IRAQ RISING

2 simple steps to forming a government..

2006-03-12T02:30:00.000Z

This business of forming a new Iraqi Government is just taking too long.. 3 months have passed already and still the politicians squabble and bicker. It’s all about power and greed.

Of course, the guilty party in delaying the process is purely dependent on which side you are affiliated with. http://hammorabi.blogspot.com/ for instance lays the blame firmly at the feet of the Kurds Sunni and Allawi faction for being so stubborn and not allowing the Democratic will of the people to be adhered to. The fact that these 3 factions represent an even larger majority of the democratic will of the Iraqi population is conveniently swept under the proverbial rug.. But hey, I guess, politics is always in the eye of the beholder.

Habibi Hammorabi (3ashet el-assami), as an Iraqi I have a 1000 times more respect for you and your opinion. I just beg of you to see the point from our side ( I mean the non supporters of UIA side). We really are not asking for much, 2 simple requests;

1- find someone other than Mr. Jafari, I mean whats wrong with Adle Abd ilmehdi or someone else from UIA… It’s not as if we are demanding the PMs position for ourselves..

2- That the ministries of interior and defence be run by individuals who have no connection with militia groups. As you are perfectly aware, there have been operations carried out by people inside these ministries that can only be described as sectarian assassinations.. We as Iraqis cannot accept a police and defence force that operate on sectarian grounds.. these forces belong to all Iraq and should protect every Iraqi regardless of his or hers back round.. IS this also such a hard request.

I swear to you, If the UIA guys could just accept these 2 points than a government would be formed tomorrow.

Separation is inevitable.

2006-03-04T00:12:00.000Z

I write this post with great foreboding and sadness. But realities on the ground must be acknowledged and with each passing day it is becoming clearer to me that there is no alternative left but to separate the Shia south from the rest of the country. And I do mean in the fullest sense, and not as a separate federal state which is also part of the rest of Iraq. The situation has developed too far for any other solution to be possible. The Shia politicians want this, the people of the south seam to have been convinced of this, and the rest of Iraq cannot accept the rule of the Mullahs so they will also see no alternative but to accept this.. Of course, this will come as music to the ears of the Iranians, but to be honest they have played a good strategic game and have outflanked everyone,. Let no one say Iranians are stupid.

I don’t say this lightly, but with each passing day and with each atrocity committed by both the Sunni Wahhabi factions and the Shia fundamental militias.. We, the Iraqi citizens are facing powers much greater than what we are able to withstand. Also, it is clear that central Iraq ( and I mean not just the Sunnis, but the liberals and Kurds also) does not want to have anything to do with the Shia government and their secret police militia assassination squads, In return the Shia general public is also suffering tremendously from sectarian killing by persons of unknown ( or maybe known) affiliations.. My point is, the two sides cannot live together under these circumstances and perhaps separation is the only solution.

This way, all sides can get on with the business of governing their prospective regions and citizens and they will have no more excuses of interference from any other third party.. If the Shia in the south turns out to become a fundamentalist state similar to Iran then so be it. The Shia in the south have made their bed and they can lie in it. None can say they have not been warned, they only need to look at Iran and its past 30 years.. If they want that life, they can have it..

The Kurds will be fine, they are the most western and liberal of the three factions and they will survive especially with the support and help of the Americans..

As for the Sunnis,, I still hold some hope for them, they have made a great move in accepting the liberals and moderators into a coalition with them.. People like Allawi, Pichachi and the others like them, will help them quickly modernise and kick out any Arabian terrorists within their midst..

This separation will not be easy; firstly, many regions in the south have substantial mixed Sunni and Shia communities living side by side.. Basra for instance has a population that is 20% Sunni.. Also, some kind of agreement must be made regarding Oil revenue and access to southern ports.. Both issues will be difficult.

I don’t want to see this happen, but everything that I’m hearing lately from UIA supporters is talk of such a move.. I don’t think a government will be formed in time, and I am 1000% (I will bet my house on it in fact) that the UIA will never allow a rerun of the December elections.

So, there u have..

A year of blunders...

2006-03-01T05:10:00.000Z

Sometimes it is difficult for people to look at events and their causes objectively. People tend to live in the moment and events which maybe news today are usually completely forgotten a week or two later.

A semi undeclared Iraqi civil war is more or less here, it might not be a full blown out faction v faction war in the classical sense, but it is a civil war none the less. Civilians are dying on all sides simply to serve the whims and greedy corruption of the few people at the top.

Many Iraqi bloggers have written very good articles and posts on these latest events. And many have hit the nail on the head with regards to the historic Sunni v Shia’ conflicts in Iraq.

Many bloogers, myself included, have been very critical of the militia’s involvements in these latest events and we have squabbled over and regurgitated many theories behind the intensions and motivations of these militia groups and their friendly neighbourhood paymasters across the way. Whilst some others Iraqis bloggers, have laid the blame squarely at the door of the terrorist Wahhabis and their Sunni supporter who have waged a constant and bloody campaign targeted mainly against the Shi’a population whom they see as infidels and a soft spot for them to hit.

The simple and unequivocal fact of the matter is, all sides are to blame. No one side is innocent of the charge of being responsible for the deterioration in the situation in our beloved Iraq.

I think that in order to have a clearer view of the causes and reasons behind the latest events it is very important to take a step back and look at the events leading up to last weeks all out hostilities.. which were so cynically used by some politicians to further their political power grab.

1- I think the root of the current problems started way back when the American administration refused/ or were unable to capture Sadr and his gang back in 2004. That failure gave a very loaded message that there is a weakness in the coalition’s ranks and that has allowed a rag tag gang of 1000 or so criminals to escape, only to become now a very well armed militia of 10,000-20,000 men whom are well armed and emboldened by political and logistical support from Iran and it’s people in the current government.

2- The refusal of Sunnis to participate in the 2005 January election was and is IMO the most disastrous decision made thus far in Iraq. It was a very stupid thing to do and it gave way to the UIA to consolidate its position in government and to apply this advantage throughout 2005 to consolidate its power in all aspects of the Iraqi political sphere which has had a major impact on current events.

3- The UIA used the January elections and the continuing Sunni impotence on the political front to have a great deal of say so over the articles and direction which were to be included in the permanent Constitution. With the agreement and partnership with the Kurdish political side (whom naively and selfishly, in my opinion, sought only to guarantee that their interests be written in the constitution without any thought or far sight as to the possible outcomes or events those interests might bring in the long run). The two sides produced a document which serves the major interests of their respective sides, with little consideration for the worries and concerns of the Sunni politic, whom were left high and dry out of the process.

It was during this period that the UIA and Al-Hakim hit upon the brilliantly cynical idea of also demanding for a federal governate for the Shi’a in the south. With the same rules that which apply to the Kurds in the north, to apply to the Shia state in the south. He can guarantee that if somehow he lost his chances in Baghdad, he can still guarantee himself a second chance of staying in power by running this Shit-istan in the south. Of course with the clauses regarding the right for each federal governate to develop and sell all new Oil resources independently of central government and to have the final say in internal matters in opposition to possible federal demands from Baghdad. He will be the king of Shit-istan and possibly the whole of Iraq in no time at all.

It is this scenario so dangerously outlined by the constitutional document which has caused more ill will in the Sunni and general Iraqi community than any other events thus far. The fact that the Sunnis were more or less left out of the drafting process, the fact that the constitutional document was ratified in spite of their tremendous reservations (through a referendum that many Sunnis and Iraqis feel were forged and pushed through with the blessing of the American administration in baghdad), is one of the main reasons why there is still so much ill will towards the political process and why there is still support for the Saddami, Bathi, and foreign fighters in Iraq.

The Sunnis were appeased eventually with the promises of having the chance to change the clauses in the constitution if they were willing to participate in the 2005 December elections. A fact that made the December elections possible and so much more important than many actually realise.

4- The 2005 December 15th elections: could really have been the successful turning point in Iraq for making it a success. So much was riding on having the fairest and freest elections possible. An election which would serve as a standard for the region for years to come. Unfortunately that was not the case. And trust the Arabs/ Iraqis to bungle it up, and trust the Americans for being so naïve as to allow Iraqis the responsibility of running such important and historic elections at such a critical point in time.

The Iraqis in charge of so called ‘’free and independent electoral commission’’ turned out to be mostly affiliated with the ruling political parties and they did a bang up job in bungling up the process in a big way. Instead of having water tight anti-fraud election procedures, they were lax to the point where the election itself became a farce not only in Iraq but also at the election centres dotted around the world. Accusations of fraud, unfair electioneering, and ballot rigging had marred any chance of achieving legitimacy to the results of the elections. Instead of us having an unqualified results with no doubts as to the will and voice of Iraqi people, instead, we end up with political squabbling and claims and counter claims of illegitimacy, cheating, ballot rigging. ink wiping, religious pressuring, police intimidation, murder, and political assassinations, , etc.etc.etc..

Something which no new born democracy should ever go through, I hear u agree.

No one expected or still believes that the UIA would have achieved such a majority fairly. Coupled with the fact that during the past year, the government and the UIA have shown a great deal of complacency with the bad dealing and killing of the militia’s and its operatives inside the ministries of interior.
The average Iraqi citizen simply has been left with no recourse, he is now like the a frightened chick contemplating which way to jump: out of the frying pan, or into the fire..
He either supports a government that is extremely corrupt and which has every chance of becoming a Mullahcratic dictatorship, or should he perhaps support those boys fighting against such a government even though some of those boys have an after-hours hobby and tendency to practice the dark arts of head chopping and busy crowded markets citizen control at the most inopportune time of day.
But then again what choice do we have. Hell, the Americans don’t seem to be interested in sorting this mess out.

5- What we have now is a complete mess. The government is non existent and there is very little chance of the UIA acquiescing to the demands of the Americans in accepting the demands of handing over the ministries of interior and defence to non sectarian ministers. The UIA see these ministries as their guarantee of holding power and I doubt they will ever give them up without a fight. So, the politicians will continue to squabble and Iraq will continue to be in limbo without an operating government. The Sunnis will get more and more belligerent as their demands continue to get ignored, and the constitution will get shelved because the Sunnis will never accept a constitution they had no say in writing. The Shia polities will also take heart and finally see that they finally have the power and opportunity to call for a separate Iraqi Shiastan in the south. This will no doubt be the final insult to the Sunnis and Iraqis who don’t want to be cut off from the oil revenues and the black gold fields down there.

The Kurds will finally have no choice but to retreat to their enclave in the north surrounded by hostile governments and factions on all sides. However, they will have the Americans to rely on for support, as Kurdistan is the natural haven where American forces can retreat to and establish their base of operations out off while the rest of Iraq burns itself out into a stalemate.

Of course, we all hope this scenario will never occur. I hope the Iraqis and Americans whom are running the show will get struck down by a bolt of Godly wisdom and enlightenment and finally realise that the only solution is to put the country first and cooperate to stop the rot. It is still not late to bring Iraq out of the desperate situation it is in. For one thing , the Iraqi Army, trained and equipped by the Americans and which has continued to be fairly free of sectarian or militia influences (unlike the Interiors forces), has shown great competence and loyalty to Iraq and its people these past few days. It may still be the hidden Ace up the American proverbial sleeve.

Lets just hope, that the events of the past week will eventually be seen as the turning point towards good. There are still good people in Iraq who love this ancient and fertile land. I prey to God, we get the chance to save it before the night falls upon us all.

Police?

2006-02-28T22:25:00.000Z

Moogie for Presifart..YAYAYHH

The Future....

2006-02-28T17:03:00.000Z

The past few days in Iraq has certainly been an eye opener to a great many people. The last days sectarian tension has certainly shown the true faces and intensions of certain people and the true dangers facing Iraq. I personally thing that the end game is almost upon us, and as much as I want to be optimistic about the outcome, I am not holding much hope for Iraq in the near to medium term future. There are just too many external and internal forces pushing and pulling at Iraq’s soul and I fear America has long lost both the good will and support of the average Iraqi people to be of any significance in the process. The only thing that America can do now is try to stand back and offer as much logistical and technical support to the people it deems to be worthy.. (kida what they are doing right now in fact).. Also their presence will make any outbreak of an all out civil war that much more less unlikely, simply out of fear from of the warring factions of American reprisals if they step too much out of line.

The reasons why I think the political process is doomed are simple in fact. They are born out of what I have seen from the political factions and their motivations which are simply centered around gaining and consolidating power.

What the events of the past few days show is a clear signal from the Shia political body that they are not interested in sharing power with anyone and that if this government is not formed according to their own wishes then separation will be the only resort.

I know that some of you will say how did u come to this conclusion, but we simply have to read between the lines to work it out. Most of the News and media outlets that belong to the UIA have been very critical of the American ambassador’s comments lately and these past few days we have seen a great escalation in the rhetoric calling for separation and the establishment of the Shia state in the south..

