BAGHDAD — The streets of Baghdad are prickly with pointed questions, as residents pick at my sleeve and beg me for answers I cannot give.
“Why is there no water?”
“The river is too high and will soon flood. When will the Americans do something?”
“We need electricity and security, where is it?”
“Where are the prisoners?” asked a man who gave his name as Muhammed. “It’s a simple question. What is the answer?”
All of these are asked of me, as I pick my way through the crowd outside the Hotel Palestine in downtown Baghdad. Each time I am forced to give the same answer: “I don’t know. I can’t help you. I’m sorry.”
Two photographers, Jason and Juan Carlos, and I have driven down for the day. The drive in is pleasant, with the occasional T-72 Iraqi tank parked by the road, seemingly abandoned by the crews. Once we get to the outskirts of this sprawling city, however, the tanks and other military vehicles are bombed out and destroyed.
Baghdad itself, low-slung and dusty brown, is bustling with activity. A haze of dust clings to the ground, and mixes with the auto exhaust from the thousands of vehicles on the street. Icons of Saddam are mostly lacking; I’ll bet they have been removed by U.S. troops and Baghdadis. The few posters and murals that remain are largely untouched, though. Driving in, we can see the effects of the looting and the bombing damage. Buildings marked with the Ba’ath Party eight-point star show scorch marks or are partially collapsed. Much of the city seems intact, however. Even downtown, a target-rich environment, seems more or less intact. The “precision bombing” seems to have been more or less aptly named.
The occupation is not making many friends among the Iraqis, however. In marked contrast to the welcome and friendliness we always receive in the north and in Kirkuk, the looks here are guarded and even cold. We smile and wave at people in the cars next to us when the traffic grinds to a halt, but our fellow drivers look at us and don’t smile back.
There seems to be a constant demonstration going on in front of the press balcony of the hotel and as I pass, one man holds up a sign that reads, “The Americans are Lyers.” Another hands me a note in both Arabic and English that reads:
Letter to Conference, Baghdad.
Dear Leaders, USA and Iraq: We are Al Shaab Native Free Party. We wanted to [attend the] meeting in Iraq with the leaders USA and Iraq. Thanks, Best.
Saeed Alifaashmi Leader, Al Shaab Party 16/4/2003
It seems an opposition movement to the yet-to-be-installed interim government is already taking root.
The Marines here have a tough job. The populace is angry at the lack of services — no phone, water, electricity or work — and the troops are getting increasingly aggressive in the face of mounting public anger. Everyone is on a hair-trigger. The Palestine is an armed fortress, ringed by concertina wire, about 150 troops and a dozen LAVs or so. The Marines push the Iraqis back — not always gently — as they press forward to tell their stories to a trooper, the press … someone who might listen.
At one point, a group of Iraqis began shouting at the Americans guarding the press entry point to the Palestine. The Marines began shoving the Iraqis back as they chanted louder and louder in Arabic. Then, the crowd sat down on the sidewalk. “No Saddam! No Saddam!” they yelled out. They were protesting the use of Iraqi police officers and demanded the Marines provide security instead of the organs of the old regime.
“We want the Americans to cooperate with us,” said Muhammad Abdul-Rasul, 46, an interpreter. “We need work. Who is in charge?” He then demanded “Mr. Bush” to turn on the public services within 48 hours.
The city is awash with conspiracy theories, the preferred method of analysis in the Middle East.
Ehsan Abud denied that Iraqis were the ones responsible for the looting and instead it’s the Kuwaitis coming up to take revenge for the 1990 invasion. And Arabs, not Iraqi Arabs, went into the University of Mustemsrya in Baghdad and burned all the books. And America has trained 500 Iraqis and other Arabs in the United States, parachuted them into Baghdad (nee Saddam) International and turned them loose on the city to burn and pillage.
The Marines based around the hotel declined to comment on these accusations.
The Americans are “useless” because they have been here for 10 days and they have done nothing for the city, said Abud. He said security in some neighborhoods is provided by armed volunteers guarding the streets.
There’s no doubt Baghdad is wooly at night. Marines told me they “took a guy down” last night when he was attempting to break into a media truck. Iraqis tell of the pop-pop of automatic weapons fire from all directions when the sun goes down.
The Interior Ministry is also a favorite source of rumor. This was the dreaded nexus of Saddam Hussein’s security state, and many people think there are underground prisons where loved ones who disappeared 20 years ago suffer still.
“Why don’t they dig under the Security building?” asked Ali Abid Khafaji. “Americans are guarding it and not letting the prisoners out.”
Muhammad, the man who asked about the victims of Saddam’s regime, said thousands of people are waiting to hear about their relatives and friends. Where are they? They have disappeared. “We want to know where they are,” he said. “You are the media. You can tell the world. Please, help us.”
