Comments on: Letters from Baghdad http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/ The BBC News programme where you set the agenda Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:26:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Zainab http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-13717 Zainab Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:45:20 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-13717 salam Alikcum,how are you all, It's been sometime since I last been in WHYS blog. Well it is because i live in Sadr City. It is under a curfew since March 25, we have no electricity,and even if we use our generator it is preferable to turn on the fridge rather than the PC. We cannot go to our college, school, job...etc. All that we can do is to sit at home and hear the ugly sounds of bombs and shots and the American planes. till now i don't know what has really happened!! This is really IRONIC we are living the 5th anniversary of the American War on Iraq, and we are still in WAR. salam Alikcum,how are you all,
It’s been sometime since I last been in WHYS blog. Well it is because i live in Sadr City. It is under
a curfew since March 25, we have no electricity,and even if we use our generator it is preferable to turn on the fridge rather than the PC. We cannot go to our college, school, job…etc.
All that we can do is to sit at home and hear the ugly sounds of bombs and shots and the American planes.
till now i don’t know what has really happened!!
This is really IRONIC we are living the 5th anniversary of the American War on Iraq, and we are still in WAR.

]]> By: Anan http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12306 Anan Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:40:41 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12306 Dear Peter, Thank you for your call this evening. I got your email too and it will be my pleasure to share in your program. In fact, I have waited for your call since 08:00pm this evening, but it seems you couldn't reach me. You know that our cell-phones net in Baghdad is not always easy to get. I am sorry if you have found difficulty in reaching me. But I could briefly share with you my experience as an Iraqi citizen living in Baghdad and witnessing everything that happened since the American invasion or the so-called liberation. I would say as a sensible Iraqi woman, PhD scholar, Instructor at a University level and as a civilian, that there are things in our life are extremely deteriorating and some few others are moving to the better. These few things such as, the increase in salaries, being opened to the world through satellite channels, or cell-phones, or through traveling abroad, though with much restriction, and relatively feeling free to express one's opinion through TV or Mass media or news papers are unable to keep the balance with the very important thing we miss in our life: PEACE. What would you do with money if your life and your family’s is at risk every moment even if you are at home. Fear, bombs, explosions, terrorism, curfew, etc... have become an integral part of our daily usage. We keep asking ourselves, how many of us should die in order to have the peace that any country has the right to enjoy. Why is that? What for? Who is responsible for what is happening? Such questions are so difficult to answer! Indeed, you may say, Iraqis' life is going on: true, only because Iraqis have courage, fortitude and determination to move on despite everything we passed and still passing through. For me, I love my country and I love my job and my students, trying to build their minds and souls encouraging them to build their lives,homes and country by knowledge,education,and strength of soul. You know what? The positive thing is that, we have become more compassionate to one another despite all the inside and outside attempts to separate us.That is why we are with any honest, true attempt to help us to reserruction. Iraqis will always fight to survive because they have faith in God who will never forsake them. Anan in Baghdad Dear Peter,
Thank you for your call this evening. I got your email too and it will be my pleasure to share in your program. In fact, I have waited for your call since 08:00pm this evening, but it seems you couldn’t reach me. You know that our cell-phones net in Baghdad is not always easy to get. I am sorry if you have found difficulty in reaching me. But I could briefly share with you my experience as an Iraqi citizen living in Baghdad and witnessing everything that happened since the American invasion or the so-called liberation.

I would say as a sensible Iraqi woman, PhD scholar, Instructor at a University level and as a civilian, that there are things in our life are extremely deteriorating and some few others are moving to the better. These few things such as, the increase in salaries, being opened to the world through satellite channels, or cell-phones, or through traveling abroad, though with much restriction, and relatively feeling free to express one’s opinion through TV or Mass media or news papers are unable to keep the balance with the very important thing we miss in our life: PEACE.

What would you do with money if your life and your family’s is at risk every moment even if you are at home. Fear, bombs, explosions, terrorism, curfew, etc… have become an integral part of our daily usage.

We keep asking ourselves, how many of us should die in order to have the peace that any country has the right to enjoy. Why is that? What for? Who is responsible for what is happening? Such questions are so difficult to answer!