What this clearly shows is that the UIA and its leadership has read the script and has decided that if they cannot hole power in Baghdad then they sure as hell will make Baghdad irrelevant and establish a new power base in the south where they can hold court without any interference from those pesky Americans and their Iraqi Kurdish and liberal allies.

Of course such a step will be slightly problematic at first, for it requires the pretext of a threat of the civil war, but as we have seen the past few days, such a threat can easily be stage managed. And thus (and to Iraq’s great misfortune) the UIA leadership will take great heart from the events of the last few days and they will most likely keep the events of the past few days in mind.

The upside of such a step is that the shi’a factions themselves are quite divided and there is every guarantee that as soon as such a state is established, these same factions who are allies of a kind now will turn on each other and fight over control of the resources and power in the south.

It is almost tempting to allow such a course of events to finally take their course, as that will lead us quickly to the final settlement in Iraq, but one must not be so flippant about such things. A civil war in Iraq which leads to the fragmentation to the country will bring about huge civilian casualties and untold suffering on a scale hard to imagined. Also , such events are hard to predict the outcome of and could lead to a region wide struggle of power which will most definitely impact on the world and global economy…
This brings me back to the top.. So what do I think.. In my humble opinion, I think the fools and idiots running the show will bring disaster upon us all. I have seen nothing so far to make me think that these crazies have an ounce of brain cells between them. And when the asylum members break out of the asylum, the sane villagers better run.

Sunnis and Shi'a.....

2006-02-24T13:59:00.000Z

Going through some of the Iraqi led posts and comments lately, I have noticed a bit of a backlash from fellow Iraqi Shia’s concerning comments that I and other Iraqis posts criticizing the UIA and the Shia’ parties and spicifically the Merje3ia’s of Nejef and Karbella. It seams that the tension has come to such a level that even any small criticism is not welcomed no matter how accurate or appropriate it may be..

So I believe it’s time to Dot some I’s and cross some T’s , ,, and I plead with any other Iraqi who reads this post to engage with me to clarify what this problem is..

AS I have mentioned before, I’m a shia’ by birth and heritage.. I was born to a father who is a practising shia (i’e he follows certain shi’a rules when it comes to praying and life rituals). I on the other hand, don’t.. you could say, I’m a non practising shi’a.. heck, I’m a non practicing Muslem to be more precise.. But I do believe in the ultimate truth that the Caliphate and the true hairs of Islam were the sons of Ali (pbuh), Hassan and Hussain.

My points is, I don’t need some guy in a black turban telling me what to do, how to pray and what to think in order for me to be a good Shi’a or a good Muslem,, and Neither should any other Shia for that matter…

I know this Sunni Shia tension has been boiling over in Iraq since days gone past. I only need to talk to my 80 year old Sunni grandmother (my Mothers mothers),, to realise the great animosity some Sunnis hold towards the traditions and practises of the Shi’a community. Thing’s like bloodletting in Ashura, Zawag al-mut3a (happy one night only marriages), and the perceived worshipping of shrines, are usually first to be mentioned.

Also being a Shi’a is also inadvertently linked to being of a lower social class in Iraqi society and this is something the Iraqis got during the Ottoman empire occupation and control of Iraq as most of the ruling and wealthy families were of Sunni decent brought over from Turkey and were loyal to the empire.. Naturally, this is something that the British also inherited when they took over Iraq at the turn of the century and this status quo has lasted to this day. So, it must be made clear that the tensions between the two factions has more to do with an economic basis than a religious bases. And the fact that some people want to turn it into a religious one really gets on my nerves.

What happened this week has truly brought this tension and animosity to the forefront, (with the help of some scrupulous meddling of some people of course), we have seen thousands of desperate Shi’a go to the streets and vent their anger at the Sunni community. What upsets me is that this has and was nurtured and urged upon from the so called leaders of the Shia community.. They have continually nurtured this illusion of a tension in order to best serve their political aspirations. These leaders have acted irresponsibly towards their constituents and Iraq, and it is for this reason that I absolutely abhore them.

As for the militia’s. I really want to hear one Shia Iraqi come out with it and condemn these barbarians. And NO,, the Shia militia’s are not the same as the Beshmerga of Kurdistan, and they have proven that time and time again.. the Mehdi Army and Bedr Berigades are o more than Mafia Mudering thugs intents on doing everything that Iran asks of them,, they are not Loyal to Iraq and they must be crushed.. Any politician that supports these private mafias has no place in Iraqi politics and should be discredited.

There is so much more I would like to say, but as usually, My talent for writing is limited and my mind looses focus after a while.. I just wanted to point out that we as Iraqis need to finally come together. Sunni , Shia, and Kurd, and finally work out this problem together.. we cannot let our country go down the pan like this after all the sacrifices and blood that have been shed.. We must not let brainless politicians dictate how we must think and who we must hate.. WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF IRAQ,,, I KNOW WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS..

GOD BLESS IRAQ AND KEEP IT SAFE >> INSHA ALLAH

2006-02-23T14:19:00.000Z

So where do I start.. My heart is breaking to see my country go down this dark and dangerous road. I know that this was probably inevitable but still we all had hope that it would not come to this.

What happened yesterday with the destruction of the Samarra Mosque and the consequent Shia’a militia rampage is IMO the final straw that breaks the camels back.. We have finally come to the end of the road, and I don’t say this lightly,
the civil war is finally upon us..

I’ve been going over what happened with friends here and in Iraq,, And most of my relatives agree that this was a well organised and deliberately staged event planned to finally push the country down the road of civil disorder and segregation.

The story from eye witnesses in Samarra is that in the early hours of the morning, a large contingent of men dressed in interior ministry uniforms and driving recognisable ministry of interior vehicles entered the shia’a mosque and arrested/removed the guards from the building. After 20-30 minutes these men left the building and the area and 15 minutes after that the explosion occurred..

I have no way of confirming this story, however I have heard it now from quite a few deferent sources including a friend of mine who actually works in the green zone in Baghdad….

The provocation of the destruction of the greatly revered and holly shrine to the Shia’ community is a great pretext for the militia’s to finally get the go ahead and hit the streets to show everyone in the NEW IRAQ who is the top Dog now.. Within hours of the news of the destruction of the mosque, thousands of Shia’ts from poor areas all over the country , URGED on by the militias went on a rampage destroying Sunni Mosques and attacking Sunni neighbour hoods. There are varying reports, but thus far over 50 Sunni mosques have been attacked thus far, many burnt to rubble.. Over 20 Sunni Imams killed. 11 in the city of Basra where, as the report goes, these Imams were in Interior ministries custody when a group of masked men stormed the prison and with the help and support of the police removed them and loaded them onto busses only for them to be found dead on the outscurts of the city.

This Morning I woke up to a report saying that the police have found 50 corpses in a Sunni village just south of Baghdad, and that militia’s are still roaming the streets all over the country attacking and looting whatever they feel..

Things are bad really bad right now..

The politician’s have started bikerring again about who’s to fault.. the UIA is doing its usual drum role speeches about Khelil Zhad, Sunni terrorists and Bathi Sadamists rhetoric,, The Sunni politician’s have threatened that they are ready to pull out of the governmental talks and have accused the Shi’a of double standards and harbouring militia armies bent on dividing the country for their own nefarious plans.. The Kurds and Talabani are trying to hold the peace and try to keep the factions talking.. Sistani and the howzats of Najaf and Karbella are doing a half ass effort of calming the situation.. they talk out of both sides of their mouth, one side says it is wrong for the shia’ to attack the sunnis while from the other side saying that it is ok for them to go on the streets and demonstarate and protect themselves against wahhabi aggression.. (what they need to do in fact is issue a fatwa to stop the militia’s from roaming the streets)..

ALL THIS WHILE THE AVERAGE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE ALL COWERING IN
THEIR HOUSES WAITING FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE.

MAKE OF THIS WHAT U WILL,, PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS IS A WELL CONCIEVED AND CALLOUS PLAN TO BRING CHAOS TO THE COUNTRY WITH THE SOLE AIM OF FINALLY DEVIDING US AND TO BRING ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR THAT OUR NAIGHBOURS DREAM OF.. THIS ALSO SERVES THE INTEREST OF THE UIA AND ITS SUPPORTERS TO WARN THE AMERICANS AND THE OTHER IRAQI FACTIONS TO MIND THEMSELVES AND PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE,, I.e IF YOU GUYS WANT GOVERNMENTAL POSITIONS IN OUR UIA/SHIA GOVERNMENT U BETTER MARCH TO OUR TUNES OTHERWISE WE WILL BRING IRAQ ON TOP OF EVERYONES HEAD..

I AM SORRY TO SAY THIS, BUT WE HAVE LOST THE WAR IN IRAQ (BY WE, I MEAN ALL OF US WHO DARED TO DREAM OF A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC, CIVILISED, AND MODERN IRAQ),

EITHER WAY NOW WEHAVE LOST..

THE MILITIA’S ARE NOW TOO STRONG TO BE RAIGNED IN NOW,,

IF WE PUSH THE MILITIA’S TOO HARD THEY WILL BRING ABOUT A CIVIL WAR AND MORE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.. THE MILITIA’S ARE RUN AND BACKED BY IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM IN SEEING IRAQ BURN.

IF WE DON’T PUSH OR CONFRUNT THE MILITIA’S THEN WE ARE WEEK AND WEEKNESS IN THE MIDDLEEAST AND IRAQ IS NEVER TOLERATED. THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH ADMINISTRATION HAVE SHOWN GREAT WEEKNESS THUS FAR AND LOOK WHERE THAT GOT US.

THE FOREIGN WAHHABES HAVE FINALLY GOT THEIR WISH.. THE SPARK OF THE CIVIL WAR HAS FINALLY BEEN LIT AND NOW THEY WILL SEE THIS AS THEIR SIGN TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAUSE EVEN MORE TENSION AND BLOODSHED.. IN THEIR EYES, A CIVIL WAR WILL ULTIMATELY FORCE THE AMERICAN TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ.

THE UTLIMATE WINNERS ARE SYRIA AND IRAN AND ALL WHO ARE TIED TO THOSE TWO.

GOD BLESS IRAQ and ALL IRAQIS, may he keep them all safe and let this cloud pass over them INSHA ALLAH,.. FOR HE IS THE MOST CAPABLE OF ALL..

cry me a river , UIA

2006-02-22T12:14:00.000Z

So the elections are done and dusted. The results have been announced then double announced then confirmed some more.. the Kuzi has been devoured and everyone has had their fill.

The UIA have of course, through fair or foul means, come up with the majority block of 130 seats and they are flexing their muscles. They think that the game is won. Iraq belongs to the Houzat now.. with their Iranian paymaster by their side their dream of the greater shiastan is finally here and they can start prepairing for the return of the Mehdi..

But, they forget one thing. The idiots forget who put them here. The ungrateful asses forget that they would still be running their circus freak shows back in Qum were it not for the American administration taking pity on them back in 2003 ans allowing them to sit on the negotiating tables. They think that they had consolidated a bit of power and with Iran mullahs at their back, they are SOMETHING NOW,, well I have news for them,,, they better wise up real soon or America is send them and their freak show circus back to TAHRAN with a bomb between their backside..

IT is time for them to realise if they want to be taken seriously as a political entity worth any consideration in Iraqi politics, they must immediately cut ties with Iran, start to show willingness to accept power sharing in Iraq, and to forget this illusion that they are in fact the majority in Iraq (they are not).. Shia’s are the majority religion in Iraq, but the UIA is not Shia’ Iraq.. they are only a political party that represent some part of shia Iraq.. IN FACT, the majority voice in Iraq belongs to the other 140+ seats that represent the Kurds / Allawi/ and the Sunni and independents blocks.. If we are getting technical about it then they are the majority in Iraq and they have as much right to demand the right to nominate the president and prime minister..

The UIA seriously needs to re-examine its position and start to think out of it’s box.. they are living a dream right now. They need to remember how they got to where they are, they need to show a little more gratitude to America. They need to forget about the idea of revenge that they have against the Sunnis. They must cut ties with Iran, they must cut away from the militia’s. ONLY then , will they be taken seriously as a legitimate political force worthy of holding power in the new Iraq…

Some statistics and facts.....

2005-12-25T06:37:00.000Z

Here are a couple of links to the last United Nations sponsored census regarding Iraqi population demographics..

A few things i would like to point out.

