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On March 20th, 2003 The siren woke me up, it's the war, I hate that sound more than anything else, I ran downstairs from my bedroom to see what's on TV, we had a satellite receiver at that time although it was illegal to have one.
My family and I were switching channels when the first missiles hit Baghdad, I saw it on TV at the same moment, it was horrifying and heart breaking, it's true that we have been throw two wars before, it's true that I lived all my life except for two years in wars or in its consequences but this one was different, it was different before it even started, this time Iraq will either be occupied or will endure many years
in wars and then it will be occupied…it was common sense that it's a lost case, The Iraqi army is so exhausted, old army supplies, no Iraqi air force to resist the supreme US air force, the army and intelligence is infiltrated by spies and corrupted members, most of the soldiers have no faith in their leader or the government as a whole and most important of all it was the strongest armies in the world against an exhausted desperate but brave Iraqi army.
But still there was something inside me wishing for a miracle to happen.
The air raids were at night, so during the day life it was somehow normal, especially during the
first days. Like I said Iraqis are used to wars and they know how to handle it. We; like most Iraqis made a well, stored supplies and fuel. During the early days of war I used to go out, visit my friends to see if they have survived the night and we would stay together till dusk, that's when I had to get back home and the shop owners start to close their shops.
We managed the situation well until Baghdad's electricity was attacked, and with it the fuel became scarce and that was the beginning of the hard days…the attacks increased and it was in the morning also, that's when we felt that it was a really f
ierce war.
Many of my friends and relatives left Baghdad to Diyala or Anbar but we decided to stay home, if we are going to die then it should be in our home.
I really admired the bravery of the Iraqi army in Um Kasir, Basra, the southern Iraq and Baghdad's airport. I was so proud of them and I wished this will be the case in all Iraq, but unfortunately there were traitors holding high ranks like Saif AlRawi who gave Baghdad on a plate of gold.
At the noon of April 9th, 2003 my family and a distant relative's family (who were a professor) were sitting in our living room watching news as always…and we saw the most shocking, non-imaginable scene on TV, it was Alfirdos square and the US troops surrounding it with Saddam's statue in the middle, I remember when the US soldier covered the statue's head with the American flag, I felt great anger, not because I love Saddam but because this is the Iraqi president and they are making fun of him, and humiliating us, they could just bring down the statue and the message will be clear, did they have to do that, at this moment I turned to the professor who I really admire and saw him crying with an angry red face, I was shocked to see him like that, I looked at my family and they were so grim and angry, then I saw my father's eyes filled with tears, he always didn't like Saddam, his regiment or their acts, he was always talking bad about them and how they are destroying Iraq, but it's not about Saddam anymore,
It's Iraq…It's our country, it's the country my family left Europe to return to and help building it despite all the great chances offered to them in Europe…it's the country he dedicated his life to serve (by the way my family is far away from politics and they never interfered in it).
At that day I couldn't sleep, I stayed awake thinking of what might happen to Iraq, to Iraqis and to us, I spent the night thinking of what will it be, but I never imagined it would be like this, I never did.
At that time I though the US government will keep its word, I though that Iraq will be a free, democratic and luxurious country, or in the worst cases it would be better than before, but I was sad because we will be an occupied country also, how naïve I was!
At the dawn the most intense and sever confrontation happened near my house, the bullets were coming from everywhere, there was no part of a second without the sound of at least 20 bullets, it continued like this for more than an hour with explosions and helicopters roaming over the house, it was like a front line battle.
In the morning I heard my neighbor saying that the US troops are in our street and every one should carry a white flag if he wants to go out, I was so curious so I made a white flag and got in the car with my cousin and I saw them, it was something really strange, it was the first time I face an American soldier, I saw the tanks; they are so big and scary, I pitied the Iraqi tanks, how could they stand in front of these moderate war machines, "it was a lost case from the beginning" I said to my self.
Later the resistance started in Adhamiya, we heard the rumors that the American tanks have a magnetic filed and that's why the anti-tank missiles (RPG) can't hit them and that the resistance in Adhamiya have painted them with mud and now they can hit the tanks…it was a resistance at that time but gradually it turned to something else…it turned gradually to terrorism.
The looting started and I wished I can kill every single looter…I remember the US soldiers standing there and doing nothing to them, I saw the Iraqi museum being looted; the US troops should have done something it's not only the Iraqi history it's an important part of the human history and it's being looted in front of them, I saw the banks being looted and the fire exchange between the looters and the US soldiers are doing nothing and that was my first disappointment, I remember when I was standing in front of my house and the looters pass by me and I spit when every one of them pass by me, I wanted to hit them as hard as I can, I remember when some guy passed by me and was carrying a chair!! He stole a chair! A normal one, I couldn't handle my self and I asked him" why do you do that?" and he replied "I don't know, it just came to me"!!!!
They were a disgrace on Iraq and Iraqis, Iraqis were called Ali-baba because of those thugs, I was so ashamed and angry. Then burning government buildings followed looting, I don't know why did they burn the buildings? Were they members of the former regiment? Wouldn't the new regiment use it? We heard many rumors about who did it and why but there was nothing certain.
Then day after day the situation was deteriorating, every new day is worst than the one before, it started with Iraqis killed by explosions and road side bombs then the killing of high ranked members in the former army then it reached the kidnapping and asking for ransom and then the kidnappers started killing their kidnapped even if the ransom was paid later there was the fierce campaign to kill, threaten or displace doctors, dentists, scientists, professors and merchants in fact it was a campaign to get rid of any one who is capable of rebuilding Iraq, it was a campaign to kill Iraq's brain.
Then there were the various attempts to start the civil war and ignite the sectarian violence which was going from failure to another by the patriotic Iraqis, until that dark day which I'll never be able to forget as long as I lived, when the holy shrines of the two Askari Imams in Samaraa was attacked and it was the perfect opportunity for the seekers of Iraq's destruction to start acting quickly to ignite the sectarian hatred and violence, I remember when the mosques were burned and Imams were killed, I remember that ugly day, the streets were empty and everybody stayed in their homes while the militias were destroying and killing, spreading fear and hatred and eating Iraq alive.
From that day on the sectarian violence escalated in a frightening way it was like cancer taking over Iraq's body, harvesting innocent souls, feeding from fear and hatred, making life even more difficult, leaving more than 1,400 widow women without a supporter, forcing millions to leave
their houses and their neighborhoods and forcing more millions to flee the country and tolerating the humiliation they get in the countries they escaped to just to be alive.
During these 5 years I have experienced everything, two of my relatives kidnapped, 6 of the people I know closely including relatives and close friends have been killed, I can't count the number of people that I know who were murdered, my niece who is 7 years old girl died in an explosion, most of my friends and relatives have left the country, I watched my teachers and college professors being killed or kidnapped one after the other, I have been near an explosion countless times, I have witnessed uncountable number of dead bodies and crying families taking their dead beloved from the forensic medicine building, I have seen 3 men at different times being shot to death in front of me, I have been through militias checkpoints several times, Me and my wife have been targeted by a national guard sniper for a reason I didn't know till this moment, I have seen dead bodies left on the side walk and no dares to bury them, my family have been threatened and forced to leave the country and I joined them and stayed in Jordan/Amman for about a year and then had to return back despite the horrible situation and the extra danger on me being threatened, but what can I do, I tried desperately to find a job there but like most of Iraqis, I couldn't. I'm just one Iraqi and I have such loses, imagine 28 million one like me, how much looses does the Iraqis have?
I remember when I returned to Baghdad in the beginning of 2007, I remember when I passed by the first neighborhood in Baghdad when one is coming from Jordan by car which is Al-Jami`a , when I saw the abandoned streets, the destroyed buildings and the exploded car bodies laying in the street without a single human being walking there, I couldn't handle my self, I burst in tears and cried, I cried for Iraq, I cried for my beautiful Baghdad, I cried because I have never imagined that it will be like this, I cried because Iraq is lost, I cried because Iraq is not for real Iraqis anymore, Iraq has been raped by everyone, everyone had a role in raping Iraq, Iraq was like a cake and everyone wants his share not caring what will happen when he press his knife to split his share.
