2004_08_08_archive

Saturday, August 7th, 2004 Good evening...When I am late in writing, I

feel guilty, thinking that someone is waiting for fresh news from

Iraq...And I wish all news would be happy and good...for those here

and there.Baghdad is still hot these days, but then it is August, and

the old Folklore saying says about it:The first ten (days) melts the

nail in the door, the second ten reduces the grapes and increases the

dates, and the third ten opens a door to winter....Well, what I'm

really interested in are the last ten that would bring with it the

breezes of winter... I am dying in longing to meet it, after the

torture of the heat all summer long......At least by then we should no

longer care whether the electricity comes or goes....

****************** Last week was full, as usual, with unhappy

events...but there were some tiny, happy events, sort of on the

personal side, or perhaps they were connected to the general

conditions.The most important sad events were the bombings against the

Iraqi Churches, in Baghdad and Mousel... I don't know, but it is as if

the criminals are laughing at us and saying to the Iraqis: No one is

excluded from the anger, murder, and destruction...the churches that

were targeted were in poor, populist neighborhoods, crowded with

innocent, civilian residents... as if there is a theory that (they)

keep applying to the Iraqis, kill them, or cast them away outside of

Iraq...And today, settling up scores with Al-Mahdi Army and Al-Sader,

and the departure of Al-Systani to London, huh.., a shameful story,

which shows a collusion with the occupation forces, as he leaves Iraq

so Al-Sader and his supporters would be eliminated without turning to

Al-Systani to calm down the situation, as was done each time for

months.Yes, there are still some files that need to clarified and

closed, and the Fallujah and Al-Sader files are still under

operations... in these operations the coalition forces collaborates

with the Iraqi government, the police and the army. And we watch, and

listen to the news from ground and satellite channels. No body knows

exactly if it was a battle about posts, or a personal advantage, or an

honest national advantage? All cards are mixed up; we no longer know a

truth from a lie.********************We bought a DVD of Michel Moore's

Documentary film (Fahrenheit 9/11), I hardly got a copy with

difficulty, every day I went to the shop and asked, the salesman would

tell me that all available copies were finished. I was amazed because

I thought the Iraqis haven't heard about it yet...I felt glad that

they are buying and watching it, a healthy sign. I love for Iraqis to

open their eyes upon every thing a new...to see, hear, and understand

what goes on in the near-far world... enough for them were the years

of darkness and ignorance they lived in during the Saddam era. Now

they are subjected to a serious overcastting in vision. There are

those who want to attract their attention to a certain direction, and

distract their attention from others, and I pray to God that the eyes,

ears, and hearts of the Iraqis would remain alert, and open to

understand what goes on around them, and wouldn't go back to the prior

condition of slumber. Perhaps some of those who want to re-make the

new Iraq want to use the same methods of Saddam Hussein in

intimidating and terrorizing us, so they could pass up and implement

what is best for their interests...without respect to the people's

interest, future, or national independence.***************For me, the

(Fahrenheit) film didn't come up with a new viewpoint, for through

this site, I get hundreds of letters monthly, and read the different

viewpoints of American citizens, and this film came to prove that the

American society today is divided among itself: between a supporter of

the war and the Bush policy, and an opponent to both... and the

letters say what the film didn't...the letters say that they would

choose Kerry not because he is better than Bush, for he didn't

represent a clear, convincing program, but because they got tired of

Bush and his aggressive tide of dealing in the foreign policy, for he

hits, bombs, and destroys, thinking he is protecting America and its

people, and in truth he is creating new enemies for America, who wish

for a chance to hit back with the same aggression and cruelty. This

means spreading the spirit of revenge among humans and nations as a

dialogue language, instead of the language of peace and respect, which

is a language that creates friends, and keeps the balance of the state

from collapsing, reducing the psychological pressures on people, the

constant feelings of fear and terror, the continual departure of their

sons and daughters to join in wars that do not end...Afghanistan, then

Iraq, then Iran on the way, then perhaps Korea....and, to what end????

