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As I was checking my inbox I read an email that really got my attention, it was forwarded by an Iraqi friend of mine, it might be true or might be not! But there are many reasons that made me somehow believe in what is written in it (which I'll mention later) so I decided to translate it as it and that's when I heard the terrible news, the high school students massacre so I want to discuss the ugly crime first and then I'll mention the other story.
Before I'll start talking about the ugly crime I must mention few things that seems so important in my opinion; Baghdad is suffering from a terrible heat wave for the past 4 days, I swear to god that I stayed for 10 minutes under the direct sun and I felt that I'll burn up if a stayed any longer...the students that I'm going to talk about are high school seniors and they are having the "Bacaloria" exam which will determine all their lives, careers and future because the higher the marks they get in those exams the better college they will be accepted in; so this is a very stressful period in the studying years added to that their exams were postponed and they are the last ones who have exams till now in Iraq and many of the specific group of the students that I'm talking about are living and studying in Diala government but they have to take their exams in "Sabi` bkar" which is in Baghdad.
The Students were told that the minister of education "Khthair Alkhuza`ee" is going to visit their examination school so many of them were forced to stay in the yard under the direct sun light for a long time…At about 10:30am the minister came and the questions weren't distributed yet…five minutes later the guards of the minister opened random fire on the unarmed students that caused 4 injuries one of them is in the head and most probably he was dead because he was bleeding excessively from his head…what caused this is still unclear but I'll mention some of the stories I read or heard; one of the teachers said " the situation of the examination center is miserable, it's alleys with chairs and the students have to take the exam in the open air with this high temperature so they were complaining about the terrible situation of the center and then some of them started cursing the minister and that's when their guards opened fire"…another said" one of the minister's guards cursed and used inappropriate words with the students, some of them are old in their 30s because they are external students (that means they haven't taken their exams at its time so they are doing it now) and that started a hand fight with him and the other guards opened fire and the students started throwing bottles of water and their shoes on the minister and his guards…but they were unarmed"…one of the students finished his version of the story with "Every body disappeared because the examination center is between farms….I started running and pushing until I reached home and my clothes were ripped like I was in a battlefield not an exam!" .
The spokesman of the minister said" some students insisted on chaos and one of the students took his gun out to assassinate the minister and the guards as a precautious measure started to shoot in the air and that caused the injury of two or three of who was there and the ministry decided to cancel this exam for them"!!!!!
For the video which was recorded by mobile phones here is the link in radio SAWA website.
Obviously, the spokesman is lying and giving so silly excuses for the minister and his pigs…why would a student going for such an important exam carry a gun? Specially if we knew that no one knew about the minister's visit, and why would any one or any group wants him assassinated like this? Who the hell is he? I know in the USA there are kids going to school carrying guns but this doesn't happen in Iraq despite that everything is a mess and violent but still teenagers don't bring guns to schools, they might bring knives but not guns…this is the a real disaster and a scandal and no one is doing anything about it…and I'd just want to know what is the minister of pigs is saying to his self now? I bet he is care free because that's something normal for him!!! So what some non important students were shot or died…they blame terrorism as always trying to let the world believe that everything bad happens in Iraq is because of terrorism while they have a very big share in destroying Iraq.
And now I'll get back to the story that I read in the email…it is from an Arabic site called the third power…the story is a personal experience of someone who didn't give his name (of course he would not) and it might be a bit weird but there are many things that makes me believe in what was written in it...here is the story:
"we have just received from our sources inside the jail "kalat jolan" in Sulaimania that the racist Kurdish authorities are kidnapping Arabs (Shiites, Sunnis and Turcoman) from the Iraqi cities, they torture them and ask for big ransoms from their parents, they tell the Sunni families that who kidnapped their son is a Shiites and tell the Shiites that they are Sunnis, and everything is well organized; the Iraqi is kidnapped from Baghdad and they took him to Kurdistan by the "Ashawees" cars which are forbidden to be searched and then to the jails in Kurdistan which are under the control of the Ashawees (they are the Kurdish intelligence) by the help of the following:
1-Iraqi special forces under the leadership of the general Fathil Jamil Birwari.
2Military intelligence by the control of the Asaweesh and Beshmarga.
3-the intelligence of the ministry of Anterior.
4-the headquarters of the Kurdish parties in Baghdad.
5-the military Kurdish brigades among the Iraqi army.
6-Kurdish private contractors' companies.
7-Kurdish car trading companies in Baghdad and other governments like "Sardar"
8-the private Kurdish security companies under different names.