I continued crying as I passed by every neighborhood remembering how it was and how it is now, and like that wasn't enough!! when I reached a checkpoint for the police they stopped us, they wanted to take me (kidnap me) but thanks to my wife's tears and all the money I have in my wallet, they let me go, it was so horrifying, I reached home and never get out doors for a whole week.
5 years have passed since the invasion of Iraq, 5 years of blood and tears, 5 years of horror, death, grief and sorrow.
After those years Millions of Iraqis are displaced inside Iraq or are refugees in other countries, millions have died for various causes, widows without a supporter, children without parents, houses being taken over and people without a place to sleep, it is one of the worst disasters in the history; it is a disgrace on humanity.
After those years Iraqis became like a lethal disease, no country lets them in, Iraqis are rejected everywhere, Iraq became like a torturing prison for those who didn't leave earlier, even the neighboring countries are rejecting the Iraqis, for an example Jordan which was build by Iraqis and Iraqi money…they reject Iraqis, humiliate them, detain them for at least a day in the airport prison and return them back, like what happened to me and my wife twice, we just wanted to see our families and relax there.
And I think now is the time for numbers to speak and I should make it clear that these numbers are much less than reality. I took most of the statistics from here.
My family and I were switching channels when the first missiles hit Baghdad, I saw it on TV at the same moment, it was horrifying and heart breaking, it's true that we have been throw two wars before, it's true that I lived all my life except for two years in wars or in its consequences but this one was different, it was different before it even started, this time Iraq will either be occupied or will endure many years
in wars and then it will be occupied…it was common sense that it's a lost case, The Iraqi army is so exhausted, old army supplies, no Iraqi air force to resist the supreme US air force, the army and intelligence is infiltrated by spies and corrupted members, most of the soldiers have no faith in their leader or the government as a whole and most important of all it was the strongest armies in the world against an exhausted desperate but brave Iraqi army.But still there was something inside me wishing for a miracle to happen.
The air raids were at night, so during the day life it was somehow normal, especially during the
first days. Like I said Iraqis are used to wars and they know how to handle it. We; like most Iraqis made a well, stored supplies and fuel. During the early days of war I used to go out, visit my friends to see if they have survived the night and we would stay together till dusk, that's when I had to get back home and the shop owners start to close their shops.We managed the situation well until Baghdad's electricity was attacked, and with it the fuel became scarce and that was the beginning of the hard days…the attacks increased and it was in the morning also, that's when we felt that it was a really f
ierce war.Many of my friends and relatives left Baghdad to Diyala or Anbar but we decided to stay home, if we are going to die then it should be in our home.
I really admired the bravery of the Iraqi army in Um Kasir, Basra, the southern Iraq and Baghdad's airport. I was so proud of them and I wished this will be the case in all Iraq, but unfortunately there were traitors holding high ranks like Saif AlRawi who gave Baghdad on a plate of gold.
At the noon of April 9th, 2003 my family and a distant relative's family (who were a professor) were sitting in our living room watching news as always…and we saw the most shocking, non-imaginable scene on TV, it was Alfirdos square and the US troops surrounding it with Saddam's statue in the middle, I remember when the US soldier covered the statue's head with the American flag, I felt great anger, not because I love Saddam but because this is the Iraqi president and they are making fun of him, and humiliating us, they could just bring down the statue and the message will be clear, did they have to do that, at this moment I turned to the professor who I really admire and saw him crying with an angry red face, I was shocked to see him like that, I looked at my family and they were so grim and angry, then I saw my father's eyes filled with tears, he always didn't like Saddam, his regiment or their acts, he was always talking bad about them and how they are destroying Iraq, but it's not about Saddam anymore,
It's Iraq…It's our country, it's the country my family left Europe to return to and help building it despite all the great chances offered to them in Europe…it's the country he dedicated his life to serve (by the way my family is far away from politics and they never interfered in it).At that day I couldn't sleep, I stayed awake thinking of what might happen to Iraq, to Iraqis and to us, I spent the night thinking of what will it be, but I never imagined it would be like this, I never did.
At that time I though the US government will keep its word, I though that Iraq will be a free, democratic and luxurious country, or in the worst cases it would be better than before, but I was sad because we will be an occupied country also, how naïve I was!
At the dawn the most intense and sever confrontation happened near my house, the bullets were coming from everywhere, there was no part of a second without the sound of at least 20 bullets, it continued like this for more than an hour with explosions and helicopters roaming over the house, it was like a front line battle.
In the morning I heard my neighbor saying that the US troops are in our street and every one should carry a white flag if he wants to go out, I was so curious so I made a white flag and got in the car with my cousin and I saw them, it was something really strange, it was the first time I face an American soldier, I saw the tanks; they are so big and scary, I pitied the Iraqi tanks, how could they stand in front of these moderate war machines, "it was a lost case from the beginning" I said to my self.
Later the resistance started in Adhamiya, we heard the rumors that the American tanks have a magnetic filed and that's why the anti-tank missiles (RPG) can't hit them and that the resistance in Adhamiya have painted them with mud and now they can hit the tanks…it was a resistance at that time but gradually it turned to something else…it turned gradually to terrorism.
The looting started and I wished I can kill every single looter…I remember the US soldiers standing there and doing nothing to them, I saw the Iraqi museum being looted; the US troops should have done something it's not only the Iraqi history it's an important part of the human history and it's being looted in front of them, I saw the banks being looted and the fire exchange between the looters and the US soldiers are doing nothing and that was my first disappointment, I remember when I was standing in front of my house and the looters pass by me and I spit when every one of them pass by me, I wanted to hit them as hard as I can, I remember when some guy passed by me and was carrying a chair!! He stole a chair! A normal one, I couldn't handle my self and I asked him" why do you do that?" and he replied "I don't know, it just came to me"!!!!
They were a disgrace on Iraq and Iraqis, Iraqis were called Ali-baba because of those thugs, I was so ashamed and angry. Then burning government buildings followed looting, I don't know why did they burn the buildings? Were they members of the former regiment? Wouldn't the new regiment use it? We heard many rumors about who did it and why but there was nothing certain.
Then day after day the situation was deteriorating, every new day is worst than the one before, it started with Iraqis killed by explosions and road side bombs then the killing of high ranked members in the former army then it reached the kidnapping and asking for ransom and then the kidnappers started killing their kidnapped even if the ransom was paid later there was the fierce campaign to kill, threaten or displace doctors, dentists, scientists, professors and merchants in fact it was a campaign to get rid of any one who is capable of rebuilding Iraq, it was a campaign to kill Iraq's brain.
Then there were the various attempts to start the civil war and ignite the sectarian violence which was going from failure to another by the patriotic Iraqis, until that dark day which I'll never be able to forget as long as I lived, when the holy shrines of the two Askari Imams in Samaraa was attacked and it was the perfect opportunity for the seekers of Iraq's destruction to start acting quickly to ignite the sectarian hatred and violence, I remember when the mosques were burned and Imams were killed, I remember that ugly day, the streets were empty and everybody stayed in their homes while the militias were destroying and killing, spreading fear and hatred and eating Iraq alive.From that day on the sectarian violence escalated in a frightening way it was like cancer taking over Iraq's body, harvesting innocent souls, feeding from fear and hatred, making life even more difficult, leaving more than 1,400 widow women without a supporter, forcing millions to leave
their houses and their neighborhoods and forcing more millions to flee the country and tolerating the humiliation they get in the countries they escaped to just to be alive.During these 5 years I have experienced everything, two of my relatives kidnapped, 6 of the people I know closely including relatives and close friends have been killed, I can't count the number of people that I know who were murdered, my niece who is 7 years old girl died in an explosion, most of my friends and relatives have left the country, I watched my teachers and college professors being killed or kidnapped one after the other, I have been near an explosion countless times, I have witnessed uncountable number of dead bodies and crying families taking their dead beloved from the forensic medicine building, I have seen 3 men at different times being shot to death in front of me, I have been through militias checkpoints several times, Me and my wife have been targeted by a national guard sniper for a reason I didn't know till this moment, I have seen dead bodies left on the side walk and no dares to bury them, my family have been threatened and forced to leave the country and I joined them and stayed in Jordan/Amman for about a year and then had to return back despite the horrible situation and the extra danger on me being threatened, but what can I do, I tried desperately to find a job there but like most of Iraqis, I couldn't. I'm just one Iraqi and I have such loses, imagine 28 million one like me, how much looses does the Iraqis have?
