neurotic Iraqi wife
November 21, 2006
The Lost Mission of Winning Hearts and Minds...
I really had big dreams. Dreams of the amazing reconstruction efforts we kept hearing about when the war was taking place. Hopes of the biggest project in histroy, the biggest project of rebuilding Iraq. I used to always envy HUBBY when he was here before me. Asking him questions on a daily basis. AT first you could hear the excitement dripping in his voice. Especially when I used to nag him all the time to come back to me so we can live a normal married life. With every conversation, he would say "I am doing something good, Im finally doing something good for my people". A few months later, and the excitement started to disappear slightly and the conversation would end with "Im having a bad time trying to convince people of how things should be done here. No one is listening to me, no one wants to know right from wrong"
A year later, I joined him and again the same thing. I would get asked by family and friends how things are going. At first I used to say, yeah things are great, its a surreal feeling to be back here, taking part in this historic moment of rebuilding my country. Fast forward and here I am mocking at the billions of dollars that was spent. As for the tasks we get, thats just a joke. A year ago it was, give us all the good news. We just want good news, give us pictures with children, as if to say, lets show the world what we have accomplished so far. Yeah you accomplished alot, a beautifully built clinic amidst the sewage filled neighbourhood. An amazing construction of a border fort amidst the chaos of the incoming foreign fighters that bomb themselves within the crowds of innocent children.
A few months before I left, the tasks have changed. Give us all the bad news, give us all the issues going on in the projects. We dont want good stories anymore. We want bad news. And sure enough, the bad news filled our reports, one after the other, an ongoing story. A clinic was bombed, reason: reports suggest it was an insurgent attack, another report found that it was one of the sub sub sub sub sub sub SUB contractors that wasnt getting paid bombed the nearly complete clinic. Now, the need has changed. We want metrics, they demand. METRICS. How many Iraqi people did this project employ. How many students are gonna benefit from these pink painted walls. How many patients are gonna be treated in these immaculate clinics. How many lives have we saved. Give us metrics. We want Metrics.
And here I am, sitting in utter amazement. Do the generals here, truely believe that the reconstruction efforts are going well??? Do they really??? Or Have they lost touch with reality??? I think they have. Either that or they truely believe that the billions of dollars spent here went for a good cause. I have to admit, the good intention is there. Has always been there, but the reality factor of saving a country from civil destruction by continuing to pump money instead of a political solution is ZERO, ZILCH. And no Im not being ungrateful, I am just stating a fact that many are either blind to see or deaf to hear.
Dont spend more on reconstruction, spend more on rebuilding the person. The Iraqi person. The Iraqi human. Take away his fear by reinforcing laws and rules. Get rid of the current government that proved to the Iraqis and the world where its allegiance is with. Invest in building lives rather than concrete structures. Do what you preach and live by your words "Winning the Hearts and Minds". Instead of the billions lost on concrete and foundations, spend the rest by helping people get on their feet. HUBBY once said, if all the money that was spent here was distributed amongst the Iraqi families in a fair manner, you will never see an insurgent on the street. You will not hear of stories like "such and such militia paid so and so a $100 just to kill someone for no reason". People wouldnt be in need to do such things. People wouldnt be in need to survive.
An answer to a comment I keep getting on my blog "You and your husband are encouraging the Occupying forces in destroying your own country, in killing your own people." Hmm, my husband and I are encouraging the "occupying" forces because we work here??? We are encouraging the bloodshed because we are here???Lol. So if HUBBY and I leave, all Iraq's problems will get resolved??? If you can guarantee this to me, Believe me, we will leave this second.....That comment which was also sent as an email, made me laugh. And laugh out loudly, if you wanna know.
We may have lost hope in the actual recon efforts, but I believe we have touched lives. Iraqi lives. We have touched them not by building a school or renovating a hospital. No, all that doesnt mean a thing to me or them. We have touched them on a personal level, on a more human level by doing the simplest of things. It probably didnt even cost us a dime. But the end result is a smile, a beautiful hard to find smile. And thats what matters the most. A word of encouragement, a pat on the shoulder. A push towards having ambitions. It didnt cost HUBBY and I a thing, but it made our hearts flutter when we see the sparkle come alive again in those sad sad eyes, or the beautiful smile on that pale exhausted face.