After reading the above article,
I think the time has come for the
United Nations to act judicially
in condemning George W. Bush and
Tony Blair for all the suffering
they have caused the people of Iraq
and the American and British parents,
whose sons and daughters were killed
or wounded in pursue of weapons that
were never in Iraq to be found. At this
point in time the fair thing to say is
that the world has been fooled by an
assertion of something believed by Bush
and Blair to be untrue with intend to
deceive. A better name for it: THE LIE
OF THE CENTURY.
WHERE ARE THE ARMS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Bush and Blair claimed existed in Iraq
as a portend evil to world security?
In my opinion, it is Bush and Blair who
are our present days bad omen to world
stability.
“You can tell the world. Please, help us.”
Would that be the same world that turned a blind eye to Saddam’s evil regime for 13 years and did nothing? Would that be news organizations like CNN who ignored the horror stories of Iraqis just so they could keep their cushy spot in Baghdad?
The reality is that with the regime gone, the ethnic divides in Iraq is going to cause lots of bickerings and fightings for a long time. What amazes me though is them not realizing they at long last have the freedom to fight and bicker and make their true feelings known, but it’s understandable.
The Marines are not their for public relations, which complicates their “peacekeeping” duties. I don’t know if there are already efforts in place to do so, but if not every means of media broadcasts, including their equivalent of townhall meetings should be used and conducted to address complaints and problems in the city. This was already being done in villages with notable success, but taking much longer in the city obviously, because the city is, well so much bigger.
I’m sure at this stage we’ll see the media’s typical modus operandi in bringing the voices of dissent to the forefront, while ignoring those Iraqis helping the Americans anyway they can.
Richard,
Only 20 sites have been preliminarily checked out of probably over 3000 sites in Iraq suspected of containing WMD materials, and already you declare Bush a liar? Typical of the media’s mantra during the war “WHAT’s TAKING SO LONG” in only day 2 of the war, and then marveling over how quickly the war went, we barely begin the process of searching for WMDs and already it’s “WHY HAVEN’T ANY WMDs BEEN FOUND?” What childish antics. Grow up and shut up already.
But you know what, I’ll support your assertion that the UN condemn Bush and Blair for the suffering they caused in Iraq
IF 1. They condemn the suffering Saddam caused the Iraqis since the beginning of his rule.
The UN condemns the PLA for promoting the suicide bombings of innocent Israeli civilians
They condemn Mugabe for his insane efforts to emulate a “black Hitler”
They do that, and I might actually show them a micrograin of respect.
The above comments are long, in-depth, and political-themed.. I’m afraid I can’t do that.
All I can say is that Chris is doing good for the world and we wish him a safe return when he is ready.
Oh please, Richard McBride. Prime Minister Blair and President Bush responsible “for all the suffering they have caused the people of Iraq”? I think there is a man of the name Saddam Hussein who is responsible! There will be only a limited role for the UN I hope, only a humanitarian role. I want Russia, Germany and France to stay out this, none of their soldiers died in the liberation of Iraq.
The U.S. soldiers in Baghdad are COMBAT soldiers, they do not know how to turn on the power or water etc. But, they are nevertheless trying their best, patience is the key. Eventually, all will go back to normal.
Caleb, why are you anonymous? Folks cried “when is it going to end” and “where are the WMD” because the U.S. government implied it was going to be a very short, cake walk war and that the alleged WMD would be revealed upon invasion. Note I said “IMPLIED” so don’t bombard me with precise quotes in which they danced around specificity for the sake of future deniability.
After the U.S. so thoroughly trashed the U.N. in this process, it seems harsh to expect it to garner what dignity it has left to rise up and begin shaking its finger. It has condemned cruelty to innocent victims in the past and with what lasting effect? The U.S. figuratively moons it, denounces its authority, and skates off on its own course. I remind you that the U.S. has not even paid its U.N. dues for quite some time now, so what kind of budget does the U.N. command in a world where money is power? I don’t pretend to be an authority on these things but these are at least partial points that I ponder.
Yes, the Iraqis are free to fight and bicker and protest, but without water they find it difficult to speak at all. Go figger.
The troops had utilities back up and running in Belgrade and Sarajevo within days, not weeks.
It’s once again the pigheaded DoD that thought they could get the job done without enough troops on the ground.
Now reinforcements are on the way, great. Why couldn’t they have been in the pipeline say, last week??
I wasn’t sure if you’d make it to Baghdad or not. Is there any way to arrange a visit to those underground caverns? It’s appalling that no one has been down to free those prisoners yet; will we end up finding a host of dead bodies when they finally get around to it?
That should have been a priority, if ‘freeing’ the Iraqi people was indeed a motive.
Why is the river so high? Are we ignoring the dams as well as the water supply?
We have a responsibility that is being shirked.
There is no excuse for allowing these things to happen. The loss of cultural history is not only Iraq’s, but ours as well. All I have heard are lame excuses for allowing that to happen.
Thanks again for making the picture there clearer. I’m glad you’re safe.
In case you didn’t hear, the chairman of a committee to advise Bush on protecting antiquities, Martin Sullivan, and two others who sit on the board have resigned over the looting going on in Iraq stating that the situation was fully predictable as well as avoidable, and the U.S. did absolutely nothing. Is anyone keeping count of how many presidential committee members have stepped down under Bushie’s watch?