And now here is the personal experience for one of the victims:
My car was stolen in Baghdad and I started searching in Bataween (many stolen cars are found there, my friend found his car there but that was in late 2003 but the thief was an Arab in fact the father was a pimp and his daughters were prostitutes) and it's an area with lots of hotels that are rented by Kurds who collect what they steal or kidnap and head to the north in one big convoy. And after a hard time and many efforts I knew from a Kurdish man that my car is in Sulaimania and you should know that I reported the case in Albataween police station with details of the crime and it reached the Iraqi judge.
And I got the investigation order to all the checkpoints to catch the stolen car ad the thief to present him to the missing justice.
I took the order and traveled to Kuristan (Sulaimania) where I have some Merchants friends and I started looking for the car until I found it parked in a home (that is hard to believe for me despite that many people I know found their cars in Kurdistan but they either saw it in the streets or was in car trading company but still there is a chance this had happened….in Kurdistan you would see all the cars of the former regiment and many cars that are so obvious that they were stolen…they have campaigns on certain cars like Opel Vectra 2002 …now it's missing in Baghdad and Kurdistan is filled with it) and I took a photo for it with my mobile and went with my Kurdish friends to the police stations and gave them the judge's order with the photos of the house and its number where my car is and they told me that they will bring the car on Monday and they asked for my phone number and the address which was a hotel.
I called my family in Baghdad and Mousil and told them I'll get back tomorrow with the car.
At 11pm that night many people came to my room and handcuffed me and dragged me to the cars, I was accused of terrorism…..and I was investigated by a Kurdish officer in Kalat jolan jail for terrorism and I told them that I'm here to retrieve my stolen car and all the papers are in the police department.
And they started to torture me and asked for 200,000$ as a ransom, after hours of torture and because I'm an Arab and a Shiite they told me to call my parents and tell them that I was kidnapped by the Sunni resistance and I'm in Gazalia now.
And that was what I did, I told my parents I'm in Gazalia and I was kidnapped by the Sunnis because I'm a Shiite.
Then they took the phone from me and left me in cell with no windows with many other kidnapped who were Sunnis from Adhamiya and students from the University of Mousil and all of them; 16 kidnapped thought they are in Baghdad and they are in the governments' jails and I told them that we are in Sulaimania and in Kalat jolan prison and they told me that they were kidnapped in 2004, 2005 and 2006 by people in checkpoint who wear the Iraqi army and the commandos of ministry of anterior uniforms and their parents paid the whole ransom.
I don't want to make it a long story my parents by the help of some Kurds paid 120,000$ and I was released in Baghdad from the ministry of anterior the office of Hussain Kamal. (If he told his parents that he was kidnapped by Sunnis and he is in Baghdad Gazalia then why would they ask the help of Kurds!!! This is a real weak link in the story).
After a week I went with a Sunni friend to Mousil because I took a vow on my self to tell the parents of the kidnapped about their sons so they can rescue them, and I easily found the house of one of them and they welcomed us and let us in and I noticed the picture of their son on the wall with a black ribbon on it and I asked about him and they told me that he was fooled and he blew him self in a car and they found his identifications papers in the car and I froze and told them when was that and they told me in 2005 and they buried what remained of their son in Mousil's graveyard.
And I told them and they were so happy and started jumping and screaming and I told them where he is and that they have to do something to rescue him.
The second one was also in Mousil who was lost in February 2005 from the college of engineering and I went to their house and found that his father got blind from the sadness for his oldest son because of diabetes and we went to another home that their son told me about because they had to sell their house to pay the ransom and they are renting this house and when I told him that his son is alive he lost his conscious and had a heart attack but their neighbor was a doctor and he survived.
I'll only tell about those two cases because I can't tell the rest."
I'd like to make it clear that everything written in italic font is a translation, it's not my views or my words and it doesn't mean that I agree or disagree with anything written in italic font.
I believe it's an interesting story and there is a high probability that it might be true but there is nothing certain, anything might happen and one can expect anything in Iraq…I think this story was twisted a little to protect the identity of the writer, at least that's what I think…you read the story and it's up to you to decide whether it's true or not because I can't guarantee if it's real or not but I'm certain of one thing that the Kurds are playing a disgraceful role in Iraq (not in Kurdistan)….
May god protect all the real Iraqis and the good people all around the world.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Clarifying confusions
I have been asked by many westerner friends and readers so many times about the reality of the situation in Iraq and especially in Baghdad. Many are confused about the truth, many are manipulated by the media and most of them have the same question "is the situation good in Baghdad as we hear?" in fact not only the westerners ask about these things; I was talking with my father today and he asked me about the situation because he though it's very good (from what he hears in the news) and he was asking me "Should I come back? I can't take it anymore, I want to get back…It's very good now, right?"