I remember when I returned to Baghdad in the beginning of 2007, I remember when I passed by the first neighborhood in Baghdad when one is coming from Jordan by car which is Al-Jami`a , when I saw the abandoned streets, the destroyed buildings and the exploded car bodies laying in the street without a single human being walking there, I couldn't handle my self, I burst in tears and cried, I cried for Iraq, I cried for my beautiful Baghdad, I cried because I have never imagined that it will be like this, I cried because Iraq is lost, I cried because Iraq is not for real Iraqis anymore, Iraq has been raped by everyone, everyone had a role in raping Iraq, Iraq was like a cake and everyone wants his share not caring what will happen when he press his knife to split his share.
I continued crying as I passed by every neighborhood remembering how it was and how it is now, and like that wasn't enough!! when I reached a checkpoint for the police they stopped us, they wanted to take me (kidnap me) but thanks to my wife's tears and all the money I have in my wallet, they let me go, it was so horrifying, I reached home and never get out doors for a whole week.
5 years have passed since the invasion of Iraq, 5 years of blood and tears, 5 years of horror, death, grief and sorrow.
After those years Millions of Iraqis are displaced inside Iraq or are refugees in other countries, millions have died for various causes, widows without a supporter, children without parents, houses being taken over and people without a place to sleep, it is one of the worst disasters in the history; it is a disgrace on humanity.
After those years Iraqis became like a lethal disease, no country lets them in, Iraqis are rejected everywhere, Iraq became like a torturing prison for those who didn't leave earlier, even the neighboring countries are rejecting the Iraqis, for an example Jordan which was build by Iraqis and Iraqi money…they reject Iraqis, humiliate them, detain them for at least a day in the airport prison and return them back, like what happened to me and my wife twice, we just wanted to see our families and relax there.
And I think now is the time for numbers to speak and I should make it clear that these numbers are much less than reality. I took most of the statistics from here.
Iraqi loses:Iraqi civilian casualties over 600,000 (this is much less than reality because the ministry of health refused to give statistics to the UN several times and even when they did they didn't give the real number, and there are so many cases that are not reported and many are missing so they are not included, I personally know 3 missing persons) so I'd personally estimate the casualties by 1,400,000 Iraqi civilians.
Iraqi police and soldiers killed 7,951….and I would estimate them 10,000.
Journalist killed 127, 84 by murder and 43 by acts of war. 14 of them were killed by US forces.
Iraqi insurgent killed (roughly estimated) 55,000 and by the way I'd like to think how many of them were killed for suspicion? Because my father was shot while he was driving his car, he didn't see the convoy, they shot the car's tank but thank god it didn't explode, and a distant relative was killed because he was driving at night and didn't see the convoy, I'm thinking that he was listed among those 55,000 although he didn't own a gun!
Iraqis displaced inside Iraq as of May 2007 2,250,000 so I think it reached 2,750,000 now.
Iraqi refugees according to the UN statistics are about 1.5 million in Syria, 750,000 in Jordan, 150,000 in Egypt, 50,000 in Iran and 20,000 in Turkey. These numbers are for refugees who registered in the UN, I think it has been a long time since they announced those numbers. I believe that more than 40% of refugees in Jordan are not registered so I'd estimate the number of refugees in Jordan by 1,250,000, and in Syria 2 million.Iraqi unemployment rate is 27% to 60% where curfew not in effect.
Consumer price inflation in 2005 is 50% and I think it reached 70% or 80% now, it's too expensive to live in Baghdad these days, I lived in Amman and in Damascus and they were much cheaper than here, I spend about the same amount in the month although there I never stayed home and rarely ate at home, I was in a vacation and I was outdoors most of the time, while here I got out once in the month maximum.
Iraqi children suffering from chronic malnutrition is 28% in June 2007 according to the CNN.
The number of Iraqi physicians before 2003 is 34,000
Iraqi physicians who have left Iraq since 2003 are 12,000
Iraqi physicians murdered since 2003 are 2,000
And I should say that most of the physicians who were murdered or had to leave Iraq are the highly specialized, very famous and well-known physicians.
Average daily hours Iraqi homes have electricity is 1 to 2 hours a day! According to Ryan crocker in Los Angels Times July 27, 2007. Sometimes in July it's 1 hour every two days.
Pre-war daily hours Baghdad homes have electricity is 16 to 24 hours a day. For my home it was 20 to 24 hours a day.
Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies is 70% according to the CNN.
USA casualties:
More than 3,979 soldiers killed, 29,320 seriously wounded.
Non US troops casualties 308 including 175 from UK.
30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home.
War expense:
Spent and approved war spending is about $600 billion of US taxpayers' funds.
Another $200 billion was requested for 2008 so the total is close to $800 billion.
The cost of deploying one US soldier for one year in Iraq is $390,000.
Just keep in mind that Iraqis aren't just numbers, they are people, they have families and friends, they had a life to live, they are not just number you see or hear in the news, just count the number of deaths above whether it's for Iraqis or Americans and think with your self, does it worth it? NO, there is nothing in the world that worth those frightening numbers, that's if something was achieved. Is the world safer now? Is the Middle East safer now? Is the west safer now? Are Iraqis free? We used to have one Tyrant and now we have hundreds of them, is the terrorism defeated?
What happened has happened, now everyone should do something to put an end to this, The USA government should accelerate its movements, not only because they have invaded Iraq and they should do what they have promised but for their people, soldiers and their families, for their economy which is deteriorating, I don't want the US troops to leave just like that and leave everything as it is, they are in Iraq and they should leave it at least when it's like it used to be. It has been 5 years and the USA with all its technologies, money and science couldn't rebuild the electricity grid to provide Iraq with at least 12 hours of electricity.
We Iraqis must love each other and help each other rebuilding our country, we must put aside our differences because we used to live in peace and love despite those differences, we must stand together and forget our personal interests and focus on the most important thing; our country, I wish these words can reach all the Iraqis, I'm begging you stop supporting anyone, support your country and it's best interest, love each other and always think Iraq must come first forget about your sect, your political views and your tribe always think of Iraq, don't give the invisible hands any more chances, let us be united so we can be strong again.
Note: This is the shortest post I could write about this subject because if I wanted to say all I have in mind then I'll need a book!!!
52 comments:
Mohammed,
I can't imagine what it feels like to have lived in Iraq for the past five years! It must have been horrific! I remember that night of March 20,2003 even just as being in one of your neighbouring countries... It's been a long time... Let us hope and pray that the Iraqi people can unite and be free of all occupation! Take good care of your wife and yourself... THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!
Soon you are going to get the American invasionists (we all know who they are) who feign concern for you and other Iraqi bloggers pissing on your wounds and denying the death toll or the destruction they have caused to your country or belittling your ordeal. If you continue to tell the truth they will try to discredit you and call you a Saddamist or a Baathist (like they did with other bloggers who saw the light before you). Just today Bush said the war was all worth it. Does that sound familiar to you? Madeline Allbright said the same thing about the sanctions. And sadly the American sheeple will follow along.
Mohammed:
The last 12 lines of your post need to be read and UNDERSTOOD by all Iraqis. The surest way for Iraq to start healing comes at the ballot box. Secular people need to replace politicians who are more interested in their parties and sects than in Iraq.
After 5 years of terror and Hell, it is way past time for things to get better. I see some signs that better days are starting to happen. Lets hope that vision stays correct.