You ask me, why am I here. That is why I am here. Not to rebuild a water tank, or pump more oil, or renovate a railway station. I am here to touch lives, to try and make a difference. And you know what the difference is between people like HUBBY and I and people who came here to "rebuild "eyerak""??? The difference is, we do it from the heart. We do it from here, from the organ that keeps us alive. We dont do it because our government forces us to, we dont do it cuz we have a deadline and a budget to stick by. We dont do it because we will get critisized and crushed by our people and our media. No. We do it because we LOVE to do it. We do it because we WANT to do it. Thats the difference. It is the true meaning of this mission. The Lost Mission of Winning Hearts and Minds...
Footnote: I received an email from a friend of mine asking me if I knew any Iraqi (Women only) interested in studying and working for 6 months in the US as part of the MEPI Legal and Business Fellowship Program . PLease go to amideast.org and find out more.
A year later, I joined him and again the same thing. I would get asked by family and friends how things are going. At first I used to say, yeah things are great, its a surreal feeling to be back here, taking part in this historic moment of rebuilding my country. Fast forward and here I am mocking at the billions of dollars that was spent. As for the tasks we get, thats just a joke. A year ago it was, give us all the good news. We just want good news, give us pictures with children, as if to say, lets show the world what we have accomplished so far. Yeah you accomplished alot, a beautifully built clinic amidst the sewage filled neighbourhood. An amazing construction of a border fort amidst the chaos of the incoming foreign fighters that bomb themselves within the crowds of innocent children.
A few months before I left, the tasks have changed. Give us all the bad news, give us all the issues going on in the projects. We dont want good stories anymore. We want bad news. And sure enough, the bad news filled our reports, one after the other, an ongoing story. A clinic was bombed, reason: reports suggest it was an insurgent attack, another report found that it was one of the sub sub sub sub sub sub SUB contractors that wasnt getting paid bombed the nearly complete clinic. Now, the need has changed. We want metrics, they demand. METRICS. How many Iraqi people did this project employ. How many students are gonna benefit from these pink painted walls. How many patients are gonna be treated in these immaculate clinics. How many lives have we saved. Give us metrics. We want Metrics.
And here I am, sitting in utter amazement. Do the generals here, truely believe that the reconstruction efforts are going well??? Do they really??? Or Have they lost touch with reality??? I think they have. Either that or they truely believe that the billions of dollars spent here went for a good cause. I have to admit, the good intention is there. Has always been there, but the reality factor of saving a country from civil destruction by continuing to pump money instead of a political solution is ZERO, ZILCH. And no Im not being ungrateful, I am just stating a fact that many are either blind to see or deaf to hear.
Dont spend more on reconstruction, spend more on rebuilding the person. The Iraqi person. The Iraqi human. Take away his fear by reinforcing laws and rules. Get rid of the current government that proved to the Iraqis and the world where its allegiance is with. Invest in building lives rather than concrete structures. Do what you preach and live by your words "Winning the Hearts and Minds". Instead of the billions lost on concrete and foundations, spend the rest by helping people get on their feet. HUBBY once said, if all the money that was spent here was distributed amongst the Iraqi families in a fair manner, you will never see an insurgent on the street. You will not hear of stories like "such and such militia paid so and so a $100 just to kill someone for no reason". People wouldnt be in need to do such things. People wouldnt be in need to survive.
An answer to a comment I keep getting on my blog "You and your husband are encouraging the Occupying forces in destroying your own country, in killing your own people." Hmm, my husband and I are encouraging the "occupying" forces because we work here??? We are encouraging the bloodshed because we are here???Lol. So if HUBBY and I leave, all Iraq's problems will get resolved??? If you can guarantee this to me, Believe me, we will leave this second.....That comment which was also sent as an email, made me laugh. And laugh out loudly, if you wanna know.
We may have lost hope in the actual recon efforts, but I believe we have touched lives. Iraqi lives. We have touched them not by building a school or renovating a hospital. No, all that doesnt mean a thing to me or them. We have touched them on a personal level, on a more human level by doing the simplest of things. It probably didnt even cost us a dime. But the end result is a smile, a beautiful hard to find smile. And thats what matters the most. A word of encouragement, a pat on the shoulder. A push towards having ambitions. It didnt cost HUBBY and I a thing, but it made our hearts flutter when we see the sparkle come alive again in those sad sad eyes, or the beautiful smile on that pale exhausted face.