So I though to clarify things in a detailed manner because I believe NO one can know or understand the situation in Baghdad unless he lives in it regardless if he was an Iraqi, Arabic or a westerner…I remember when I was in Amman for some time and despite that I was watching the news most of the time but I was so shocked when I got back in 2007, I couldn't stop crying when I was passing by a neighborhood after another and see what I didn't expect …I'm not saying that all the media organizations are lying or they are hiding the truth but I can strongly say that they don't have all the means to cover everything, they are under a very strong pressure from various sides and above all most of the people of the world are sick of hearing about Iraq and the disasters and death in it so I can't blame the media for this because after all it's business and they need viewers to keep their business going on so they have to give what the viewer wants.
Things got better! That's right; it got better but is it good yet or close to being good? No it's not...Is it close to normal, is there a hope for such thing? No it's far way from being normal and I can't see hope for such thing at least not in the 10 coming years…Is it violent? Yes it is…The worst period was between late 2006 to middle 2007; it was the bloodiest times for Iraqis so when comparing to those times the situation is less violent but please don't forget that at that time Baghdad was like a living hell, it feels like hell has broken loose…at those times when someone goes out of his home his family should consider he might not come back again but now his family can expect him to come back…Baghdad is still violent, there is a large count of daily civilians casualties, unidentified dead bodies, road side bombs, explosive cars, kidnapping and criminal acts and there is something I need to make clear that is the pattern of violence; between 2004 to 2008 violence was almost everywhere and everyone was a target but now the situation changed for many reasons that I'll mention later in this post.
I'll start with Adhamiya…Adhamiya is much much better, in fact I can say it's very good or that's what who is not from there feels when he enters it…you would see people and families walking in the streets with a wide smile on their faces, vast majority of the shops have reopened and there is a strong rebuilding movement and there are many shops that are being built, in fact there is even a mall being constructed and everything feels great but unfortunately that is not the case with the rest of Baghdad and unfortunately I don't live there and the sad truth is that not everyone knows what is happening behind the scene….I'll start with the reasons for which I think Adhamiya became like this; the first and the prime reason for this is the propaganda! Adhamiya was the stronghold of AlQaida and it was almost impossible for a US convoy to pass in a street there twice without being attacked…it was the pride of AlQaida and that made it the most important goal for the US troops because if they controlled Adhmaiya then they will show the world that they succeeded and the surge is working very well and they have won the fight with AlQaida, the Sunni insurgents, the resistance call it whatever you want…they wanted to show the world that they are doing great over there…they paid very generously for everything and they were so determined on keeping it like this…but what happens underground is not mentioned and even many of the residents of Adhamiya don't know about it…there are many criminal acts that are being carried out in Adhamiya and I strongly believe that high ranked officers in the Iraqi army and the awakening movement is involved in it but unfortunately I don't have enough evidences…for the past month only, there have been 6 to 8 kidnapping cases in Adhamiya and today I was going to Adhamiya when I noticed Iraqi army humvees surrounding a block near an Iraqi army checkpoint and the soldier in that checkpoint stopped me and asked me to open the trunk so I opened it but didn't got out of the car so he called me and said "Bro. when anyone stops you to check your trunk be sure to get out of the car and see what is he doing because how could you know that we haven't placed anything in your trunk? An explosive pack for example…(he continued searching)…sorry for bothering you but we have a kidnapping case" I thanked him for the good advice he gave me and I remembered what just happened the day before yesterday…a car exploded at about 4pm between the ministry of health and the Shiite entailment in Bab Al-Moaatham, it wasn't a suicide bomber, it wasn't a parked car; it was an innocent man who was driving his car when it exploded because of a sticky bomb and this is the newest way to carry on an explosion…this info. Was provided by a guard in the ministry and I saw the pieces of the car the next day in the area.
Now back to Adhamiya where there is an attack on the awakening or a road side bomb with a range of about every two or three days which is never mentioned anywhere…many of the road side bombs are found before they explode.
Regarding the sectarian violence in the form of campaigns I must say that it has much recessed but the targeting of specific individuals or figures is still unchanged and in my opinion this might be a temporary state and this is happening now (also in my opinion) because of the fierce persecution for AlMahdi army and the loss of many strongholds for AlQaida…so both of them are busy with the adaptation to the new situation and as soon as the resettle I fear they will start again just like the period at the beginning of the law forcing plan when the armed groups were in a waiting state to see what will come up.
So what I want to say is that things are good in few areas of Baghdad like Adhmaiya and Kathomia but unfortunately this is not the case in all Baghdad and one must not skip the fact that the people living in those areas must go elsewhere whether it was for studying, working or even buying or doing important errands…and about the majority of Baghdad things haven't changed much, and I was thinking that I might see it good but I strongly believe you would not if you came here…it's a bit less violent but it's still violent…still there are explosions and they are a lot, still there are kidnappings and they are more than the beginning of this year, still there are sectarian violence, still there are a lot of dead bodies.