1- Sunni population percentage in Baghdad. These figures are disputed ofcourse, but between this last report (published after the US invation) and the election results. A truth can be found in there somewhere.. And its deffinately not 58 % for UIA.
2-Education level of Baghdadi population. I hope you all can agree with me, that a relatively high educated class/populous is more likely to vote for liberal and non sectarian than on sectarian and religious lines.
3-the Kurds are Sunni and therefore are counted as such in these reports.
4-Basra; where the hell did all the suni and christian votes go.. As all iraqis know very well, Basra is the second largest city in Iraq and has a substancial Sunni and christian population. Its a relatively Middle class city with many professionals who are well educated and are unlikely to vote on religious lines.. In Basra the UIA 555 got 77% of the vote, Allawi 11% the rest almost negligble.
5-where the hel did the Kurdish vote go in Baghdad.
6-One last point,, Seat allocation was not at all reflective fairly. In my oppinion seat allocation was cut down in Sunni areas in favour of Shiaa suthern governates. you can look at this closely yourselves.
This goes for both Sallahadin (8 seats ) and Al-Anbar (9 seats) now compare them to other southern provinces with very similar seats and look at the population differences,, Noticfe also how Babil gets 11 seats ove Anbars 9 seats. 150,000 extra voters right.. Well right. but why does Najef,, Qadisiya and Wasit(vasit),, all have the 8 seats same as Sallaheddin when Saalahadin is more than 100,000 more voters than each of these provinces.. especially in Quadisiayas case where its almost close to 200,000 more voters in Sallahaddin .. Go figure..

HERE'S A LINK http://www.ieciraq.org/final%20cand/pos2/PO_Poster_Seat%20Allocation_Turc.jpg (seats allocation per province).

1.1 Distribution of population by governorate
Mid-year population 2004 as projected by COSIT
Governorate Population
Duhouk 472,23
Nineveh 2,554,270
Suleimaniya 1,715,585
Al-Tameem 854,470
Erbil 1,392,093
Diala 1,418,455
Al-Anbar 1,328,776
Baghdad 6,554,126
Babil 1,493,718
Kerbala 787,072
Wasit 971,280
Salahuddin 1,119,369
Al-Najaf 978,400
Al-Qadisiya 911,641
Al-Muthanna 554,994
Thi-Qar 1,472,405
Missan 762,872
Basrah 1,797,821
Total 27,139,585

Now you can make up your own mind about the truth behind these election results, and the last two elections for that matter. As far as i'm concerned every election so far has been tainted with fraudulant activity and mismanagement.. The only difference now is that it just matters so much,,,4 years is just too long a time to allow for people who are dishonest to rule.

http://www.faair.org/images/Iraq-Census-Total-2003.pdf

http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm

http://www.ieciraq.org/English/Frameset_english.htm (latest results from the Iraqi independent commision).

So please, stop regurgitating the bullshit that your lazy media keeps telling you about Iraq and Iraqis. We are not a country of sheep that follow the prevailing winds or the march of the mullahs. We have been one of the highest educated per capita countries in the middle east for a long time. we have a very large middle class. And that is not just my oppinion,, It is a well documentated fact and recognised by the United Nations reports.

Anyway, check out the links and feel free to knock yourselves out,,

merry xmas.

Stories from Iraqi election....

2005-12-21T14:34:00.000Z

Election Official in Basra speaks out about Fraud in election..
18-12-2005 Abd Husain Salman (election official) Basra (translated from Arabic).

I was one of the election observers in one of the Election centres in Basra, In the centre that I was sitting in the Director of the came to me and said : Go out to the other centers, so I said to him I have my others observers at the other centers and there is no need for me to go.
Then came a person to me who carried three different and said to me that he spoke to the Director of the centre who told him it is ok for him to vote three times on behalf of those people (which is forbidden according to the rules that we were trained for and set down by the election commission). And they actually gave him 3 ballots for him to use and elect, I saw this and tried to stop this, I declared my refusal to be an acumlice to this illegality, I stopped this person who was about to vote three times and asked for the Director of the centre to come and clarify this situation.
The Director of the Centre denied that he gave the ok for this person to vote on behalf of his relatives, and I demanded the recording of this event. They tried to convince me to forget it, but I kept my demand. They then, after a little while, asked me to go up to the Directors Office and started to plead with me to withdraw my complaint in fear that the results from this centre might be cancelled or declared void. After a great deal of pesuation , I finally backed down on the the condition that the people that were supposed to be voting come and get their fingers marked.

And these are my observations for the elections in Basra;

1- the majority of the election observers and officials belonged to the Shia Coalition parties.
2- The majority of the observers were of very poor educational standards, because the majority of them came to the election in exchange for payments and did not really care about the job.
3- The police members were voting in large numbers on the election day dispite the fact that they had already voted on the 12th.
4- The doors were open to every person not even registered in the election council registry, and thee were a huge number of people coming in groups coming and voting from centre to centre.
5- The ink that was used was of very poor quality, or was watered down so it is removed very easily. And there were reports coming from collegues in Basra that the police themselves charged with protecting the centre were helping people remove the ink with chemical paint remover, so that the peopler can vote again.
6- A friend of mine told me of a fraud he saw personally in one of the centre, whereby the person counting the ballots declared a s tack of ballots for 555 (UIA) whereby it was actually in fact for another party. This was spotted by another observer who bruaght this fraud to the head director of the count. He said that he will look into it, but in fact did nothing.
7- Many people voted for other people and even on behalf of the dead.

Hadi Al-Mayahi, Electoral Official in election centre in Birmingham United Kingdom (overseas election centre), Tells his story about what he saw in that centre.
18-12-2005 Hadi Al-Mayahi Birmingham UK

I am Hadi al-Mayahi, One of the employees at the election centre in Birmingham Uk, which is one of the three election centre set up for over sea Iraqis living in the UK.

The fraud that happened in the election centre I was in is something unbelievable.. I swear by God I saw more than 2000 people vote twice or more and most of them Kurdish, they kept voting and coming back to vote again after an hour.

At first I didn’t know how they were managing to clean off the Ink from their fingers, until I got one of my breaks so I decided to follow them outside to work it out. I found a few people outside carrying a couple of chemical cleaners or something like that, and he was actually one of the officials who worked in the centre, and he was in cohorts with them and encouraging them to go back in to vote again.

And as I continued to look into this I managed to catch one of these guys out and he had voted 3 times already. As I confronted him he said to me and in a very rude and abusive way that yes he hasd voted 3 times and he will vote a 4th time and I will see!! So I reported him to the head official of the centre who in turn escorted him out of the centre.. But after 1 hour this guy returned with some of his friends and even was allowed to vote again.

And as I compaired the records that we were keeping I found out a large percentage of the voters had the same name and addresses. How can the herad of the over seas director of the elections Mrs.Hamdia al-husainy say that these elections outside wee of the highest standards.!!!

Do you know how mush the costs for the over seas elections were? 1.600.00 (million, sis hundred thousand). This money could have build a whole province in Iraq, instead of this idiotic fake carnival, they could have fixed the streets or electricity.

If you compare the electoral records you will see that I tell the truth, and we complained more than once, but without any result. We even threatened to withdraw from the centre. .. The Arab Iraqi workers were outnumbered 40,, while the Kurds numbered 70.. And the Director of the centre was Kurdish and the head of security was Kurdish.. they said to us and very rudely,, that even if you guys withdraw then that will not change a thing.. we will do this without you,,

Thank you….your brother/ Hadi Al-Mayahi.

Fraud Reports in elections centre in Najaf.
19-12-2005 Akeel Hassaan.(translated from Arabic)

1- The Najaf city president visited a number of election centres in the jadaria district of the city. This is against the rules of the electoral directs which stipulate that no government officials are allowed to do thus thing.
2- There were special areas in the head electoral counting centres set aside which no one was allowed to enter unless you belonged to a certain party. This was where the ballot boxes were kept and final counts done in.
3- There were even centres set up separate allocated for Afghani and Iranians living and studying in Iraq ( Religious schools) where these people can go and vote. These people did not hold an Iraqi citizenship and one of these centres is (election centre : Tahtheeb School / centre 5) in Jadedat district.. And other centres.
4- In the election centre ( Al-yaqta school) in Hanoon district/ Amam hasan al-askary street… the electroral Director went about stamping the ballot forms in large numbers and put it all in the boxes himself (Mr. Fural Wahab Habeeb,)
5- In the election centre (Nahruwan school/centre 2) Jadadat district.. they went about giving the ballots to the people without even checking for identification documents. (reported by / Mr. Rayath mahammed)
6- In the electoral centre(Amal school) the director went about giving ballots to people without identification.
7- In the election centre(Amal school) the director of the election went about giving ballots to people who were not even registered in that district, but wee in fact from the Al-Aasskaria district.
8- In most of the electoral centres in Najaf.. the Electoral workers went about themselves asking and requesting from people to vote for particular parties that they favoured.. and this happened under the gaze and supervision of the Director of the election centre. (Malik al-Ashtar school election centre)
9- In the election centre (Al-tasamoh school) in the Matloom District,, there were a great deal of fraudualant rule breaking.. as it was observed that a large number of people were allowed to go about to vote on behalf 10 and even 20 other people on the excuse that they were family members agsent and not able to attend the election. All this without even documentations.. This, in addition to having the head of the police force captain for the centre (Mr. Aad hasn Halal) tell people while standing near the ballot box, to vote for a particular party.. All this under rthe gaze of the directors and officals..
10- Their was abuse of the people who did not read and right, where by the officials of a certain centre went about voting for 555 party on behalf of these individuals even if that was not what they wanted.. One of these centres was (Al-malag and batoola/Rathia district) director of centre ( Kasim Sad Kathim Al-kazee)
11- The use of the Marjaiya followers in the areas and districts mentioned and in the farming areas to cause fear and disturbance and to cause the people to vote for 555 and to give a religious excuses for the officials who participate in fraud.. they even called for people to vote for more than once as that is good for them.. And that whoever doesn’t vote for 555 then he will be judged by Allah on judgment day.. (and these persons were followers of .. Sheik Mahomed Al-zaheeri head Imam of the Marjaiya in the Rathaweeya district).

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT....

2005-12-20T19:06:00.000Z

I know that I have said that I’m closing my Blog.. But I just can not keep silent and stand idly by and watch my country go down this dark and terrible road. We have sacrificed too much to allow this to happen. My dear friends this is the time where we must make our voices most loudly heard, we must shout out from the roof tops:

We will not accept anything for Iraq other than a complete and utterly transparent and true democracy.. We were silent when people were being killed and intimidated in Basra, We were silent when the constitution was huridly passed and ratified inspite of the obvious manipulation of results, and the disapproval of a vast majority of peace loving Iraqis. We were silent when secret torture chambers were found operating under the supervision of this government and its minister of interior.. Well WE CANOT BE SILENT ANYMORE,,’’

I hear people urging patience and to wait until the final results are announced.. well I tell you this, we must not wait, we cannot wait.. By then it will be too late.. The Iraqi electoral commission has made it obvious thus far who they are backing and who their paymaster are. This government has used these past 9 months to only corrupt and intimidate and scheme for this day.. WE MUST NOT BE SILENT.

And for those who still believe in the fairness of these elections then please follow my reports which I will update below,, I will translate and post every Email, Article, report I can get my hands on.. And you will see how high this shit stinks. Major electoral fraud and manipulation in Iraq and every country. In Britain, In Holland, In Germany, In America,, all under the guise and the blessing of this so called electoral commission..

For the past three days I have done nothing but follow the latest results and comments coming out of Iraq.. I’m currently glued to the Iraqi 3 main TV channels and things look really bad.. I’ve been calling my friends in Iraq, and things are really bad,, I’ve been reading every Iraqi Arabic news report, and things are really bad.. This election has been high jacked with such militaristic precision that it makes me sick to the stomach.

LADIES AND GENTLE MAN,, what we have here is an organised and cinical attempt by the UIA to consolidate power by any means possible.. It is no better than a military CUDETA..

I can not be silent and accept this. I will not let my voice (so hardly won with the blood of every soldier, child, mother, father, old and young, who have given so much so that we can live in peace and freedom respecting one another without fear from the secret police knocking on our doors in the middle of the night and the mass graves which have not even been cleared yet), be watered down like this.. I will not allow them to replace one fascist dictatorial system of Saddam Hussain with another one in a guise of an Islamic revolution.. I will not allow their guns and their knives intimidate me into silence..
WE ARE STRONG THAN THAT,,, SPEAK OUT FELLOW IRAQI YOUR VOICES ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN A THOUSAND GUNS. SPEAK OUT, WRITE, DEMONSTARET, EMAIL THE UNITED NATIONS, STAND IN FRONT OF THE IRAQI EMBASSY.. SPEAK OUT..SHOUT OUT.

Sadr followers win majority in new Iraqi parliament.

2005-12-19T13:24:00.000Z

Congratulations America,

welcome to the Islamic devided wartorn republic of Shit hole Iraq.. Watch your Petrol Gas pomp prices go up.. A bunch off idiots, the whole lot of ya....

Iraq Rising.. More like Iraq dying..

Blogg closed.

I have a Dream....

2005-12-18T12:30:00.000Z

Do you guys still remember the days Baghdad just fell to the liberating troops of the coalition. I was so happy then. I felt like I was a kid reborn. I was so grateful to those soldiers for what they had done for me and my people. I was ecstatic beyond words.