You ask me, why am I here. That is why I am here. Not to rebuild a water tank, or pump more oil, or renovate a railway station. I am here to touch lives, to try and make a difference. And you know what the difference is between people like HUBBY and I and people who came here to "rebuild "eyerak""??? The difference is, we do it from the heart. We do it from here, from the organ that keeps us alive. We dont do it because our government forces us to, we dont do it cuz we have a deadline and a budget to stick by. We dont do it because we will get critisized and crushed by our people and our media. No. We do it because we LOVE to do it. We do it because we WANT to do it. Thats the difference. It is the true meaning of this mission. The Lost Mission of Winning Hearts and Minds...
Footnote: I received an email from a friend of mine asking me if I knew any Iraqi (Women only) interested in studying and working for 6 months in the US as part of the MEPI Legal and Business Fellowship Program . PLease go to amideast.org and find out more.
17 Comments:
XYZ
Nada.
Set.
Good Blog.
Every good work is worthy.
I am pulling for the Indians!
If you ever go to Arizona, you better leave them Indians alone.
Peace and kindness.
Unified.
Excellent, honest summary of the situation in Iraq and your reason for being there. I hope all the conspiracy theorists read this post and realize once and for all that the intention of the coalition forces was never to permanently occupy Iraq, plunder or steal Iraqi oil, or anything else. I've always believed the coalition wanted to rescue the Iraqis from Saddam's oppression, and HELP them build up a peaceful, stable, prosperous country, governed by the Iraqi people, that was open and friendly to the coalition nations and international trade (not just oil).
Just because the terrorists and insurgents have executed every unspeakable act to prevent the unity and prosperity of Iraq, doesn't mean the coalition didn't have good intentions. The coalition was simply not prepared to have every reconstruction project attacked, or to deal with the greed of people, coming from every side, trying to get their hands on a share of the billions being invested. I think the billions wasted is a really sad commentary on the state of humanity - the people in the West and in the Middle East, who have tried to prosper themselves through bribery, graft, and corruption. The billions pouring into Iraq were intended to benefit the Iraqi people, not harm them, control or force them into anything.
The coalition expected the Iraqis to be happy their oppressor, the Saddam regime, was toppled and be thankful that people from half way around the world were willing to fight for their freedom and finance the reconstruction of their country, in return for a friendly base in the MIddle East. However, the extremists, self serving contractors, etc. made sure that all the good intentions were negated by their actions. The Iraqi people were supposed to gain their personal freedom, live in a democracy, enjoy a better standard of living, and have renewed hope for their future and that of their children. I believe that was the coalition's original intent. But, NIW, please correct me, if I'm way off base about this.
Final comment: We overcome evil with good. I just wish someone had their act together and could figure out how to implement enough "good" to overcome the evil.
"Hmm, my husband and I are encouraging the "occupying" forces because we work here??? We are encouraging the bloodshed because we are here???Lol. So if HUBBY and I leave, all Iraq's problems will get resolved??? If you can guarantee this to me, Believe me, we will leave this second....."
Yes, I can guarantee it, and I will expand on why...
Iraq has been invaded and occupied (after it was weakened with a siege type embargo since 1991). The daily sufferring of the Iraqi people be it in the form of murder and rape by the occupation, torture, lack of security, lack of services, lack of petrol, lack of jobs, death squads, sectarian fighting, etc. are all a direct result of the country being occupied and the occupier being in the position of absolute power.
Now, to any person (except Amercians who can't ever see their army for the murdering occupying force it is) the solution for the peace and stability of Iraq and its people is for the occupation to leave or be expelled. The longer the occupation stays, the worse things become and the tougher the road to removing all effects caused. This is where you and your hubby come in...
Iraqis that are helping the occupation in any way or form are in-fact helping extend the period that their country will remain occupied and are helping the occupation extend its presence. Iraqis are now mostly doing the work of the Americans by manning the checkpoints that protect the occupation from military attack, they are conducting house-to-house raids and searches to arrest military fighters and personel, they are protecting the cronies that are put in power by the occupation (to give the occupation an "iraqi" face) and who in-turn are promoting personal agendas, sectarien murder squads, large-scale theft of billions of $, etc.
Iraqis who help the occupation are also the main reason the US and its invading allies can avert international presure, by stating that they are now there at the invite of the Iraqis and are working hand-in-hand to help the nation stand on its feet...
