Iraqiya

The Sadr and Government Problem Again

2008-04-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Things in Baghdad haven’t been that great since the military operations in Basra began, shelling on civilians, killings, firing mortars, kidnappings ect...I was watching TV and saw a man crying because his house was hit in Sadr city and he said that today its my house tomorrow this could happen to you! And there it struck me it can be my house, it could be my child.
yesterday there were gunshot by security forces looking for Mahdi army fighters near the place I live so when I got home they told my that my daughter freaked out because of the gun fire she was with her grandmother at the time and she wouldn’t stop crying until the gunshots stopped, How long do our children have to live with this?????

Now I don’t think people are pleased with Sadr now, but they are not that happy with the Iraqi government and its actions either, especially since it decided to fire about 5000 Iraqi security members for giving up their arms, I mean wouldn’t anyone if put in a similar situation, either give up your arm, or lose your life, I think I would go for the first since Sadr usually changes his mind and yields to the government in the last minute even though many people were killed defending his decisions at first .

Sadr's supporters have a real big issue; they are very fond of firing mortars; and they target the green zone even though governmental buildings in Baghdad are near the green zone so when they fall I usually have the honor of hearing them! And sometimes they are close! Since they don’t always land on the place they are intended for (green zone).

Now I bet that Al-Qaeda is on vacation now, I bet they are thinking "hey the Iraqi people are killing each other they don’t need us to kill them!"

Divorce problems in Iraq

2008-02-27T01:38:00.000-08:00

I stumble on so many problems these days in society but the most frequent is the problem of divorce, now divorce is a way out of a marriage in Iraq, but unfortunately it's not a great one especially for women …what happens to a woman here in Iraq is very awkward , its true that in most cases she gets to keep custody of her children , but she is only given a small allowance , that’s if the man has a salary from the government , the problem is not in this issue , it is how a divorced woman is looked at in Iraqi society , they always seem to blame the woman for the divorce even though she has not initiated or filed for it , they view the woman as having a deficiency in her honor , they always view her in that way thinking that she must have committed something that breaches her honor to deserve it , I know its hard but I would really like to do something for women going through this ordeal like getting the Iraqi government to legislate certain laws that help women… there is no counseling, no special groups not even special organizations that help women cope, they have to deal with it alone…and she usually ends up going back to her parents home, she cannot live alone in most cases because of traditions.. And she must face society head down because of a decision she probably didn’t make but was made for her!!

Little Hope at Last!!!

2008-01-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning determined to write about conditions here in Iraq, I know that my blog has been neglected, but I became so tired of writing bad conditions in Iraq and also because I was going through some family problems, all I can say is that it was the worst time in my marriage life but I also got to travel to Europe for a short period which was very nice, when I came back everyone was surprised, how could you come back why didn’t you apply for asylum? Questions I hear too often ….anyway I want to write something pleasant , well I can finally say that things are better now here in Baghdad , relatively good ! Suicide car bombs have gone down, killings also (knock on wood!) we say this expression in Iraq when things are good and we are afraid that they might change course, there is even a marriage spree, many people are getting engaged during this period, some young men refused that before because of the bad security conditions thinking that they may be killed in any time. Taxi drivers can go to many places in the city without fear of going into an area which is of a different sect, I remember a time that I was afraid to hire a taxi in certain places because I did not know the sect of the driver or the drivers would only go on the main streets of the city without entering certain areas… even the Mahdi Army in certain areas…there is a sense that they are not as powerful or influential as they used to be , people can stay a little late than usual , some streets that were not used like the high way linking east Baghdad to the west is used now even on new years day there were some clubs in Baghdad that held parties !! I didn’t get to go to one but I saw some on the news.
I know that things are not perfect but they are on the right track …the only thing that we hope is for more peace and prosperity to my country …hopefully soon !!

2007-08-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Its been such a long time since I have written, I guess its because so much has been going on in the past period, I just cant bring myself to write , I feel so discouraged, so broken, and above all so sad , things here in Baghdad at this time are not getting better ,on the contrary they are getting worse !!!! when is this going to be over ? when will we live like normal human beings ? I find myself asking the same question day in and day out,
I try to find some good things here in Baghdad but I just cant, even if there are some exceptions, there is always something that will ruin it for me, like a kidnapped relative, or a sick family member that cant find the proper medical treatment ….and so on …..How ever hard I try, there is always something that will bring me down!!!
The Iraqi government members are in the middle of their disputes not caring about the Iraqi people! And the parliament members are on a summer vacation! Can you believe that? They can take a vacation when the country's conditions are like this, the Iraqi people are dying, services are so bad ,no water, no electricity in most parts of the country . I guess all we can do is hope that a change will happen soon

