war it cannot win, and has been doing so for the past five years.
The UK has been catching up steadily with living standards in the US since 2001 so it is a well established trend rather than simply the result of currency fluctuations. Erm, what happened in 2001 in the US - oh, yes, you elected a chimp as President.
@ joe k,
Anyone can check these things out for themselves, if they have Internet access. You are not in a good position to be objective - you are too dependent on the US military machine - and you live sleep eat and breathe the US military propaganda.
Your boast about working in the Navy's nuclear sub division does not impress me. I have personally known *two* people who work on British nuclear submarines.
Mohammed, I just read your update. This is heart-breaking. Take care of yourself.
Mohammed, "it seems that god doesn't want Iraqis to have a relative peace" - I am sure that God DOES want Iraqis to have peace, the same as He wants for all his creation.
It is only mankind that is vile.
I haven't been able to read all the contents of all the comments(I'm a bit usy preparing for my seminar), but I scanned them fast and I noticed that there are some people who doesn't believe in what I have said..... well, you don't have to, but this is what happened and this is the truth and if you gave me all the whole world I will not go there to take photos(and even if I did that will not prove anything!) and make you beleive me. and I think it has been a long time since I started blogging that is enough to prove my credibility (I write any lie).....and by the way i said that it was by the US troops and the national guards not only the troops.
but I want to tell something:
Lynnette,
I didn't think that you will suspect my credibility! what happened in Abu-Ghraib for example is much worst than this, why did you beleive that? what about black water? I'm not lying here or keep anything, I old the whole truth and by the way I menioned that it wasn't only tomy relatives house, it happened to all the empty houses in their neighborhood, so it's not something personal.
hester,
your comment is the best, and soldiers who thinks like you are the ones who gives the US army bad reputation, thank you for the comment because you made it clear how some people think, how some people makes the group look bad, i think you have the same attitude with the soldiers in Abu-ghraib who tortured the prisoners because they felt like it!!!!
but let me tell you something and this is only for you and who thinks like you.....read history and learn from it.....there is no single nation that got on top and stayed there....there is no such thing and this thing can't happen....like what we say in Arabic "there is no bird that flies and doesn't fall"
Mohammed, after the seminar, please let us know what happened to your relative. Did they file a complaint. What happened? How good of a job does the IA do responding to complaints?
How the IA does is much more important than how the MNF-I does. Combat troops in MNC-I (the operational combat portion of MNF-I) are leaving Iraq soon. Mohammed, all Iraqis are going to have to deal with the MoI/MoD forces and GoI (local, provincial, national) directly for all their problems and challenges soon.
Mohammed, Hester was spoofing. He meant the opposite of what he said.
It is possible that someone who doesn’t like your relatives made a false accusation against them, leading to the IA (and the MNF who came with them) to search the place. If so, it might be dangerous for your relative to find out who this ill wisher was. Your relative might be safer not knowing.
Please let us know if your relative gets compensation. If not, please let all of us know how we can help. (For example, if you would like us to write letters directly to someone.)
My first thought is that the Americans would break into the house because they were tipped off to the fact that it was a safe house for insurgents. They would then smash everything because nice things can be sold for bombs, guns, etc. Does this make sense? Probably not, but this is how Americans think and makes about as much sense as the occupation itself. Stay safe
Mohammed,
I didn't think that you will suspect my credibility!
You did not witness what happened in the neighborhood, Mohammed. I am talking about how the damage was caused. We only have the word of the neighbor. This should be reported to the US authorities and a proper investigation done.
I think Hester was being sarcastic with her comment. The majority of Americans, and that includes our soldiers, do not really feel that way, and I don't believe Hester does either.
Mohammed, these bombings are the last throes of a dying bull...al-qaeda or the islamic state or however you what to name it is finished, that they were lucky enough to cause a few major explosions proves nothing.
Everybody has turned against them, they have zero popular support and also zero support from other militant groups, and i think your feelings are the same as the rest of iraqis, the LAST thing in the world iraqis would want is to have these fanatics again in power.
Islamic State still controls some areas mainly in diala and really, the only thing they need to cause chaos is some safe house of secret location in which they can make car bombs, after they were routed from Ramadi there were many months of car and suicide bombings that sadly killed many people, but as i said that proves nothing about their real power (now Ramadi doesn´t see car bombings). It´s a matter of months that the last takfiris as they´re called get caught or killed.
There are tens of thousands of members of the awakenings and already al-qaeda has been routed from most of the areas it formerly controlled...i would say that the main threat to Iraq´s future is that even when al-Qaeda is destroyed the other factions will not agree among themselves and will fight each other, although they´re less brutal than Islamic State was.
Dr. M.:
I suspect Hester was being sarcastic (or mocking Indigo).
For what purpose would the troops deliberately destroy empty homes? Why? What was the point? Kids in the US do this (and have even made videos), but they were on drugs or are retarded, or both.