Iraqis helping the occupation or its installed government are no different to the South Vietnamese who betrayed their nation and extended the occupation, or the French to helped the Germans and its installed Vichy government.
I am not asking you to pick-up a weapon and fight...It is brave enough that you speak your mind to the truth as you see it...But, if you want to really help Iraq, then leave...Speak-out against the occupation, speak-out against the puppet government, speak for the liberation of your nation and your people...
May you find peace and may you find truth.
God bless and protect you.
Layth
Let me tell you about a country devastated by war, occupied by the USA, set up with a failed democracy, set up with a security force by the USA used to enforce the will of the failed democracy, and beset by insurgents fueled by a neighboring enemy country. That country was South Korea. The Korean War left the country devastated. Iraq is a the garden of Eden compared to what South Korea was after its war. The USA made huge mistakes during its occupation. Look up the bridge at No Gun-Ri for one of the most well known one. It's "democracy" was actually a dictatorship who used the security forces to enforce its will, kill protesters, and make people "disappear". North Korea was supporting insurgents who numbers approximately 35,000 in 1950. The price in lives they extracted was high including that of the US 24th Infantry Division. And yet through decades of trial and error, a real working democracy was formed by the South Korean people, and now South Korea is one of the world's biggest economic and political powers. This is on a piece of land starved of natural resources and less than 1/4 the size of Iraq. Iraq too has the real possibility of succeeding like South Korea. With its wealth of oil, it should be able to surpass South korea. However, those who expect anything close to it to happen in a few years are unrealistic, at the least. It will most likely take decades for the Iraqi people to form a viable democracy. All the USA can do is provide what support it can, but in the end, it is the Iraqi people, as it was the South Korean people, who will determine their fate.
Hi,IW ; With the constant barrage of Iraqis headlines you are foremost in our minds, here is an interesting post:
Iraqi deaths hit new high
Many of the bodies found bore signs of torture. The tools of choice are power tools, the electric drilling of holes in the head is a favorite, the cutting off of limbs with circular saws is always popular, electric tools can be found at any harware stores are are easy to buy , ultilize and with re chargable batteries can bring many hours of torture enjoyment . Many harware stores report that sales of power tools is at an all time high. Decapitation is seen as too quick and messy, the victim often doesn suffer enough, other methods are slower and provide the inventive fighters many challenges to his imajination in finding new ways in which these tools can be utilized .
http://cyberray-rays.blogspot.com/2006/11/iraqi-deaths-hit-new-high.html#links
If you want to help Iraqis why do it from the Green Zone? I trust your words that you want to help, but all my family in Iraq see people in the green zone as part of an occupation they want to get rid of. Meaning you are seen as part of the problem not the solution.
As for the good intentions, I do trust you had them, but not the US administration nor most of the Iraqis that have been ruling Iraq the last 3 years together with the US occupation.
/Nadia
Layth/anonymous(I can't tell who or what) and Nadia are long on desire to see the "occupiers" leave and zilch on exactly what scenario they see unfolding in their absence.
So, explain carefully, logically, and dispassionately how peace will break out and brutality between the sects will cease (like today's mega-bloodbath), in the absence of the "occupiers". I like others am not expecting overnight solutions. I expect it to take most of the rest of my life to see things change there. In the meantime, expect to lose 10 to 20% of your population to this bloodbath.
Again, please explain precisely how it's gonna happen. I am not sarcastic. Iraq needs good ideas. But they must stand many, many litmus tests. O.K. you two. Your turn!
As an aside....
Yes, I understand the frustration over the corruption and cronyism. It's MY tax-payer dollars hard(ly) at work. You don't need to be frustrated that you aren't getting this concern across. It is, loud and clear. But addressing it solves very little (I DID like the idea of taking the money and handing it out equitably among citizens. This takes an organized central bank. It works in the US (it's called State and Federal refunds for our taxes, when available). How 'bout in Iraq?)
The second post sounds like American propaganda to me. How can you mean well while dropping hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs on people? That's not bringing peace or freedom. How can you mean well while setting up torture prisons for innocent people? That's not bringing peace or freedom. Quite the opposite in fact.
I get so frustrated with Americans that are ignorant in geopolotics, ignorant of the history of conquorers, ignorant of international buisness relations, ignorant in the horror of war, ignorant ignorant ignorant.
How can a person say it was wrong to kill 3,000 people in New York, but right to kill 600,000+ people in Iraq?