That seems such a long way now, so much has happened since: Abu Grehb, Fallujah, Paul Bremmer and his naïve botched political planning etc.. etc,,,. All that has left me tired and listless. It seamed to me that with every positive step forward we take, we always end up going two steps back.

And now we have these ‘’historic’’ elections. A grandiose theatre of 15 million poor Iraqis risking life and limb for a belief in their own vision of a true democracy. I say their own vision because it is just that, a vision. A dream.
The more I think about it, the more I’m starting to be convinced. Democracy to an Iraqi does not hold the same meaning as it does here in the west, for the majority of Iraqi, democracy is about power and how to keep power. The Shia’s want to keep power, the Kurd’s want to keep power. The Sunnis want to keep power, the liberals want power. Iran wants more power. America are loosing power power. Everyone wants power. And to hell with the rest.

Democracy for them is simply an ethereal notion. And the elections is just an act, a second act in a sick parade. And as long as the outcome suits their own selfish goals and needs then democracy is most probably served.

Now we have act three.. the bickering, the fighting, the name calling, the accusations and all that trash…
The people have spoken, even though if it was them who spoke on their behalves: Iranian trucks stuffed to the brim with fake ballot boxes; Swear on the Qur’an and vote for 555 and all your dreams come true; Ohh shit we ran out of election forms, Ali used them all for the Hawza party; Raise your head, raise your dead, today they vote for Abu Mohammed, make sure they turn up and we’ll give them special dispensation from Sistani to move their soul from Hell to Heaven… and on and on and on.

Intimidation, ballet stuffing, ballot rigging is just the flipside to democracy to these guys. What does that matter, It is democracy, If it looks like democracy, smells like democracy, and feels like democracy, then it is democracy.. Details are not important, power is king.

Hey I’m not just picking on the Shia’s, the Sunnis and Kurd’s are not much better, but at least they don’t want to turn us into a colony of Iran, and they are not proclaiming 50% + of the votes already and the right to establish a religious Hawza government.

I am sick and tired of this parade. What kind of democracy is this that allows militias to supervise election centres and have you swear on the holly book to vote for a particular party just before you cast your vote. What kind of democracy is this where government officials actively intimidate people into voting a certain way. What kind of democracy is this where political parties claim overwhelming victory even before the ballots are counted.
And you know what’s funny, their political leaders brazenly demand from the electoral commission to watch out for cheating or votes rigging when counting the votes. They are worried that American officials might put pressure on the commission to clean up this shit they worked so hard to put us in. I mean hey, that Iranian shit is expensive, they had to truck it all the way from Tahran.
What are your plans Mr. Hakeem?.. ,, You gonna bring Bedr to the streets and make your Islamic revolution. Right?..

And then we have the Kurdish Parties, All high and Mighty in their northern mountain fiefdoms. Honestly, I wish they would just proclaim independence and be done with it. Their leaders are no more than a bunch of crooks and thieves, they don’t even have the honesty to do what their people are demanding of them and establish a free and independent Kurdistan. They are too bizzy siphoning off 30% of Iraq’s oil revenue allocated to them and making deals with Israeli and Norwegian companies for Billions of dollar.

Successful elections?. We’ll see.
Democracy?.. In Iraq!!! You must be kidding. Educate the people first,, Habibi.

I’ll reserve my judgement for now. All I can say is that these next 2 weeks are the days of our lives…

How the mighty have fallen.

2005-10-19T06:21:00.000+01:00

Saddam Hussein;

Dictator, Psychopath, Murderer, Madman, Thug, Assassin, Monster, Warmonger, Egomaniac, Thief, Racist, Xenophobe, Liar, Ignoramus, Torturer, the destroyer of a nation.

I don't care what happens to this man. In fact I wish he were dead already. I think the majority of Iraqis would say the same.

In my opinion the timing of this trial is not ideal, but the fact is that PM Ja3fary and the current ruling Shia majority parliament have pushed very hard to make sure that this trial occurred before the December 15th elections and while they are still in power. I guess they were worried that maybe after the elections the new Government might feel sorry for Saddam and let him go. (Me being sarcastic)

For me, I hope these trials take a very, very, long time. I hope that every person who has ever been damaged by this man's actions, directly or otherwise, gets a chance to face him in person and ask him why and what for. I hope that all Iraqis get to see and relive the pains of the past through these trials so maybe at the end we can be reborn as one nation again, with brotherhood instilled in our hearts. I hope.

I see this trial as a chance for all us Iraqis to finally find closure and deliverance from the ghosts this man has wrought on our lives.
I'm not sure what the powers that be have decided regarding these trials. I just wish they do the right thing by us all.

The magic is not in the paper....

2005-10-17T08:23:00.000+01:00

Even before the official result of the ballot count is due to be announced, it seams quite clear that the outcome of this constitutional referendum has been preordained to be an unequivocal yes by the majority of Iraqis except of course those areas where the Arab Sunni population so overwhelmingly outnumber any other sect that any suggestion of a ‘Yes’ vote would be so absurd as to be laughable.

It seams that the current Kurdish / Shia’t government, backed by the US administration, have managed to achieve a substantial coup in convincing the world that they have run an honest and legitimate vote count in order to pass this draft constitution. The fact that the average Iraqi is mind boggled by the 70+% ‘Yes’ acceptance in majority held Sunni Dyala and Niniveh provinces is considered neither here or there to the Iraqi government or the American administration.

Now before you go on about how Sunnis are not all one voting block or how the last minute concessions and amendments had convinced the Sunni Islamic Party to make a last minute announcement that they in fact were calling on their members to vote ‘Yes’ for the ratification, and how that would explain the change of heart of the Muslawi (Ninivan’s) or Dyalan’s to all of a sudden change tack and overwhelmingly vote 70+% to ratify, Let me clarify some a few facts.

1- Contrary to what the press wants you to believe the Islamic Party represents a very small percentage of the Sunni population and unlike the situation with the southern Shia’t religious Hamza (religious authority) of Nagaf and Karbala, there is no obligation on Sunnis to follow Fatwas or Edicts of the religious clerics like the Shia’t do every time Sistani press office decides to issue one in his name.

2- The Niniveh province, with its population of nearly 1.5 million mostly Arab Sunni and Turkmen Sunni, both fiercely apposed to the government and American occupation, has seen substantial military activity these last few months, the latest of which is at Tel-A3far city west of Musol. Now, the government wants you to seriously believe that this very troubled city with alls its past year’s anti American sentiment would conceivably vote overwhelmingly for the ratification of this constitution. (I don’t think so.)

3- Everyone seams to be praising the substantial Sunni participation and how that somehow means they have finally decided to drop arms and join in the democratic process. The fact is, whether you believe me or not, is that Sunnis overwhelmingly came out to vote in fear of the ratification and the increasing alienation that they feel in Iraq. The fact that it was largely peaceful on the day is not due to Iraqi security force operations, but due to the fact that the Sunnis paramilitary wings urged by the political organizations held off any attacks on the day to make sure that as many of their population would vote against the constitution being ratified. The fact that the government seams to have assassinated this much hyped political and democratic process by forging the results will not go unnoticed by the Sunnis or their paramilitary groups.

Where does this leave the political process in Iraq?

Many of the comments I have read over the past two days exalt this referendum as some kind of victory and major step forward to the country. Many commentators keep referring to the imminent passing of the constitutions, and the rights that it may or may not provide to the average Iraqi citizen, as a major victory or validation to the American efforts in Iraq, as if it is a document sent down from God, set in stone and impossible to abuse. They seem to believe that somehow the passing of this document is like the magic pill which will cure all of Iraq’s woes. The fact of the matter is that this document, like many of Iraq’s constitutional documents of yesteryear, is only as valuable as what the people make of it. It derives its power from the people and for the people. That is its magic. Otherwise its no better nor more valuable than the paper it is printed on. Tyrants and dictators will always find a way to make pieces of paper irrelevant, all it takes is the right political climate and enough guns.

For me, it is the democratic process that will save Iraq and not a ragtag contradictory piece of fantasy literature. Iraqis must be helped to believe in the Democratic process and all that comes with it. Public dialogue, Free Press, Responsible governance, Trusted and honorable police and Law officials, Free fair and transparent elections.

If the Vote comes back as a ‘Yes’ to the constitution, aa most are already hinting, then a huge opportunity will have been lost by both the American and the Iraqi governments to bring piece and reconciliation to Iraq once and for all. The next few days and weeks will witness a Sunni uprising on a scale not seen before and I’m truly fearful from the days to come.

(PS. Just in case you are wondering; No, i'm not Sonni. My Mother kurdish and my father is a Shia Arab originally from the southern city of Nasarya. I was born and raised in Baghdad and i currently live in the UK).

Iraq’s Constitution and Democracy?

2005-10-15T21:58:00.000+01:00

Today’s constitutional vote should mark the turning point for Iraq. And the outcome of this vote is more important than many could ever guess or think. We are at the cross roads, one path would lead to chaos and a civil war while the other would finally bring reconciliation and peace to Iraq and set an example that democracy and peaceful political participation is the only way forward and that the voice of every Iraqi does have a value and can change the political landscape.

Enormous efforts have been made to pass this constitution in spite of the Sunis rejections and fears. The Western media and Iraqi Government media keep hinting that the constitution will be ratified and that the latest amendments to the draft has convinced enough Sunis to vote ‘Yes’ to the draft (Which is completely untrue). This eagerness to pre-judge the results and somehow prepare the media to accept a preordained ‘Yes’ vote before the results are even cast or counted somehow smacks of a conspiracy to prepare the public to accept the ‘Yes’ vote before hand.
This is very dangerous in my opinion.

If there is one thing that is clear from today’s turnout polling numbers is that Sunis in their majority held cities and provinces have in fact turned out in Massive numbers to vote ‘No’ for the constitution and to cast it down. You only have to look at the turn out numbers in cities such as Mosul, Kirkuk, Diyala, Baghdad, and provinces of Sallahaddin, Naynawa, and Anbar, to see that these areas which have substantial popular Suni and Turkmen rejection to the constitution have finally heeded the democratic call and headed out in force to cast their voice.

Now, as we all know the final counting will not be done at the polling stations but instead the count will be done at the green zone under the control and supervision of the Iraqi government and American administrations. If the results come back and do not coincide with the voting that went on, then I fear that the Suni populations would up in arms and completely be disenchanted with the idea of continuing their involvement in a peaceful political participation.

These are the turnout levels recorded in the 18 provinces in Iraq according to the electoral commission in the latest press conference:

High= more than 66%
Moderate= 33% - 66%
Low= less than 33%

Duhok: moderate.
Erbil: moderate.
Sulaymania: high.
Mosul: high.
Kirkuk: high.
Diyala: high.
Anbar: unknown.
Baghdad: high.
Babil: high.
Kerbala: high.
Wasit: moderate.
Salahiddin: high.
Al-Muthana: moderate.
Al-Qadisiya: low.
Najaf: high.
Thi Qar: moderate.
Maysan: moderate.
Basra: moderate.

A Dangerous Constitution.

2005-08-29T02:49:00.000+01:00

As you all know, the most pressing and controversial topic in Iraq is the Constitution. Watching the Iraqi news and following the reactions of the politicians in Baghdad and outside has given me great hope for the future, but at the same time great dread for the present.

Watching the Sunnis finally get involved publicly in the democratic process is wonderful to see. The fact that they are calling for the people in their regions to register and vote down the constitution is a welcome sign that they have finally realised that they will only secure their interests through peaceful and democratic means, and this can only be good for the rest of Iraq.

Another interesting thing that has come out of it is the open alliance between different and historically competing factions all uniting in opposition to this constitution. It seems that other than the Kurdish and Hakim’s/Ja3fari alliance, everyone else in Iraq is opposed to this constitution. And the reasons are quite clear. The major issue is the nature and powers of the Federal state visa-ve the Federal regions. The Kurds and the Shia coalition naturally support this idea as this guarantees their hold on power in their prospective regions, However for this same reason many Iraqis fear this proposed federal regional nature will inevitably lead to the break up of the country at some point down the line. I for one am not concerned with this point, as I don’t believe that federalism, when done correctly, will pose such a problem, however I do have major concerns with the articles and provisions written in the constitution regarding this. I also have great concerns for the future democratic nature of these regions because from what I have read so far the constitution does guarantee democratic rights in the election of the federal government in Baghdad ( through checks and ballances and power seperation of the president, prime minister, and the parliament), but does not guarantee any democratic elections in the federal governates. As it stands, powerful regional politicians can easily seez power and manupulate electoral and governmental matters to suit their positions and desires, and to make maters worst, it stipulates that these regional federal governets have the power to refute any demands from the central federal parliament and government in Baghdad to interfere in their regional affairs.. Here in lies the danger as I see it..

The constitution, if ratified, will allow a very easy path for regional dictators to set up shop in oil rich regions with little right for the democratically elected parliament in Baghdad to challenge these dictators or throw them out of office if need be..