I wish I was successful in giving you somehow a clear view of what is happening in Baghdad which has been abandoned even by the news.
So I though to clarify things in a detailed manner because I believe NO one can know or understand the situation in Baghdad unless he lives in it regardless if he was an Iraqi, Arabic or a westerner…I remember when I was in Amman for some time and despite that I was watching the news most of the time but I was so shocked when I got back in 2007, I couldn't stop crying when I was passing by a neighborhood after another and see what I didn't expect …I'm not saying that all the media organizations are lying or they are hiding the truth but I can strongly say that they don't have all the means to cover everything, they are under a very strong pressure from various sides and above all most of the people of the world are sick of hearing about Iraq and the disasters and death in it so I can't blame the media for this because after all it's business and they need viewers to keep their business going on so they have to give what the viewer wants.
Things got better! That's right; it got better but is it good yet or close to being good? No it's not...Is it close to normal, is there a hope for such thing? No it's far way from being normal and I can't see hope for such thing at least not in the 10 coming years…Is it violent? Yes it is…The worst period was between late 2006 to middle 2007; it was the bloodiest times for Iraqis so when comparing to those times the situation is less violent but please don't forget that at that time Baghdad was like a living hell, it feels like hell has broken loose…at those times when someone goes out of his home his family should consider he might not come back again but now his family can expect him to come back…Baghdad is still violent, there is a large count of daily civilians casualties, unidentified dead bodies, road side bombs, explosive cars, kidnapping and criminal acts and there is something I need to make clear that is the pattern of violence; between 2004 to 2008 violence was almost everywhere and everyone was a target but now the situation changed for many reasons that I'll mention later in this post.
I'll start with Adhamiya…Adhamiya is much much better, in fact I can say it's very good or that's what who is not from there feels when he enters it…you would see people and families walking in the streets with a wide smile on their faces, vast majority of the shops have reopened and there is a strong rebuilding movement and there are many shops that are being built, in fact there is even a mall being constructed and everything feels great but unfortunately that is not the case with the rest of Baghdad and unfortunately I don't live there and the sad truth is that not everyone knows what is happening behind the scene….I'll start with the reasons for which I think Adhamiya became like this; the first and the prime reason for this is the propaganda! Adhamiya was the stronghold of AlQaida and it was almost impossible for a US convoy to pass in a street there twice without being attacked…it was the pride of AlQaida and that made it the most important goal for the US troops because if they controlled Adhmaiya then they will show the world that they succeeded and the surge is working very well and they have won the fight with AlQaida, the Sunni insurgents, the resistance call it whatever you want…they wanted to show the world that they are doing great over there…they paid very generously for everything and they were so determined on keeping it like this…but what happens underground is not mentioned and even many of the residents of Adhamiya don't know about it…there are many criminal acts that are being carried out in Adhamiya and I strongly believe that high ranked officers in the Iraqi army and the awakening movement is involved in it but unfortunately I don't have enough evidences…for the past month only, there have been 6 to 8 kidnapping cases in Adhamiya and today I was going to Adhamiya when I noticed Iraqi army humvees surrounding a block near an Iraqi army checkpoint and the soldier in that checkpoint stopped me and asked me to open the trunk so I opened it but didn't got out of the car so he called me and said "Bro. when anyone stops you to check your trunk be sure to get out of the car and see what is he doing because how could you know that we haven't placed anything in your trunk? An explosive pack for example…(he continued searching)…sorry for bothering you but we have a kidnapping case" I thanked him for the good advice he gave me and I remembered what just happened the day before yesterday…a car exploded at about 4pm between the ministry of health and the Shiite entailment in Bab Al-Moaatham, it wasn't a suicide bomber, it wasn't a parked car; it was an innocent man who was driving his car when it exploded because of a sticky bomb and this is the newest way to carry on an explosion…this info. Was provided by a guard in the ministry and I saw the pieces of the car the next day in the area.
Now back to Adhamiya where there is an attack on the awakening or a road side bomb with a range of about every two or three days which is never mentioned anywhere…many of the road side bombs are found before they explode.
Regarding the sectarian violence in the form of campaigns I must say that it has much recessed but the targeting of specific individuals or figures is still unchanged and in my opinion this might be a temporary state and this is happening now (also in my opinion) because of the fierce persecution for AlMahdi army and the loss of many strongholds for AlQaida…so both of them are busy with the adaptation to the new situation and as soon as the resettle I fear they will start again just like the period at the beginning of the law forcing plan when the armed groups were in a waiting state to see what will come up.