Indeed, you may say, Iraqis’ life is going on: true, only because Iraqis have courage, fortitude and determination to move on despite everything we passed and still passing through. For me, I love my country and I love my job and my students, trying to build their minds and souls encouraging them to build their lives,homes and country by knowledge,education,and strength of soul. You know what? The positive thing is that, we have become more compassionate to one another despite all the inside and outside attempts to separate us.That is why we are with any honest, true attempt to help us to reserruction.

Iraqis will always fight to survive because they have faith in God who will never forsake them.

Anan in Baghdad

]]> By: Omar,from Egypt http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12282 Omar,from Egypt Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:42:58 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12282 Dear Lubna,Zainab,Steve, etc. I am afraid Pandora's box was opened when the present U.S. administration decided to invade Iraq.No WMD were ever found after practically that whole unfortunate country was turned upside down and neither could any evidence be found to show that Saddam had links to Bin Laden's Al Qaeda, on the contrary it turned out he was opposed to it for fear it would threaten his own skin ! Both were the stated reasons for the invasion of Iraq which are somehow now mostly and perhaps conveniently 'forgotten'. A lynchpin was removed with Saddam's removal,bringing the delicate political and military balance of this oil rich area crashing down due to an inexcusable lack of foresight on the part of the so called coalition. There must have been a more subtle and less catastrophic means of toppling a dictator, and this is not with the benefit of hindsight as many voices in Congress had predicted what later happened.Unfortunately no one gave them at least some sensible appraisal at the time.Thousands of American youth and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died violently and needlessly (whatever some may say about that last word) and many more are maimed for life. Iraq , dear Iraq , your only salvation is the unity of your people,forget your differences and only remember your common cause :Free Democracy . Am I being too optimistic ? Dear Lubna,Zainab,Steve, etc. I am afraid Pandora’s box was opened when the present U.S. administration decided to invade Iraq.No WMD were ever found after practically that whole unfortunate country was turned upside down and neither could any evidence be found to show that Saddam had links to Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda, on the contrary it turned out he was opposed to it for fear it would threaten his own skin ! Both were the stated reasons for the invasion of Iraq which are somehow now mostly and perhaps conveniently ‘forgotten’. A lynchpin was removed with Saddam’s removal,bringing the delicate political and military balance of this oil rich area crashing down due to an inexcusable lack of foresight on the part of the so called coalition. There must have been a more subtle and less catastrophic means of toppling a dictator, and this is not with the benefit of hindsight as many voices in Congress had predicted what later happened.Unfortunately no one gave them at least some sensible appraisal at the time.Thousands of American youth and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died violently and needlessly (whatever some may say about that last word) and many more are maimed for life. Iraq , dear Iraq , your only salvation is the unity of your people,forget your differences and only remember your common cause :Free Democracy . Am I being too optimistic ?

]]> By: Lubna http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12277 Lubna Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:33:32 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12277 Hi to all of you my Precious friends, and HAPPY EASTER ! Dearest Goerge : THANKS so much for your extraordinarily kind words. And to my dearest Zainab I say : THANK YOU so much. But as you know, in 2005 when we went to the polls to elect a new government, we had 2 options ahead of us : Either to decide to belong to a particular sect or decide to belong to IRAQ. And sadly we chose the 1st option. But we've learned from the very painful experience that we've been through . We've realised the horrific consequences of our fatal choice. And now we know. Yes, we know. Now we know that only our belonging to our Iraq will protect and save us from this terrible madness. With my love. Yours forever, Lubna. Hi to all of you my Precious friends, and HAPPY EASTER ! Dearest Goerge : THANKS so much for your extraordinarily kind words. And to my dearest Zainab I say : THANK YOU so much. But as you know, in 2005 when we went to the polls to elect a new government, we had 2 options ahead of us : Either to decide to belong to a particular sect or decide to belong to IRAQ. And sadly we chose the 1st option. But we’ve learned from the very painful experience that we’ve been through . We’ve realised the horrific consequences of our fatal choice. And now we know. Yes, we know. Now we know that only our belonging to our Iraq will protect and save us from this terrible madness. With my love. Yours forever, Lubna.

]]> By: Patrick Lockyer http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12265 Patrick Lockyer Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:41:46 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12265 See here the heroics of war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsHakyiVD5g take time to view other such air strike videos of similar heroics? See here the heroics of war:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsHakyiVD5g
take time to view other such air strike videos of similar heroics?

