Ramadan starts today, and we got off to a violent start with the sound of a large explosion nearby. I was in my room and couldn't tell where it came from, but it sounded like another car bomb, based on the boomy oopmh of the blast. So far, nothing on the Arabic stations about it.
After yesterday's dual attacks in the Green Zone, the center of power in Iraq is locked down, meaning no one gets in or out without a special pass. But to get that pass, one has to go into the Zone to get it, so it's a bit of a catch-22. Bother.
And since it's Friday and the start of Ramadan and the Green Zone is locked down and it's too dangerous to go out and just roam around looking for stories, there's not a lot I can do today other than make a few phone calls.
This is the reality of journalism in Iraq -- at least if you're Western. And since we've been under a semi-lockdown of our own since I got back because of Paul Taggart's abduction, I haven't even had a chance to get my legs back under me and find new stories to work on. The ones I have started reporting require access to the government or the embassy, which are closed and ... oh, you know the rest.
Highly frustrating.
Ramadan
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About me
Hi there! Thanks for stopping in. I'm Christopher Allbritton, former AP and New York Daily News reporter. In 2002, I went stumbling around Iraqi Kurdistan, the northern part of Iraq outside Saddam's direct control, looking for stories. (Some might call it "looking for trouble.") In March 2003, I made it back in time for the war, becoming the Web's first fully reader-funded journalist-blogger. With the support of thousands of readers, we raised almost $15,000. You can read my dispatches here. It was one of the moments in journalism when everything worked. It was a grand -- and successful -- experiment in independent journalism. In 2004, I moved to Iraq, where I would spend the next two years. It was a raucous, scary and exciting place with a lot of news going on. But I've since moved on to Beirut and the wider region. I now report for a variety of outlets.
You stay safe over there Chris. I think it’s going to be a rough month due to our election in November. You did mail in your absentee vote? ;-) (I’m a Kerry-Edwards phone call volunteer——my script has become an habitual saying.)
Maybe you could tell us what Ramadan is all about? I, for one, don’t know much about Islam.
Chris, could I ask a couple of questions.
1) It’s my impression, from sources such as TV news clips and Iraqi blogs, that a lot of the Iraqi resistance is at least partly fueled simply by sheer rage at the U.S. military tactic of accepting high levels of civilian casualties from airstrikes (“collateral damage”) as unreservably justified. Clip from TV a while ago of an Iraqi in Samarrah holding up a dead kid and screaming “Is this an insurgent, Allawi? Is this an insurgent?”
Memories of Vietnam. “It was necessary to destroy the village in order to save it.” “Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today.”
Can you comment on this?
2) And related - do you know anything about conditions in the British-occupied South? Juan Cole says it’s different there but it’s hard to find any news. Theoretically the Brits should be better at colonisation - lots more experience, less inclination to cause collateral damage - and presumably they’ve had long enough now to show this if its true.
Chris -
Looking at the latest attacks; they are mostly in Bahgdad. Yet the media over here has left me with the impression that “Bahgdad is safe”. Is bahgdad currently safer than the rest of Iraq?
Also, do you have a feel as to what Iraqis are thinking regarding Allawi? Who do they talk about being in favor of leading? Any possibility that what happened in Afganistan may happen in Iraq also? (namely, all parties opposing Karzai walked away from the elections.)
I’m also interested in how the election is shaping up (or not, as the case may be). There’s been very little (if any) reporting on who the actual parties are who’ll be running for election, who is likely to poll well, is there any popular support for Allawi, etc. I’d love a general post on the political landscape there at the moment.
I’m kind of assuming that any gov’t that might get elected will be so weak that it will need U.S. military support to simply exist, so it will ipso facto be a U.S. ally, whatever people on the ground are feeling.
“…Maybe you could tell us what Ramadan is all about? I, for one, don’t know much about Islam.”
Check out Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
I was thinking about you with all the latest attacks in Baghdad, and hoping that you were safe. Good to hear that you are, keep your head down and keep us posted.
Hi! I found you at Orkut and I decided to check out your page. I’m a Journalist too and I’m amazed how brave you are. It sounds incredible to live in a situation like this. I guess that’s the real Journalism and I’m proud of have a “co-worker” as you. I loved your texts and I will keep checking your page out whenever I have a break. I do hope you stay safe!
See u!
Juliana
Hi Chris.
We are hearing reports of an army reserve platoon which provides food etc, facing possible court marshall for not going on a “suicide mission” without escort in humvees that are breaking down etc. Are you all hearing the same?
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041015/D85O0B2O0.html
thanks for getting this out there in advance and any info you can provide.
Keep safe.
Chris;
Keep your eyes open and your wits about you man. Stay safe.
Ladyliberty;
Please please please make sure that when you’re calling people, if they say that they’re already registered, MAKE SURE they know about the widespread registration fraud that’s been going on. Tens of thousands of people out there probably think they’re registered when they’re not!
Tell them that unless they registered directly with the government themselves, that they have to go and do that, and make damn sure that they really are registered. Time is short for us to undo the damage that was done. Tens of thousands of voters are going to be in for a shock on November 2nd. The sooner we get the word out, the better. It’s already too late for voters in some districts (like Nevada).
it was my impression that during Ramadan, military fighting drops off. But from the news reports yesterday of the American Military pounding Fallujah with airstrikes and the car bombing today this may not be the case this year ? ps…. be safe…. with the election weeks away who knows what the heck can happen
I believe its the erroneous american ‘occupation’ that’s the root of all the excess trouble. What would the Americans have thought (or done) if some foreigners bombed their houses on a daily basis?
Ramadan is a month-long fasting ritual similar to Lent, except that while in Lent no fat, rich foods or eggs are eaten, In Ramadan nothing is eaten during daylight hours (i.e. 6am-6pm) and then a normal meal in the evening. I don’t know what the special spiritual significance is for Muslims, but I do know that some groups of Christians observe Ramadan as well - praying for the Muslims’ salvation.