The road of wars, hostility, and hatred has no end......and the

American people see that they are paying the price of this clumsy

policy, the results are not always fascinating, as the Bush government

is trying to convince them. Iraq did not live happy days during the

war or afterwards, did not reap beautiful fruits from this war, and

even its causes became a subject of suspicion and discussion... it did

not give happiness to the Iraqi people, nor to the Americans, nothing

but destruction, killings, and lies, and more lies to cover up the

previous lies, and so on....months and years go by, and here we are,

waiting for signs of well-being, and see nothing but bombings,

violence, and score-settling, and endless excuses to clarify the delay

of the process of re-building Iraq? The Fallujah file isn't closed

yet, the violence is still the dialogue language, and here's another

file opened, that of the fighting against Al-Sader and his

supporters... If I were a prime Minister, and loved my people, I would

have said to all factions: please be seated to a dialogue table...we

want what is good to Iraq and the Iraqis, we want to build Iraq all

over again...lets hear what you have to say, let us try and talk

together... but the on-coming American thinks in an aggressive way, in

Bush's way, strike your foe and do not talk to him....How are we to

build a free, democratic country, while we hit the opponents and

destroy them, instead of listening to them??? Is it wise to accuse

them of being enemies and criminals before talking with them, and

listening to their political speech?? Even an accused has the right to

defend himself in front of the judge... but the Iraqi Resistance's

image was distorted, and many acts of destruction and violence were

attached to it, in order to give a reason for eliminating it. And the

people...where are the people?? Aren't they supposed to decide their

destiny?? Aren't they who decide whom they want, and whom they don't

want??What is happening now in Iraq is a very painful thing; the

people are far away from the decision, America, unaccompanied, is

putting the government under pressure, to carry on some program, that

serves the interests of some factions, inside and out. Then, after the

end of the blood, killings, and destruction series, they will wash

their hands, open the doors, and tell the Iraqi people, smiling:

Please come in, its time now for the democracy game, the field is

clean, as WE want it to be........... So...this is how things happen,

that who watches and understands, would almost be killed by grief, but

he should hold on to patience, and the belief in GOD...for all goes by

HIS will, not that of Mr. Bush's.************************And going

back to the (Fahrenheit) film... It has asked some questions about the

mysterious relation between the Taliban, Saudi Arabia, and the Bush

administrations, senior and junior. About the oil and construction

companies, and the September blasting, the removal of Bin-Laden's

relatives to Saudi Arabia safely, and secretly. The events that didn't

contain one single Iraqi defendant, how did it turn against the

miserable Iraqis, and led to a war against them, making them pay for a

crime committed by another....where is the justice in all this?How did

they convince the Americans that their enemies are these

unjustly-treated, and sanctioned people, deprived of their rights for

tens of years? Toppling the regime didn't take long...but the daily

torture of the Iraqis isn't finished yet, since the downfall of

Baghdad, till now...Where is the aspect of success in this war??Yes, I

cried for the scenes of Iraqis wailing and crying in the days of air

raids in Iraq, and no one showed them any mercy and stopped the

torture...as if the whole world colluded against us, either supporting

Bush, or fearing him...then the pictures of Iraqis, at night in their

houses, and the occupation forces raiding houses, the son lying on the

floor, hands bound, the mother sitting on the stairs, crying in the

dark, asking: what did my son do? Shame on you, he is a third-year

collage student....How many beautiful things were broken, ripped apart

by this war???Our lives, relations, our whole outlook to the world has

collapsed, but the happiness with which Bush promised us didn't come,

the happiness by which he justified the war, so he could bring freedom

and welfare to the Iraqis...Is he really concerned with us?? Did he

ever read the diaries of our pains and torture? Did he apologize for

what he brought of chaos and destruction into our lives?.... I don't

think so... he didn't , and he never will....he gives adulations only

to the American who pays taxes, then sends his children to join in

killing us, and destroying our lives...under the slogan of (A

Beautiful, Free Iraq)....It is we who live like this every day...and

the American here protects himself in every possible way, so he could

get back home safely, healthy, and happy, meeting the press, TV.