So what I want to say is that things are good in few areas of Baghdad like Adhmaiya and Kathomia but unfortunately this is not the case in all Baghdad and one must not skip the fact that the people living in those areas must go elsewhere whether it was for studying, working or even buying or doing important errands…and about the majority of Baghdad things haven't changed much, and I was thinking that I might see it good but I strongly believe you would not if you came here…it's a bit less violent but it's still violent…still there are explosions and they are a lot, still there are kidnappings and they are more than the beginning of this year, still there are sectarian violence, still there are a lot of dead bodies.
I wish I was successful in giving you somehow a clear view of what is happening in Baghdad which has been abandoned even by the news.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Adil...a story of a human being.
It has been about a week since I notice this young man; he is always there, I see him on my way to work, when we go for shopping…I noticed him from a far distance, I never came close to him…he was always there, day and night sitting between the electricity cabinet and the garbage container in a fetus position on stacked pile of blankets resting his head on his arms…At the first day I saw him I though he is a worker or a garbage collector and he is sitting here to have a rest…but as I saw him several times later I knew there must something wrong, I thought he might be either insane or alcoholic or he might be an informer! Because the former regiment used to have many informers like this…he never moves, I never saw him moving any part of his body until two days ago when I was back from shopping I passed by him and I noticed two cats sitting besides him…he seemed so innocent as he was playing with that dirty yellow cat, he looked calm and peaceful and that's when I felt he isn't insane, an informer or alcoholic he is just an extremely poor young man who must have experienced terrible things.
I reached home and I was thinking about him…the scene couldn't be erased from my mind…he with his dirty clothes playing peacefully with that dirty cat…I felt aches in my heart and an urge to do something…I couldn't sleep that night until a late hour, I kept thinking about him and the feeling of guilt almost killed me because I haven't helped him today or the days before, I felt so guilty and my self conscious tortured me because I suspected him…all I wished that night is for the morning to come so I can go to him and do something, I wished that he will be there otherwise my self conscious will kill me…I opened the drawer where I put my clothes that I rarely wear and begun selecting the best items among them and I made a big bag with good clean T-shirts and jeans, I just wanted to kill time and get busy with something.
When the sun shined and the morning came we went to work earlier than we used to, just to sign in then we went back home and we made a big dish of eggs, cheese and biscuits…I carried the bag I filled the night before and the dish we just made and I went to that young man wishing that he is still there…on my way I thought that it would be better to ask the owner of the shop that is near to him who happens to be my friend just to check if he is insane or not because I have been attacked by an insane person before because I gave him money, I though he was a poor man.
I went to the shop and asked the owner about the young man and he said:" I don't know what's his story but he isn't insane and he isn't dangerous…I help him when ever I can", so I went to the young man and he was sitting like he does everyday…I got close to him and I sat on my knees and said "Alsalmo alikom…are you alright?" he nodded his head and that was the first time I saw the details of his face, it was clear that he is mentally disabled…I said" This is a bag of clean clothes and this is a breakfast for you" he looked so happy and started to check the clothes, I reached my wallet and gave him some cash that would be enough to buy food for two days but he refused to take it…I was so surprised so I asked him "Why? Take it please…consider me your brother…wouldn't you take money from your brother…it's for you to buy food today and tomorrow" he wanted to speak and it was so clear that he had a difficulty in speaking and he said "I hate money" but I insisted to give him that money so he took it…I asked him "what's your name?"
He: Adil.
I: I haven't seen you here before! Where did you used to live?
He: I lived in AlAmeen (it's a neighborhood near Baghdad Algadida-new Baghdad-)
I: where are your parents or the people who used to take care of you? He pointed to the sky in a gesture that they have died.
I: don't you have anyone? Any relatives or something.
He: I have god.
I: do you want me to find someone to help you? I mean do you want me to find a governmental shelter for you…I can contact people that will provide you with shelter…you know AlSharqiya channel? They are known for doing such things…what do you say?
He: they are useless; no one will help…only god will help me and protect me.
I: why do you say that? There must be good people.
He: god is the only one who is good.
I: OK, as you wish…I'll help you when ever I can and will give you clean and good clothes every while…now, do you want something else? Anything just say it
He: I just want tea…the sun makes my head aches and he reached the money I gave him to give it to me, he wanted to pay for his tea!!! I smiled to him and told him to keep the money and I went to buy him tea from a restaurant near by.