I suspect it probably was AQ or a Shia militia. By blaming the troops maybe the owners hoped to get compensated?
Tom in Texas
mohammed i don't wither this was a the fault of US soldiers, whether they did it for envy, or false information or whatever, but when i join the army/navy and if i get shipped to Iraq, i will make a personal point of mine to not do anything like this and try to prevent my comrades to avoid if they can
sincere apologizes if this was not a just act
"In the UK, it is common knowledge that if the US were to invade or declare war on us,"
hahahaha.....For gassing the Welsh, or what?
Bridget
Hi Mohammed,
Anand said that "American troops tend to come from well-educated and affluent backgrounds." This is absolutely false. I was raised in the military and I will tell you with no bullsh*t that regardless of what you may hear about the tests, training, etc., of our illustrious "hero troops" there are thousands of complete morons, idiots, sociopaths, psychopaths, nuts, lunatics, drunks, drug addicts, sexual predators, miscreants, louts, birdbrains and assholes. And those are just the officers.
All the ribbons and medals of American military discipline, whipcord reflexes, dominant willpower, reputation and superior conduct were all blown to sh*t as soon as the first antique was smashed.
There's no excuse for such wanton destruction.
Any phony "hero troops" who excuse or condone this kind of behavior should find another job, preferably off the planet. They don't deserve to serve in the US military.
Lynnette:
"We only have the word of the neighbor. This should be reported to the US authorities and a proper investigation done."
Suuure. Like you would have done that if it were you in their shoes.
Your neighbor who you obviously trust since he helps to look after your house tells you that soldiers from a certain country has broken into your house and now the house is demolished. You would then trust the "authorities" from the same country to conduct a "proper investigation". You'd trust the authorities whose soldiers demolished your home? No fear whatsoever?
How would you approach them, pray tell? Would you just walk up to the nearest checkpoint and say: "you guys ruined my home, I'd like to see your bosses and complain" Well.... You MIGHT find someone who'd listen, on the other hand you MIGHT just as well be hooded and hauled away to Camp Bucca to linger with all the others who await allegation even after years of detention. Would YOU take that risk Lynnette?
I would love to see the U.S. just pullout of Iraq and let them sort out this mess. Either via civil war, 3 different states or let the chips fall as they may. I'm tired of hearing about this war and having young Americans die over in Iraq. I think the real problem in Iraq is there is no unity in the Iraqi people and until there is, there is no end in sight for any of the Iraqi's problems.
Frank in Chicago
BBC Radio 4, Tuesday 8 January 2008
9:00-9:30 GMT; Repeated: Tuesday 8 January 2008 21:30-21:58 GMT
A remarkable interview with a very brave and interesting man, in the series, "Taking a Stand" (in which Fergal Keane talks to people who have taken risks and made sacrifices to stand up for what they believe in).
This week's programme: Dr Saad Eskander, director of Iraq's National Library, explains why he decided to return from exile in Britain in an attempt to preserve his country's rich cultural heritage in the face of extremists and corruption. He describes what it is like to live with the threat of assassination in a city where sectarian gangs have killed thousands.
Listen again link here.
Cross-posted to Healing Iraq.
@Bridget 8 January 8 2008 6:55 AM,
As all the world knows now, under its present criminal administration, America does not need a valid or legal reason to invade any other sovereign country and try to make it into another US state. If, say, a new oil field were discovered in the North Sea, or a diamond mine in the Scottish Highlands, then the UK would be in extreme danger of invasion by the USA.
@Derfel 8 January 8 2008 3:04 AM,
Mohammed, these bombings are the last throes of a dying bull
Ah, now where have I heard that before. Oh, yes, nearly three years ago: Dick Cheney on 30 May 2005,
"The insurgency in Iraq is "in the last throes," Vice President Dick Cheney says"
that they were lucky enough to cause a few major explosions proves nothing
I think it's dreadful, the way you play down the suffering of Iraqis. It has been more than a "few". Thousands of blameless, peace-loving civilians have died.
mark, at January 8, 2008 8:52 AM, has reminded me - there is an investigation underway in the US at the moment into a number of deaths from dehydration of young American women working in the Green Zone: they didn't drink enough to remain adequately hydrated because they were too scared to go to the ladies loos at night, for so many had been "ambushed" on the way to the loo and gang-raped by their own American male colleagues.
If US male co-workers (including soldiers) will attack and violate women from their own country, in the Green Zone, that suggests that they would treat anyone else with even less respect.
American citizens can sign this on-line petition.
No wonder so much of what the USA does in the name of allegedly superior values is held in contempt.
@Frank in Chicago, 8 January 2008 11:33 AM,
I think the real problem in Iraq is there is no unity in the Iraqi people and until there is, there is no end in sight for any of the Iraqi's problems.
