neurotic Iraqi wife
March 23, 2007
The Precious Iraqi Human Life...
Im gonna write about some of the comments I got on the last post, instead of answering each one individually, I d rather do a post on it. It reminds me so much of my situation here. I AM Iraqi, yet from Iraqi people points of view Im a Brit, and from the expats I work with, Im an Iraqi. Its a lose lose situation. Although some of my Iraqi colleagues tell me that they are shocked at my Iraqiness and how well I speak the language considering the fact that I havent been living here for the past 25 years. I get the same comment from my western colleagues about how well I speak the english language and how shocked they are to know that I am infact an Iraqi. Hmmm...
The comments I got on my "Endless Eternity" Post, is mind boggling. I have Iraqis calling me a traitor because Im working with the Americans, and I have Americans calling me something in the line of a "radical" Iraqi or an ungrateful Iraqi. I am saying the same thing. I mean its one post that I wrote, and yet Im viewed differently by different people. Make your minds up. Not that I really care how people view me because I KNOW who and what I AM. But its for your sake that you should know what you are talkin about. So am I collaborator? Me and the thousands of Iraqis, those Iraqis who withstood Saddam's wrath? Or am I an ungrateful Iraqi radical, who is trying to tell the truth and write about what I see and hear? Is it because the truth usually is far more damning than fiction that people cant accept it? or is it because truely you dont see it that way?
Let me start my first argument. I AM A COLLABORATOR. Wowwwww, I kinda like that word. Infact, it makes me smile and does nothing for my self esteem. It doesnt put me down contrary to what people think or want to think. I, like many thousands of Iraqis, was glad Saddam was gone, but was devastated when the war broke out. So devastated, that in my state of mind at the time, I was going to enroll and join the so called "human shields" that went on a bus from London. I tried to find ways and contacted people, but my family who were thousands of miles away, stopped me. They thought I was losing it, and I think I was. The images of rockets and bombs falling on Baghdad, was making me sick to my stomach. I wouldnt go out of the house, I wouldnt take any phonecalls. I WAS depressed.
Naturally, after getting married, and while HUBBY got to fulfill his own dream of seeing his country again after 25 years of yearning, he managed to fulfill mine by getting me a job with him. So yes, I was ecstatic to go back to the home I only knew and heard about from stories told by my elder siblings and parents. I was finally going to see and live those memories again, live it for them. I had no clue, no idea, that I will be stuck here in the GZ. I had no idea what to expect, infact I was kinda scared about how my own countrymen will view me, those who I was going to work with. I think I wrote about my fears back in March or April of 05. But Im here now, and I have learnt alot. Am I traitor for wanting to help all my life? I guess I am by your own definition. Am I traitor for wanting to give the people of this country a life? I guess I am by your definition. Am I a traitor because I hate Saddam and loathe the main reason we are where we are today? I guess I am by your definition. Am I traitor because I say the truth in trying to tell the world that if the troops leave, Iraq will no longer exist??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I a traitor because I talk to tens of Iraqis here that work with me and find out how they manage to survive this nutty situation??? I guess I am by your definition!!! But by MY own definition I see that YOU ARE THE TRAITORS, oh yes YOU ARE THE COLLABORATORS for wanting to sell your own blood, your own kids to terrorists!!! Yes YOU ARE THE ONES. Infact, YOU are worse than that. You are criminals, criminals for allowing terrorists blow your country apart and at the same time blow YOUR OWN children to pieces. YOU, are lower than the low. And if it takes me to be called a traitor and collaborator because I disagree with you, then be it.
As for the second arguement, that Im always blaming the American government, that is true as well. But as I always say, I dont only blame them for the poor post war tactics if any existed, but I also blame us for allowing a government, like the one now to take over. Dont tell me that Bush didnt make any mistakes. Because he did. He made fatal mistakes. Mistakes that cost the Iraqi people hundreds of thousands of lives. He relied on people that lived most of their life outside Iraq. He planned for the shock and awe, but didnt plan for after that. No Im not a Saddam supporter. Never was and never will be. So when I do critisize Bush's ideas and beliefs oh and lets not forget his lies, I dont think that makes me a Saddam loyalist. Bush had alot of chances to fix what he broke. Infact he had a gazillion and one chances. He had people here on the ground who supposedly are monitoring the situation and the results. Did they lie to him??? Did they tell him that everything is going according to plans????
I had a very interesting conversation the other day with my friend D. And D, the only reason Im writing about that particular conversation because it has alot to do with this post Im writing. D and I were talking about how much I hate going to the Palace aka the american embassy here. D thought that I dont like going there because it reminds me of Saddam. I negated that and said no, the fact I hate going there is because it reminds me of what could have been without having the Americans trample all over that place.