Please read the constitutional text carefully, particularly the latter pages which deal with federalism and the power and electoral nature in these regions…

(Here is a translated text draft of the constitution courtesy of the associated press.) ..

In my oppinion more articles and provisions need to be added in the constitution to guarantee that those regions that become federal in nature are all subject to the same electoral and democratic rules that the parliament in baghdad will be subject to.. Or better still, that the presidents of these regions can only be chosen by the central federal parliament in baghdad subect to some agreed rules..that way we can guarantee freedome to all iraqis from the north to the south.....

Please post your oppinions and please read the draft carefully,,
Maybe I missed somthing.

Akba

Steven vincent

2005-08-04T09:22:00.000+01:00

I just fund out about Steven Vincent’s heinous and callous murder in Basra. My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.
I am so very very sorry.

Steven was a bright light in a dark world. He bravely bucked all the odds, when others were quick to leave Iraq as the going got tough. He bravely continued to tell the stories and challenge the situation. His Stories from Basra are the epitome of great journalism, and he will always deserves our admiration utmost gratitude.

As an Iraqi, I will never forget you Vincent. And soon all Iraqis will know your sacrifice. School children will know and remember you amongst all the brave souls who have given and continue to give their live so that they can have a brighter future.

I will try my best to preserve your articles and blog reports for the future. God bless you and may you rest in eternal piece.

Gratefully Yours,
Okba

Ps..I have not bloged for quite a while as I have decided to stay away from the news for my sanity. I’ve been so depressed and down lately, and this news is the worst. When will this nightmare end.

First visit to Syria

2005-06-30T01:05:00.000+01:00

i'am travelling to Syria tomorrow to visit some relatives there. I have never actually been there before so i'm kinda excited about this trip. It will give me an opportunity to really judge the situation there and c if all that i read about the Ba'ath regime there is true..

I hope to come back in one week so look forward to a post about life in Demascus as soon as i come back.

Ukrainian - Iraqi Development Association.

2005-06-23T15:38:00.000+01:00

Firstly, I’m sorry about the long absence. I’ve been kinda bizzy lately with work and family matters and I haven’t had the time to either Blog or follow any of my fellow Iraqi Bloggers this past two weeks

Going through the Bloggs today I noticed Fayrouz's latest wonderful and lively post about the whining Iraqi mentality. You should all go check it out and leave a comment.
She poses the suggestion to all us Iraqis who continue to whine and complain about the current situation to get off our fat Iraqi butts and do something positive about it. I for one completely agree with her and think that it’s our duty (especially for us Iraqis living abroad) to try to do all that we can to move positively in the right direction.

I know that most of my latest posts have been kind of depressing and negative, but that’s only bourn out of frustration for myself and my relatives and colleagues in Baghdad.

For example:
For the past 6-month, I and some engineer friends of mine have been feverishly trying to establish a Ukrainian-Iraqi Development Association (UIDA). The aim of which is to facilitate and improve contacts between Iraqi businesses and East European companies that might be interested in investing and partnering with Iraqi companies. We have managed so far to sign up to 30 Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian, and Finish companies visa-vie only 8 Iraqi based companies. One of the most difficult stumbling blocks is actually getting hold of other NGOs or Iraqi based Trade Associations that are willing to lend their support and partner with the UIDA. It is very frustrating doing business in Iraq right now, because of the security situation. I’m always reticent about asking friends or colleagues in Iraq to risk their lives just so to have a meeting with this person on that. Besides its almost impossible to get hold of the right people without having the right contacts in the government or the major American or British operating companies. I have tried contacting the Iraqi-American chamber of commerce without any luck. I have also tried contacting the British-Arab chamber of commerce who were helpful but were unable to assist any further.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions regarding how to move forward with this problem, than please email me. I am willing to entertain any suggestions.

Akba
Medcom@Gmail.com

A nut-house called IRAQ....

2005-06-13T08:10:00.000+01:00

I feel sorry for Americans, I really do. When they liberated Iraq they never expected to find a population as insane and dysfunctional as the Iraqi population is. They never factored in the psychological damage that 30 years living under Saddam Hussain has done to a population of over 25 million people.

One of the things I remember so vividly as a kid are the real horror movies of post Iran-Iraq battles that they used to show on daytime TV. It was a well known tradition for Iraq’s one and only national TV channel to show hours and hours of these post battle real life documentory-style movies. Imagine your worst Hollywood B-movie nightmare multiplied a thousand times, except it was all real. Dismembered Bodies, burned and unrecognizable. Gassed up Iranian soldiers half berried and rotting in the sand, the flies hovering over their unfortunate corpses. Young men no older than teenagers each one reminding you that it could be you, your brother, father, cousin, a friend..etc.etc.. all accompanied by this horrible army band music..... (I’m sorry but its all coming back to me now)…. Imagery so horrible to remember or comprehend

Saddam and his cronies saw nothing wrong with broadcasting those images to his people on a daily bases. Hours and hours of that crap.

The above is only an example of one of the things that Saddam had inflicted on us. A thousand worst has and had happened in that prison called Iraq. No wonder we are all so fucked up.

I was talking to my cousin in Baghdad the other day about why the hell aren’t things calming down. Why can’t the people who are causing the troubles just recognise that it is better for them to cooperate with the Americans and that through that economic prosperity will come and then we can all enjoy that and forget about the past. Iraq is potentially a very wealthy country and its population will very quickly see the benefits if only there was stability there. You know what my cousin said; he said,”Habibi, how do you expect to talk sense to a mad man. I think that the best thing that America should do is to offer free nationwide Psychological treatments. We all need it. It’s a country full of Majnoons (nutters)”. I swear I laughed soooo much, but the irony and sadness was not lost on me….we are very much a psychologically sick country and it will take us a generation to get over it. How can we expect to achieve democracy and freedom under these conditions IS BEYOND ME..

the saying; ''To cut of your nose to spite your face'', is never truer than now in Iraq....Majnoons the whole lot of us.

Akbar

ISLAM...(an Identity?)

2005-06-11T20:08:00.000+01:00

Mr. Xosh 7al (from Kurdistan Bloggers union) wrote a very interesting personal post about an argument he had with another young Iraqi about religion and the removal of Saddam. (Please read it then come back to me).

In the comments section Thinker poses a very smart question that immediately grabbed my attention.

He asks;
‘Can you folks explain to me why so many of these kids who grew up in the West are getting so radical?’

Naturally this got me thinking and I remembered all the British Muslims that I had come across during my university years here in the UK. As most of you know, Britain has one of the largest Pakistani, Indian and Arab Muslim communities in the whole of Europe. Most of the youngsters here are second or third generation born and to all sense and purposes have very little in common with the people of their original root homelands.
But the strangest thing is that it is these same youngsters that seem to be the most zealous about identifying themselves with the religions and cultures of their father's or grandfather's homelands. Even though they don’t speak the language or know the history of these ‘homelands’. (Why is that?).

I’m sure most of you remember those world wide demonstration that were organised against the war just prior to it. Well in London that was a big deal.
I remember getting dozens of phone calls from fellow university Muslim who were going to attend the demonstrations and they wanted me to join them. The funny thing was that I didn’t even know most of these guyz, It was just that they had found out that I was a muslim Iraqi and so they naturally assumed that I would be up for it. I tried my best to change these guys minds.
I was really against those demonstration (the majority of Iraqis were) However, whenever I tried to explain that the war might be a good thing and we will finally get rid of Saddam I got a very negatice backlash from these guys. They immidiately accused me of being a bad muslim and that i am a coward for supporting the Americans against another Muslim country. How can I support Bush against Saddam who was a Muslim hero and a patriot (yeh,, go figure).

For them the whole demonstration was like some kind of picnic. they were all gonna get together and reaffirm their membership cards. they must be seen to belong even though they didn't know what they were signing up for. whats important is that they are gonna be together on the streets when they shout from the top of their voices (sarcasim on) No to war, No to freedom, and No to democracy. Muslims don't need your charity. (Sarcasim off)
the fact that they live in a democratic country where they are free to say these things goes way over their marble heads. (the idiots refuse to see the hypocracy of it all).

Anyway you get the idea. These guyz have no idea and when you try to explain to them the intricate facts about political realities in the middle east and the muslim world, they just don’t want to hear it. Its like you are somehow attacking their own being; their sense of self and identity.

This is what I want to get to. Many of these youngster don’t really know anything about the details of Islam or the political back rounds surround the religion. Most of them have never read the Qur’an or been outside of Britain other than a trip to the beech in Marbella\Spain. For them Islam is an Identity. Growing up in a foreign society where they are considered a minority and facing certain racist vibes from the indigenous population, they are inevitably drawn to religion as an Identity. The details and facts of the religion are not important. What’s important is that they are all members of the gang called 'Muslims', and together they are strong.

I think that this applies to most countries where muslims are in a minority, this is true in Britain, France, Holland, Germany, etc. etc… And you will find that it is the young generation that had grown up primaraly in these western countries that are the most zealous about it all. The older generation and those that had lived in the ‘homelands’ know what’s what and are much more sensible about it all.

Akbar

An apology to Cindy....

2005-06-09T13:31:00.000+01:00

I write this as an apology to Cindy, a regular reader of my Blog . It seams that I had offended here with a comment that I had made in the post that I wrote regarding Raed (from Raed in the Middle).

I said, and I quote,

‘I know you don’t like America. Who does? We Arabs have every reason to be distrustful of America and its support for Israel and its Zionistic agenda’.

Dear Cindy, I appreciate the fact that your husband is in Iraq fighting for my freedom and that of every other iraqi. When I wrote those lines I was addressing them to Raed. But I do think that I should have paraphrased the word ‘Like’ to ‘trust’. And there is a big difference in that.

If you ask me weather I like America values and its people, then I would be the first to say that American people are some of the kindest and well natured human beings that I have ever met. (and I have met quite a few). But does that mean that I should trust the actions or motivation of American diplomacy in the middle east or around the world. Then my answer would be an affirmative No. (for so many reasons that would take a whole post to go into).

I do understand how patriotic Americans are and how any criticizm leveled at their government is often taken personally as levelled at them.

Again, Please accept my apologies. And please understand that I had meant no offence or belittlement to the hard work and sacrifice of the good American people who whole heartedly view their sacrifices in a purely selfless manner.

Akbar.

The Middle Ground.

2005-06-09T12:26:00.000+01:00

I’ve been following the Iraqi blogging scene and comments sections associated with it for quite some time now. Even before I decided to start my own Iraqi Blog I had already spent a year following the little family of Blogers that we have all come to love and appreciate here. Each one with his or her own distinctive style and view points.
One of the things that I have come to recognise lately is the symbiotic relationship that has developed between us, the Blogers, and our regular readers and commentators. A positive feeling of solidarity and brotherhood / sisterhood has developed whereby we all support and back each other and hence reaffirm our group collective. This is all well and good, however a negative aspect of this is that we have all (bloggers and commentators) become polarised with some of us supporting the ‘American invasion Bad camp’ whilst the rest supporting the ‘American liberation is good camp’.
This has become very evident lately. The problem I see with all of this is the disappearance of the middle ground view that, after all, is where the positive dialogue and agreements are made.

My personal experience of this occurred whilst writing my two previous post regarding Islam (Islam, Islam2), and the last open letter to Raed (A fellow Iraqi blogger who I would firmly put in the ‘America as the Invader camp’).
What upset me was that as soon as I was perceived to step over the imaginary line and started to criticize America in some way, or showed support for certain Arabic views or attitudes that are seen as slightly controversial, then I am immediately vilified and cast out from one polar camp and into the other. I am immediately labelled as a ‘heretic’ or accused to have shown my ‘true colours’. I am invariably forced to clarify my position over and over again just to get my views across. This I find to be very distracting and unhelpful.

This is particularly the case when I bring up the subject of Arabic mistrust of American support to Israel and how that plays out in the Middle East. It seams that my vocal anti American views on this particular topic automatically brings out the red mists in my commentator friends who in exchange are all to willing to immediately accuse or equate that to a latent anti – American hatred in myself. Or worst still, being some kind of Brain washed Arabic Jihadi supporter.

Another thing that I have noticed is the addictive need that most readers and commentators have for the positive message. We are constantly obliged to provide our fellow readers with some sort affirmation for the purpose and outcome of this war. We are constantly required to provide an affirmation of our eternal gratitude to the efforts and sacrifices of Americans in bringing us the freedom we had sought for so long. It is a strange duopoly of psychological give and take. We as Iraqi Bloggers are happy to churn out the good news whilst in anticipation for this affirmation and support from our American readers and commentators. It is this situation that IMO has muddies the waters and shades the truth that is always found in the middle ground.
As an Iraqi Blogger, I believe that my duty lies first and foremost with Iraq and its people. And secondly to the truth as I see it. The status quo does not interest me. Neither does pandering to the needs of the ‘Lonely House wife’ brigade. (no offence intended)

What I want to say is that we all need to be more open minded about what we all write and what we all read. We should not be so quick to judge, but should try to listen and open a dialogue where view points are openly shared. I also think that we as Iraqi bloggers should be more honest in reporting the negative aspects of the situation in Iraq instead of churning out the usual ‘nothing to see here rhetoric’ that we have come to rely on (Iraq the model case in point). It is only through doing this that we will be seen to be more credible and be able to pull the rug from under the feet of people like Raed Jarrar and his crazy bunch.