Your post was understandably long but was also very accurate. Keep putting out your wisdom and just maybe someone with power will listen.
Stay safe and may God bless you and your loved ones and all Iraqis.
Joe
Mohammed, I too could go on and on..This war changed us all. If mountains can talk, then they would have cried blood!!!
My God, that first photo hurts my spirit.
Brilliant post, Mohammed. Just a word of warning though - when Raed Jarrar expressed similar thoughts to this:
"I remember when the US soldier covered the statue's head with the American flag, I felt great anger, not because I love Saddam but because this is the Iraqi president and they are making fun of him, and humiliating us, they could just bring down the statue and the message will be clear, did they have to do that, at this moment I turned to the professor who I really admire and saw him crying with an angry red face, I was shocked to see him like that, I looked at my family and they were so grim and angry, then I saw my father's eyes filled with tears, he always didn't like Saddam, his regiment or their acts, he was always talking bad about them and how they are destroying Iraq, but it's not about Saddam anymore, It's Iraq…It's our country"
... he was derided forever as an evil Ba'athist (by the warmongers) that was an enemy of Iraq and that was all but seated at the right hand of Satan himself.
I'm curious as to whether the same will happen to you or whether they might re-evaluate their views. I'm guessing that Jeffrey will be making his posts about you "spooning Saddam" soon. I hope not, but that's my guess.
55% of Iraqis said their life was good in the latest poll. I can't help but think that number will rise as time goes on. Yes,many Iraqis (and foreignor Arabs)fought tooth and nail against change,and Iraq suffered horrendously as a result. But,Iraq has changed....and for the better. It's going to be a powerhouse...politically,socially and economically,in the region. Unfortunately,some Iraqis will always be miserable with the changes. Prozaic may be the only thing that can help them.
Muhammed,
It is heartbreaking to see and hear of what's happening in our beloved Iraq. The world needs to know the truth. To mark the 5th anniversary of the iraq invations President Bush gave a speech regarding a possible upcoming "victory" in iraq. BBC has added this as a topic in their "have your say" section. Please do add your comments and opinion in regard to this. In fact I think you should include your latest post in your comments. Thank you so much for a sad yet truthful eye opening post. God Bless!
It is so disheartening to hear such a loss of hope and faith in humanity. But you're correct in your statement of facts, and I'll tell you why. First, in the fact that actual statistics are downplayed on American media. The only correct comparison I saw between your post and this morning's news were the American soldiers' deaths. But I think most Americans know better than to ever take the media at their word.
But secondly, and this actually struck me a little more at heart, since I've followed this war closely (as any average American does), but I'd never seen the photograph of American soldiers covering the head of Saddam's statue with an American flag. I'm as patriotic as I can be, but the symbolism in that is sickening to me. Americans were tricked into this war buy a dirty goverment and now feel trapped because our President vetos every effort we do to bring out troops home. It has become painfully obvious that Bush has some sort of imperial strategy for Iraq. Normal American citizens do NOT want to invade Iraq or take it over or anything like that. It just doesn't seem right to me that a country more or less based on laissez-faire economics would try to assimilate another country for the sake of their goods. Look, I'm sorry this is so long. I just wanted to say that, after our election in November, I really believe things will get better. The only candidate who endorses the war is backed by Bush, which pretty much screws him out of the Oval Office. My brother will be in Iraq soon, so I hope with all my heart this mess just STOPS!
your posts move my feelings. Ok, I just have the iraqi words that we used to exchange " la 7awla wala quwata illa billah il3elli al3atheem". Take care and learn that iraq needs men like you, patriots and faithful..
Sandybelle
Five years feels like fifty. So much good should have come out of the last 5 years. Instead, Iraqis got ethnic divisions, corruption and continual destruction compared to any bit of rebuilding that happened. For all that has been lost, if only it had been for something. I am thinking of all who lost their lives, families, friends, homes and way of life from this war. I am thinking about you Mohammad, your wife and family.
Dear Mohammed,
In your post you described exactly how I felt as I watched Iraq being occupied. No one can forget those days!
I do like to think that we have a real Iraqi nationalist resistance, but I haven't HEARD of any!! There probably is some real resistance going on, it's just that we don't know about it yet :) Hopefully!!!
I am skeptic about the benefits of the American presence in Iraq, it hasn't done us any good and I don't think it would do so in the future. Perhaps they are imposing some sort of stability or protection from other countries wanting to interfere with Iraq, but it is a very volatile and awkward protection. They have blown away their chances and perhaps if they leave, Iraq will somehow cease to be a battlefiled for proxy wars ,inviting anyone in the world who dislikes the US to fight at our expense. Also, once they leave, they will no longer be an excuse for all the horrible things that are happening, and for all the frustration and delayment as well.
The change should come from within, it is hard given all the disasters we Iraqis have witnessed, it is even a miracle to be optimistic. But something good should come out of all of this mess, and this something has to come from the people, not from anyone else.
It shouldn't be something dramatic like a "real and honest resistance" but should start at least with some hope and with people wanting to actually do something to help themselves and Iraq on the long run.
when I read your posts I feel like I haven't left Iraq ...please take care and all the best
Farah
"I'll need a book !!!".
Mohammed, make sure that you write that book some day. I see you as Baghdad's Picasso, but in words rather than paint. See -
http://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2008/03/baghdads-picasso.html
This is one of the most emotional and heartfelt posts I have read on the Iraq war. You had me in tears. I so hope your country will be peaceful again soon, that the looters and criminals ('terrorists' is too good a word for them) are dealt with -- not not least that the occupation ends.
My heartbroken best wishes from a very quiet Austria.
The disconnect between President Bush and the reality on the ground in Iraq is grotesque.
'We live in a nightmare. Death and carnage is everywhere' Ali, Baghdad resident, by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, The Guardian, 20 March 2008
Bb q8,
Thank you very much, and I also can't wait to see the Iraqis united again.
Average American (joe)
Thank you very much and I wish that what we see as improvements will continue improving and I wish we might be able to witness some good days in the future.
God bless you.
Neurotic_wife,
You said it right.
Steen,
Believe me it did the same to me, in my opinion this is one of the saddest images from Iraq…and that's why I put it at first.
Bruno,
Well, let's hope not because I'm not that.
Maury,
I believe you need glases!! Can't you read or distinguish the numbers??!! If you don't care about Iraqis then I believe you care about the Americans, check the number of USA casualties and google the web for economical damage for USA due to this war….anyway I'm sure that the 55% of those who you say are Iraqis aren't living in Iraq or they are not Iraqis at all….
Sandybelle,
Thank you very much.
Ljm,
Thank you very much…that was exactly what I'm saying.
Farah,
I'm sure that the real change should come from within…thank you.
Harry Barnes,
Thank you very much for you nice words and the nice post about me in your blog.
I'd like to write a book but I can't find time and I don't know anything about this subject…how will I publish it or where or at least who should I go to when I want to do that.
Midgetviking,
Thank you very much.
I know it's hard to believe Mohammed,but you are in the minority my friend. The poll WAS done in Iraq just last month. The first question asked Iraqis if their life was good. Most said yes.
I know we spent a lot of money on Iraq. I know we had a lot of casualties. That's nothing to celebrate. But,the fact that some Iraqis,with wahhabi help,tried to tear Iraq back down,doesn't mean the effort wasn't worth it. The same people want to convince the world that Iraq is a lost cause. That we should abandon the country. Don't worry....that's not going to happen.
Just go to BBC's website to read the poll. And you might want to start hanging with a group of folks that has a better outlook on life. All that doom and gloom can't be good for your health.
Five years, five Iraqis
These interviews have been broadcast on BBC tv and radio this week: a 14-year-old student at the Baghdad School of Music and Dance; the motor mechanic who took his sledgehammer to the statue of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad in 2003; a journalist, a postman, and a morgue volunteer.