You speak from a position of grovelling ignorance. If you had researched this at all, you would soon learn that societies that have just emerged from long years under a dictatorship are extremely vulnerable - to exactly the sort of criminal exploitation and deception and false promises of which America is guilty in Iraq. Then America made things even worse: as communities broke up, what did America do - why, give everyone guns and explosives, of course - while continuing to protect the oil fields.
Go away and read about post-dictator societies.
Mohammed, some of the people here are purposely saying things that are not so. If you look at a who is who of top business leaders and the most successful Americans, they are full of US military veterans. Many of America’s most successful politicians are veterans.
Marcus, you don’t know what happened. Mohammed’s relative should file a petition with MND-B and any Iraqi authorities they feel comfortable reporting to, and request compensation. Even a little compensation is better than none.
Sometimes Iraqi authorities can be more intimidating than GIs—who are more informal and approachable. But Mohammed’s relatives should at least file a petition with the US military.
What other explanation is there but that someone reported a false tip to the Iraqi Army or MNF? Why they did that is uncertain. And it might be dangerous to find out why.
Mohammed, let your readers know how we can help.
Marcus,
How would you approach them, pray tell?
I believe the US has set up a number of ways to contact them with concerns. Since I am not there I can't say how I would do it. And as for the Iraqis, from what I have seen, they have no problem standing up and telling us off if they think we've screwed up.
Rachel,
If, say, a new oil field were discovered in the North Sea, or a diamond mine in the Scottish Highlands, then the UK would be in extreme danger of invasion by the USA.
I see you still haven't taken my advice and gotten psychiatric help yet. *sigh* Nobody ever listens to me.
I'm sure this comment will get lost in the noise.
We're (the USA) to blame for the horrific conditions there, and so it's our responsibility to put it right. I think just pulling out would not only be perceived as cowardly but actually BE cowardly. The fact that we went in there when we shouldn't have and tried to do it on the cheap is NOT moot; it's the reason why the situation is so awful, and Americans are just going to have to take our lumps (both deserved and not) while the mess is cleaned up. If you just forget about root cause you can forget about the solution.
I am infuriated and ashamed any time our troops don't act like good guys. It's a really trying situation for everyone to say the least and it should be no surprise that people on both sides do really terrible things. It doesn't help that there is a complete lack of moral example at the highest command. But knowing this doesn't put people's lives back together or bring back people's loved ones, and I'm sure it doesn't make anyone feel better.
Not merely thousands but tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians have died, and I find it shameful that this fact is not mentioned on a regular basis.
Winning hearts and minds. Not.
A US force has stormed a kindergarten in a Shi'a-dominated district in Baghdad, smashed toys, doors and windows and arrested three of its guards, the Iraqi government said on Tuesday. Independent Online, 8 Jan 2008
US troops raided Kanari kindergarten in the Jamila area of Sadr City in Baghdad where they smashed children's toys, doors, windows and roofs, according to a statement by the media centre of the Iraqi cabinet.
"No evidence was found during the raid on the kindergarten that proves the school's involvement in terrorist acts or that it is used for storing weapons," the statement said.
The reason for the operation was not immediately known.
Children. And US troops armed to the teeth.
Anand says that GIs are "informal and approachable". Tell that to the traumatised children at the kindergarten they raided. Tell that to the pregnant woman beaten by troops before the hero Kaissar shot her aggressors. Free Kaissar.
Marcus,
Your neighbor who you obviously trust since he helps to look after your house tells you...
I can't speak for Mohamed or his family members, but if I was forced to flee from my neighborhood out of fear of being killed, and all but ONE of my neighbors was in the same situation, and moved out of the neighborhood...
I would NOT trust the ONE PERSON who still felt safe living in a deserted neighborhood! Not one bit! Maybe I'm just paranoid, but hey... there's a reason why everyone else left, and he didn't.
I'm not commenting on this story one way or another. I do think Mohamed has credibility, and if it went down the way he describes it's reprehensible and nearly unbelievable conduct by US military personnel. But what Mohamed offers us is third hand information, I can't help but think we aren't getting the whole story here. Just because I believe Mohamed does not mean that I'm prepared to take the word of a former neighbor of his relatives as the truth. Mohamed can if he chooses to, but there's no reason for the rest of us to. I can think of a thousand reasons why the neighbor may have fabricated a story about what really happened. Without even trying very hard. If he wasn't the only witness, I'd have a lot less trouble believing it.
Mark,
Anand said that "American troops tend to come from well-educated and affluent backgrounds." This is absolutely false.
It is false, but what you said is false as well. The US military is a fairly exact cross-section of American society. Most of the people in the military are from middle-class families, as most Americans in general are from middle-class families. Ethnically, the military is slightly more "white" than the population as a whole. Indigo said the stats are freely available online. That's the only true thing I've ever heard her say. I advise anyone who has a real interest in the demographics of the US military, to check for themselves and disregard the nonsensical agenda driven statements by people like Indigo.