Only being honest.

Akbar.

Dear Raed,

2005-06-08T17:04:00.000+01:00

You know I was so angry after reading your current post regarding the so called ‘Iraqi Road Map’, where you so eagerly and childishly propose a ridiculous solution to solving Iraq’s ‘insurgence’ problem whereby the US withdraws its troops and gives an apology to everyone for the wrongs it has committed.
Tel me, do you honestly believes that if the Americans were to up and leave today then everything will be all right? What world do you live in?
I mean – C’mon Raed, wake the fuck up ‘Aghy’. Are you seriously suggesting that the ‘insurgence’ are just gonna accept to join other Iraqis in a peaceful effort to build a democratic and modern country based on human rights and the rule of law.
No - my dear brother. What they will do is kill and keep on killing until everyone who might stand in their way is dead or scared to death out of the country. Then they will set up their own style Islamic Dictatorship that will be ten times worst than Saddam’s (imagine that) and we can all kiss Iraq goodbye. Please convince me that I am wrong in someway about my analysis of this outcome Because, I’m desperate to understand your logic.

Honestly tell me, is that what you want? I’m really starting to think that it is. I know that you are a good and religious man. I was very impressed with your work with providing the medicines for the hospital in Felluga. And I commend and respect you for that. But please understand that not everyone wants a religious state in Iraq. I want a country where religion is a key and a backbone for a civil society but not a stick to beat everyone who steps out of line with. Please understand that. I have the same right as you and every other Iraqi to decide the kind of country our Iraq should be. This is what democracy is all about. Do you agree?

Raed, we both grew up in Iraq and we both know our country and our people better than all the foreigners that you argue with each and every day. So tell me please, why do you want Iraq to be destroyed even further just when we got the chance to join together and rebuild our desperate homeland. I know you don’t like America. Who does? We Arabs have every reason to be distrustful of America and its support for Israel and its Zionistic agenda. But Iraq isn’t Palestine my dear friend. It’s a completely different country. It’s our country. And if it means working with the Americans to rebuild it then so be it. That’s ten thousand times better than handing it over to the Salafi -Wahabi crew for them to create a new Afghanistan in it, just so that everyone can be proud of themselves and be able to say that they kicked American ass.

Please don’t be so naïve. I know you’re not stupid, so stop trying to act like you are. Please bro ‘Ka’fee 3add’ enough

Akbar.

A Federal Dictatorship

2005-06-07T03:42:00.000+01:00

Firstly, sorry for the long absence, I’ve been preoccupied with personal matters and have not had the time to Blog as often as I used to.

Ok, Back to topic…

The situation in Iraq is very precarious and confusing. It is a mix of the positive and the negative. Each day we hear about the capture and defeat of a terrorist cell only for another one to pop up and raise its ugly head. Just like the legendary ‘Hydra’ of Greek mythology, the only way to defeat this multi-headed terrorist animal is by striking at its body and cutting of its grass root support. This can only be done through a political process of reconciliation and good governance.

As many of you might remember, Last month I was very concerned about the proposed Sunni participation in writing the new Iraqi constitution, or (lack of) to be more precise. Fortunately, so were a lot of people, Condi Rice included. Enough pressure was put on the government and PM Al-ja3fary was forced to back down from these ridiculous demands. However, the story does not end there. It seams that the agreement to include the Sunnis in the constitution talks has come at a price. It is clear now that Iraq is heading inexorably towards a de-centralised Federal amalgamation of provinces each governed through regional governates.

I know that many of you wouldn't consider federalism to be such a bad thing; it is a system of governance that works very well in many countries around the world, Not least the United States. However IMO federalism in Iraq can only lead to regional corruption and local mini dictatorship. I think that the Major issue that must be addressed is the future power balance between the central government in Baghdad and the proposed Federal regions of Kurdistan, Southern Iraq, Central Iraq, and Western Iraq.

What worries me is that the general impression of the situation on the ground seems to point towards a drive by the Kurdish and Shi’a Blocks to maximise their power in their prospective regions in anticipation for de-centralised federalism in their regions that would leave the central government in Baghdad, to all sense and purposes, as a lame duck. This would also allow them to rule these regions in a quasi-authoritarian dictatorial manner with very little opposition from any democratic entities or even from a majority elected parliament in Baghdad.

This is already happening on the ground. Both the situation in the North (under the duopoly dictatorship) of the Kurdish parties KDP and PUK, and the monopoly of Al-Hakims ‘Bedr’ brigade control over the southern Iraqi cities, Are evidence of this drive to exorcise power from the centre and thus from the Iraqi citizens who were so brave to vote these parties into parliament on the 30 of January.

I think all this will play out over the next few months. I for one am looking forward to the next elections already. And I hope that such plans will be thwarted before they take hold and become constitutionally binding. Iraq must not be divided like this. Federalism under these circumstances will only breed corruption, nepotism, croynism, and red tape.

(Please read Iraqi Kurdistan's Blog for a taste of what’s going on in the Kurdish region under the KDP and PUK). (Also read In The Red Zone for an overview of the situation in the south).

Akbar

OIL AND THE MIDDLE EAST.....

2005-05-22T00:52:00.000+01:00

I came across this lecture in 2001, just before the attack of the twin towers.

I urge everyone to watch this lecture.
It relates directly to issues which we all might have to face up to soon..specifically regarding the Middle east. And it might shed a light on the current American involvement in reforming Iraq and the middle east.

Below is a link to a streamed video lecture by Dr. Colin Campbell which he gave to the Technische Universitنt Clausthal (Clausthal Technical University) in December 2000.

http://www.rz.tu-clausthal.de/realvideo/event/peak-oil.ram.

You can find an Extract of this lecture by doing a simple search on the net.

(After being awarded a Ph.D at Oxford in 1957, Dr Campbell joined the oil industry as an exploration geologist. His career took him to Borneo, Trinidad, Colombia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the USA, Ecuador, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway.
He is now a Trustee of the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre ("ODAC"), a charitable organisation in London that is dedicated to researching the date and impact of the peak and decline of world oil production due to resource constraints, and raising awareness of the serious consequences. He has published extensively, and his recent articles have stimulated lively debate. His views are provocative yet carry the weight of a wide international experience)

PS..If you are interested in learning more about this topic then you can visit this message board.
http://www.strategytalk.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2843&view=previous&

ISLAM 2 ......

2005-05-17T22:16:00.000+01:00

I got many interesting responses to my last post regarding Islam and I want to thank everyone who contributed to the comments section of that blogg. Many frank and honest questions were raised and many kind words were said.

In my last post I tried to explain why Muslims seem to find it so difficult to openly criticize their religion. I also tried to address the issue of the abuse of Islam by clergy and politicians to serve their political agendas. Today I will try to address the political nature of this conflict and how that might reflect on Islam. I hope that none of you will be offended.
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The recent outcry and riots, by Muslim around the world, in response to the rumours of the desecration of the Qur’an in Guantanamo has raised many eyebrows amongst people who still view Islam (the ‘religion’) as the problem.
I do agree that it seems absurd to see so many Muslims all around the world rioting and proclaiming ‘Jihad’ and death to America, simply because of a rumour that some soldier at Guantanamo might or might not have flushed the Qur’an in the toilet. The naturally conclusion that anyone would form is that it is the teachings of the Qur’an that obliges us Muslims to do that.

You would be correct to assume that. The Qur’an does state we must not allow anyone to desecrate our holly book on punishment of death. The Qur’an is supposed to be the earthly manifestation of Gods words so to flush it in the toilet is like flushing God himself down the toilet, (I went into the issue of the Qur’an in my last ‘Islam’ post. Please go back and read it).
Did you know that it is actually an offence to even put the Qur’an on the ground, so imagine what flushing it down the toilet means; Eternal damnation in the seventh level of hell, I suppose…;)) ( I jest ).

It is also true that not many Muslims bothered to take a stand to calm or rebuff these rumour or stop these riots. But all of the above have more to do with politics than the religion itself. (please allow me to explain. read on)

All the above is true, but I think that the most critical insight one can make into all of this is possible by carefully observing the nature and content of the Arabic and Muslim media. For example. in the past three days we have had nothing but the usual reports about; -- ‘Israel building some more settlements’, ‘Americans died in Iraq’, ‘Brave Iraqi resistance fighters blow up more freedom loving traitorous children’, ‘More American operations in Iraq’, ‘More Israeli Operations’, 'Palestinians die in Gaza', 'Hizb Allah bravely engages Israeli forces in south Labanon', and so on and so forth..

And of course, their favourite subject lately, hours and hours of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib abuse accusations topped with the latest rumour of the Qur’an desecration incident.

Unfortunately, it is very clear that we are living in a World War. The Eastern Muslim world is openly and clearly at war with America and Israel. And both sides use Islam and the media as weapons and tools of convenience in this conflict. In opposite ways of course.

The Arab world abuses Islam to justify a cause and to unify people behind this cause. Religion has always been a powerful unifier of people at times of war. And Islam lends itself very well to being used in this way. At the same token, the West observes every opportunity to vilify Arabs, Muslims, and anyone who supports them in order to justify and support their actions, views and goals.

This is a classical psychological case of conflict polarisation. When two competing factions are in conflict, both sides try to find any excuse to vilify the other in order to dehumanise and humiliate them, and thus make it easier to justify the war and killing of the other. History repeats itself. We have seen this strategy in principle played out throughout history for as long as there were people in conflict.

When millions of Muslims in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Palestine, or wherever go out on the street and proclaim death and destruction to America and Israel with the same breath and sentence, it is not because of the desecration of the Qur’an or the perceived insult to Islam. No. It is simply another excuse for the general muslim population to vent their anger and frustration towards their favourate enemy.
America's continuing historic support for Israel and its continuing perceived injustices against the Palestinians and Muslims around the world is what is driving these mobs to the streats. Islam is simply a tool and a banner conscripted by the Clergy as a ‘rallying flag’ to unite as many people behind their political agenda.

I know this subject has become like a bit of a caricature.
‘We’ve heard it all before’ – I hear you say. ‘Why do the Arabs and Muslims always return to Israel as the scapegoat and justifications for their own in-action?’
Well, and without any apologies, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is, and has always been, at the heart of this problem.

Islamo-fascism didn’t come to life on the day Saddam was toppled, nor was it born on 9/11. Islamo-fascism was created through a long process of bottled up Arab and Muslim humiliation going back to the 60’s and 70’s. The lack of Democracy and freedom in all Arab and Muslim countries throughout these past decades has simply caused the pressure to finally blow the cork in everyone’s face. Not least America, on 9/11.

The problem is that America and the west, has until very recently, seen no reason to deal honestly with the concerns of the general Arab street. Of course, they have always dealt favourably with the majority of the dictators of the region for as long as they continued to serve Americas economic and geo-political interests at a time when the cold war and the communist threat was the priority for the pentagon. This all changed on 9/11 and I truly believe that America has finally woken up to the fact that it must finally deal positively with the Arabs and the issue of democracy and freedom. (very late in the day, I’m afraid)

However, Its very difficult to try to convince Arabs and Muslims of America's genuine intensions after decades of self interest, especially when nothing is seen to be done on the Palestinian-Israeli front.

Not long ago I was introduced to a Palestinian guy who was in his mid to late twenties. This guy was a refugee in Germany whom had in the passed 6 years travelled the whole of Europe without papers or any particular direction to his life. His story is very sad and typical of many Palestinians that I have met in Europe. Most see no hope for Palestine or in an eventual equitable settlement there.
Anyway, this was around the same time that Saddam Hussein was captured in that rat hole of his. So we got talking about life, politics and Saddam, etc……
The first thing this guy said to me is how much he admired Saddam Hussein, that he was a real Arab patriot whom was willing to stand up to both America and Israel. Naturally I was shocked and began to tell him about how I felt about Saddam and his mass graves and abuses of power etc. etc.. His reaction was not that untypical of many Arabs that I meet, he insisted that it was all lies and that it was all American fabrications and its fault. I quickly changed the subject ;-))
-
This, i hope, give you an idea of how much we Arabs are willing to accept tyrany and dictatorship if only that tyrant or tyrans can promiss to regain our Arab Pride and honur and to wipe away the shame and humiliation of the past 50 years.
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Then, we got talking about Palestine and how that maybe Abu Mazin (who was wrestling with Arafat for the PLO leadership at the time) can bring about positive changes and help open a dialogue with the Israelis.
You know what this guy said to me –
‘ To hell with Abu Mazin. To hell with Arafat, and to hell with the PLO. To hell with all Arab leaders they are all hypocrites. The only people who can help us are the clerics. They are the only ones who can bring about the chaos that we need to destroy Israel and the world and to liberate Palestine’.

