An Iraqi On Iraq: Three Years Later

[Annie]

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/2006/03/third-anniversarysacrifice-fear-and.html

Monday, March 20, 2006

The third anniversary...sacrifice, fear and hope.
It has been three years since 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' began and for three years we debated whether the decision was right or wrong and until this moment we have different feelings and opinions about where this operation brought us and where its aftermaths are going to lead us.

This disputed operation no doubt had-and will continue to have-major effects on the future of the region and the rest of the world and it's not limited to the boundaries of Iraq; a fact that makes rational debate legitimate by all standards.

To me, each anniversary brings emotions, thoughts and expectations; some are personal and others are for the future of my country and people. Today I relive those historic moments and remember the way my mind accepted and welcomed those moments like all, or say most Iraqis did as we were praying to see Saddam overthrown without even bothering to think of the consequences or results…all we wanted was to see Saddam out of power, period.

Maybe people still remember how Iraqis first reacted to the change; they directed their rage against anything that reminded them of the regime they hated, burning and looting anything that represented Saddam and his regime. The rich and the poor both stormed those buildings because those angry crowds felt those buildings were Saddam's property and few of us realized at that time that that was wrong yet the emotions driving it were understandable.

The smoke faded away and we woke up to see all the chains gone and instead of the God-president and his iron grip over our destinies, we found ourselves without a guide, without any guidance but our long buried primitive nature, the long repressed nature of loving freedom and practicing it.

The change began then, at that moment where reason mixed with sentiments; were we free…or, were we lost?

Actually it was a lot of both and there was also a sense of great relief that the terrifying warnings from hundreds of thousands of deaths, famine and mass refugees were not true at that point, on the contrary the military operation itself was clean and successful by all standards and didn't cause any serious harm to the civilian population, the infrastructure, or the marching troops.

Saddam was gone and suddenly Iraqis and Americans found themselves face to face in a place that felt new to both of them. They knew almost nothing about each other as the prison Saddam built around us left the world with little knowledge about Iraqis except for the whispers of Iraqis who fled the horrors of the tyrant.
On the other hand, all that Iraqis knew about America was that it's the merciless enemy of Muslims and Arabs, the invader coming for oil, the all-time supporter of Israel against the Palestinians, the imposer of the sanctions and above all, the America that let us down in 1991.

Now the two strangers had to work together to accomplish a goal Iraqis knew almost nothing about; they knew that America wanted to topple Saddam and secure the oil fields but that's all they knew while America was thinking of a huge transformation for the entire Middle East with Iraq being the key to that transformation.
There was a wide gap between the two but we had no choice but to work together, because in a moment Iraqis didn't choose, America and a group of Iraqi ex-pat leaders were suddenly replacing a regime that controlled everything for too long.
Iraqis were confused and vulnerable and there were too many differences to cope with but we were there and there was nothing we could do about it and we had to prepare ourselves for many transitional stages that some Iraqis thought were improvised and arbitrary while others thought were planned long time ago.

The question keeps ringing…
Was it the right decision to remove Saddam?

I say yes, and that's what most Iraqis said and still say even if they became divided over what happened later…the truth is that virtually no one wants Saddam back.

I will just ignore the weepers, whiners, teenagers and half educated naïve people and their silly rallies as I don't want to waste time on people who can do nothing but blindly oppose everything without thinking.
I will ignore them and focus on the more important goals we want to reach here…

Life stopped and time stopped when Saddam ruled Iraq, actually that totalitarian regime was moving backwards and dragging us with it and nothing could stop the deterioration that began the moment Saddam came to power.
We had to accept the change and live with all that would come along with it whether good or bad.
The democracy we're practicing today in Iraq is the exact opposite of what we had for decades and until three years ago. This democracy carries the essence of life, the differences, the dynamics and yes, the failures but also the seed of a better future.

Before the liberation we were suffering and we had no hope, now we are also suffering but we have hope and I see this hope even in the words of those that are cynical about the outcome of the political process; who say they hope things will be better in four years or eight years…
When Saddam was here we didn't have any hope and we could expect nothing good from a dead regime that cared only about its absolute existence.

Yes. We are facing enormous and dangerous challenges and this is not unexpected because the old will not easily step down and accept the loss; the old will fight back fiercely and the old here is not only Saddam and the Ba'ath, the old can be found among many of our current leaders and the mentality they carry that belong to the same generation that bred Saddam but I believe they will melt away as well because no one can go against the direction of time and the clock cannot be forced backwards.

The green bud looks weak and is buried in the dirt and surrounded by a tough shell but it will break through this covering, pierce the dirt and stand on its feet to announce a new era.
We will not be defeated and orphans of the dark past will get what they deserve and our sacrifices and the sacrifices of those who stand with us shall not go in vain, our sacrifices will pave an easier road for those want to follow us when they decide it's time for them to change.

And yes…Iraq will be the model.