There was another, I think, on the BBC Radio 4 "World Tonight" programme last night (Wed 19 March 2008). Also on this morning's "Today" programme (see Hugh Sykes report). There is an item about Iraq on the BBC Radio 4 "World At One" programme, being broadcast now as I write.
Maury,
Who are "WE" that your refered as minority!!??
Ok so the numbers and statistics doesn't mean anything to you??!! that's OK I'll need you to tell me why Iraqi is better now??!!
how many new facilities like hospitals and universities or even good highschools have been built?
why the electricity hasen't been fixed yet and we have 4 hours of electricity a day??
why don't we have clean drinking water??
why are there unidentified dead bodies in the streets and explosions everywhere??
You are calling me doom and gloom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????
I bet this is the first post you read for me, right?
check two posts down...and check the ones about the awakening....or better wait just few days I have a post ready to be published with lots of videos and images and you'll be sure that I'm not doom and gloom always but I tell the truth and truth might be gloom!!!!
I'll not look there into that poll and the result will not convince me no matter what....you know why? because I'm an Iraqi and I live in Iraq and I meet with Iraqis and talk with Iraqis with various sects, religions and ethinicity...they all say the same...it's not good now.
Anyway, I respect your opinion and you have to respect mine...and don't call me a minority because I'm not and I'm not what you are trying to refer to...as I said check my older posts and you will be sure that I'm not what you have in mind, and by the way I can say the same about you because most of my readers and the people I know in the blogsphere say that it's not good now, But I'll not say that about you.
Your post is heartbreaking. Here in the US it is so hard for so many to fully comprehend the realities you have faced and are facing. I wish that your words could reach every American. Please believe that millions of us here do NOT follow Bush, and are marking time until he is GONE. We pray, desperately, that the new president who follows him, and enough other politicians will hear the will of the people and act accordingly.
Can you ever forgive us? Can we forgive ourselves?
"and don't call me a minority because I'm not and I'm not what you are trying to refer to..."
Mohammed,a majority of Iraqis say their life is good. That places you in the minority that says otherwise. And you know very well why things aren't better in Iraq. Too many people working to tear the country down,and too few working to build it up. Then the same people want to point at America,and claim WE screwed everything up. People that shit their pants have noone to blame but themselves.
Mohammed, don't forget that these polls include the Kurds which have always been pretty satisfied with how things have turned out and which don't really see themselves as Iraqis anyway. They are almost unanimously pro- new-Iraq.
Then also there are rural areas in Southern Iraq which the war has not nearly touched as much as Baghdad and central Iraq; I could well imagine that people there could be content with how they are living.
Then there are hundreds of thousands which have been killed since the invasion - some counts put it as over a million - which can hardly be polled, and which would undoubtedly tell the interviewer just how crap things are there.
Finally, let's also remember that a huge chunk of the Iraqi populace is living as refugees in Syria, Jordan and so forth. Over four millions, and the absence of these Iraqis will also greatly skew the poll towards the people that think that their life is OK.
I have a fair bit of confidence in these polls, and one must just think a bit to think how the numbers can tell a particular tale in order to come to a conclusion as to how they arrived at these numbers.
Keep safe, friend.
Mohammed, here is an article that reflects what many Iraqis are saying, and it sounds a lot like what you say:
" Before the U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein's reign in 2003,the U.S. administration depicted a rosy future with freedom and justice of Iraq. However, five year passed, Iraqis see nothing but daily killings, bombings and abductions only. "
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6377126.html
Mohammed, don't be so damn sensitive and apologetic about telling the truth!! You should know by now that there will always be a dumb American from Minnesota or Texas who believes he knows more about the situation in Iraq than you do. It's their culture. They're just arrogant like that. I should also advise you not to pay attention to some morons in the Iraqi blogosphere (Maury, Jeffrey SHOEster, CMARII, Rhuslancia, Anand, Iraqi Mojo, Lynnette, etc.) say because they already have their minds made up. They will now start calling you a Saddamist and a Baathist because you're not telling them what they want to hear. Don't ever, ever apologize to them. They are your enemies. Just ignore them my friend and keep blogging and telling the truth for the 99% of your readers who care but don't leave idiotic comments like those.
A retired Iraqi blogger.
@Maury 20 March 2008 2:54 PM
I know it's hard to believe Mohammed,but you are in the minority my friend. The poll WAS done in Iraq just last month. The first question asked Iraqis if their life was good. Most said yes.
Not for the first time, blinkered Westerners should look beyond the obvious when trying to understand the Arab world.
The Iraqis still alive today - after five years of American aggression and incompetence and terrorist acts committed by all sides - are alive only by the grace of Allah. Muslims live their religion every hour, and especially at times of great danger and trial. Life is in the gift of Allah, and Muslims are therefore grateful to Allah, and that will influence their responses to a poll.
Also, it has to be said, I doubt that those polled included the 2 million driven into exile or any of the 2 million internally displaced into camps where they are not receiving enough food or clean water or medication.
Mohammed : I don't think that you should turn you hand to writing a book now. That was not what I had in mind. For it is a massive commitment and would seriously interfere with your important blogging activity - which is actually building up raw material from which a book could eventually be crafted and developed. The time to seriously consider a book is when you life is much more settled. This will only happen if you finally move to a base outside of Iraq (which would itself involve a highly disruptive period) or when (we hope) a much more peaceful life emerges in Baghdad itself. I have not myself written books (only mainly unpaid articles), so I lack knowledge about making the necessary arrangements with a publisher. But I will ask around and (in time) come back to you by e-mail. Others reading this, however, might be in a better position to give you advice. But think of it for the future. Books don't have to be about passing events - but about significant experiences.
Our local interfaith group leader informs us that today is Mawlid-al-Nabi, a Muslim holy day to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed (PBOH) in about 570CE at Mecca.
Shia Muslims will commemorate this day next Tuesday, I understand.
Mohammed,
Thank you for telling us your story. I really hope you get a chance to write a book about it all one day. Your words are very moving and most of us can never truly imagine what you and your people are going through. Very many people in the West were against the war and we remain against the war. The war was never about ridding your country of a dictator, it was about power - power for Bush and his friends. Sadly, the world all over is now a much less safe place because of their policies and actions.
I hope and pray that the Iraqi people can survive this madness to rebuild a future of peace and prosperity for themselves. Ultimately, you'll need a lot of help form the rest of the world - I hope you won't be abandoned.
Peace to you and God be with you.
"why the electricity hasen't been fixed yet and we have 4 hours of electricity a day??"_____There seem to be three reasons. 1. Iraq needs several new power stations to satisfy demand. Current production is about the same a in 2002, but demand has roughly doubled. 2. Sabotage and people stealing cable for scrap metal. 3. The Oil Ministry will not release enough fuel to the Electricity Ministry, and they are not interested in collecting the gas that is being flared off at the oil fields. This gas could power new power stations.
Dr. Mohammed,
I see your post got a mention at politically liberal Slate.com. So did Neurotic Iraqi Wife and Blackfive. Noreen Malone doesn't reference my IBC post as a source but (sniff, sniff) my scent is on this story.
Mohammed,
A well written post. You did a very good job of expressing your feelings. You have deep feelings for your country, which I can understand. I feel the same way about mine. So you will understand, I am sure, when I say that I appreciate that, unlike other Iraqi bloggers and commenters, you do not express joy at the deaths of my fellow Americans.
I hope that Iraq will continue to improve and that at some point in time you will feel it is a whole country again.
Boobie,
Please Boobie, sure I forgive you I'm sure majority of Americans don't want the Iraqis to be hurt or killed or anything bad happens to them.
Maury,
Bruno answered you well enough…you don't want to believe and I can't force you to believe.
Bruno,
Thank you for saying what I wanted to say.
Retired Iraqi blogger,
Thank you.
Indigo,
Thank you for further explaining.
Hary Barnes,
Thank you for that and sure I'll not write it now. I'm planning for the suture.