I was raised in the military
How nice for you, but the military isn't in the child-rearing business the last time I checked. If one or both of your parents was in the military, that doesn't give you any special insight into the military as far as I'm concerned. It only gives you special insight into the types of people your parents chose to associate with. I served for 6 years on active duty in the US Marines. You know how many times I met the dependents of my fellow Marines? I can count the occasions on one hand. I was in the infantry and there aren't many married people in the infantry, so that probably explains it. So, how much do you know about infantrymen? Ever even met one? More than one?
and I will tell you with no bullsh*t that regardless of what... our illustrious "hero troops"...
I think you just exposed your antipathy towards the military right there, which means the rest of your comments are almost certainly biased bullsh*t despite your denial :P
there are thousands of complete morons, idiots, sociopaths, psychopaths, nuts, lunatics, drunks, drug addicts, sexual predators, miscreants, louts, birdbrains and assholes. And those are just the officers.
Well, I'm sorry that your parents chose those kinds of people to associate with. Perhaps that's why you dislike the military so much. But you have all the same sorts of people living in your neighborhood, and working at your workplace, right now, don't you? What does any of that have to do with social status, family background or education? The biggest scumbag I ever met was the owner of a fairly large company I used to work for. Filthy rich. Had a beautiful wife half his age, and lived in a mansion in a posh part of LA. Sexually harassed the female employees constantly. Alcoholic. Lied to his employees. Cheated his employees. Did the same to his customers. Etc.
On the other hand, the finest human beings I've ever met, I met in the Marines. I won't deny there are some losers in the military, but in my opinion the military has higher quality individuals than the population in general. The military DOES screen people pretty thoroughly. Nobody screens your neighborhood, or your workplace, or your school, for undesirable elements. Do they?
Squeedle
And those 10's of 1000's of innocent Iraqis were killed by who?
I do believe it was by fellow Muslims.
Tom in Texas
@programmer craig, 9 January 2008 5:18 AM,
The biggest scumbag I ever met was the owner of a fairly large company I used to work for. Filthy rich. Had a beautiful wife half his age, and lived in a mansion in a posh part of LA. Sexually harassed the female employees constantly. Alcoholic. Lied to his employees. Cheated his employees. Did the same to his customers. Etc.
You left something out. This scumbag of your acquaintance was never in a position to go to the other side of the world and undermine democracy by bombing, shooting on sight, raping, torturing and raiding innocent men, woman and children.
But the US military are exactly that undisciplined and out of control in Iraq.
@Tom in Texas, 9 January 2008 6:55 AM,
And those 10's of 1000's of innocent Iraqis were killed by who?
I do believe it was by fellow Muslims.
You forgot two things: the Americans started the industrial scale killing in Iraq; and the illegal American occupiers are doing NOTHING to protect civilians in Iraq from death cultists from whatever country.
Mohammed,
Here is a TimesOnline article regarding raids in the neighborhood that you mentioned. If you scroll down through the comments there are a couple that are worth reading(most are the usual rants). One is by a soldier who took part in the raid described in the article(Ryan Harmon) and there are some by the reporter who wrote the article. One other that was rather interesting was by a pathologist(Albert, I believe his name was) who questioned the viability of the blood sample the woman had in her bedroom. Which may in the end be irrelevant since no one mentions that the vials were broken. There was also a comment by an Iraqi, Ali Majid, that expressed the dislike felt by some Iraqis in working with the American forces.
Peace in Iraq and world!! Beijus
" Mohammed, "it seems that god doesn't want Iraqis to have a relative peace" - I am sure that God DOES want Iraqis to have peace, the same as He wants for all his creation.
It is only mankind that is vile."
i think indigo truly said it best there. i pray for your family and friends. its saddening to see all these power players killing the people they announce that they're protecting. i won't explain why these people are doing what they're doing, because its all greek to this sociopath.
We're all the children of the same God, so why can't we fucking act like it?
Indigo,
Tell that to the pregnant woman beaten by troops before the hero Kaissar shot her aggressors. Free Kaissar.
This is low even by your standards. I can't find any unbiased corroboration of that claim. I just did a search, and the only sources fro the claims that those American troops were abusing a pregnant woman come from the gunman's uncle (about half the stories don't even mention the minor detail that Colonel Juboory is the gunman's Uncle, strange isn't it?) and an unidentified woman who phoned in her eyewitness account to some Iraqi reporters.
By the way, Colonel Joboory admits he used to be in the insurgency, and even brags about it, which lends some credibility to the claims the gunman is a former insurgent who had infiltrated the Iraqi Army.