Posted by Mohammed @ 19:26

 

[PNAC]

another iraqi

Iraqis Accuse U.S. Marines of 'Massacre'
By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer
2 hours ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Shortly after a roadside bomb killed a U.S. Marine in a western Iraqi town, American troops went into nearby houses and shot dead 15 members of two families, including a 3-year-old-girl, residents say.

The military is investigating possible misconduct by the Marines and confirms there is a video, which Time Magazine says shows the aftermath of the Marines' assault.

Residents contacted by The Associated Press described what happened after the Nov. 19 roadside bomb in the town of Haditha, 140 miles northwest of Baghdad, as "a massacre."

Khaled Ahmed Rsayef, whose brother and six other members of his family were killed in the incident, said the roadside bomb exploded at about 7:15 a.m. in the al-Subhani neighborhood. A U.S. Humvee was badly damaged.

The military acknowledged Monday it was investigating the incident after it was approached by Time with accounts from residents, officials and hospital authorities in Haditha as well as a videotape purportedly showing the aftermath of the incident.

Military officials declined further comment.

A U.S. military statement shortly after the November attack described what happened as an ambush on a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol, with a roadside bombing and subsequent firefight killing 15 civilians, eight insurgents and a U.S. Marine. The statement said the 15 civilians were killed by the blast, a claim the residents strongly denied.

Residents said there only was a roadside bombing, and all the shooting was done by American troops.

Time, in a story in this week's edition, reported that a U.S. colonel went to Haditha for a weeklong probe to interview Marines, survivors and doctors at the morgue. The magazine cited unidentified military officials close to the investigation.

The probe, Time reported, concluded that the civilians were killed by Marines and not a roadside bomb, and that no insurgents appeared to be in the first two houses raided by the Marines.

The probe found, however, that the deaths were the result of "collateral damage," investigators said.

what in the name of LT. Caley is going on here?

 

[MtnBiker]

Link?

 

[PNAC]

Link?

link

http://www.comcast.net/news/interna.../2006/03/20/349580.html&cvqh=itn_iraqmassacre

 

[archangel]

another iraqi



The probe found, however, that the deaths were the result of "collateral damage," investigators said.

what in the name of LT. Caley is going on here?

-----------------------------------------------------------
What pray tell does "Lt.Caley" have to do with this? For your info "Lt.Caley" was a scape goat, in my humble opinion...being a VN era vet and all...In "Lt.Caleys" case he lost control of a group of his soldiers who were pot heads and high at the time of the "Search and destroy mission!" They were druggies before they entered the service as were most who did this type of action...maybe this is why we now have a all volunteer military! Most soldiers during the VN era as well as now are dedicated soldiers and should not be generalized by the actions of a few...you could go back in time to WWII and find atrocities as well..so lets not judge until all the facts are in!

 

[trobinett]

A "hit piece", if it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, and moves like a rat, it`s a rat.

It takes FIVE MONTHS to become news`, I think not.

The "brother" sure has his "information" down pat, 7:15, knows how many people are involved, can even tell its a "joint" Iraq/American patrol, very observant.

No hidden agenda here...............

 

[PNAC]

could it be at all possible that some in our military slaughtered people?

 

[archangel]

could it be at all possible that some in our military slaughtered people?

what ya mean by slaughtered! Have you ever been on the receiving end of hot fire? and how did you react if so? Why not use your energy in here to address the atrocities of the enemy...maybe start with the slowly sawing off the heads of political prisoners(while still alive)..as is common for radical Islam "Freedom"(Joke) fighters!

 

[GotZoom]

what ya mean by slaughtered! Have you ever been on the receiving end of hot fire? and how did you react if so? Why not use your energy in here to address the atrocities of the enemy...maybe start with the slowly sawing off the heads of political prisoners(while still alive)..as is common for radical Islam "Freedom"(Joke) fighters!

I will agree with you 100% here.

It's much easier for him to post links to stories by Al-Jazeera, even with the small notation that it was, in fact, a non-story than to face the fact that these people are out to destroy the United States.

 

[archangel]

I will agree with you 100% here.

It's much easier for him to post links to stories by Al-Jazeera, even with the small notation that it was, in fact, a non-story than to face the fact that these people are out to destroy the United States.

actually we are on the same team...just different approaches...I am blunt and a little ruff...you are warm and fuzzy!

 

[PNAC]

what ya mean by slaughtered! Have you ever been on the receiving end of hot fire? and how did you react if so? Why not use your energy in here to address the atrocities of the enemy...maybe start with the slowly sawing off the heads of political prisoners(while still alive)..as is common for radical Islam "Freedom"(Joke) fighters!

Who exactly is the enemy and who are we trying to free? Is it possible that some in our military slaughtered innocent iraqis or are all iraqis the enemy?

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Who exactly is the enemy and who are we trying to free? Is it possible that some in our military slaughtered innocent iraqis or are all iraqis the enemy?

Wrap your mind around doing an analysis of innocent lives lost because of US invasion vs. innocent lives lost before invasion (and then project that into the future)

You need to get a grip on reality.