Indigo,
Yes that's right, and I have been in the festivals and I have a great post waiting that will shock everyone with so many videos and images….but I want to wait a little because I don't want to ruin this post ;-)
And the Shiite celebration have passed…it was about 2 weeks ago.
Singing bear,
Thank you for your prayers and wishes.
Don cox,
1- I know Iraq needs several power plants but I'm asking where is the money for rebuilding Iraq is going if not to that!! It has been 5 years and we haven't seen much difference….and why the demand increased??? Because of the many factories and facilities that has been built? or it's because the massive increase in the Iraqi population?
2- That's a reason and I have mentioned it in an earlier post but I believe this is not happening anymore because the situation settled in western Iraq and there are many patrols guarding those things.
3- That might be true and it's another thing that I don't like…why? Because they are busy with stealing the people's money and they are not doing their job right and that means something must be done.
CMAR II,
I didn't smell it but they understood that I'm angry with USA as a whole and that's so ignorant…because it's so clear that I'm not.
Lynette,
It's good that you understood me right….I wish that too.
Mohammed,I can't believe you agreed with Bruno's comments. He wants to discount the poll because it only counted people who were alive and in Iraq...LOL! You guys have become so enamored of negative spin that you don't even realize the absurd depths you've sunk to.
Do you think 55% of Egyptians who are alive AND in Egypt are happy with their lives? Or should we poll dead Egyptians too?
Maury,
GOD, HELP ME GOD.....what's wrong with you?
I agreed with him because he said that this poll included the Kurds who make about 30% of Iraqis and I'm sure their vast majority is so satisfied with the situation because they have experienced almost no explosions, kidnapping or anything bad....in fact their lives are better now...but you should keep in mind that they don't raise the Iraqi flag and they don't let Iraqi Arabs permission to enetr Kurdistan unless they have a sponser!! so it's more like a different country...and the southern governments have experienced much less violence and damage than middle Iraq (except Basrah) and from there I think the 25% came and they will make 55%....and maybe there are 10% from Baghdad and middle Iraq who were benifited from the situation for the power and money they got....so it's up to you...you are an American and you are saying that life is excellent in Iraq and it's much better than before and you must be right!, while I'm the Iraqi who lives in Iraq and among Iraqis is wrong! INTERESTING....if it's so good in Iraq why don't you come here? and don't worry about where will you stay and who will guide you...I'm welcoming you in my home and I'm ready to guide you wherever you want? why does the westerner journalists stay in their hotel rooms and never leave it?? I think because it's so safe and there is nothing to cover? right? and don't tell me it's only dangerous for westerners.....the situation is a bit better this year and there might be some good changes but it's still BAAAD.....if it's that good why don't the more than 3 million Iraqis outside Iraq who I believe 1.5 million is without jobs get back to Iraq? why don't the 2.7 million who are displaced inside Iraq get back to their homes? Is it because the situation is so good? these are UN statistics, I'm not making it up.
Before you attack read carefully and understand right...OK
I agreed with him because he said that this poll included the Kurds who make about 30% of Iraqis and I'm sure their vast majority is so satisfied with the situation because they have experienced almost no explosions, kidnapping or anything bad
AND their lives under Saddam could not have been much worse. Same is true for many Iraqis in Southern Iraq. It must be accepted that life for many Iraqis could not have gotten better in an Iraq where people are deprived EQUALLY.
Are you suggesting that only Iraqis for whom things have been really really bad should be polled? So if a few more jobs are finally going to Sadr City, then the opinions of those people don't count?
you should keep in mind that they don't raise the Iraqi flag
They do now.
and they don't let Iraqi Arabs permission to enetr Kurdistan unless they have a sponser!!
But they DO let Arabs in and, when they do, those Arabs are treated without regard to sect and are allowed to live more like modern people. But in Baghdad, Arab Iraqis don't let Kurds or Arabs of the wrong religion STAY. Fallujeh was where ethnic cleansing of Iraqi Kurds began. If Baghdadis had been more watchful and discriminatory about new people moving into their neighborhoods, much of the misery of the last five years might have been avoided. Kurdistan the Model.
Maury, remind me - you are in the US military, aren't you?
CMAR II,
Equality, AHA....that's something why Iraq is not good as you say...and by the way about people dying under Saddam rule...well, I don't think the numbers can be compared...listen body, my relative was killed by Saddam in the 80s and we have been deprived some of our rights because we weren't in ALBaath party...but no the number of casualties can't be compared.
NOOOO, I'm not suggesting that, I'm suggesting that Kurdistan should be excluded if you want a precise poll...because they weren't under Saddam rule and they really got better...because middle and north Iraq is in mess so all the investments would go there (that was one reason out of many)I'm saying the poll should be carried out in the areas that was under Saddam rule...did you get it or it's so hard and difficult??
they poll should be "is your living in Iraq better now regrdless of the achivment of getting rid of Saddam" that way the poll would have accurate results...and by the way tell me when and how was this poll carried out? neither me or anyone that I know particpated in that poll!!! who did they ask? where and how....if they skipped a large and important slice in the community which is the doctors and dentists then it's so inaccurate, right....because I have been asking everyone that I know and don't know about this poll and they don't know nothing about it...I even asked some friends in the ministry of health whether they were polled or not....
I though you know about Iraq and it's people....YOU ARE WRONG...I have two christian friends and we hang out all the time and no one does anything to them...they are Iraqis....and about the Arabs...only in my neighborhood I know 2 Algerians and 6 Egyptians....and I have 5 Kurdish friends...YOU ARE WRONG...it's not like that and if anyone is annoying the Arabs in Baghdad it's the police and the army because they suspect them of being terrorist!!
I didn't say that they don't let Arabs in Kurdistan...I said they need a sponser to get in!!! god you know nothing about the real life in Iraq...I agree Kurdistan is a model, I really do but they don't raise the Iraqi flag as their flag (at least the people don't consider it their flag) s they aren't Iraqis (they don't want to be Iraqis) I wish they do.
by the way if I was in Fallujah at that time they would kill me or force me to leave although I'm Arabic and Sunni...I though you know more about Iraq...why don't you visit Iraq and see for your self...It's safe and good as you say...you can stay with me, I'm not kidding...I'll take in a tour to let you see how good Iraq is and how safe it is!!
now you have been saying that Iraq is good and Iraqis are better now for a long time...it's your turn...give me a list of things and achivments that you believe because of them Iraq is good and don't mention anything from Kurdistan...for example name the hospitals and universities that have been opened....name the new streets that have been opened...name the new electristy power plants that have been built....give me the percentage of the strengthening of the Iraqi economy...give me how clean the water is....give me anything good and worthy...and I'll be waiting...if you don't have something really good don't bother ro reply.
"I don't want the US troops to leave just like that and leave everything as it is, they are in Iraq and they should leave it at least when it's like it used to be. It has been 5 years and the USA with all its technologies, money and science couldn't rebuild the electricity grid to provide Iraq with at least 12 hours of electricity.
We Iraqis must love each other and help each other rebuilding our country, we must put aside our differences because we used to live in peace and love despite those differences, we must stand together and forget our personal interests and focus on the most important thing; our country, I wish these words can reach all the Iraqis, I'm begging you stop supporting anyone, support your country and it's best interest, love each other and always think Iraq must come first forget about your sect, your political views and your tribe always think of Iraq, don't give the invisible hands any more chances, let us be united so we can be strong again.
Note: This is the shortest post I could write about this subject because if I wanted to say all I have in mind then I'll need a book!!!"
Those are wise words, sir. I am in the US, and an American. I think it is wrong that so many people generalize us; just as wrong as generalizing Iraqi's, or Persians, for that matter. There are many people here, with many different goals. Some are wise and kind-hearted, others are greedy and think of nothing but themselves. Then there are even more here that don't think at all, they just think what their friends, the media, and their bosses tell them to think. Those people are maybe worst of all, because they give power to those who would manipulate them. In fact, there are many people here that could benefit from those same words you spoke. They care more about winning for their political party or their religion than about other people.