I got back and he was so happy for the tea and he smiled in a way that made me the happier man on earth so I reached my pocket to give him more money, I wanted more of that happiness but he became so angry and said:" I hate money…I hate money" and I returned the money back to my pocket and asked him "Can I take a photo for you? You can hide your head if you want…I want that photo so I can show it to the people who might be able to help you finding a shelter" but he said "please don't, no one will and no one can help me" so I respected his privacy…I really want to help him finding a shelter or somewhere that provides care for people like him...I said goodbye to him and went back and decided to help him whenever I can and with everything I can…I asked many people about a place where they accept such people but I was shocked that he was right…there is none that actually works…there are orphanages but they will not accept people in his age…and he is mentally disabled so I can't provide him with a job ( I can find him a job as a worker in AlAdhamiya rebuilding campaign)…he was right!!
I know this might be something normal for many of you…so what? Another homeless!!! But believe me it's a strange thing in Iraq and it's a new phenomena at least in my opinion …I have seen insane people, many of them in fact…I have seen alcoholics who lost their sanity because of alcohol; wandering near the liquor stores and the public transportation garages…but I never saw someone like Adil….I knew a similar case to Adil's…he was a young mentally disabled man who lost his parents in Adhamiya when the US troops entered Adhamiya the first time and during the battle of Adhamiya, a tank destroyed his house and killed all his family but him, but he was much fortunate than Adil because our neighbor took him into their house and made him their servant…at least he have a place to sleep, abundant food and people to take care of him in case something wrong happened.
I'm sorry if I went into details but I wanted to give the details so you could imagine the situation and because I'll link it to another story at the end of the post and I know many of you will be willing to help him but I believe there is nothing that you can do…but if anyone knows a shelter or an organization that is willing to help this young man by finding him a shelter or a place to sleep then it will be great…please don't donate anything, money will not be a help in this case and I wouldn't feel good because we (me and my friends) will provide him with enough money that will buy him food and water and even clothes. Please, donation is not a help at all in this case, DON'T donate anything, please.
Just think about Adil and the corrupted politicians in general and Maliki specifically at the same time…I wouldn't say anything because you must have figured it out by now, I just wanted to give a hint and for the people who haven't heard the latest news….AlMaliki visited Iran and signed many treaties that most of them are unknown even to the members of the government, even to the parliament but some of those treaties are for protecting Iran from any attack while his visit was for finding a solution to the Iranian interference in Iraq after he was given many evidences, proofs and investigations about the Iranian interference in Iraq and it's support to the armed groups and militias like AlQaida and AlMahdi army…but our prime minister came back to Iraq with treaties that protects Iran and serves it's interests without a single treaty that will help Iraq in anything...he returned from his visit and made us a joke to the countries of the region and the world in general, he visited Khaminee and removed his tie!! I just want to know what is he so afraid from? why this ass kissing? Why did he placed flowers on the tomb of Khumaini? Why? how many Iraqis died in the Iraqi-Iranian war? why this absolute loyalty to Iran?…Just think of both of them at the same time.
I reached home and I was thinking about him…the scene couldn't be erased from my mind…he with his dirty clothes playing peacefully with that dirty cat…I felt aches in my heart and an urge to do something…I couldn't sleep that night until a late hour, I kept thinking about him and the feeling of guilt almost killed me because I haven't helped him today or the days before, I felt so guilty and my self conscious tortured me because I suspected him…all I wished that night is for the morning to come so I can go to him and do something, I wished that he will be there otherwise my self conscious will kill me…I opened the drawer where I put my clothes that I rarely wear and begun selecting the best items among them and I made a big bag with good clean T-shirts and jeans, I just wanted to kill time and get busy with something.
When the sun shined and the morning came we went to work earlier than we used to, just to sign in then we went back home and we made a big dish of eggs, cheese and biscuits…I carried the bag I filled the night before and the dish we just made and I went to that young man wishing that he is still there…on my way I thought that it would be better to ask the owner of the shop that is near to him who happens to be my friend just to check if he is insane or not because I have been attacked by an insane person before because I gave him money, I though he was a poor man.
I went to the shop and asked the owner about the young man and he said:" I don't know what's his story but he isn't insane and he isn't dangerous…I help him when ever I can", so I went to the young man and he was sitting like he does everyday…I got close to him and I sat on my knees and said "Alsalmo alikom…are you alright?" he nodded his head and that was the first time I saw the details of his face, it was clear that he is mentally disabled…I said" This is a bag of clean clothes and this is a breakfast for you" he looked so happy and started to check the clothes, I reached my wallet and gave him some cash that would be enough to buy food for two days but he refused to take it…I was so surprised so I asked him "Why? Take it please…consider me your brother…wouldn't you take money from your brother…it's for you to buy food today and tomorrow" he wanted to speak and it was so clear that he had a difficulty in speaking and he said "I hate money" but I insisted to give him that money so he took it…I asked him "what's your name?"