 

[PNAC]

how many Americans lost their lives at the hands of iraqis before the invasion?

 

[archangel]

Who exactly is the enemy and who are we trying to free? Is it possible that some in our military slaughtered innocent iraqis or are all iraqis the enemy?

Did you ever serve? Did you ever pull the trigger? Did you ever take a life(In Combat)? Have you ever faced the enemy up close and personal? How did or would you react? And No not "all" Iraqis are the enemy! Who is the enemy is a question I would like you to honestly answer!

 

[PNAC]

Did you ever serve? Did you ever pull the trigger? Did you ever take a life(In Combat)? Have you ever faced the enemy up close and personal? How did or would you react? And No not "all" Iraqis are the enemy! Who is the enemy is a question I would like you to honestly answer!

nope, never served. killing is against my religious beliefs. i'm a follower of christ. I have stared down the barrel of a gun though.

 

[archangel]

nope, never served. killing is against my religious beliefs. i'm a follower of christ. I have stared down the barrel of a gun though.

That since I served..I do not follow Christ...amazing analogy...are you a Priest? or Preacher? and if so where pray tell did you come to this conclusion?
In the bible it says "Thou shall not murder" a big difference from "Kill" Murder is taking a unjustified life... to kill the enemy is just! If it saves the lives of many of the innocent! Some take up the cross and others just condemn those who sacrafice their sense of morality to save those who prefer to cowar and condemn! I am at a loss here...you never once considered that Christ lost his temper at the money changers temple...he will set you free if ya just go to a quiet place and listen!

 

[mattskramer]

The removal of a ruthless dictator resulted in a civil war. It is as if we removed the cap from a severely shaken soda bottle and now we have a mess on our hands. Honestly, I am ambivalent about whether or not we did the right thing but I am confident that we did not do it in the right way. Perhaps, in due time, most Americans will look back and conclude that our actions were right. At this time, it is too early to tell. In practical terms, the war in Iraq continues even though the country is supposedly a democracy now.

I think that the war was executed very poorly. We did not have close to the number of soldiers and supplies truly needed. We should have swept through Iraq with vastly overwhelming numbers. The Iraqi establishment and its citizens should have looked us upon as if we were a colossal approaching tsunami – not as a few tidal waves. There should have been no doubt that we going to be immediately and thoroughly victorious.

Oh well. We can’t redo to past. Yet, now that we are muddled in the midst of a civil war, I don’t think that we should leave. It would be bad for American (and world) interest if Iran and Syria were to gain strong influence within Iraq. It looks like we are going to be in Iraq for a long time. Oh well.

In conclusion: I am not overly joyous about the Iraq war and the supposed “victory”. I think that an assessment is premature as the war is not “really” over. Yet, I am not a member of the “Okay. Let’s bring everyone home now” crowd. Only time will tell.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

The removal of a ruthless dictator resulted in a civil war. It is as if we removed the cap from a severely shaken soda bottle and now we have a mess on our hands. Honestly, I am ambivalent about whether or not we did the right thing but I am confident that we did not do it in the right way. Perhaps, in due time, most Americans will look back and conclude that our actions were right. At this time, it is too early to tell. In practical terms, the war in Iraq continues even though the country is supposedly a democracy now.

I think that we war was executed very poorly. We did not have close to the number of soldiers and supplies truly needed. We should have swept through Iraq with vastly overwhelming numbers. The Iraqi establishment and its citizens should have looked us upon as if we were a colossal approaching tsunami – not as a few tidal waves. There should have been no doubt that we going to be immediately and thoroughly victorious.

Oh well. We can’t redo to past. Yet, now that we are muddled in the midst of a civil war, I don’t think that we should leave. It would be bad for American (and world) interest if Iran and Syria were to gain strong influence within Iraq. It looks like we are going to be in Iraq for a long time. Oh well.

In conclusion: I am not overly joyous about the Iraq war and the supposed “victory”. I think that an assessment is premature as the war is not “really” over. Yet, I am not a member of the “Okay. Let’s bring everyone home now” crowd. Only time will tell.

So you agree with Bush: Stay the course.

 

[PNAC]

That since I served..I do not follow Christ...amazing analogy...are you a Priest? or Preacher? and if so where pray tell did you come to this conclusion?
In the bible it says "Thou shall not murder" a big difference from "Kill" Murder is taking a unjustified life... to kill the enemy is just! If it saves the lives of many of the innocent! Some take up the cross and others just condemn those who sacrafice their sense of morality to save those who prefer to cowar and condemn! I am at a loss here...you never once considered that Christ lost his temper at the money changers temple...he will set you free if ya just go to a quiet place and listen!

how did christ tell you to treat your enemies? Did you listen?

 

[The ClayTaurus]

how many Americans lost their lives at the hands of iraqis before the invasion?

Ah, the old rabbit-hole worldview. How's that working out for you?