On another note, is there any consensus among the Iraqi populace about the role the U.S. should play in rebuilding Iraq? It appears from you observations that there is none.
It’s bitchin’ time…both me and them. Them (some Iraquis) are…well, let’s put it this way…I’m looking for footage of Berliner’s bitching about losing…Good Luck! They just dug out. Gee, and they had real ruins. Now, you might say they were less “captive” than the Iraquis…oh?
Well, polls on this are very hard. Anyway, we live in a time when TV is the Universal Street Theater of the Moment, absurb or not. See, now I’m bitchin’…
But I am also disappointed on the remark of an US officer…it was a remark about not being a police officer or an electrician. I wish he would have at least said that he tried something else instead of being so West Point. That’s kind of rigid…not exactly the World of Yossarian in Catch-22. That’s why I like a draft Army. You get people who think more out of the box. Oh, I’m very happy we are a good Army in the here and now. But other countries in Europe still use a draft…France, for example…where I lived for years…(horrors, eh?)…and if you don’t want to do a military job they send you off to teach French or work in a Hospital…I knew one guy who got sent to Japan to teach French…anyway, guess I’ve bitched enough…
Hey, just on the news about the troops looking for hand tools to do some kind of work and finding $320 million or so in a false wall space. Nice…and I hope the intended work was for the good of Baghdad.
Cheerio,
Tony Chopkoski
1 Caleb, if it was KNOWN that (former?) Iraq had and has WMD and KNOWN where they are as was said so many times, well, now that the country is under US control, how long should it take to go get them? Not very long!
2 Opie, the (US supported) sanctions have done a lot of harm to Iraq too. Saddam was responsible for a lot of suffering, but by removing him, the US is responsible for a lot too, what with all this looting going on. And many soldiers died, really, even though it’s unfortunate that those that did, did. And controlling a country being justified just by invading it is the thinking of conquerers and colonialists. If we’re just helping them out, well, we should do whatever is best for them, not whatever’s most arrogant. If its for WMD removal, well, I’ve seem none yet, and chemical weapons are not weapons of very much mass destruction anyway.
3 The abandoned tanks might be broken.
Well - I’m back-from-Iraq (no .com there) and decided to finally read Chris’s stuff. I promised myself I’d abstain from reading it while I was with him - somehow I’d feel funny reading what Chris thought about things (or me!) as we tumbled though the mess that is Iraq right now. With the exception of one or two sneak peeks - I managed to keep my curiosity under control. :)
But now safely back in “the world” - I’m enjoying reflecting on the stories - and some of the comments! Some of them made me laugh - some of them made me upset - but I was really impressed with how involved everyone here is. I wish all Americans would take an interest in events like you have.
I’m not going to burden people or start a flame war with my own views on some of the difficult moral and ethical issues on this war. B2I is Chris’s work - and the folks on this site want to hear his viewpoints - not mine. We often joked about our meeting - in any normal place - we probably would have only glared at each other - a more “odd couple” you can not imagine.
Strangely enough though - while Chris and I are way different on many issues - I found myself on the same page with him quite a few times. He was, by far, the most well grounded media person I came across in Iraq.
For what its worth, if you supported Chris’s work on this trip with $$$ - you got a lot of bang for your buck. Everyday I was with him - Chris was doing something - He totally impressed me with the heart he threw into this. I’ve never really liked most of the “press”, but I’d ship out with Chris any day, he was a good friend and very much a stand up guy.
He’s got a set of balls too - far more often it was me who put the brakes on things. Situations there are dangerous - and there is no such thing as a non-combatant in Iraq right now. Chris - quite literally - put his life on the line to get some of the stories you read. No small amount of courage there.
And - BTW - I do believe that things can work out OK in Iraq. Will they? That’s above my pay grade - but for the sake of the people who died (Iraqi and US forces) I certainly hope they do.
I’m not really a neo-con (Chris had to explain what this was to me - I’m not very savvy in new-speak) and I had very much hoped this particular war could have been avoided. War - no matter how short - is a very destructive, horrible business. Exactly the reason to avoid it…
Peace.
J
Tony,
Couple of differences:
Germany declared war on the US. Iraq did not - quite the opposite.
The US declared for all to hear that the invasion would bring liberation.
There is no need for a draft. It was a good thing that it was abolished. Why force people to join, when they don’t want to serve?
Peace, huh, J.?
Well, enjoy your hot showers and comfy bed. You deserve them.
Opie, one reason is that with a draft (without deferrments), all Americans would have a more direct interest in our foreign policy. Our military is disproportunately staffed with kids from lower socio-economic strata, groups who exercise little influence on our money dominated politics. Meanwhile, only one of 535 US legislators has a child in military service.
The media coverage would take less of a video-game flavor if middle-class Americans knew that THEIR kids could be sent to suppress muslim resistance in mesopotamia.