NIW,
Thank-you for a hopefull message however small it may be. Keep trying to overcome evil and hate with good deeds and love. You will make a difference in the end. Iraq needs people with a vision, and you and HUBBY can bring hope just by striving toward something positive. Thankyou for what you are doing. It may be years before you see the true impact of your work.
Kathy
Great article, you are as great a journalist as any., keep blogging you make a big difference, and that difference is multiplied x10 for every person you touch.
"I hope all the conspiracy theorists read this post and realize once and for all that the intention of the coalition forces was never to permanently occupy Iraq, plunder or steal Iraqi oil, or anything else."
It is not the intention of the coalition forces, it is the intention of the people who SENT the coalition forces and the COMPANIES BEHIND THEM.
And, in light of that fact, the intentions of the coalition forces and their Iraqi assistants, will amount to nothing.
It was the greed of the ones who sent the coalition forces and the COMPANIES behind them that started the cycle of greed and corruption.
It is is beyond ignorance to think that war and torture and bombing and killing will lead to anything but more violence and chaos.
Anonymous said... always believed the coalition wanted to rescue the Iraqis from Saddam's oppression, and HELP them build up a peaceful, stable, prosperous country, governed by the Iraqi people, that was open and friendly to the coalition nations and international trade (not just oil).
OK, yeah, keep on dreaming then!! have you ever heard the story of the boy who goes to near forest and start shouting "the wolf, the wolf, is going to eat me", his friends come running for rescue and when they reach the boy, they see him laughing and saying "I was joking". He kept on doing the same trick, but when one day the wolf really was going to attack the boy and the boy started shouting, he didn't site any help from his fellow boys, why? because he was a liar, and no one can believe him anymore.
This is exactly the point with the intention of the US in Iraq.
The coalition expected the Iraqis to be happy their oppressor, the Saddam regime, was toppled and be thankful that people from half way around the world were willing to fight for their freedom and finance the reconstruction of their country, in return for a friendly base in the MIddle East.
I was one of those extremely happy with the toppling of Saddam, and I am thankful, after that, nothing! my appreciation is exactly equal to the length of the plan the US had for Iraq: the plan is to topple Saddam and after that there was a vacuum i.e. no plan, on the contrary, they made a mess and the proof is what we see every bloody day
Nadia said... If you want to help Iraqis why do it from the Green Zone? I trust your words that you want to help, but all my family in Iraq see people in the green zone as part of an occupation they want to get rid of. Meaning you are seen as part of the problem not the solution.
I am afraid that I have to agree with Nadia on that. I am not living in Iraq, but I can see her point. Wrong or right, I can understand how Iraqis are feeling at the moment. Good intentions? no one for a minute will argue that, and how honorable your cause, NIW is.
Anonymous said... Again, please explain precisely how it's gonna happen. I am not sarcastic. Iraq needs good ideas. But they must stand many, many litmus tests. O.K. you two. Your turn!
Very easy to point out that a problem created in Iraq, between Iraqis, in the first place by the US admin in Iraq, and now expect a solution by the Iraqis?? and now nagging about tax payers? I don't care about the tax payers, all I care is the heartbreaking bloodshed everyday taking place as a result of that mess
dancewater... It was the greed of the ones who sent the coalition forces and the COMPANIES behind them that started the cycle of greed and corruption.
Well said
Finally, please NIW, take care and be safe.
Let me start with shaming the people that forever push anti American propaganda, the ones that fail to look at the humanity of an effort, the goodness of an effort or provide solutions and support for the POSITIVE, but just turn it all into a "political agenda."
NIW, reading your blog is the most important blog to me as an American woman. No where else can I get an honest read of what is happening in your country. Very sad that our efforts seem to be failing in Iraqi hearts and minds. But I blame all those that want and push for us to fail. All those propagandists, terrorists, insurgents from other countries, saddam loyalists, American liberals. Why is it so hard for these people to want good for a country, to help provide solutions, to help in a positive way? I ask myself this every day.
I encourage you to put your thoughts of what needs to happen to make it right in your country as you see it, build a petition of such signed by as many Iraqis as possible, with all thier complaints, and mail it to Nancy Pelosi, President Bush and as many American politicians as you can. This may seem like a small drop in a lake, but that drop can grow to a ripple, that will reach to the very ends of the lake..