If you can't provide anything more reputable than what I've been able to find, I suggest you shut the hell up. Making false accusations against people is a crime. Also, making false accusations against the dead is disgusting. And aren't you the one, here, claiming the moral high ground?
i think indigo should inform us on the imperial domination history the the U.K. did as well as the USA, just to balance things out
The Last of Iraqis blog is mentioned by one of the commentators on this
Get out of my house, shrieks the Iraqi woman Times blog, "Inside Iraq" (Deborah Haynes), 31 Dec 2007
@Andrew Tuccinardi, 9 January 2008 11:28 PM
i think indigo should inform us on the imperial domination history the the U.K. did as well as the USA, just to balance things out
This oft-repeated (by Americans) canard is easily dealt with. The USA is a nuclear power and can trash another country just because it wants to. It funds another nuclear power, Israel, despite Israel's appalling human rights abuses.
The UK isn't and doesn't and never has.
@programmer craig, 9 January 2008 8:44 PM
Making false accusations against people is a crime.
No it isn't.
I gather that in NONE of the US mainstream media accounts of Kaissar shooting dead a couple of marauding white American thugs is there even one mention of what might have provoked the shooting.
People like programmer craig seem unable to accept that the US troops were beating up a pregnant woman. Hey - have you forgotten Abu Ghraib, or Fallujah - well, the rest of us have not. The whole world knows what atrocities the US military goes in for (and then "punishes" with a teeny little slap on the wrist): it is your great American tradition.
Kaissar was a real patriot who stood up to the illegal invaders. The two abusing American soldiers were merely the first to taste the consequences of their crime.
Soldier Says They Randomly Fired Shots At Iraqis CBS 9 Jan 2007
Pfc. Bruce Bastien Jr. ... said he and another soldier used stolen AK-47 military rifles to shoot at civilians while their unit patrolled Baghdad neighborhoods while they were in Iraq.
"The sound of an AK-47 is very distinctive," the motion quotes Bastien as telling Fort Carson Special Agent Kelly Jameson on Dec. 10. "So if there were any questions when the shooting was heard, Bastien said they could claim they were taking on hostile fire."
Yeah, let's hear it again from the apologists: "just a couple of bad apples", blah blah.
America is trying to put Iraq into "lockdown", just as Israel has locked down Palestine into one immense open prison.
On our news reporting they Gen. Patreus tells us the violence in Iraq is so much better. I wonder if they are really aware of the problems now with the Awakening Council and their ability to protect themselves let alone the neighborhoods. Some here believe the news about Iraq is less in our news in preparation to withdraw more US troops from there. I did see a news clip about the progress in Fallujah in rebuilding and returning to a more normal life there. I often wish you could move there, Mohammed and leave Baghdad behind you. Perhaps they need dentists in Fallujah. They are installing solar powered street lights there, according to the news clip:)
Craig
"The military DOES screen people pretty thoroughly. Nobody screens your neighborhood, or your workplace, or your school, for undesirable elements. Do they?"
Actually .... we do.
[ We're the greatest country in the world in so many ways ]
You are a working class loser
No they haven't filed a complaint till now, and they won't, it's too dangerous to do these things (as they believe) and they don't trust the US troops nor the Iraqi troops, and they haven't gone there till now, they might go next week and I'll ask them to take photos(I wish they will do that) but the sad thing that I can't tell them I'm a blogger or tell anyone else because blogging is very dangerous thing to do in Iraq and you shouldn't tell anyone about it if you want to stay away from troubles, if I could tell them then they would take some photos for sure, the only one who knows me and knows that I'm blogging is my wife.
And to the guy who said that furniture might be sold for weapons, you should know that in Iraq (I think in the rest of the world too) when you want to sell these things they would buy it so cheap from you, all the house might buy them a few AKs, so I don't believe they did it for this reason……as I said it wasn't something personal to them because all the empty houses were destroyed.
And about the guys who think they should report the incident I want to tell them: if such thing happened in USA….how long will take to get a result of your complaint if you did get anything? Imagine how is it in Iraq? And if you were in their shoes would you complaint about an army squad (Iraqi or American) in these terrible security situations? Isn't it possible that they will revenge simply by breaking the house and killing everyone in and say that it was a terrorists' cell? I think it is possible.
Derfel,
I wish that it true, and I hope that too, but don't forget that AlQaeda is supported from other countries.
Tom in Texas,
No the owner is not willing to get compensation and will not file a complaint so how would he get composition? And in Saidia a normal Sunni can't go there how could a Shiite militia get there? It's a mystery why did they do that but I had a thought that the national guards members were corrupted or in a militia and in the army at the same time and they tricked the troops in some way to convince them to destroy the house, who know what might they told them? This is just an idea.
Andrew,
Thank you for your comment, you are a very good soldier.
Anad,
You should know that those guys (my relative) are very rich and they will not take any compensation from any one. That's another reason why they will never file a complaint, because they know who did it will not be punished.