Please please please! The dialectic here has degraded to histrionics. This is not befitting Chris’ site. In the very post below this one the person with the most real knowledge of all of us — Chris Allbritton — says of Iraq’s future, “No one knows, and anyone — including me — who says they do is speaking from beliefs and assumptions rather than a possession of data.”
If everyone could simply admit that fact it would do a lot to elevate the level of discourse in America and elsewhere. There will be time enough to bicker about the facts, once they are more clear. I for one am thankful there people like Chris on the ground there to help combat disinformation from both sides of the issue.
Feel free to flame me via e-mail or my own blog, if you like, but let’s try to keep Chris’ web site a place of some enlightenment and not a shouting match where people claim products of their own bias as fact.
Can Chris try to find Salam Pax? I realize it would be pretty difficult, but it would take a load off my mind.
Is it me, or does an awful lot of people in Baghdad seem to know English pretty good? Chris hasn’t mentioned whether these Iraqis were speaking to him in English or through a translator, but it strikes me as a bit odd that so many of the complainants appear to have no trouble voicing their frustrations in plain English.
J - thanks for the help and companionship you gave to Christopher. Regardless of whether you and Christopher, or you and I, or you and anyone agree on everything, it’s great that you were both willing to risk so much to do something that you believed was important.
Stay safe and thanks again for being brave!
Other languages are less spoken in America than English is spoken in other countries. And the denizens of Baghdad speaking mostly something else doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of english speakers for Chris to interview. Please, think about these things a bit first.
the other john,
I have thought about it asswipe, and considering the lack of hard news that we’ve gotten from Baghdad over the past decade (thank you CNN) I would have thought speaking a Western language such as English would have been frowned upon by Saddam’s loveable regime. Hence my modest surprise to see so many English speaking dissenters.
Wow, great report! Thanks Chris!
And as to English speakers in Iraq, I knew that it was taught at the colleges (and that it’s the most common Western language known there), but according to the following link, it seems that it is studied in the lower grades as well.
http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/iraq/rapport_1.html
To Inmarin:
Hello, Inmarin, duh…we were not at war with Germany until after Pearl Harbor, when we declared war on the Axis first. Guess that was your “F” in History the family keeps covered up.
God forbid…we as war mongers again on trying to save the Jews again. When will we ever stop?
…and please read “The Guttenberg Galaxy” and “Understanding Media”…(but if I was your advisor I would make sure you did it slowly) The nature of TV gives a tremendous extension to the raised fist/arm that magnifies it beyond proportion. Rational debate is so pale in comparison. So shhh, don’t tell anyone around you that I wasn’t making a moral committment to either side there but commenting on media impact…could be too new…just likely…shhhhhhhh
Cheerio,
Tony Chopkoski
I admit that part of the time I cannot decipher what the heck folks are talking about, but at the very least this ‘blog is never boring! Sometimes nuances get lost in black print on a white page since real communication is more than just reading and writing: it’s body language, winks, gestures, grins, finger jabs and more. I think folks’ opinions are best read whilst giggling or at least allowing the benefit of the doubt; I find it refreshing that we are doing that here rather than all hauling cannon to the beach to blow each other away. Speak on, citizens! ~ and J, thanks for your input. It’s good to hear from you.
To Christopher:
To the next Iraqi that asks you who is in charge. Tell the man that he is in charge. For the first time, not only does he have charge over his life, but responsibility for it as well. If the Iraqi’s want to be free and stay free, tell them to get their own damned water.
Some notes: Some people spoke to me in English, others I was able to use my translator, either Sabah or Delshad, who often helped me out. Or someone in the crowd spoke English and offered to translate. English isn’t widely spoken here, but it’s not uncommon. The majority of conversations have been through a translator of some kind or another, though. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal whether I talked to people through a translator or not, so I never realy made a note of it.
As for comments. Keep them civil. I welcome criticism, comments and arguments, and I don’t really care if you insult me, but I won’t tolerate people abusing or insulting other readers. The sole reason some people have been banned from commenting is because they have shown a pattern of insulting readers, not because they didn’t agree with me or I was “not tolerating dissent.” Calling someone an “asswipe” is rude and unnecessary. If it happens again, Biggest Cynic, it’s a bannable offense. Sorry, but I just have no patience for that kind of behavior.
CNN says the Marines don’t have peacekeeping training, even their equipment is not meant for that purpose. The UN are the ones who have peacekeeping training and experience.
People declare Bush a liar because the proof of the WMD that he and Powell claimed they had came with satellite imagery, with exact geographical coordinates.
Jonathon,
Sounds like Anarchy…
I imagine if you tell the Iraqis to get their own water, they would respond with “well, you’re the reason the water is gone, so I expect you to bring it back now”.. Which, to them, is very pragmatic and even makes sense. I’m sure that since Saddam is gone, they will hold their “liberators” responsible for many things..
u have been doing a good job Cris, hope u return safely from ur Iraq trip
Chris, Great site! Thank you! Very nice readable/usable site as well.. sort of the answer to what I’ve been looking for in this whole Iraq discussion: considered, pragmatic, basic journalism about what Iraqis are thinking and feeling.