Arab Jihadist in Iraq

2007-05-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

In Jihadist Haven, a Goal: To Kill and Die in Iraq
A story published in the New York Times By SOUAD MEKHENNET and MICHAEL MOSS
I have put a link to the article but I dont know how long it will be accessible
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/world/middleeast/04bombers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=todayspaper

I have taken some extracts of the article

It tells a story of Abu Ibrahim, 24-year-old Jordanian who left for Iraq; he is a resident of Zarqa which according to the paper "has been known as a cradle of Islamic militancy since the beginning of the war in Iraq"

the article reads" The anger among militants in Zarqa, a mostly Sunni city, is now directed at Shiites as much as Americans, reflecting the escalation in hostility between the two branches of Islam since Shiites gained dominance in the new Iraqi government. “They have traditions that are un-Islamic and they hate the Sunnis,” said Ahmad Khalil Abdelaziz Salah, an imam whose mosque in Zarqa was attended by some of Zarqa’s bombers

Asked to name his targets, Abu Ibrahim said: “First, the Shiites. Second, the Americans. Third, anywhere in the world where Islam is threatened

Well maybe you should start with yourself you STUPID Imam because you and the people that pray with you are the biggest threat to Islam... its a shame that you are regarded as a Muslim or even as a human being because the human nature bans the killings of innocent people ...maybe you should try to read the Quran , the Muslim holy book instead of foolishly making accusations, in case you didn’t know , it does not in any way justify the killing of people the way you do.

Read the verse in Quran Sorat Al-Israa " And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, we have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying"

What gives you the right to decide who to kill? Islam is merciful you stupid bastards, in case you didn't know Shiites are Muslims too! But then again if the Islam that you belong to justifies these killing than we don’t want to be part of it!!!!!!!!!

God Damn them it makes me so… so mad ...they think that killing Iraqi children, men, women can be justified or it will get them into Heaven well you keep on doing it!!!! The people that you are killing are the ones going to Heaven; I hope you and all those that think like you rot in Hell!! You Stupid Losers

Hello? Any one there from the Jordanian Government ….ah... maybe you could do something about this or is it just as long as it doesn’t effect your country then its OK ? Maybe the American government should try to do something about this too....maybe like hit Zarqa with an atomic bomb!!! Do something about it before the Iraqis do because if they decide to do something about it I assure you it won't be pretty! So stop wasting time with other things when you know who the enemy is!!!!
Maybe holding the Damn Jordanian Government accountable for what goes on in their country and making them stop the influx of foreign fighters (LOSERS), while you are doing this talk to Saudi Arabia and Syria too ...Its always going to be the Arabs ....they are the ones that are against the Iraqis they are the ones that are making the sectarian violence worse its not the militias its not the Iraqis Shiites or Sunnis these bastards that have come across the border to kill and ruin Iraq.

Diwaniyah Fighting

2007-05-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

Hi every one thanks to all those that have written to me during this period I know I havent written in a long time but Im back now ....

What surprises me about Mahdi army , is that they are always ready to make things worse during the time when things are most needed to be calm , in 2004 they managed to divert the US and Iraqis troops effort in fighting terrorist in Falluja and got them to fight them ( Mahdi Army ) in Najaf instead , of course the people of Najaf were not pleased , it might not be known but only a small number of people in Najaf support Sadr, and in Kerbala the number is less , so they are not happy having their city war wrecked because of him ... now I remember a time when Falluja people praised Al-Sadr and some of the Shiites critisized him because of his support to the Muqawama or so called resistance in Anbar , I would talk with a relative of mine who is a big supporter of his and she would say" the people of Falluja are Iraqi , the Sunnis are our brothers "... just because Sadr said so now she is like "Damn those Sunnis " I remeber a time where she would talk so bad about the Iraqi police force saying they were collaberators even though my husband was working for the security forces at that time and she happens to be his aunt , I was so hurt at that time to see people talking about those that risk their lives in the streets trying to make the security situation better .
In April the same thing happened in Diwaniyah which is a Shia city , it is also the same case a few Mahdi Army members begin to fight Iraqi troops which are also Shia , because they do not want anyone to interfere with what they do ..they want to be the hands of GOD on earth punishing, killing , whatever they feel necessary .. the result many Iraqi innocent people killed, now I know that Mahdi army members are not terrorist like the Sunni Jihadist, they might be extremist but I have to admit that they have participated in making some things better !!...they have in some areas controlled crime rate , they have a certain way in dealing with criminals!!!! ...they dont plant car bombs and detonate them in markets or in local places like the case of the Sunni Jihadist who kill the most number of people they can not caring if thet are children , women , elderly , just kill those Shiites thats their motto ....now It may sound that I might be supporting them but really Iam not Its just that I would like to explain that there are two types of Mahdi army members the first: young , poor and some uneducated that have found a way to express theirselves in belonging to this group , and the other part who are criminals that found in belonging to this militia a means of practising their murderous deeds, not all Mahdi army members kill or abduct or force people to leave their homes only a small number of them do but unfortunatly the damage they do is big .some people might not admit it but most Shiites secretly admire Mahdi army members as some of them say " if it hadnt been for them the Sunnis would have killed us by now ! I am hearing this too often these days even from people I consider secular , even from freinds of mine I tell them well if they manage to get rid of the Sunnis in the areas then they are going to try to impose their beleifs on you thats the problem with extremist the imposing part... they just wont let you be! , I sometimes go into long fruitless arguements with them ... and I am always telling my sisters that are in school to keep their mouth shut when it comes to Sunni or Mahdi Army " Dont talk about them you never know who your enemy is " even my husband I am always nagging him and pleading with him even though he has some freinds that belong to this militia ..."they dont look at things the way we do so dont critisize them in public " .