Programmer Craig,
You forgot that some people are so poooooor, and this only neighbor is like this, even this house isn't his, it's for his boss who he works for as a servant (bring him tea and coffee) in his office, he is so poor and have four kids and doesn't have a home, the boss left Iraq and gave him the house to live in , in order to guard it and take care of it and at the same time give him a place to live, the boss also gives him 100$ a month to stay in the house, if you were him what will you do and where will you go?
There are many people like this guy in Baghdad, they are forced to live in extra dangerous areas because either they are so poor or they love their neighborhood so much so they can't just leave it.
Don't forget that there are huge numbers of unemployed Iraqis. And don't forget the business is in a very bad shape in Iraq.
And by the way he is the only one in the block, there are some neighbors in other blocks, who said that too.because this thing happened in some blocks not only my relative's block. But as you said it's still a third hand info. But many info. Are third hand and we believe it, don't you think so?
Lynette,
I haven't read the whole article, but I saw the pictures…. I think they represent the soft part of what happened (as they described to me), so according to this article, I think what I have said was true!!!
US bombers, jets unleash 40,000 pounds of bombs in 10 minutes south of Baghdad AP 10 January 2008
B1 bombers versus civilian insurgents. In farmland. Meet America, Al Qaeda's best recruiting sergeant. The US is still controlling Iraq - that, is still occupying Iraq for its own ends.
I am so angry.
Tell me, America, how many citrus groves and date palm groves have you planted in Iraq? You know, to replace the ones that you bulldozed or bombed. (I hear that the Brits oversaw the planting of a number of large date palm groves in Basra before they left.)
A spokeswoman for U.S. forces in central Iraq, Major Allayne Conway, said it was too soon to say how many people had been killed in the airstrikes, but a damage assessment was under way. Reuters 10 Jan 2008
The Americans didn't make sure the innocent civilians in this Sunni area were out of harm's way first.
Easy to make the "surge" work when that is in fact a polite word for genocide by the illegal invaders and occupiers.
This operation is called "Phantom Phoenix", presumably to suggest that the US intends to make this the first phoenix that does not rise again from the ashes. Well, I've never heard of a phoenix that didn't arise again.
I am so angry - you American troops reading this, you are not Christians, you are ignorant barbarians with pigshit for brains.
Mohammed,
Since you have not read the entire article, but only looked at the pictures, I will assume you have not read the comments. So I will copy the one comment from the soldier who has been involved in some of these raids to give you his side of it.
The pictures shown here do not match the story. The story the reporter is writing on invovles my platoon, too bad none of the pictures here are soldiers in my platoon. The pictures here were taken the day before my platoon entered the women's house at a location where extremely dangerous houses were. The reporter took pictures from a different house, one which was already runn ruffshod by AQI and JAM members using these houses to store weapons and bomb making material to kill and injure local Iraqis and security forces in the area. Yes, my platoon broke 3 doors of the women's house, but that was it. The rest of the house was left as is as we searched. The women was hysterical and demanded we pay her 1 million american dollars for her doors. I asked one million dinars to clarify, and she said no, one million american dollars. Lastly, the following day while this reporter was safely outside saydiyah, an Iraqi soldier was killed from a house borne explosive device along with two american soldiers recieivng concussions from the blast. 5 iraqis were found dead inside. And a women wants a million dollars for 3 wooden doors? She lacks perspective and an honest sense of what is truly going on in her city and with the iraqi people
Posted by: Ryan Harmon | 2 Jan 2008 18:09:08
I post it only to tell you that according to this soldier there has been AQI and JAM activity in this neighborhood. It seems possible the damage in the neighborhood was caused by a combination of their activity and ours (and ISF) in our searches for them.
As the soldier said we will pay reasonable compensation for what we have damaged. It is irrelevant if your relatives are wealthy and don't need to be compensated. If they feel they have a just claim against us, they should file.
Indigo,
The USA is a nuclear power and can trash another country just because it wants to. It funds another nuclear power, Israel, despite Israel's appalling human rights abuses.
The UK isn't and doesn't and never has.
False statement. The UK was the third nuclear power, having tested it's first nuclear weapon in 1952. The UK still had colonies, at that time. The UK itself was responsible for "appalling human rights abuses" at the time it developed nuclear weapons, so the comments about the US supporting Israel (whether Israel is guilty of human rights abuses or not) is irrelevant.
BTW, which of the Arab countries in the middle-east that you prefer to Israel, has a better human rights record than Israel?
Your claim that false accusations are not a criminal act is also false. *Repeating* a false accusation may not be criminal, but accusing dead people (who can't defend themselves) of something they didn't do is certainly immoral. Why don't you tell us why it isn't, miss moral authority?
Hi mohammed,
But many info. Are third hand and we believe it, don't you think so?
I try not to, unless there is supporting evidence. But I misunderstood the situation. I didn't realize he was a caretaker. That certainly reduces his possible motivations for lying. I'd still like to believe there's something we don't know, though. I can't imagine any of my old units in the Marines behaving in that way. But then again, I can't imagine anyone I knew when I was in the military behaving the way the people at Abu Ghraib did, either.