My feeling about Iraq is that, instead of installing a compromised puppet like Chalabi, the U.S. should sponsor and monitor a Constitutional Convention, much like Japan after WWII.. that worked pretty well, right?
The key is helping the Iraqis set up a CONSTITUTION, which is what makes the U.S. National Experiment a success in the first place. That is the core of our democracy, a written document that is above personality, flags, etc. ( at least until Patriot II goes into effect :) )
Chris, what is the possibility that a Constitutional Convention will take place? Pretty slim, probably.. am I being naive?
The fact that most here assume that liberals are “anti-war” and conservatives “pro-war” shows the low level of political sophistication that unfortunately is common in the USA
But that’s what happens when you have to select between the Republicans and the Democarsts in every election
when you see Tom Lantos and Stephen Solarz agreeing with Newt Gingrich and Jerry Fallwell, you know something is fishy
I couldn’t find any reference other than Christopher’s about the rising waters & potential flood danger, so I wrote to Chuck Watson. Here is his reply: “There is some indication the water levels are a bit high. There has been a lot of rain (well, by middle east standards anyway!) in the upper reaches of both the Tigris and Euphrates river basins. Today’s images are fairly oblique and tough to say for sure, but the last several days sequence does show more water in the system than normal for this time of year. Should have better data by Sunday, and will post some comparison shots.”
http://www.methaz.com/blogpics/iraq_local.html
(I apologize if this letter is long, however it contains important facts that are integral to its message. This is meant to also serve as a letter to elected officials that still strive for a free world)
Be a leader, and make a stand as a real human, beyond the forced fed propagandas of a certain faction in the US Administration that has no shame in making lies. Please stop killing, arresting, and suppressing the best sons and daughters of Iran, “The Iran’s Mojahedin” (also known as MKO). If you ever met and actually spent time with an Iranian Mojahed, You will know why they are truly among the most beautiful, freedom loving, caring, and high-spirited humans in today’s world. They hold the same value to Iranians as George Washington and its revolutionary army does for Americans.
The secret promises by some administration officials to the Iranian government were reported prior to the war (e.g. Washington has given assurances to Tehran that MKO bases in Iraq will be considered enemy targets, article: Stray Rockets Test Iran’s Neutrality Over Iraq Sat March 22, 2003 09:58 AM ET , Reuters, By Paul Hughes http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2428352 ). A sign that dirty politics were to be an integral part of this war. And truly this promise was carried starting April 10th to April 18th (e.g. NY Times, By DOUGLAS JEHL, WASHINGTON, April 16- U.S. Bombs Iranian Guerrilla Forces Based in Iraq http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/international/worldspecial/17INTE.html).
As you may know by now, Iran’s Mojahedin, residing as refugees in Iraq, have now become the sacrificial lamb that the new Iran-Gate faction of White house has decided to offer to the Regime of Iran for their so called cooperation in the US led war in Iraq. “A Dirty Deed, written in innocent blood, that auctions Iranian refugees’ years of hard work to bring democracy, peace, and freedom to Iran and the region”.
While running out of targets, American forces with the influence of a certain faction in White house (Richard Boucher being one of their speakers) turned their bombs on the main democratic opposition group of Iran. Iran’s Mojahedin were the main force that caused the Peace between Iran and Iraq in their 1980’s war. It was the hard democratic work of MKO which resulted in establishment of an exile democratic, and secular Government built on participation of Iranian refugees from all walks of life. This interim Government is called the Iranian National Council of Resistance (NCR). NCR signed a Peace Treaty endorsed by more than 5000 international figures, including representatives of then US government, and UN representatives with Iraq’s government. That peace treaty allowed for MKO to station its members along with their families in Iraq under the auspices of United Nations. Under that peace treaty, both the Iraq’s Government and MKO had agreed that they would remain totally independent from the influence of each other, respect the prewar territories of both countries, and absolutely do not interfere in each other’s affairs and aspirations. The exiled Government of NCR established a classic volunteer army from freedom loving Iranians that wanted to free Iran. This may be hard for some people to understand, but Iranian refugees that had not given up hope for a free Iran gave up everything they had to establish the classic Liberation Army of Iran, and armed it for a final show down day that it would be the formidable force that could finally topple the Dictatorship in Iran. This truly liberation army never acted beyond Iran and never knew any enemy other than Iran’s Regime. To maintain its independence, the Iranian exiled Army which mostly consisted of MKO’s freedom loving volunteers, did not obtain any financial assistance from Iraq or any other Government. All arms and supplies are bought, by funds of Iranian decedents and collections from individuals that understand the future of Iran should be in Iranians hands.