Email sent to me from the States

2007-03-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

An email sent to me asking the following question
Q/" I am not naive as to corruption in high places, but my desire really is to know the truth. I have read many other blogs that are vehemently anti US and others that are equally pro US. Your blog caught my attention because you seem to be objective. Let me ask you... In your opinion would it have been better for life to continue the way it was before the war? Also do you think that the US should stay in Iraq until things are more stable? Third is there anything that we the people of the US or our Govt. could do to make the situation better there?

A/ I am loyal to my country in the sense of being loyal to the Iraqi people ,you asked me a very tough question,
in the begining we were so happy because we thought the US had come to liberate us,( most of the Iraqi people) and some were not very happy because they benifited under Saddam and they found themselves homeless and jobless .

We cannot deny the good things the US has done for the Iraqi people , but I think that the US should have done more to protect Iraqi people and serve them for example after 4 years of the war electricity keeps getting worse , many people do not have drinking water in their homes especially during the summer , many iraqis are left jobless and cannot provide for thier families which causes them to commit all types of crime Im not saying that all those that have no jobs in Iraq are criminals but an enviroment as such usually leads to this type of problem .

We have to tackle problems like corruption I know that corruption is so huge in Iraq it seems like imposible to solve but I think if the Americans help they can do it , begining with the big heads in the government , huge amounts of money have been spent on what ? All I see is workers sweeping streets that do not need to be swept!! why not work on projects that benifit the Iraqi people, electricity ,water infrastructure projects ...you mignt say SECURITY well many Iraqi governorates in the south are relatively safe but nothing has been done there..

What we need is a government that is willing to work for Iraq not for itself ...what we see now is a bunch of thugs that do not care about anything except making as much money as they can as fast as they can and sending it abroad so they have millions when they return to the countries that they came from, all these people left iraq and did not suffer under Saddam and if they did it was for a short time unlike the Iraqis that suffered during that time and still suffer . I know many officials that roamed the streets in Europe and in other countries and lived on pensions given from governments of those countries who are now milliorares !! Where did they get the money ? most likely from the poor Iraqi people.

What I think is that the Americans did good when they came to Iraq its just that what they did when they got here is not so good !

Should US troops stay in Iraq untill things are more stabe , well in both ways they are bad the question is which is the best of worst ? well I say as long as the US troops are here things will not be stable because you will always find someone complaing even if it is not the troops fault . These troops need to do more than just protect themselves in this country , but leaving Iraq the way it is will be a catastrophe the country will go through the worst civil war in the history of mankind . I guess the troops being on Iraqi soil gives us a feeling of security now because of what might happen if they do leave , they are just like the punishment you threat a child with if he behaves bad .
If you think conditions here are bad now wait till you see what happens when the troops do leave .