He: Adil.
I: I haven't seen you here before! Where did you used to live?
He: I lived in AlAmeen (it's a neighborhood near Baghdad Algadida-new Baghdad-)
I: where are your parents or the people who used to take care of you? He pointed to the sky in a gesture that they have died.
I: don't you have anyone? Any relatives or something.
He: I have god.
I: do you want me to find someone to help you? I mean do you want me to find a governmental shelter for you…I can contact people that will provide you with shelter…you know AlSharqiya channel? They are known for doing such things…what do you say?
He: they are useless; no one will help…only god will help me and protect me.
I: why do you say that? There must be good people.
He: god is the only one who is good.
I: OK, as you wish…I'll help you when ever I can and will give you clean and good clothes every while…now, do you want something else? Anything just say it
He: I just want tea…the sun makes my head aches and he reached the money I gave him to give it to me, he wanted to pay for his tea!!! I smiled to him and told him to keep the money and I went to buy him tea from a restaurant near by.
I got back and he was so happy for the tea and he smiled in a way that made me the happier man on earth so I reached my pocket to give him more money, I wanted more of that happiness but he became so angry and said:" I hate money…I hate money" and I returned the money back to my pocket and asked him "Can I take a photo for you? You can hide your head if you want…I want that photo so I can show it to the people who might be able to help you finding a shelter" but he said "please don't, no one will and no one can help me" so I respected his privacy…I really want to help him finding a shelter or somewhere that provides care for people like him...I said goodbye to him and went back and decided to help him whenever I can and with everything I can…I asked many people about a place where they accept such people but I was shocked that he was right…there is none that actually works…there are orphanages but they will not accept people in his age…and he is mentally disabled so I can't provide him with a job ( I can find him a job as a worker in AlAdhamiya rebuilding campaign)…he was right!!
I know this might be something normal for many of you…so what? Another homeless!!! But believe me it's a strange thing in Iraq and it's a new phenomena at least in my opinion …I have seen insane people, many of them in fact…I have seen alcoholics who lost their sanity because of alcohol; wandering near the liquor stores and the public transportation garages…but I never saw someone like Adil….I knew a similar case to Adil's…he was a young mentally disabled man who lost his parents in Adhamiya when the US troops entered Adhamiya the first time and during the battle of Adhamiya, a tank destroyed his house and killed all his family but him, but he was much fortunate than Adil because our neighbor took him into their house and made him their servant…at least he have a place to sleep, abundant food and people to take care of him in case something wrong happened.
I'm sorry if I went into details but I wanted to give the details so you could imagine the situation and because I'll link it to another story at the end of the post and I know many of you will be willing to help him but I believe there is nothing that you can do…but if anyone knows a shelter or an organization that is willing to help this young man by finding him a shelter or a place to sleep then it will be great…please don't donate anything, money will not be a help in this case and I wouldn't feel good because we (me and my friends) will provide him with enough money that will buy him food and water and even clothes. Please, donation is not a help at all in this case, DON'T donate anything, please.
Just think about Adil and the corrupted politicians in general and Maliki specifically at the same time…I wouldn't say anything because you must have figured it out by now, I just wanted to give a hint and for the people who haven't heard the latest news….AlMaliki visited Iran and signed many treaties that most of them are unknown even to the members of the government, even to the parliament but some of those treaties are for protecting Iran from any attack while his visit was for finding a solution to the Iranian interference in Iraq after he was given many evidences, proofs and investigations about the Iranian interference in Iraq and it's support to the armed groups and militias like AlQaida and AlMahdi army…but our prime minister came back to Iraq with treaties that protects Iran and serves it's interests without a single treaty that will help Iraq in anything...he returned from his visit and made us a joke to the countries of the region and the world in general, he visited Khaminee and removed his tie!! I just want to know what is he so afraid from? why this ass kissing? Why did he placed flowers on the tomb of Khumaini? Why? how many Iraqis died in the Iraqi-Iranian war? why this absolute loyalty to Iran?…Just think of both of them at the same time.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Silence of the media
All of us; including all the Iraqis are witnessing a terrible secrecy and silence of the media of what is happening in Iraq now…I must say that some aspects have improved and I must say that the militia's grip had loosened a bit but the real situation on the ground is far from what is said, I don't want to put it in a form of a conspiracy theory, but at the beginning we lost the credibility and the honesty of the western media then we lost the credibility of the Arab media and now we are losing the Iraqi media's credibility…there might be thousands of reasons behind this and I tend to believe that targeting journalists are one of the main reasons followed by the pressure of the governments on the media.