]]> By: Patrick Lockyer http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12263 Patrick Lockyer Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:25:59 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12263 To George USA and Steve. Oil reserves are not what counts. As a baby in war torn London I had an air force and an early warning system against 'doodlebugs' and an Anderson shelter in the yard and the underground platforms when the sirens went off. Nevertheless London was decimated. Go on YouTube and listen to the conversations between pilots and control, two miles above, as to whether to 'take out' a strolling crowd' in an impoverished dustbowl town. "Can I take them out?" says the pilot. "Yes take them out" says the controller. Then you have the audacity to post that crap on UTube? If that is not a cowardly war crime what is? And American Military have been made immune to war crime accusation by Bush. Go figure? What does the world make of this kind of action? What do you think sensible America? Do you really want another similar hawk in the White House or are you finally going to see the light and see how you really look to the great wide world? Deny all this of course and deny Haditha and Abu Ghraib and Gitmo and thankfully these poor recipients of this brutality don't routinely have access to YouTube for their radical recruitment stations one hopes? To George USA and Steve. Oil reserves are not what counts. As a baby in war torn London I had an air force and an early warning system against ‘doodlebugs’ and an Anderson shelter in the yard and the underground platforms when the sirens went off. Nevertheless London was decimated. Go on YouTube and listen to the conversations between pilots and control, two miles above, as to whether to ‘take out’ a strolling crowd’ in an impoverished dustbowl town. “Can I take them out?” says the pilot. “Yes take them out” says the controller. Then you have the audacity to post that crap on UTube? If that is not a cowardly war crime what is? And American Military have been made immune to war crime accusation by Bush. Go figure? What does the world make of this kind of action? What do you think sensible America? Do you really want another similar hawk in the White House or are you finally going to see the light and see how you really look to the great wide world? Deny all this of course and deny Haditha and Abu Ghraib and Gitmo and thankfully these poor recipients of this brutality don’t routinely have access to YouTube for their radical recruitment stations one hopes?

]]> By: zainab http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12252 zainab Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:29:52 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12252 hi how are you all? thank you so much George USA, for your kind poem (or is it a song?). Though what is happening in our lovely land, i'm still optimistic about the future.(i believe my friends Rania and Lubna agree with me).All what we want (as Dear Lubna have said), is to to live peacefully, and insha Allah, everything will set right again. To Steve, i just want to tell you that i completely agree with you that Iran is controlling Iraq, but Iran is not alone there are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria as well as USA all these country are controlling Iraq. if Ahmadi Nagad has visited Iraq, so what, George Bush has visited Iraq too!!they are both our presidents, aren't they :) Dear Lubna, you said it is "our fault because we enabled them to reach power." excuse me but i don't agree with you, first they are in power since they've reached Iraq(i mean since Bush brought them). Secondly we don't have any experience in the election process, you know how this thing was working during Saddam's time. hi how are you all?
thank you so much George USA, for your kind poem (or is it a song?). Though what is happening in our lovely land, i’m still optimistic about the future.(i believe my friends Rania and Lubna agree with me).All what we want (as Dear Lubna have said), is to to live peacefully, and insha Allah, everything will set right again.
To Steve, i just want to tell you that i completely agree with you that Iran is controlling Iraq, but Iran is not alone there are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria as well as USA all these country are controlling Iraq.
if Ahmadi Nagad has visited Iraq, so what, George Bush has visited Iraq too!!they are both our presidents, aren’t they :)
Dear Lubna, you said it is “our fault because we enabled them to reach power.”
excuse me but i don’t agree with you, first they are in power since they’ve reached Iraq(i mean since Bush brought them). Secondly we don’t have any experience in the election process, you know how this thing was working during Saddam’s time.

]]> By: George USA http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12240 George USA Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:47:19 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12240 Rania, Lubna and Zainab I am glad you are alive. ... You sit on great oil reserves. Better days are coming to Iraq. ... Thank you for expressing yourselves. God Bless and protect you in Jesus name. Rania, Lubna and Zainab

I am glad you are alive.

…

You sit on great oil reserves.

Better days are coming to Iraq.

…

Thank you for expressing yourselves.

God Bless and protect you in Jesus name.