A Taste of Their Own medicine

2007-03-25T04:08:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard that the deputy prime minister Salam Al-Zobaie was injured in a suicide bomb on friday during noon prayers ...and to be honest I was not as sad as when I hear of any other explosion that takes place in Baghdad .. because I WOULD REALLY LIKE OFFICIALS TO WITNESS THESE HORRIBLE INCIDENTS maybe then they will try to stop them from occuring especially because they are the reason for most of them ,these bombings kill poor civilians most of the time so why not change the victims for a change maybe then Mr Zobaie will think twice before hiring gaurds that belong to Al-Qaeda ( most of his guards are his relatives like the case of most of the officials in Iraq ) and maybe then he will do more to try to stop the violence in Iraq instead of encouraging it .Well this man used to support the resistance of US troops in Iraq ( but the only people that this resitance managed to kill were poor Iraqis ) this is the case of the Tawafiq group which is considered the biggest resistance to US troops in Iraq and Mr. Zobaie belongs to this group ... they were the first people to start sectarianism in Iraq and now they are begging US forces to stay after they had tried to make US forces leave !!!! well maybe if Tawafiq and Mahdi army left the country we wouldnt need these forces but as long as you are here I guess we cant do without them .

Kidnapped by the Hounrable Resistance

2007-03-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Kidnapped by the Honorable Resistance
I took my daughter to see my parents and family on Wednesday only to find out that my best friends sister and cousin had been kidnapped on their way home from college ( these girls come from a very reserved and strict family ) I think their parents would rather have them die of natural cause than have them alive and kidnapped ....the kidnappers called on the same day that the girls were taken demanding a ransom of 100,000 dollars ... if they sold the house they live in ( which they partially own )and all the processions they have they would not come up with quarter of the sum (and in that case they would be in the streets ) so I went to their house to see my friend ...as soon as I got in she started crying I have never seen her cry so much and her mother was weeping ...she told me that after negotiations with the kidnappers that claimed to be the Honorable resistance (Mqawama Sharifa) they managed to lower the sum to 15,000 dollars which still is a lot of money ...so neighbours and friends started donating some money (I had some money for a washing machine that I wanted to buy , But I guess I can buy one later..) other poor families gave modest amounts just to show that they supported the family , on Thursdays they were told to come and give the money the father went and he was told to follow the instructions carefully or else they girls would die ...he was told to leave the money on a street corner and leave ....after 4 hours the family was called again and told that the girls would be freed "because of your cooperation with us and pray for us we have some new operations that we want to conduct so we need your prayers" .....wow pray for them ... the girls were then taken to the street after having the blindfold taken off .. and one of the kidnappers hired a taxi for them telling the taxi driver that these are my sisters and they are in your hands please take them to where they want to go ...I saw one of the girls and managed to speak to her she was very pale and as if she will break down in any minute tears in her eyes ...I wonder if her life will ever be normal again ...

The hangings again

2007-03-20T02:13:00.002-07:00

I did not know of the hanging of Saddams s former deputy until I was in the car on my way to work ...I said here we go again killing people that have a bad effect on the current situation in Baghdad .... this will only worsen things ....I hated Saddam and his former regime and I was wishing that I would see his death before I mine (im not a blood thirsty person who likes seeing people dead ) but because of what he did at that time ...and even on the day he died I wasnt happy not that I had pitty for him or anything ...but because we are not in need of such irresponsible action at this time.You know things that make the violence here worst ...you have to admitt that there are people that still love him and his bunch of crooks and are ready to do anything they can to avenge for their death so why give them a chance ?...things are bad as they are .... just leave them in prison and let them die God will punish them eventually .. enough killings please ....I want to be able to come to work and think of something other than " oh no it might explode here or maybe there ....who is gonna take care of my daughter if I die? " ever since an explosion took place near where we were driving ...and when I say close I mean really close maybe like 40 meters away its a miracle we made it if the driver had gone a few meters closer I wouldnt be here now ! please I want to be able to think of something else other than this something like work like a vacation like what im gonna make for lunch ....the constant feeling that I have is will I MAKE IT HOME ALIVE !!! I just wish that the day where I dont have to worry about these things will come soon !

The Baghdad Conference

2007-03-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

People in Baghdad think that this conference will have a great impact on the security situation here in Baghdad , and having it slammed by 2 mortar bombs (fortunatly they missed) was expected !!!....but can it really solve the problem or the inferno that Baghdad is going through .....comon who are we kidding here ? a conference attended by a couple of officials will not do anything to solve the problem , we need some really concrete steps here ...a crackdown on the bad people that are in the government first .....yep! those people that go on TV and provoke criminals to do what they do ....im not gonna say Shia nor Sunnis.. no.. no but those that are using the Iraqi people in their disputes ... maybe adressing that matter first and then having a conference .

Reason Im writing

2007-03-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am writing this blog to explain what a typical Iraqi woman goes through in her daily life , and to comment on both social and political circumstances the country is going through .