For an example, yesterday we heard five loud explosions that shook the ground and I started calling different friends in different areas and all of them said that they think it's so close to their house because it's so loud…but nothing was mentioned!! And that happens so often…there are still unidentified dead bodies found in Baghdad but most of the well-known channels don't mention it…it has a range of about 5 dead bodies daily...and if anyone wants to be sure all he have to do is to pass by the forensic medicine building and he would see the shocking number of coffins and people crying their beloved ones.
Adhamiya is considered safe now after it was so disturbed and extremely dangerous and when one enters Adhamiya now he would easily feel the difference…but wouldn't feel what are the things that happens underground!!!
About a week ago my relative have been kidnapped and unfortunately I can't give any details about this story because it has reached so many people and many of them are holding high authorities but I can say it was more like a Hollywood suspense movie or more like "Law and Order"…but thank god that relative is with us now safe and sound and the credit and thanks goes to all the people who participated in achieving this, I mentioned this because when I went to the police station to open a case and see if the US troops there can trace the cell phone I knew that this is the fourth kidnapping case last week only in Adhamiya!!! That was a real shock to me…4 kidnapping cases in an area where every 100 meters there is an awakening checkpoint! Something smells fishy and weird.
Today I was watching the news and the puppet AlMaliki was giving a speech in Tehran…he was talking about the great numbers of people coming back to Iraq and how the law is the dominant force in Iraq now and how the government is helping the refugees coming back to their country!! I'd love to know how??!!!
This is exactly what can be called the media disguise…I don't know any one who wants to come back or anyone who came back among all the people I know or even in my neighborhood…If you have noticed that whenever some Iraqi official goes to a country where there are Iraqi refugees something bad happens to them and the laws changes for the worst…like when AlHashimi visited Jordan two weeks ago the Jordanian closed the visa application and they said it will be reopened after 16th of July!!!
Then the puppet started flirting with his boyfriend Najad and thanked Iran for its efforts in the process of peace in Iraq!!! And said that Iraq wouldn't allow US to use Iraq to attack Iran!!! I really needed to laugh…who are you to stop the US from doing anything…you can't stop them even if they wanted to rape you…they are the ones who put you in your position…the puppet said we have agreements! Well the US didn't care about any agreement when they started the war despite it was with the UN so why would they respect an agreement with you! Silly puppet.
For an example, yesterday we heard five loud explosions that shook the ground and I started calling different friends in different areas and all of them said that they think it's so close to their house because it's so loud…but nothing was mentioned!! And that happens so often…there are still unidentified dead bodies found in Baghdad but most of the well-known channels don't mention it…it has a range of about 5 dead bodies daily...and if anyone wants to be sure all he have to do is to pass by the forensic medicine building and he would see the shocking number of coffins and people crying their beloved ones.
Adhamiya is considered safe now after it was so disturbed and extremely dangerous and when one enters Adhamiya now he would easily feel the difference…but wouldn't feel what are the things that happens underground!!!
About a week ago my relative have been kidnapped and unfortunately I can't give any details about this story because it has reached so many people and many of them are holding high authorities but I can say it was more like a Hollywood suspense movie or more like "Law and Order"…but thank god that relative is with us now safe and sound and the credit and thanks goes to all the people who participated in achieving this, I mentioned this because when I went to the police station to open a case and see if the US troops there can trace the cell phone I knew that this is the fourth kidnapping case last week only in Adhamiya!!! That was a real shock to me…4 kidnapping cases in an area where every 100 meters there is an awakening checkpoint! Something smells fishy and weird.
Today I was watching the news and the puppet AlMaliki was giving a speech in Tehran…he was talking about the great numbers of people coming back to Iraq and how the law is the dominant force in Iraq now and how the government is helping the refugees coming back to their country!! I'd love to know how??!!!
This is exactly what can be called the media disguise…I don't know any one who wants to come back or anyone who came back among all the people I know or even in my neighborhood…If you have noticed that whenever some Iraqi official goes to a country where there are Iraqi refugees something bad happens to them and the laws changes for the worst…like when AlHashimi visited Jordan two weeks ago the Jordanian closed the visa application and they said it will be reopened after 16th of July!!!
Then the puppet started flirting with his boyfriend Najad and thanked Iran for its efforts in the process of peace in Iraq!!! And said that Iraq wouldn't allow US to use Iraq to attack Iran!!! I really needed to laugh…who are you to stop the US from doing anything…you can't stop them even if they wanted to rape you…they are the ones who put you in your position…the puppet said we have agreements! Well the US didn't care about any agreement when they started the war despite it was with the UN so why would they respect an agreement with you! Silly puppet.
Now I'll leave you with some photos from my country
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