Mohammed,
My post near the top was meant to be sarcastic. America is not all that, and any reasonable American would probably agree. To say our country is the best in the world, and always will be, is to show complete ignorance and a lack of historical knowledge (as you pointed out).
My point (which was missed apparently) was that this site has become one big Anti-American rant. I have a feeling that before too long, it will only be you and indigo here, but then again, maybe thats what you want on your site. No solutions or optimism, just whining and throwing hissy fits like a 4 year old girl.
If you ever get back to being logical, your site will improve dramatically.
Take care, I wish you all the best regardless of anything else.
Hester
I'm starting to doubt you know much about your country indigo, the UK is a nuclear power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_and_the_United_Kingdom
also there all submarine based and can strike anywhere in the world
also i was not talking about nukes, if you actually studied your countries history you would know about the opium wars and the British use of concentration camps in the 2nd Boars wars
next time study a little bit and stop acting like the U.K. is the shining light in the world, there just like any other country, it has its own imperialist goals in there closet
Mohammed .. i won't presume to offer explanations nor arguements, I'm not there living this day to day as you are, though as always Indigo speaks truthfully...Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and your wife...hang in there mate & stay as safe as you can...It is impossible to make sense of the senseless...x
also indigo I notice you make a certain point that the UK doesn't support Israel and never has, well your wrong
ever hear of the Sinai campaign? it was a war Israel had with Egypt and won in 1956, and guess what? Britain supported Israel by bombing Egyptian air bases west of the Suez canal, why you may think? because the Egyptian leader Nasser had nationalized the Canals facilitates and the British didn't like losing its Canal
I suggest you brush up on your history indigo
http://www.adl.org/ISRAEL/Record/sinai.asp
http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1948to1967_sinai_backgd.php
have fun reading indigo about your country, i hoped you learn not all Americans are fools and are tricked by your lies
SNOW IN BAGHDAD!!!
Tom in Texas
Indigo take note:
(AP) Despite the massive size of the airstrikes, Donnelly said that to the military's knowledge, no civilians were killed. That could not immediately be independently confirmed. He added that strikes on three targets were called off because unmanned surveillance planes showed civilians in those areas.
After Thursday's fierce airstrikes, soldiers discovered two houses used to torture kidnap victims and arrested at least 12 suspected insurgents, according to an Iraqi officer.
Tom in Texas
@Andrew Tuccinardi, 11 January 2008 7:51 AM,
also indigo I notice you make a certain point that the UK doesn't support Israel and never has
I didn't say that.
I think also that you are and I using "nuclear power" in two different senses. And I can't be bothered to pursue you on this.
He should file for compensation, Mohammed, and possibly try to find out why that happened from the MNF.
you know indigo, i actually read the articles you posted, did you know no where in them do they mention any civilian deaths, care to tell us how many Iraqi innocents die?
Truth is, England is the architect of many of the ills of the world today. They partitioned India, which led to the creation of Pakistan, they created the artificial country today known as Iraq, and were instrumental in the creation of Israel.
And that's only the beginning.
Off topic, Mohammed, but they reported that there was snow in Baghdad for the first time in 100 years. Was it great to see? The best part about snow in my opinion is that it's so quiet. Even to look at it can be soothing. In the sun it sparkles. Maybe it's a sign from Allah to Iraq that things there should become quiet and peaceful:)
have fun reading indigo about your country
She clearly hasn't lived there long, Andrew. I doubt I could find anyone who grew up in the US that doesn't know Britain is a nuclear power. She may just be a college student attending a British University.
Indigo, where are you from if you don't mind me asking? Please don't bother answering if you are just going to lie about it, though. You're clearly a person who enjoys lying, but letting us know where you grew up isn't too much of an imposition, is it?
i hoped you learn not all Americans are fools and are tricked by your lies
I doubt it. She seems to think that the best way to cover her tracks when she gets caught lying is to tell more lies and frustrate people into submission :O
I'm guessing she's Palestinian.
@programmer craig, 12 January 2008 8:58 AM
Indigo ... I'm guessing she's Palestinian.
ROFL - you couldn't have paid me a greater compliment.
You haven't been reading Iraqi blogs long, have you?
You haven't been reading Iraqi blogs long, have you?
Nope, only about 4 years. I guess I don't frequent the same blogs you do, eh?
What does that have to do with anything? Are you going to get honest with us about your background, or not? Or are you claiming you already have? Because you seem to go to great lengths letting everyone know you are British - which you clearly aren't. I would think even a naturalized immigrant would know more about Britain than you seem to. Either you've got a learning disability (and I have to admit, you seem too articulate for that to be the case) or you aren't the person you claim to be.
Craig,
Indigo used to post as "Rachel a Brit in London". She was born in Africa.
