Correspondents'
Journal
May
9, 2004
Reactions from the Region
A number of friends in Iraq who have written us
over the past couple of days speak to the growing discontent
and disillusionment in Iraq.
An Iraqi friend who once worked for the
Foreign Ministry
“How is it going with you? I am really sorry
that situation in Iraq is getting worse. I know what the Americans
hope to do in Iraq and how people’s lives will be improved,
but unfortunately Iraqi people don't know that, they are only
watching the bad side of America. On the other hand, the Americans
don't know how to deal with people. Any way, I hope it will be
better.”
An American friend working with an Iraqi sub-contractor
“I went out briefly this morning to the Green Zone with
my engineer and his assistant (both Iraqis). Extreme polarization
at the checkpoint entrance - since they were with me, no problem.
However, without me, they wait 2-2.5 hours in the line to enter
(with me, it's 30 seconds). Plus since all of the military are
new and no effort is made to transition, the problems become
huge for Iraqis. Iraqi people are scared. The Iraqi owners of
the company haven't been to our office since April 1. They are
just as afraid of being kidnapped or robbed or killed as we are.
The soldiers ( U.S.) are out of control. The middle-of-the-roaders
( U.S. soldiers) say they want out, let the country collapse,
they could care less. They say: they'll shoot first; they've
had enough. I had a soldier in a military vehicle yell ‘Stop,
you (expletive deleted)!’ in the middle of stalled
traffic on Sadoun Street this morning, due to the roadblocks
that are everywhere now. No one was moving and he was yelling ‘Stop
your vehicle!’ and was pointing his gun at my driver and
then [at] other drivers. WE WEREN’T MOVING. I shouted back
at him (so he could hear me way up on his mighty vehicle) ‘WHAT
IS THE PROBLEM?????’”
The co-founder of an Iraqi partner organization
“I ask about your return to Baghdad. Actually, the situation
is still dangerous for the people, whether they are from Iraq
or not. The people here need help badly. The decision is difficult.
We will help you as much as we can.”
Jordan Times Editorial
There has been much said about the recent revelations, but
I prefer the words of the former ambassador and permanent representative
of Jordan to the U.N., Hasan Abu Nimah. In a Jordan Times editorial
(May, 5, 2004), Ambassador Nimah wrote:
“They (U.S.) should never assume the high moral ground
of coming to civilize us and teach us how to behave, how to reform,
how to promote human rights, how to promote the status of women,
how to fight corruption, how to improve education and how to
respect the law. Yes, we need all of that, but not from them.
We do not want our women to follow the example of that woman
torturer who was ecstatic about the pain and humiliation she
was inflicting in torture sessions on Iraqi male prisoners. We
do not want to learn their inhumanity, their lies, their cruelty,
their injustice, their lawlessness, their corruption, their extremist
ideologies, their conspiracies, their racism, their contempt
and selfishness, their double standards, the terror in their
society and their schools, and the evil that is driving them
to destroy our world.
If that is what they have to offer, God bless
our backwardness and save us from that so-called freedom.” (emphasis
added)
http://www.jordantimes.com/wed/opinion/opinion4.htm
- Rick McDowell and
Mary Trotochaud
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