You know, those words still resonate in my ears to this day. What the Arabs want, What the Islamo-fascists want. What the Palestinians want. Is not Islam nor the Qur’an nor the rebirth of Mohammed nor even the return of the Caliphs of the olden days.
No, what they really want is to bring down America and world order. They want chaos because they see that as the only way to for them to liberate Palestine and regain their, all so important, false arabic 'Pride and honour'.
This is what’s going on in Iraq. The terrorists don’t care about the outcome in Iraq. They don’t care about Democracy, Saddam, the return of the Ba’ath party, or even the Islamaficaton of Iraq. All that is important is to create such chaos in the Middle East and the world that eventually the world will be forced to do something about solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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Coming back full circle; Yes, I do agree with you, we Muslims do need to put more effort into facing up to our clergy and the bad parts of our religion.
I thought that’s what I’ve tried to do with both of my ‘Islam’ posts. Many other Muslims around the world are also trying to do the same. So please give us some slack.

-

And to answer the question that many have asked me, -- ‘ Why isn’t there more Muslim or Arab condemnation of the twisted form of Islam used by the terrorists to attack America, or Spain, or Bali, or Iraqis, in the name of Islam, or when we have demonstrations calling for an all out Jihad against America and its allies?’
The answer to that is simple - We can’t condemn Islam. Because deep down we know that its got nothing to do with Islam itself, and that its simply a weapon used in a war that many are happy to see continued. It all boils down to how much you believe that an open and continuing war with America, Israel and the west would serve the interests of the Arab and Muslim world. And how Islam can be used in this conflict.

I for one Don't, Many on the other hand do…….

-

Time will only tell where the future will take us, but I’m sure that as long as the march of modernity continues then eventually all of this will disappear one day soon. The question is how soon? And this question depends not only on Muslims but also on the rest of the world. We Muslims do not live in a vacuum

There is no simple Black and White. Only shades of Grey.

Akbar.

I certainly didn't vote for Al-Sistani.........

2005-05-17T16:20:00.000+01:00

Today, and only one day after the rushed visit by the American secretary of state C. Rice, we are visited by the Iranian Foreign minister Karazi.(What the Hell?)..
It seams that the Iranians have sent their lapdog to make sure that their interest continue to be served and to challenge Americas influence in Iraq. There is no doubt of the power struggle in Iraq and its not between the Kurds, Sunnis or Shiites, but between Iran and America.

Ja3fary is becoming a joke in Baghdad, every time there is a crises or an important decision to be made he runs to Najef to consult and get his orders from Sistani and his Iranian puppet masters.

Today, and only one day after C. Rice’s visited us, he keeps to form and heads down to see his boss Sistani. This begs the question about who is really in charge here in Iraq; Ja3fary or Sistani. I certainly don’t remember voting for Sistani on the 30th of January.

My relatives in Baghdad are leaving to Jordan. They have had enough of this circus. It makes me so angry that these politicians have caused the situation to get this f**ked. Up. How on earth can we hope to defeat the terrorism in Iraq if the Government is destroying all hope of a positive outcome in Iraq? Instead of calming the situation and giving true leadership they show weakness and sinicism.
.
How can they expect the ordinary Iraqi citizen to stand up to the terrorists if he does not believe that the government that represents him is working for his benefit and self-interest. Alienating the population by this weak and shortsighted leadership sends the wrong message and makes the average citizen want to shut his doors or worst run away from the country.

No vision what so ever. We have become puppet in the hands of Al-Hakim and Al-Sistani. America don’t let this happen, Please

At a cross road....

2005-05-14T13:17:00.000+01:00

This past month has seen a major escalation in the conflict and the number of suicide attacks in Iraq. The situation seems to be getting out of control and the political dynamics and repercussions are starting to worry me very much. The general mood that I get from Baghdad is that the majority of the populous are very suspicious with the direction that Prime Minister Ja3fary's Shi3a backed government coalition is taking, and this is having a direct affect in further alienating the Sunni populous and in turn inflaming the conflict further.
Two major issues are at the forefront of this;

Firstly - It seems that the issue of De-Ba’athification, that the PM is insisting on, is causing much hardship and consternation amongst the lives of many Iraqis who (rightly) feel that this ‘witch hunt’ is unfair and tinged with a certain hint of revenge about it.

(The majority of civil service employees under Saddam were members of the Ba’ath party. Just as it were in Russia under Communism, you had no choice about it. For Ja3fary to turn around and sack everyone who had anything to do with the Ba’ath is a wrong policy and smacks of a witch hunt to me).

Just last week in Basra, the students at the university there were refusing to attend classes in support of their headmaster who was sacked for this same reason. By the way, this is happening all over Iraq to many low level civil servants with little fault other than they were once part of the Ba'ath.

Don’t get me wrong though, I am in full support of punishing those members of the Ba3th Party who are clearly known to have participated in the crimes of that political entity, But this whole-sale collective punishment is something very much akin to something Saddam might have done and I do not like it one bit.

We should take the example set by South Africa with the 'Truth and Reconciliation' commission. A witch-hunt against all Ba'ath members can only serve to alienate them and drive them towards the 'insurgent' elements in Iraq.

(PS. just in case you are thinking it…… No, I do not have any members in my family whom are directly affected by this de-ba'athification process;- ).

Also, an unfortunate and ugly pattern of favouratsm towards members of Dawa (the political entity that the PM belongs to) is starting to raise its ugly head. There are many stories coming out of Iraq of citizens applying to the Army, Police, Governmental ministries, and even other smaller civil service work, only to be turned away and asked to go get membership letters from the main current rulling political parties. These stories are very distressing and remind me of Saddam's dark Ba'ath days. It shows to me that these politicans have learned nothing from the past 30 years. They are simply repeating the same mistakes of the past. We must not allow this to happen in our new Iraq.

The second issue, and probably the most important, is the one regarding the make up and composition of the (so called) independent commission in charge of writing the New Iraqi Constitution. Since last year the politicians had promised us that the Constitutional commission would be completely independent and equally representative of all sectors of the Iraqi society. However, this it seems is not the case anymore. The Shi3at coalition is now insisting on placing their own candidates in this commission, and are demanding a weighted representation that mirrors their superior representation in the parliament. Taking very little account of the Sunni Population which consists of a third of the Iraqi population as a whole. They are suggesting to allocate 55 members to this commission with a break down of 28 for their Shi3a coalition, 15 for the Kurdish, 8 for Ayad Allawi’s coalition, 2 for the Christians and Assyrians, whilst only 2-3 for the Sunni population..
This would give too much power to the Sia3at coalition and would easily allow them to push through their Islamic ideas into the final draft of the permanent constitution

When Ja3fary’s (SISTANIE’S) coalition was first elected they promised that they would carefully take into considerations the concerns of the general Sunni population who were not able to vote in the elections as freely as the shi3a south. It seems that now they are fully in power and control of the government, they are easily willing to negate on their promises.

This kind of political short sightedness can only serve the objectivs of those who are fighting with the terrorist. And these issues are two of the main reasons behind the upsurge in terrorist attacks in this last three weeks.

The Sunni population must not be punished whole-sale for the actions of the few. This kind of tactic will only serve to alienate a very large and peaceful section of the Iraqi society. And will drive them into the hands of the extremist elements waging this war. Then we will surely see a civil war. It is Ja3fary's resonsbility as our PM to show himself as the leader of all of Iraq and not just his political or ethnic clique. This path only leads to Dictatorship and chaos.

Ja3fary and his backers must stop viewing the last January election as their opportunity for Shi3a power consolidation and start to truly take into account the needs and worries of the whole of the Iraqi society without any ethnic or religious exceptions.

Please, please, please, help me publicize this issue to as wide an audience as possible. I ask all other Iraqi Bloggers to publish their thoughts on this issue, even if you disagree with me. We must discuss this issue as urgently as possible. I truly believe that the writing of a fair and inclusive constitution would be the making of a free, prosperous and democratic Iraq, whilst any abuse of this opportunity would, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, mean the inevitable break up of the country and our descent into the Abyss of civil war.

Akbar

ISLAM......

2005-05-04T11:37:00.000+01:00

One of the hardest thing for any Muslim to do, whether liberal or otherwise, is to openly criticize Islam or the teachings of the prophet. Every Muslim born into the religion finds this very difficult. This is one of the main reasons why we continue to refuse to have an open and frank discussion about the relevance and direction of our religion in the modern world. From the day we are born we are culturally and religiously conditioned to obey, and not to question. We are told that to criticize would mean that we are 'Kafirs' (non believer), and thus would automatically go to hell. It is this particular aspect of Islam that has actually caused the most harm to the religion and has allowed it to be continually hijacked by the different religious sects, Caliphs, and now clerics for the purposes of the Islamo-politicisation of the religion.

One of the most intransigent aspects of Islam is the fact that the Qur'an (our holy book) was written with the explicit instruction that the passages contained within are the divine and holy words of 'Allah' (God), and that to question such words would bring eternal damnation to ones soul. This has caused a dilemma for Muslims for the passed one and a half thousand years. And it has meant that Islam, as a religion, finds it difficult to adapt to the changing nature of civilisation and the incremental modernity that we as a human race continue to strive for.

One of the most important things that people (whether for or against Islam), continually fail to recognize is the historical context in which our prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him) conceived the Qur'an and the Islamic faith. Before Islam, the Arabs and the people of the Middle East lived a nomadic existence. Tribes, worshipping many gods, savagely competed between each other for wealth, land and power. Slavery, poverty, infanticide, murder, greed, (You name it) were all common and generally acceptable practices in their society. Mohamed (pbuh), being a well traveled merchant visiting many lands, was no doubt influenced by the teaching of people in the lands of Judea (Christianity and Judaism) and saw the necessity to bring back with him the teaching of these religions.

Through the Qur'an, he was able to convert many of his people to a way of life that was very civilized, relative to the 5th century AC. He introduced a way of life that was peaceful, ordered, and serene, this is why it is called Islam (to surrender ones self to god's will). He managed to emancipate slavery, introduce charity and social responsibility, the 10 commandments, and bring order to a people who were crying out for such a huge leap forward in social order and civility.

The Qur'an, read in its Arabic form, is an amazingly powerful piece of prose. Its words resonate and flow in a poetic manner that is almost hypnotic. I challenge anyone to read one of its early passages (Even in English) without failing to be impressed or moved by its linguistic mastery. And its a hundred times more powerful in its original Arabic language.

Unfortunately It is marred by its later passages which advocates war and jihad. However, these are the passages that many fail to view in their historic context, and which are abused today by the Wahhabists, whom in turn, use them to justify their Jihadist political agenda. I'm sure that if the prophet were to be alive today, he would have reconsidered including these passages in the form they finally appear to us, 1500 years hence after.
When the prophet Mohamed (pbuh) wrote those passages advocating jihad, he and his followers were at war with the powerful tribes of the Middle East (many of them Jewish by the way), which had united against him and were determined to eradicate him and his followers. Islam's emancipation cry was a direct challenge to the power and influence of these tribes, and they were determined to get rid of this upstart and his new religion as expediently as possible. This is very much analogous to the persecution of Jesus Christ and his followers only 500 years earlier.

This is the main reason behind the passages relating to jihad in the Qur'an, and it has nothing to do with the Islamafication of the world, that many since try to associate to them.
After the death of the prophet, and through the past 1500 years, his massage of peace and order has been continuously diluted and highjacked by consecutive Caliphs, Mullahs, Princes, Presidents, and lately the wahhabist Clerics in order to serve their political agendas. This has done, and continues to do, great damage to the true message of Islam as he first intended it to be.
I believe that all of this stems directly from Mohamed's (pbuh) unknowing mistake of writing the Qur'an as God's own divine recital to him. This was probably necessary for his time, but it is an unfortunate inheritance we live with today.

Most of the Muslims who advocate Jihad, use short sections of these passages to justify any point or action they deem necessary in order to support their cause. And they fiercely rebuff any criticism with the notion that these Qur'anic words are the words of god himself and thus are indivisible and nonnegotiable in meaning and context. And they immediately label anyone, who dares to question this, as a 'Kafir' (unbelievers),
This is the dilemma that millions of muslims all around the world face every single day; Do you criticize the status quo and consequently risk alienation rejection and even potential death? Or do you just shut up and wait for nature to take its course and let the passage of time bring the gradual inevitable change?

It is also interesting to point out, that Islam is facing the same dilemma that Christianity had faced in the Middle-Ages. Christianity faced its worst period of upheaval in the middle ages with the crusades and inquisitions That was a time when the state and the religious authority of the time (Kings and Popes) refused any criticism and punished anyone who questioned the 'godliness' of their command and power. They were ruthless in dishing out punishment and death to all who dared to oppose the status quo. This, in my opinion, is very analogous to the fanatical nature of Wahhabism that has spread into Islam this passed century.