Rachel,
I'm not sure why you took off your homepage. We already know who you are...;)
Mohammed,
It sounds like your relatives had some nasty neighbors.
It also sounds like this neighborhood is part of a larger clearing operation.
"think also that you are and I using "nuclear power" in two different senses. And I can't be bothered to pursue you on this."
how is there anything different by "nuclear power"? you either got nukes or you don't the the fact that someone has 1 nuke is all that is needed to be a nuclear power, there is no going around it
by the way if you can't be bothered to pursue it, then don't mention, period
Hi Lynette,
Indigo used to post as "Rachel a Brit in London".
I used to post as "Craig an American in California" too :D
Sorry, I can't help but be suspicious of somebody who affirms their "identity" with such vigor. Even now that she's just using "Indigo" she mentions that she's "British" in just about every comment. Either she's very insecure about it for some reason, or she's asserting something as fact in hopes that people will take it at face value. The old "if you repeat a lie often enough, people start to believe it" syndrome. Considering how often Indigo says things that are untrue on the blogs, I'm leaning towards believing the latter about her.
She was born in Africa.
Africa is a big place. She could be Libyan. Or Egyptian. Or, a Palestinian whose parents lived in an Arab country in Africa. She could be making the whole "Africa" story up. She seems to be trying to pass herself off as a western leftist, but after displaying so much ignorance of the country she claims as her own (the UK), I'm not believing that at all. Virtually any westerner, of any political persuasion, knows more about Britain than she seems to.
Anyway, I've invested as much time on "Indigo" as I'm willing to. If she wants to lie to everyone to the extent she even misrepresents her own background, that's her business. She wouldn't be the first to abuse the anonymity of the internet to mislead people.
PS-Indigo, I do have one question for you. Is your hate for the United States *really* more important to you than the health and welfare of Iraqis? It seems like all you ever do is exaggerate horror stories, and even make them up when there isn't enough actual bad news coming out of Iraq. This goes back to the basic "morality" question I asked you earlier, which you didn't answer. If an innocent person has been killed as a result of vicious lies you've told on the internet (which wouldn't be surprising), is that justified in your mind? Or do you not even care if it's justified, so long as you get the result you want? This is a basic question of right and wrong, and I'd like an answer out of you on it since you seem to be the one accusing others of immoral conduct.
I don’t think that there is any reason we should doubt mohammed! I mean come on, is this the first crime that US forces have committed in Iraq to really doubt it? It is all over the news ever since they invaded Iraq, they have not only killed many civilians and destroyed houses but also have destroyed Iraqi heritage, libraries, government offices, hospitals, historical places and the list goes on….. You really want to believe what you want to believe, that US troops are innocents of all the crimes and they can never do these things… The world would NEVER EVER forget and forgive the crimes of Abu Gharib, you can clearly see in the pictures how those heartless soldiers were really enjoying the torture which makes them lower than animals!!!
Although I agree with Indigo to a great extend but I do believe that US and Britain both are to be blamed for this war equally, they both will suffer sooner or later from their own deeds that they brought to themselves, it is the law of nature! What goes around comes around!
Both US and Britain have a black history of torturing and abusing other nationalities and people. We all know about British colonization and aggression against the weak nations. And its too early to forgot how American came into existence over the dead bodies of Indians and their destruction… Not to forget the sufferings of black people and how many of them were burned alive and were treated worse than animals and for the longest time they didn’t have their basic human rights… These are the same people who invaded Iraq and support Israeli aggression against weak nations. No doubt, that they are good people in both US and Britain and people who really want the truth and really don’t agree with all the evil their government has done to other nations. But until they really wake up and seek the truth sincerely and work for the peace instead of closing their eyes and saying our people have never done any bad or they will never do any bad and we are the prefect nation, they are only harming themselves and risking the global peace.
“and support Israeli aggression against weak nations.” Don’t ever dare suggest that Arab countries are weak again. You should write “and support Israeli aggression against very powerful and successful nations.”
To even imply that Arab nations are weak, and cannot defeat tiny Israel and its 7 million people (only 70% of which are Jews, with close to 23% being muslim), is the height of anti Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry and racism.
Craig,
*shrug* Anything is possible. Personally, I think she is a little mentally unbalanced. But who knows?
actually the level field is pretty even, nether Israel or any of the Arab nations can defeat each other
look at the wars between the nations and you well see nether side has gotten complete control over the other, though the Israelis have defeated the grab nations in many wars, the Arab nations where never completely defeated to the point of complete loss of the country
I have still not seen a report on possible civilian casualties from the bombing of Arab Jabour last week.
An interesting note - the US military made a video of the celebration of the "calming" of Arab Jabour with their "concerned citizens" on Dec 27, 2007. Then, less than two weeks later, they bomb them with over 40,000 pounds of bombs.
Leads me to think they don't know what they are doing......
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