Prior to the US led war in Iraq, MKO had repeatedly declared its neutrality in this war, and understandably so. Being inside Iraq, they risked a lot by even stating their neutrality. This position was based on their Peace treaty with Iraq. Now some in the Administration think that their neutrality was support for Saddam, which is a big propaganda lie. Any one with common sense and decency can understand the difficult position that MKO was in to delicately maintain its Independence, and not loose focus that its sole existence is to remove the Mullahs Regime from Iran.
MKO has no war with anyone other than the Mullahs of Iran who rubbed the world and Iranians from decency, democracy, and peace. How indecent would someone had been to call the George Washington revolutionary Army a Terrorist Group at that time. The same indecent people are the ones that are advertising the same about Mojahedin for pity self interests, and without a fair independent review of facts. As England back then acted as the judge, jury and the executioner, some in today’s administration are overjoyed with the ease that they abuse power. No moral man or woman would do so. Neither would any decent human being.
In summary, I request that you do everything in your power to establish justice, and do the right thing, beyond material values that could be surrounding a fashionable drum beat. History of our world is full of both justice and injustice. Please be just, and try to bring back justice for MKO, and the dream of Iranians to free Iran. Please don’t let lies be the means to arrive at new dirty ties. Many democratically elected representatives in the world, including members of the US Senate, and Congress, who have had a chance to actually sit and meet with Mojahedin representatives, have come to the realization that this is no movement that anybody should be cheaply slandering, specially in a one way manner with no free opportunity for review of facts.
Mojahedin have their hands full in struggling with the Iranian Regime’s terrorists gangs that have now entered Iraq disguising in Kurdish and Arabic costumes. Mojahedin should not be attacked, incurs rated, bombed, or deported to Iran under any circumstances. Iranians do not need the financial support of America or its military might to free Iran. They just need America’s fairness, if it is to be found. America could have secured a great independent partner for regional stability, if it doesn’t get blind sited by few dirty players in its politics.
I understand that everyone has to justify the reasons for or against Iraq. If you are so adamant about the situation being so poor, why don’t you also ship on over and help? There is going to be a lot of conflict in this area for a long time. From the last posting it appears the Iraquis need to learn to work together. America is working to restore utilites, but what good is it if we are expected to maintain it? If they want THEIR country, they need to form some unity and work together!
Hello,
I was watching an interview in the portuguese TV with some Imans and they say they’re trying to keep the people calm, but if the americans don’t leave soon that can change very fast and they’ll appeal to revolt. Also, they’re afraid of a civil war.
Why don’t you try to interview an Iman? They’re the most influential people in Iraq right now.
It’s great to read your blog with your truly refreshing view of the facts. Unfortunately I believe people like you are a minority in the US.
I just found out that as usual the USA didn’t sign the international treaties regarding the protection of the culture in countries under war (neither did Britain — why I’m not surprised?). So, what happened in Bagdad regarding the museum, etc, is also hardly a surprise. At last some voices in America start to rise against all this irresponsibility.
The USA don’t sign international treaties and conventions regarding, pollution, justice or even land mines (I think) and so on. With this Bush administration things just got worse. If the american people gives enough time to this administration, the US will be a complete rogue nation and a true threat to the World. This guys only understands the globalization in the McDonald’s sense of the word — not the fact that what they do in the World affects us all. Even Spider-Man knows that with great power comes great responsibility. For me it’s clear that Mr. Bush & Co. lied to the american people and the World regarding the reasons for this war. Even Mr. Powell (the moral reserve of the regime) went to the UN to lie with all the teeth he has in the mouth. It’s starting to be clear that besides to get all the oil they can, they have no plan whatsoever regarding the country and the Iraqi people — they’re just expendable.
I’m kind of sad about all this.
Jan writes:
After the U.S. so thoroughly trashed the U.N. in this process, it seems harsh to expect it to garner what dignity it has left to rise up and begin shaking its finger.
The UN discredited itself, all on its own. After all, this is a body that voted Libya to the Human Rights Commission while voting out the U.S. Heh. The U.S. simply (and correctly) decided to go around it instead of through it.
I remind you that the U.S. has not even paid its U.N. dues for quite some time now,
This isn’t exactly right. The U.S. has paid some of its back dues. But who the hell cares? Why should we be obligated to drop our money into a bureaucratic sinkhole?
so what kind of budget does the U.N. command in a world where money is power?
The U.N. is not lacking for money. It is notorious for wasting it, though. And its lack of authority is more related to its failures than anything else? Can you name one thing that the U.N. has done right in, say, the last twenty years?
I don’t pretend to be an authority on these things…
Well, that was obvious.
…but these are at least partial points that I ponder.
Ponder away. Perhaps you might offer a solution?
For some reason, my attempts at putting Jan’s points in italics didn’t work. Sorry for the confusion.
Woven into this tale is the fact that Iraqi’s are looting themselves. Pretty pathetic if you think about it. At the end of the day, they are the ones who are stealing and looting from themselves. I won’t be surprised if some of the complainers you see on TV actually have some looted goods stashed in their living room. After all, pointing fingers is the one thing the Islamofascists do best. Civilisation may have been born in Iraq, but it seems that it quickly left soon after, taking with it gratitude, patience, logic, respect for life, responsibility, etc.