In the end, what matters is that a country be guided by the will of its people, and not by anyone else. If the majority of people here want something to happen, it will happen here. It may be slow, but it will happen. In the past, that didn't necessarily exist in Iraq. If the majority of people wanted something (Shiites, or Kurds), Saddam could kill them. Unfortunately, the freedom that exists in Iraq now is being abused. Too many people in your country have taken their newfound control and done wrong with it, and chosen to kill, kidnap, or loot, because "it came to them". However, if people like you continue to plead with your fellow men to do what is right, your people will do what is right. Then, not only will your country be great, but your country will be great because its PEOPLE made it great, and all in your country will rejoice because you are the ones who will be credited with its beauty.
Humans aren't perfect, and so America isn't perfect. We have people who do wrong. In 1992, thousands of people decided to loot and kill because it "came to them". In 2005, when New Orleans was destroyed, many people looted... but our same people stopped them, because people like you live here who can't stand something like that happening.
This is the first time I've read your blog. I came across it nearly at random... However, I just wanted to say to you that even though I am behind my country in expelling Saddam because his way of rule was truly terrible, I am also behind men like you. I hope your compassion spreads to others. When people in Iraq stop being angry towards everyone (I'm referring to those who kill and kidnap), and understand that we want to help, Iraq will truly flourish again.
There are many people like me, who, if they thought that it was reasonably safe to be in Iraq as a westerner, would gladly help in any way they could to rebuild the country. I cannot say for sure that I will not join the military or contracting industry in some way and come sooner to help Iraq.
I am truly sorry for everyone you have lost, and I hope God takes care of you and your family to see that you live to see Iraq prosper. I also hope that more Americans would support Iraq and Iraqis more. People who want us to bring troops home now clearly only think of themselves, not of Iraq. If they cared more about Iraq they would do everything they could to actually physically join the effort themselves to rebuild Iraq, including going there and rebuilding your infrastructure.
Once again, I'm sorry that there have been terrible acts in committed by our troops, but I have many friends in the military, and I promise you that many of our troops truly want to do everything they can to help you.
@morgan, 23 March 2008 5:09 AM I just wanted to say to you that even though I am behind my country in expelling Saddam because his way of rule was truly terrible
Unfortunately, this is a good illustration of why America is such a disastrous threat to the peace and security of the entire world. Her citizens don't know anything about international law. Morgan, "regime change" is a breach of international law. Ie one country cannot legally invade and occupy to remove the leader of another sovereign country for being "truly terrible". Why don't you know this already?
Did you know that Paul Bremer tried to sell Iraq's assets after the invasion - that's illegal, too.
Do you know that your country is arming all sides in the conflict within Iraq?
Do you know that there are 1.5 million displaced Iraqis within Iraq, and the thousands of US troops deployed in Iraq are doing zip to help them?
Do you know that your country has detained without trial, or access to legal representation, or the international relief agencies, literally thousands of civilian Iraqis?
@indigo - I'd also like to add - why did you choose that little bit of my post to comment on? i was posting about how i was sorry for all you have went through, and you chose to tell me why my country is a threat to the world.
what are you trying to say? do you think America is evil and we should be punished?
what do you hope for the future? a happy iraq, or a punished america? because all you seem to focus on is america, not your own country.
Dr. Mohammed,
well, I don't think the numbers can be compared
I think you misunderstood me. I'm not talking about the number of deaths. I'm saying that for 12 years the Kurds were under sanctions of the UN AND Saddam. Saddam witheld Oil for Food funds that were supposed to go to them. He cut them off ENTIRELY from Iraq's power grid. No sewage. Naturally, things got better for them with Saddam gone. Palestinians in Iraq LOVE Saddam, because they benefitted in Iraq from things that were denied native-born Iraqis. The ruling classes of Iraq lived lives that were buffetted by people in Sadr City being ignored and denied. With people who used to be resisting Saddam taking political power in the new Iraq...with no Saddam shutting off electricity to whole towns to "punish" them....naturally those who used to live (miserably) a little better than their neighbors will discover their lives are worse.
I'm suggesting that Kurdistan should be excluded if you want a precise poll...because they weren't under Saddam rule and they really got better...because middle and north Iraq is in mess so all the investments would go there (that was one reason out of many)I'm saying the poll should be carried out in the areas that was under Saddam rule
Lest you claim, I don't know what I'm talking about, I refer you to this post by a Baghdadi and pediatrician. I think this comment is based on some presuppositions that don't recognize that Iraqis did not all suffer equally under Saddam...and that Baghdadis suffered in many ways less.
if they skipped a large and important slice in the community which is the doctors and dentists then it's so inaccurate, right....because I have been asking everyone that I know and don't know about this poll and they don't know nothing about it...
I agree that statistics can be implemented in ways to twist the truth (such as the Lancet Survey), but it is unlikely that you or anyone else would have been queried for any specific poll.
YOU ARE WRONG...I have two christian friends and we hang out all the time and no one does anything to them...they are Iraqis
Are you trying to imply now that Iraqis haven't been purged in Baghdad due to ethnicity or sect?
I didn't say that they don't let Arabs in Kurdistan...I said they need a sponser to get in!!!
Kurds also require a sponsor to enter Kurdistan even just to visit a relative.
they don't raise the Iraqi flag as their flag (at least the people don't consider it their flag) s they aren't Iraqis (they don't want to be Iraqis) I wish they do.
They raise the new flag. They rather famously did. They don't raise the old flag which declares in almost every symbol that one needs to be an Arab to be a "true Iraqi". I noticed they are still flying the old flag in Adhamiya.
After 45 years of being told that "true Iraqis" are Arab, are you surprised that Kurds aren't crazy about being part of an Iraq that is defined that way? Are you surprised that they enact policies to prevent themselves being demographically overwhelmed by Arabs escaping from the rest of the country that *Arabs* have messed up over the last 5 years?
But after a long time of asking a few questions over and over to Kurds in different ways, I am convinced that Kurds recognize how impractical having their own country would be (which is what they would prefer). However, I'm not convinced that most Iraqi ARABS realize how badly they need the secular, modern Kurds to remain a part of Iraq, nor how devastating it would be to Arab Iraq and all of the Middle East if they did that.
If the best way for the country of Iraq to atone for making the Kurds eat shit over the last 45 years is to 1) change the Iraqi flag to make it more inclusive and 2) give the Kurds a region where their culture is ensured to always be honored, THEN I think that is a small price to pay. Iraq is getting off cheap...take the deal happily. The current leaders of Iraq seem to recognize this, because that is what they are doing.
by the way if I was in Fallujah at that time they would kill me or force me to leave although I'm Arabic and Sunni
You could have passed if you chose to (not that I think you would try). Kurds could not. Even YOU could not live anywhere you like in Baghdad. This is the situation for Kurds in every region except Kurdistan. What would happen if Arabs were free to emigrate to safe, (relativey) liberal Kurdistan? It would be soon exactly like the rest of Iraq...the same for the Arabs and the same for the Kurds. Walls in Baghdad have improved the security. Kurdistan has invisible walls for the same reasons and also to ensure that Arabs won't become the majority there and treat them as they have been treated since 1963.
If you think I'm wrong, respond with facts. Don't remind me that you are Iraqi and I am not. I have relatives who were totally clueless (and still are) about the fair treatment and relationship between Whites and Blacks in America in the 1950s and 60s. Yet, they were born in America.
[Indigo] Do you know that your country is arming all sides in the conflict within Iraq?
Hmm...which side do you want the US to arm? If the US pulls out and doesn't arm anyone, do you really believe Iran, Syria, KSA, and Turkey will not arm the various parties?
retired Iraqi blogger: "I should also advise you not to pay attention to some morons in the Iraqi blogosphere (Maury, Jeffrey SHOEster, CMARII, Rhuslancia, Anand, Iraqi Mojo, Lynnette, etc.) say because they already have their minds made up."
You're right- my mind is made up. I want Iraq... and America... to win. Sorry!