Networks and Internet, speaking about his sacrifices here for the

Iraqis.Yes...thank you...we see the other side of the picture...away

from the media and publicity...the true face of which we write in our

diaries.....***************** At the end of the film there was some

mention of the contracts signed with American Companies, in fantastic

numbers, to implement projects in Iraq...then sub-contracting them to

Iraqi contractors with humble fees... The film didn't come up with any

made-up story, all that he mentioned here was true...we thank Michel

More and his truthful, transparent spirit, with which he dealt with

the film's atmosphere, from beginning to end. I thank him, and thank

the beautiful face of America, which supported More in bringing this

film to light. It had humanity and fairness in dealing with the Iraqi

human-being. Not only the American is worthy of being mourned by

mother and friends, the Iraqi also deserves to find someone to cry

upon him, for he is a human, with a past, memories, a father and a

mother, a family, relatives and friends.... Who grief for the news of

his death...cry for him, and feel angry at those who started this

accursed war.**************** Now...I shall move away from the sad

stories. Last Thursday, I was invited to attend a meeting of a new

Iraqi women society...by the name of (The Iraqi Business Women

Society). It was at the Iraqi Hunting Club Hall, an old, beautiful

club, bearing the scent of happy days when the halls used to be filled

by Iraqi families, gathering for dinner, Bingo playing, and the noise

and laughter of children, especially in summer nights. Then there are

the beautiful tennis courts, the open swimming pool for children, and

the closed swimming pool for adults...tidy, beautiful gardens,

containing all colors of flowers....I do not think such customs are

left these days...the security situation does not permit.I went to the

meeting, the hall was filled with women, there were cameras, and

lights... the Chairwoman said the society was established some months

ago, now it will be called off, then re-established, by adding new

members, and electing a new administrative council...A good percentage

of members were engineers, doctors, attorneys, municipality council

members, free lance career women, and entrepreneurs. I don't know what

put in my head the idea of nominating myself for the membership of an

administrative council... I asked the Chairwoman if I could nominate

my self? She said: Yes, in a short while we will announce the names of

the nominees, writing them on a board, and each will stand up on the

dais, and speak about herself, so the other members would know her. I

liked the idea...they wrote my name with the other nominees on a white

board in front of the dais...the nominated women each stood up to talk

about her degrees, her experience, and her ambition to work in the

society, what she would like to present... I looked at them, one by

one...some were very nice, and very convincing, because they were

founder members, they had some things to say from previous experience,

some were new, having a nice spirit of ambition to share and work,

while others were as if they are begging strongly: Please choose me or

I'll die...ha, ha, ha...yes, I laughed, saluting their friendly,

fighting spirit, that wants to join in taking decisions....And when it

was my turn to talk...I stood up, laughed, and said that one minute

wasn't enough to talk...but I'll make it short... I talked about my

graduation from the collage of engineering, my work, my life outside

Iraq, and my new job in Baghdad, and my address. I heard some

approving cries.I said I wanted to contribute in order to help Iraqi

women...I want no personal advantages, and will not run after any... I

will not fight to attend a conference outside Iraq, or visit some

country; for I spent my life traveling...I only want to help Iraqi

women.They distributed voting papers, stamped by the society's stamp,

by the presence of a woman delegate of the Ministry of Planning, a

woman legal register, and the representative of the Women's societies

in Iraq. Those were an observation committee, to ensure the voting

legitimacy. We wrote the names, there were nine names needed... all

the time I was thinking, praying to GOD to successd, if there was any

good that I could present to people through this society, or to lose,

if it were merely a silly, worthless procedure... all the time I was

thinking that I was an adventurer... for I only knew three women in

the hall, and I couldn't guarantee their votes...but I was betting on

my personality, my speech, and their trust in what they heard me

say.... Then came the happy surprise that made me laugh a lot....I won

by a third of the votes, and became a member of the administrative

council of the society...By God I was dealing with the subject in a

spirit of mirth, a curiosity to join, and adventure... but today I

find my self a little worried, for this is a responsibility, which

deserves interest, time, and dedication...Tomorrow is our first

meeting...I wish for things to move in a good way, for this society to

be a starting point to help Iraqi women in making a better future...I

will try contacting some Arabic and Foreign Societies for consultation

and listening to suggestions from those who have experience...I hope

we will get the chance of arranging training courses, to promote the

work and thinking of the working, producing women, especially those

responsible for supporting families...and I hope we could produce

development programs, in languages and computer skills for collage

graduate women, to provide them with better job opportunities by

adding new capabilities. Many new ideas will come with time...I wish

God would be with us, as long as the intention is true to serving

people....****************************I have learned something nice

from the Americans...from those I meet, or those who send e-mails...

(Do not just sit and complain )...I always hear this sentence. From

friends or foes... yes, this is a frustrating situation...and I intend

to try the adventure, and participate, regardless of the danger in

participation these days, in these conditions...But I keep my eyes on

to God...I say, In The Name of God...He will save me, He will support

and encourage me, with all those I love, those who love me...I take

the first step...in the thousand miles path... asking success from