I would also encourage you to encourage other Iraqis to be brave and help American and Iraqi forces find all the bad guys possible. If someone knows something they can report it anonymously I would think, for safetys sake. Encourage every Iraqi to be vigilant. Be the eyes and ears for the police, everywhere.
And remember, if things can at least be stabilized, a new government of people can be voted in by the people in time.
These things are a place to start...
Again, I see nobody can clearly spell out the scenario which either occurs when the US leaves, or allows the US to leave. Well, we'll never completely leave, as we'll have airbaes and the green zone no doubt.
Anyhow, clearly I've had no takers.
The detractors trawl out the usual,
oh, 3000 of yours vs. 600,000 of ours. Blah blah corporations, blah blah big oil, blah blah Halliburton, blah blah liar, blah blah. It's like having to take a kid who isn't focusing, and turn his head to what needs attentions.
Again, come up with concrete plans and explain their consequences, three or four moves ahead, or basically you don't have a plan.
I have a plan. Some would like it and some would not.
And regarding the 3000 vs. 600,000.
Touching one American on our home soil is an act of war. Expect consequences. Not Iraq, not that time. Anything that could come from Iraq or terrorists from within Iraq would have devastating consequences in the region.
Sure,we'd love to go home, get the hell out of Iraq. One day it will happen, sort of. Then, at least from my point of view, we'll leave you alone, you leave us alone.
Vietname nowadays probably provides a reasonable model. Dragging itself out of poverty after years of war, and eventually embracing the capitalism that is inevitably the fate of the world. Not necessarily super friendly with the US on diplomatic terms, but we don't bother them and they don't bother us now. Just plenty of trade, mostly in one direction.
I lived in an Islamic nation for six years, on the street, not in some "green Zone". So I know plenty about that which anonymous II proclaimed I or Americans know nothing about .
Here's the quote :
" I get so frustrated with Americans that are ignorant in geopolotics, ignorant of the history of conquorers, ignorant of international buisness relations, ignorant in the horror of war, ignorant ignorant ignorant".
As if awareness of all of the above has made the insurgents and militias more "enlightened" than I.
Accusing others of ignorance is not a blanket pass to push forward your views and negate those of others.
Particularly since some of us are, indeed, NOT ignorant ignorant ignorant.
Were I a fly on the wall of security briefings at the White House, and even knowing what I know, I can't guarantee I'd think of things in black and white terms.
Iraq Ups the Ante 'Sunni Iraqis burned alive'
Grandmothers Out of Control!
The Israelis finger on the trigger?
Turkish Muslim wants Pope to say Islam peaceful
these are some of the stories making the rounds here please come by I need your support to get the word out and get more people aware of the suffering of the peace loving people of all nationalities at the hands of a few murderers .
We ARE making a difference
thanks
http://cyberray-rays.blogspot.com/index.html
Iraqi Wife,
You have the key insight Iraqi Wife. There is nothing wrong with the physical Iraq -- the geography, the climate, etc. The problem is what is in the brains cells of the inhabitants.
We have spent some effort at changing people, though. We have sponsored the consitutional process, the initial elections, the final elections, referendum, etc. We have built media networks for open discussion. There are newspapers and radio, etc. The USA has Arabic language TV and radio stations that teach about western values, etc. The USA has trained the Iraqi army. The police have all received training in modern methods. Schools have reopened and the curricula fixed (removed the cult of Saddam, of course!). The money has been remade, free exports-imports, etc.
I think you are on the right target with the money, however. The Iraqi people should be given money, directly, from the profits on oil sales. If the people got 75-80% of the profits from the oil, then the government would have to institute taxation--sales taxes, property taxes, etc. This way, the people would not see the government as the source of all wealth! Thus, these political struggles over the oil would evaporate, and government would just be a vehicle for cooperative efforts and for enforcing the law and justice--as it should be.
I don't think there will ever be a successful liberal democratic nation where oil funds the government 100%. I think it leads to a corrosive and destructive idea that the government is "where you get free stuff." Causes people to be lazier and not take responsibility as best they can as a person and a family and community.
While you mourn, American Corporations feed on the U.S. taxpayer's dollar, and 4 major Oil Companies lock up Iraq's oil-drilling royalties for 40 years (the American Press has never reported this fact).
Iraq is a victim of American Corporate
desires and greed.
I know it does no good, but as an American, I am so sorry.
We will try to hold the U.S. criminal-thug Corporate-Government leadership accountable in the coming years, if we can.
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