The crimes perpetrated against humanity in the name of Christianity were just as savage as the ones we see today perpetrated in the name of Islam. I believe that it is time for all Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to stand back and have a frank discussion about the role of religion (any religion) in modern day society, and how best to return religion to its intended roots. Religion was always meant to serve the people and not for the people to serve religion.

Every religion that I know off (Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc...) were all first conceived as a vessel for society to achieve higher social enlightenment and civic order. It is a sad fact that they are banded around today as some kind of 'sport clubs' that we are all meant to support, and to fanatically compete against each other with.

This has been a long post for me and I would like to write more. However, this is enough for now. I hope that many of you out there will find this post informative and thought provoking. Whilst I'm sure many others will, no doubt, take this opportunity to 'flame me' for their own politically inspired view points; (don't bother). I only ask you to go out there and read more about the history of Islam before you make any misinformed rash judgments. I also urge any Muslims who might read this to take a moment and reflect on what I have just written.

I wrote this post because I was very insulted by certain people who flippantly brand Islam as an evil religion simply because of the actions of a minority group of 'Muslims' who in turn also do not understand what Islam is all about. There is no evil in religion. There is however evil in the actions of Mankind.

Peace be upon you all.

Akbar.

Iraq is no Vietnam....

2005-05-03T07:18:00.000+01:00

It annoys me to read well-respected commentators take the easy way out when discussing the terror structure and its motivations in Iraq. I have read on so many occasions how Iraq is somehow the new Vietnam and that the terrorists are somehow comparable in voracity and determination to the Vietcong. The fact of the matter is that Iraq is in no way another Vietnam. The dynamic and motivations of the ‘resistance’ in Iraq is driven solely by greed and the lure of money, where as the Vietcong were driven by the powerful ideology of communism in which the Vietnamese populous, in general, were willing to adopt and die for.

One of the major problems, facing Iraq at the moment, is the intransigent homegrown criminal element. Decades of the systematic fracture in Iraqi civil society coupled with vast current unemployment levels and three decades of bloody wars, has left thousands of young Iraqi men (from every creed and faction) with a very strong tendency and disposition towards criminality and criminal self interest.

Unlike many other nations around the world, the notion of citizenship and social obligation in the Iraqi society is nowadays almost non-existent. This is particularly evident and true in the countryside, where loyalty to your clan and creed is still strongly traditionally observed. (Please read a post by Ali at Iraq the Model about the role of clansmanship in Iraqi history and civil society),

Many of these disillusioned men are more than willing to accept payments or bribes in order to help in carrying out operations in which other innocent Iraqis may die as a result of. For these individuals, (and there are many), the death of another human being, Iraqi or otherwise bares little importance as long as the financial incentive is high enough. It is not some Islamo-fascist Ideology that drives this terrorist, nor is it a simply a Ba'athist instigated fight back to regain lost control, but simply the economic lure of the all powerful US dollar.

It is this group that also represents the logistical backbone of the terrorist structure in Iraq. These individuals are simply ‘hired soldiers of fortune’ and they include all of the intransigent Ba’athist and Saddamite remnants, as well as opportunist, that view this war as both an opportunity for payback and a last chance to make substantial financial gains. Channelling finances from their paymaster in Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia, (with each country having its own distinct agenda in seeing Iraq fail), they continue to provide shelter, weapons, and logistical backing to the terrorist front lines. And whilst fanatical wahhabist, from other arab states,(whom form the majority of the front line 'cannon fodder') are sent to carry out their misguided Jihadist suicide operations, these Iraqis prefer to stay in the background getting fat of the payment they receive. For them the continuation of this war represents a golden opportunity to get paid, big time, from the intelligence services of Syria or Iran, and the dumb Arab Sheiks who have nothing better to do with their money than to send it to iraq to get burnt.

Oddly enough, It is this economic nature of the terrorist campaign that offers me hope for a quick and decisive end to this conflict. Once the governmental power vacume is finally filled and it becomes clear that supporting economic development and growth is potentially alot more profittable to these individuals and Iraqis as a whole, we will see a subsantial decline in all terrorist activity.

The new Iraqi government should spare no effort in combating and eliminating this group as quickly as possible. This can be achieved through a combination of political, social, and military strategy that makes clear that we as iraqies will no longer tolerate their activities. Once this group sees that its financial interests are finally being threatened then we will see a dramatic decline in terrorist activity and the beginning of the end to this ugly terrorist campaign.

Which side are you on?

2005-04-29T22:23:00.000+01:00

More bombs have rocked Baghdad this morning. The terrorist / insurgence are trying to send a message to the new government and Iraqis in general, that they do not accept or recognise this legitimate process and that they will continue to disrupt the tide of freedom for as long as possible.
In my opinion, the only thing that this highlights is the frustration and damn right cowardice of these, so called, insurgence. Step by step the political process is moving on without them, and they know that they have missed the boat. So, the only thing that they know how to do is to disrupt and intimidate, but this is to no avail.
It just saddens me that innocent Iraqis have to die because of their twisted and backward mentality.
Iraq and Iraqis have taken on the right course. Contrary to many other opinions, the process will succeed. Democracy, freedom and civil society will be achieved; incrementally.
The lofty goal of freedom is only achieved step by step. There has never been a magic pill that can be taken to make everything all right. It takes hard work, perseverance and the courage of persons of true conviction to change things. I have no respect for people who stand on the sidelines only to spout dirt and pessimism, I say to them 'shut up, or pack up'. We have no room for the likes of you in our Iraq. I direct these comments to those blogger and commentators (you know who you are) that keep insisting on supporting these terrorists on the notion that somehow it is a natural Iraqi Sunni based 'out-cry' for their loss of right to govern in the country. And that democracy and a true representative government can only be achieved after the withdrawal of American troops. Well that's just Bull. Democracy is being achieved now with the help of Americans. And only with them being there. What these terrorists (Iranian, Syrian and wahhabi criminals) want is America to withdraw so that they can begin their own bloodbath and sick dreams of carving up out beautiful Iraq. This we must and will never allow.
I like most of my countrymen would love to see the day when we have Peace democracy and stability so that we can turn around and ask America to withdraw its troops with our sincere gratitude and everlasting friendship. I know that day will come, sooner than many would guess or believe. Then our neighbors, the region, and the World will come to understand what true freedom and democracy means, and at what price it must be achieved. Iraq will rise again. Inshah Allah

Akbar.

The Day I met Papa Saddam.

2005-04-29T09:40:00.000+01:00

I write this story for posterities sake, and to give you all a glimpse into the character of the egomaniac that was Saddam Hussein.

The year was 1989, June as I can best recall. It was around the end of my second academic year at Baghdad College. I must have been 12 or 13 years old, I don’t really care to remember.

The day started like any other school day - I woke up at 7am, got ready for school and walked the half-mile to the school bus collection point. I got on my number 14 school buss - just one of the 20 or so busses that belonged to the college and which did the daily students pick and drop runs from all over Baghdad. At 8.45 am we arrived at Baghdad college as per-usual. So far, an ordinary day all around.

Baghdad College, as most educated Baghdadis know, is the foremost boys secondary high school /college in Baghdad. It was established by American Jesuits in the 1920’s and its curriculum and standards of teaching are the highest in the land. The college itself has usually over 2000 students from the ages of 12 to 18. Basically you were there until you got into University --- But I digress.

A few hours and a couple of lessons into the day and everything is as per-usual. Suddenly, at around 12 noons, the head teacher walks into our class and tells us all that we are to get back onto the busses as we are going to go see Papa Saddam.

Wow, We were going to go meet our beloved papa. What great deed did we do to disserve this high honoured misfortune?

This was the man that we were forced to praise every single day of our school life, the man that if you were clever or patriotic enough and particularly skilled at writing a nice Poem or Prose essay about, would get you an A grade pass in your final year exams and maybe even get you a final year full pass without having to sit the exams at all (But you had to be very special or your father very highly Bathists connected, to get such a pass).

The education system in Iraq revolved around the principle that the most gifted kids were the ones that praised Saddam the best or the most beautifully. I used to be particularly good at that, and I had nurtured a talent of coming up with beautifully rose and unusual prose, which a lot of the teachers really liked.
ALLASS…It’s a talent I have lost over the years…(OHH what a shame… LOL)

What was I going to say to him if he asked me a question about my father, whom only a few years before had escaped the ‘Mughabarat’ (secret service) and was now living in the UK as a political refugee?

Even at that age I knew this could be very dangerous for a member of my family. I’d been told on many occations by my relatives to keep my mouth shut and to never ever say a bad word about Saddam or the ‘hizb el-Ba3th’ party (even though we would call them all the names under the sun privately at home).

So here we were, 2000 Baghdad College kids going to meet papa Saddam and like the good young Batrhist students that we were groomed to be, we followed our orders and marched straight onto the busses. The drivers turned on their engines and the convoy headed off. But something didn’t sit right with me. We were not heading towards the Palace (the green zone as currently known); instead we were driving towards the airport. And the strangest thing of all was that Baghdad College was not the only school on the road. There were Hundreds of other busses – EVERYWHERE!! There were thousands and thousands of other school kids as far as the eye can see. Some of these busses had already offloaded their cargo on the side of the highroad, which stretched the 10-15 miles from the airport to the palace.

What was going on?

There were thousands of us, from every school and college and university in and around Baghdad. The powers that be had apparently ordered us all to gather on the highway for some special event. And this scared me.
Here we were, being offloaded in the desert, told to just hang around, with no explanation what so ever.
Now, I must remind you that this was the month of June, and as many of you probably know by now, June is the start of the extreme summer season in Iraq where temperatures can easily reach well over 40 C in the shade (let alone in the heat of the desert). We had no water and only the busses themselves for shelter. Pretty crazy huh…..

We waited and waited...1 hour 2 hours, 3, 4, finally after 5 hours had gone by we get the order to stand by the side of the highroad; Papa was coming and we can hear him coming nearer just by the increasing loudness of the chanting. And it was nearly our turn to show our appreciation in the way all loyal Iraqis had learned to do so well. Saddam’s convoy was almost upon us and we began to shout that famous Iraqi chant “Bil rooh, Bil Dem, Nifdeek ya Saddam” (with life, with blood, we sacrifice for you Saddam).

His open car convoy approaches slowly, His special bodyguards line up next to us pushing away any over excited kid who might in someway pose a danger to papa. His convey gets nearer and nearer and I’m gripped with both excitement, fear, and curiosity, Then I see him in his open hood car sitting there no more than 5 or 10 meters away from me, next to him this strangely dressed Gulf Arab Sheik. Who is this other man I thought immediately?

The convoy passes by and the moment was gone forever. A few minutes go by and we get back to our busses. Our teachers gather us back onto the busses and we head back to college. Of course we had to wait for a couple of hours more for the ok from the security/ army people that the road is finally clear. And with the ok given the thousands of students and the hundreds of busses began their jostle back to Baghdad,
I got back home around 9pm at night. My mother was worried and in fits of tears, she thought I was kidnapped or killed or something. A natural instinct.

So who was that man and what really was going on?

It turns out that the King of Saudi Arabia was honouring us with his visit, and naturally to honour this esteemed guest back, Papa Saddam had decided to demonstrate his power, and the love of his people, by lining the whole of the 10-15 mile highway with children and school kids.

. I still remember that day so vividly. And as I remember it today, the sight of those thousands of kids shouting in unison for that man makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. I hope they leave him in the desert one day, just for one day.

Still.. I met my first girlfriend on that highway that day………...so in a way…….…………….Thank you Papa Saddam…;o)

Finally

2005-04-28T02:17:00.000+01:00

I just read on the http://www.aljeeran.net/index.php website that the PM Ibrahim Jaafari's has finally submitted his list of Ministers for the government.
This is wonderful news and very much over due. We Iraqis have been getting very sick of waiting for the politicians to make up their minds. These last three months have seemed like an eternity and to be honest the delay was not helping matters what so ever. It is time now for these politicians to put their differences aside and work together to validate the trust that we have bestowed upon them....

On a different topic...I also just read that since last night, American and Iraqi commando forces have surrounded a hospital in Romadi where Zarkawi is supposed to be held up...I hope this is true and not just another one of those rumors.

Thank you all

2005-04-27T05:17:00.000+01:00

I’ve been hoping to create this blog for quite some time now, but because of a certain lack of confidence and a tad pinch of laziness I had never gotten around to publishing my own thoughts on the current situation in my country. I specifically want to add my voice to this raging debate and to hopefully enrich and inform others out there.

I've been following the Iraqi and non- Iraqi blogging scene for quite some time now, and I would like to extend my gratitude and sincere thanks to you all. Like many Iraqis living in Diaspora, your daily bloggs and updates have been of great comfort and help to us all.

I hope to post as often as possible so please keep in touch,,,enjoy.