Nobody has made a convincing case to me that a "loss" for America is in Iraq's sane, rational, and logical interest. Or in anyone's interest for that matter (except for the rabid jihadis, rabid Ba'athists, and their rabid apologists & cheerleaders. Oh, and Iran).
Morgan,
I know it's so wrong to generalize a nation!!! It's so naïve because even in the same human being there is a good side and a bad side…I never generalize any nation or religion….
I agree with you about those people…
I agree again about abusing freedom…
"if people like you continue to plead with your fellow men to do what is right, your people will do what is right. Then, not only will your country be great, but your country will be great because its PEOPLE made it great, and all in your country will rejoice because you are the ones who will be credited with its beauty." I agree once more.
Thank you for your comment, god bless you.
Indigo,
That's right…all you said is right too…but I think Morgan is the helping humanitarian kind of men…not one of those stone headed…he wasn't defending the things you mentioned, I think he wants to make it clear that he is not satisfied with the things that happens in Iraq (that's what I understood from his comment)
Morgan,
Indigo is British…she isn't Iraqi…
CMAR II,
Why would the former Iraqi government or Saddam give them anything while they announced that they don't belong to Iraqi government and they are independent!!! Would the USA gives anything to Egypt for example??? They might do but as help not an obligation!! Correct me if I'm wrong. And by the way I went several times to Kurdistan during the late years of Saddam's regiment…it was much much better than central Iraq and Baghdad.
I agree about the Palestinians…
About Sadir City….I have been there couple of times after the war and few times recently…it's true that it's better….but it isn't good till now…you know building streets and fixing sewers is not the only important thing….there is a huge percentage of unemployment and many of them are living under the line of poverty and many of them are so desperate to live their day…with a scary percentage of uneducated people who can't even read or write….so what they can do!! Some joined the militias like AlMahdy army and some were convinced in the ideology of that army…anyway I just want to tell you it's an area for poor people with so many people living in it…do you want to tell me that in USA the government cares about such areas!! Don't lie to me I know the truth…Have you been in New Orleans? I haven't but I see it on TV…it's still a wreck and no one is fixing it till now….thousands of people are homeless and I think one of the reasons is their skin color!!!! If this happens in USA and under president Bush's then don't be worried about Sadir City under Saddam…talk about New Orleans fist…they are your country men….I'm not saying that Sadir City shouldn't be taken care of…on the contrary it's so important to be fixed and become moderate and that would really made me so happy.
Saddam shutting electricity as punishment!!! That might be right although I can't remember but it sounds like Saddam….but don't the current Iraqi government and the USA authorities in Iraq now use this technique!!!? Don't dare tell me no…Adhamiya was without electricity whenever a US convoy was attacked it was deprived electricity for weeks and people there forgot what is the electricity…and even in my neighborhood when ever the insurgents became naughty…we were deprived electricity….how funny that history repeats itself.
Dr. Mohammed, thank you so much for writing this and keeping us informed as to the REAL situation in your Country.
My heart goes out to you and all you fellow Countrymen and Women who just want to live in peace.
Take care of yourself and your family.
Sandie. S.
stop fucking bitching about it, you are too blinded by extremist views that the rest of the world looks down upon, i very seriously doubt that many of you have even took the time to research the islam religion, it has been a violent religion for centuries and has always attacked the kaffur for being a non believer, if you want the us to get out of iraq then help the cause because the more you fight against it the longer it will take
Dr. Mohammed,
I feel bad for your country and people. War is a terrible thing and many innocent people have to suffer or die because of it.
But please keep in mind that YOUR LEADER, the one the people of Iraq let be their leader, was a terrible man who invaded other countries and encouraged his army to rape and steal.
Because of the sensitive nature of the region Iraq is part of, Saddam and his army (your army) was a danger to the whole world. Letting a petty tyrant upset the world's energy supply and thus economy, was not an option the USA would allow. We would also not allow someone like Saddam to develop a nuclear bomb - which he had tried to do and clearly wanted to do as soon as the world's eyes turned away.
The citizens of any country are collectively and ultimately responsible for their own future. To let Saddam ignore several years of warnings and clear statements of what the USA would do if he did not honor the surrender agreement of the war to liberate Kuwait, was compete folly. All Saddam had to do was to let the UN inspectors do their job - the one he agreed to let them do in writing.
Tyrants tend to create a very bad outcome for their countries. Democracies tend to keep tyrants from rising to power.
Iraq has been forced to go through a very nasty war to remake itself. Many people die and suffer in civil wars - most countries have had them. The sooner your own police force and military can bring law and order to the Iraqi people who are causing the problems, the sooner the USA will leave.
Personally, I think we should have left very early on and let your country fall into a very nasty civil war. There would have probably had been much more death and destruction but there would have been a lot less American casualties and a lot less money spent.
You can blame the USA for starting the mess you have had to endure but that is incorrect. Iraq had plenty of opportunity after the first Gulf War to change itself. The majority of Iraqis decided to not do anything, to play it safe and that, ultimately led to greater suffering. And to continue to blame people other than the people of Iraq will just keep Iraq from rebuilding itself into the great nation it now has the opportunity to become.
Many Americans wish we had finished the job on Saddam in the first Gulf War. And many Americans know that the world is a safer place due to their being a better government in Iraq and no chance of weapons of mass destruction being developed and used from within your country. All Americans are sorry for the suffering this war has caused - on all sides (except for the Islamic extremist).
I hope that other petty tyrants will learn a lesson from the hanging of Saddam and Iraq's suffering. I hope the people of Iran and North Korea know that the people of the USA will not allow the very horrible leaders of their countries to possess nuclear weapons. It would surly mean World War III. It comes down to the suffering of the least number of people for the greater good of the world. Harsh but that is reality.
I wish the people of Iraq good luck. I hope you will make good use of the resources the USA has offered because we will not be there much longer.
Unlike other super powers the world has known, the people of the USA do not want to conquer other countries. We want safety and freedom for ourselves and as many other countries as possible.
I don't understand why we went to Iraq in the first place, it has nothing to do with 9/11, and the killing that Sadam did can never compare to what the US has done to Iraq! My opinion has always been that we had no business going there in the first place, and the Iraqi's I talk to feel the same way. My question to you would be how do you feel about the invasion, do you wish the US would just have stayed out. It seemed to me that from what I have read (and I could be wrong) as long as you stayed out of politics and kept a low profile you were fine. It also seems like Sadam kept a check on Iran. My fear is now that Iran will take over and turn Iraq into another Iran. Iran is horrible, my cousins wife is from Iran and she hates the government there. She now lives in the Philippines with my dad and her husband as well as her brother. My other concern is for the women in Iraq and the treatment of them now, and what will happen if Iran sticks their nose in, I know that things have been so bad for these poor women since the invasion and on top of that the loss of their husbands as well as other family members! The last thing that angers me is the misconceptions that a lot of americans have about Iraq and they know nothing about Iraq. They blindly support this war and make stupid statements about your country. These statements come from people who don't know where Iraq is much less the difference between sunni's and shia's and the difference in their beliefs. I would think that one should at least be educated about a country before they decide to support a war! It's amazing that republicans are against abortion yet they support the killing of millions of innocent Iraqi's!
Every time I read this it makes me angry! I hope George Bush rots in hell! Also there are many other countries such as Iran, North Korea that could be taken as a threat too! So why Iraq? As for the Kurds and persecution lots of people around the world are persecuted and suffer should we invade their countries too? The argument over the polls is stupid, the bottom line is people are living in hell in Iraq and people are dying, who cares about the polls and whether they are accurate or not! Why is this war so privatized by the way and why are large American companies profiting so much from it! Why are soldiers being electrocuted in showers because of shoddy electrical jobs! Why are Americans paying companies 90.00 a bag to do the military's laundry when the military could do it themselves! Somebody's making some money off this war and it sure isn't Iraqi's or average Americans!The entire world economy has been affected by this war!
THANKSGIVING MASSACRE IN FALUJAH: Sixth anniversary
Who knows what happened in fallujah?
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