If we ever find Saddam Hussein, I say let’s reinstall him. The Islamofascists and Saddam Hussein deserve each other.
About the musuem looting — like so many things, it seems to have been a bit premature for folks to jump to conclusions on this one — i.e., “Look — the awful cowboy Americans don’t appreciate culture!! Brutes!! Letting the looting go on!!”, etc.
Turns out to be more complicated:
“Expert Thieves Took Artifacts, UNESCO Says”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47721-2003Apr17.html
“Experts: Looters Had Keys to Iraqi Vaults”
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&e=3&u=/ap/20030417/aponremiea/wariraqmuseums
“Musuem Pillage Described As Devastating But Not Total”
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/international/worldspecial/17MUSE.html
In other words, there are hints that it was partly an inside job, that the thieves had a good idea of what they were looking for, and even that Iraqi artifacts may haved been removed by Ba’aath party members as they fled the country:
“Why A Musuem?”
http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110003368
Further, stolen artifacts are already starting to turn up:
“Jordanian Customs Seize Dozens of Works Stolen From Iraq”:
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=285363&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
Somewhere I saw a report that some pieces have turned up in France, which is apparently a hotspot for the international black market in stolen antiquities.
Just a little perspective… .
Brant, are you really “Hector” come back to haunt? I ask these questions because I would like to know the answers, not because I need some smarty telling me I’m stupid for asking. I hoped that some wise person like yourself would put out some thoughtful, insightful answers (or simply decline to comment, if you cannot help.) The U.N. claims it is short on money. Do you have proof otherwise? And the U.S. has been the most powerful factor in rendering it powerless. You are the only person I’ve heard who will argue against that point. Because it has been “gone around”, it would seem rather sluggardly for the Powers That Be to whine that the U.N. should now go in and pay for and clean up the mess Iraq is in now, after we have bombed it to Hades. Or at least I think so, in my infinite witlessness.
RE: If we ever find Saddam Hussein, I say let’s reinstall him. The Islamofascists and Saddam Hussein deserve each other.
Indeed, it would be a “reinstall”, since we installed him in the first place.
Poep said:
Woven into this tale is the fact that Iraqi’s are looting themselves. Pretty pathetic if you think about it.
Extremely pathetic. What do you call an american soldier observing the looters and saying to the cameras one week ago “that’s work for the Iraqi police”. Brilliant, really — learned directly from Mr. Bush.
What’s was stolen was not from the Iraqis but from all mankind.
Poep said:
Civilisation may have been born in Iraq, but it seems that it quickly left soon after, taking with it gratitude, patience, logic, respect for life, responsibility, etc.
Yes, off course. It went to the US right away.
Let’s see, you’re grateful for the work the UN has done since WWII, you had patience bombing Iraq in this civilized manner, it was also a logic decision made by the bright Mr. Bush, you secured the oil fields in a responsible manner, etc.
I’m here remembering some scenes I saw because of a guy — Rodney King —, in the civilized LA, California, USA some years ago. So here you are, all indignation, because the “uncivilized” iraqis don’t have manners after some tons of bombs over their heads and after some thousands deads and injured. Not to mention 12 years of embargo and Mr. Saddam.
Try to withdraw the police from Washington for a week and let me know the results.
Whack said:
Just a little perspective…
The same here. Let’s see if some of the artifacts don’t end up in the Washington museums…
They have found several terriorist training camps—after 9/11, that is enough reason for me to invade Irac or any other country who supports terriorism. They are not freedom fighters, they are misguided fools.
I cannot even begin to write a response to the collective silliness of the posts on this site.
I only suggest people read some history to put modern reality into perspective, and for extra credit take a few courses in classicism and logic to help you form more intelligent arguments, regardless of your perspective.
Less than 5% of the posts and opinions on this thread are based on any substantive knowledge of the region or world history in general. That is very clear from reading it.
Btw, this has got nothing to do with being American, this level of unawareness is universal.
Mr. Noah: The fabulous thing about a ‘blog is that if you think everything everybody posted is silly and far below your level of intelligence, you can just click on out and go elsewhere. I would be open to suggestions as to where I might attend courses on “classicism”. I would also be interested in hearing your perspective, aside from the fact that everybody else is bonkers. And si, “unawareness” is universal, being a human trait.
First, I want to say that I deeply appreciate Chris’ project. It takes guts, brains, and dedication to carry out the reporting he’s doing. However, I want to point out to several of the people posting on here the danger of correlating a single individual’s reports (no matter how fair and balanced) with the capital-T Truth. Interviews with the once-and-future Jihadi are a slice. Parents asking the Marines to get RPGs out of schools are a slice.
The main point is that is that jumping to conclusions (e.g., the chaos quagmire that replaced the strategic quagmire and will itself be replaced by yet another quagmire) is not merited. It makes for good hand waving, chest beating emotion, but it’s not any more than a reflection of a single tile in a complex mosaic.