]]> By: Patrick Lockyer http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12128 Patrick Lockyer Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:12:45 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12128 Steve: Tibet and Iraq? Do me a favor. That's like comparing Luxembourg with Germany. The violence might get worse. It will still be America's fault just as you could say that the tension between India an Pakistan is Britain's fault. At least I'm not in denial. We fought over Ivory and spices once upon a time. Now it is oil. Steve you are not talking for the world. You have your head in the sand. The world see you purely as 'occupiers' and is worried. When will you finally get it? At least you are reading this stuff which has more merit to it than talk radio and Fox News but in reality not many Americans even scroll the Internet and have no clue of world opinion. 'Possession' 'Control' 'Occupation' 'Invasion' are what they are. To Rick USA: You still want to talk as if you have some 'almighty right' to occupy. There were no Al-Qaeda in Iraq until you got the Muslims all mad at your presence and there are Muslims all over the world now ready to revenge 'Abu Ghraib' Etc. Americans should stop talking as if they are the 'mighty right'. You are isolated and completely out of step and it is refreshing that a hopeful new governing body might 'get it'. Although it is also quite likely that middle America will insist on someone who 'talks to God' and is a pure white as the driven snow and who has no beef about wonderful America leading as before and the world will sigh as they did four years ago. If so then implosion is just one step nearer I suspect. Rome Empire eat your heart out. Steve:
Tibet and Iraq? Do me a favor. That’s like comparing Luxembourg with Germany. The violence might get worse. It will still be America’s fault just as you could say that the tension between India an Pakistan is Britain’s fault. At least I’m not in denial. We fought over Ivory and spices once upon a time. Now it is oil. Steve you are not talking for the world. You have your head in the sand. The world see you purely as ‘occupiers’ and is worried. When will you finally get it? At least you are reading this stuff which has more merit to it than talk radio and Fox News but in reality not many Americans even scroll the Internet and have no clue of world opinion. ‘Possession’ ‘Control’ ‘Occupation’ ‘Invasion’ are what they are. To Rick USA: You still want to talk as if you have some ‘almighty right’ to occupy. There were no Al-Qaeda in Iraq until you got the Muslims all mad at your presence and there are Muslims all over the world now ready to revenge ‘Abu Ghraib’ Etc. Americans should stop talking as if they are the ‘mighty right’. You are isolated and completely out of step and it is refreshing that a hopeful new governing body might ‘get it’. Although it is also quite likely that middle America will insist on someone who ‘talks to God’ and is a pure white as the driven snow and who has no beef about wonderful America leading as before and the world will sigh as they did four years ago. If so then implosion is just one step nearer I suspect. Rome Empire eat your heart out.

]]> By: Rick, USA http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/letters-from-baghdad/#comment-12100 Rick, USA Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:59:03 +0000 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-12100 First, let me say that I supported the invasion and I am deeply sorry that we mismanaged the reconstruction. Who would have guessed that the same county that implemented the Marshal Plan could screw up so bad? I wish the Iraqi people no harm and I sincerely hope that everything will turn out all right. The majority of Americas do not want to keep our troops in your country but we also feel an obligation to fix what we broke. There is also the problem of giving Al-Qaeda a victory by tucking our tails in and running. The way to get the Americans out of your country is to stop the violence and get your government working. Believe me the American public would not stand for our troops being over there if the situation was clearly stable. I understand you are going to hold elections sometime in 2009. Please participate and elect people who can pull your country together and work for the people. I would like nothing better than to see our troops out of your country and your people building a prosperous economy in a free society. First, let me say that I supported the invasion and I am deeply sorry that we mismanaged the reconstruction. Who would have guessed that the same county that implemented the Marshal Plan could screw up so bad? I wish the Iraqi people no harm and I sincerely hope that everything will turn out all right. The majority of Americas do not want to keep our troops in your country but we also feel an obligation to fix what we broke. There is also the problem of giving Al-Qaeda a victory by tucking our tails in and running. The way to get the Americans out of your country is to stop the violence and get your government working. Believe me the American public would not stand for our troops being over there if the situation was clearly stable. I understand you are going to hold elections sometime in 2009. Please participate and elect people who can pull your country together and work for the people. I would like nothing better than to see our troops out of your country and your people building a prosperous economy in a free society.

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