Some brief comments about some of the posts I’ve seen:
Chemical weapons are WMD (US military classification has always been Nuclear-Biological-Chemical, and now includes Radiological). Picture a crop-sprayer over Miami distributing VX.
Many educated Iraqis can speak English. Others have learned enough to chant “No, No Bush, Yes, Yes Saddam!” on CNN, and find it easy enough to reverse that.
In WWII Germany declared war on the US after the US recognized that “a state of war exists” between Japan and the US.
US military engineers know how to get water and electricity flowing, but the process is more complicated than flicking a switch. Utilities have been restored in many parts of Baghdad and in other cities, and will continue.
Wonderful web-site! I really look forward to reading more from you in the future. It seems for the first time I’m finding some real balance in reporting what goes on in Baghdad. I’m personally devestated by the way things are shaping up over there… I don’t hold any optimism for the immediate future either. But I’ll keep checking back to see if there’s a glimmer!
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Jose, maybe looting is something your family and friends are inclined to do without a constant police presence, but where I am I doubt we’ll see that type of behaviour. The fact remains, the Iraqi’s are looting themselves. The US military can rain bullets on them to stop it, but then you and many others will simply have something else to complain about.
Jan, conspiracy theories seems to be your guiding light for matters related to international affairs. That’s your right, but don’t expect everyone to be that clueless.
Richard,
I understand your impatience on WMD, but the Americans have only been in Iraq a few weeks, shouldn’t we just give inspections time to work?
John
Poep, there’s a word for the kind of thinking underlying this “Iraqis are looting themselves” meme, but it’s an inflammatory one that gets thrown around too much and too casually already, and using it will probably generate more heat than light.
Baghdad is a city of, what, five million people? There are, what, some thousands of looters? take any city of millions of people and you’ll find a few thousand destructive schmucks in it. take away any semblance of effective law enforcement for the forseeable future and you get looting, whether the city’s other 4,995,000 residents approve of it or not. it’s got nothing to do with “the Iraqi people”; I’d expect this just as much of NYC as of Baghdad, and I wouldn’t blame New Yorkers en masse any more than I blame Iraqis en masse.
RE: Jan, conspiracy theories seems to be your guiding light for matters related to international affairs. That’s your right, but don’t expect everyone to be that clueless.
Poep, I am not sure you know what I am talking about. It is a fact that Saddam Hussein was set up/installed in his power, in major part if not 100%, by the U.S. That is not a conspiracy theory; if you know it to be false, then you had better begin publishing, and set the entire nation straight.
If you have additional reason to call me clueless, please e-mail it to me privately: I provide my true e-mail address while you hide behind anonymity.
MarkP, did I say that ALL Iraqi’s are looters? I said “Iraqi’s are looting”. I don’t recall seeing US soldiers driving away with looted vases and chairs, do you? So if Iraqi’s are not doing the looting, who is?
Jan, how about providing some evidence that Saddam Hussein was “installed” by the US government? For 11 years he wasn’t even in power of the Baath party - he was second in command to then president Ahmad Hasan al Bakr. After Bakr suffered a series of ilnesses he was replaced by Saddam Hussein.
actually, you said “Iraqis are looting themselves”. so, yes, you did say that Iraqis in the aggregate are looters. sorry to break it to ya.
it strikes me as odd that the US couldnt wait another few weeks to gain international support, but can sit back for a week while the cities of iraq were looted. if the US cant find WMDs without “an ordinary iraqi telling them” how could they claim to know so much about thier existance? are there factories turning out weapons or what?
in the end, they will find some rusty barrels of chemicals such as sodium and potassium and claim they could be made into chemical weapons. never mind that any educated person in the free world can make just as lethal materials through the mail.
the reaility is that the US needs to control iraq to reshape it as a strategic base. THAT is why they took the excuse of WMDs and the distraction of 9/11 to act.
HectorJones
“the reaility is that the US needs to control iraq to reshape it as a strategic base. THAT is why they took the excuse of WMDs and the distraction of 9/11 to act.”
So, why didn’t the US take over Iraq in 1991? Did George H W bush have scruples that George W Bush hasn’t?
The H must make all the difference?
Incidentally, jan, I would like to see one shred of evidence that the US put Saddam Hussein in power. He put himself in power, quite capably, in the traditional dicatorial style of having all of your rivals shot in front of the Party.
Incidentally, those bitching about the US not paying its UN dues might bear in mind that the US is providing 22% of the UN’s regular budget and 25% of the peacekeeping budget.
Meanwhile Libya heads the Human Rights Commission; which this year includes Cuba, China, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. It just needs Zimbabwe, North Korea and Liberia to include all of the world’s worst offenders.
Meanwhile Iran is set to co-chair the Commission on Disarmament this summer, while it is busy acquiring nuclear weapons. It will share the chair with Iraq, who I predict will have a unique perspective to offer on methods of disarmament.
Re: Looting: L.A. Riots, 10-11 years ago? Oh, no, we wouldn’t…
Gabriel sa