D got kinda defensive and said that infact it wasnt the Americans that looted everything else, it wasnt the Americans that stole antiquities and things from ministries because they thought that it was their "right". I agree, it was idiotic Iraqis who thought that freedom meant looting everything that Saddam and his clans owned. I didnt see it that way, infact I was stunned when I saw these images on TV. I was absolutely shocked. But at the same time, the troops that were there watching, should have been able to stop them and not contrary to what we saw on tv, encourage them to loot. I mean the images are still in my head, you have a group of soldiers, just watching and laughing as people carry things, anything. Yes we were in a state of anarchy, but hellloooooooo, you came here, you got rid of the whole army, you got rid of the border army, you got rid of the police force. You got rid of everything that meant "law and order" here. Whose fault is that??? Dont tell me its the Iraqi people??? Because at that time, Iraqis had no power. At that time, we didnt even have a government. Then some genius by the name of Bremer, decided that the Shia's and the Kurds should have the biggest piece of the cake since they were the ones greatly oppressed by Saddam. Im a shia, and I dont deny that, but for god's sake, YOU DO NOT and I mean DO NOT choose a government, people who are supposed to lead this place by their ethnic background. You have to study their competance, their strategy, their views.
So yes, the American government was wrong, the American government failed and failed miserably. I talk to people here, and like one anonymous who wrote that he was many of thousands and probably millions that were looking forward to this freedom, they were let down. Let down in an absolute horrendous way. We reached a point where the unwanted happened. People yearning for Saddam's times. Thats whats happening right now. Am I lying to you??? I know Im not. Am I being realistic, hell yes. With borders being open to every terrorist scum who wanted to enjoy "breakfast" with my prophet pbuh, by blowing up children and people could have been STOPPED by the original Iraqi army.
The Abu GHraib saga, wasnt that a crime??? Wasnt that an ugly crime against the Iraqi people??? The rape of women and girls by some of the troops, is that also part of the post war planning???And no, Im not denying that the current militias and insurgents arent doing the same barbaric acts, but my question is WHO STARTED IT??? WHO ALLOWED IT??? So am I an ungrateful Iraqi for saying that Bush made mistakes??? Again I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi for trying to find a solution by having the troops stay and fix what they broke??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi because I blame Bush for what has happened during and after March 03??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi for wanting my people to live a safe and secure life??? I guess I am by your definition.
But you know what, you in the States are the ones ignorant for not wanting to see or hear the truth. You are the ones that hate reading the Iraqi blogs who talk about suffering, daily suffering caused by the mayhem we are in. You are the radicals for thinking that Bush is a god and what he did was something every single Iraqi should be grateful for the rest of their lives. Yup, we should all kneel down and hail the mr every waking hour. So really its an interesting insight. A lose lose situation, whatever I say and whatever I do, people from both ends of the globe see me as one, a traitor and two, an ungrateful saddam loyalist. I like that. But still confuses the hell outta me. So make your minds up. Should I allow the children of my own country be blown up and used as pawns just because YOU want the militias and insurgents rule??? Or should I allow the blood of my own countrymen flow because the Americans believe that its high time their troops withdraw and its now Iraqi people's problem to solve???
Look at yesterday's events. While Maliki and Moon were having their conference when suddenly BOOM, an explosion takes place. Moon ducks down and is scared to his wits. Imagine that every day and every night, the average Iraqi, the kids, the babies, listen to these bombs. They live with these sounds. The sad part is, they became so immune to it. Maliki didnt even flinch. Even funnier was when he was stating how well the Baghdad security plan is going. What bullshit. Even the media, the media keeps comparing the number of deaths. Umm, if the plan was so successful, why should they find bodies scattered in the streets in the first place. No the plan isnt working because they gave the militias ample time to leave. They left, and they will be back. Those cowards.
So anyhow, although I hate talking about the past and pointing fingers, instead of finding solutions, I had to get it out of my system. Im just a normal Iraqi, trying to make a difference. Whether its working or not, atleast I know that after I leave this place I tried my best. And I really am trying my best. Im trying my best in my own special way. I may not be an engineer, building things, but I am a human, who at the end of the day, believes in human life. The Precious Iraqi Human Life...
The comments I got on my "Endless Eternity" Post, is mind boggling. I have Iraqis calling me a traitor because Im working with the Americans, and I have Americans calling me something in the line of a "radical" Iraqi or an ungrateful Iraqi. I am saying the same thing. I mean its one post that I wrote, and yet Im viewed differently by different people. Make your minds up. Not that I really care how people view me because I KNOW who and what I AM. But its for your sake that you should know what you are talkin about. So am I collaborator? Me and the thousands of Iraqis, those Iraqis who withstood Saddam's wrath? Or am I an ungrateful Iraqi radical, who is trying to tell the truth and write about what I see and hear? Is it because the truth usually is far more damning than fiction that people cant accept it? or is it because truely you dont see it that way?
Let me start my first argument. I AM A COLLABORATOR. Wowwwww, I kinda like that word. Infact, it makes me smile and does nothing for my self esteem. It doesnt put me down contrary to what people think or want to think. I, like many thousands of Iraqis, was glad Saddam was gone, but was devastated when the war broke out. So devastated, that in my state of mind at the time, I was going to enroll and join the so called "human shields" that went on a bus from London. I tried to find ways and contacted people, but my family who were thousands of miles away, stopped me. They thought I was losing it, and I think I was. The images of rockets and bombs falling on Baghdad, was making me sick to my stomach. I wouldnt go out of the house, I wouldnt take any phonecalls. I WAS depressed.
Naturally, after getting married, and while HUBBY got to fulfill his own dream of seeing his country again after 25 years of yearning, he managed to fulfill mine by getting me a job with him. So yes, I was ecstatic to go back to the home I only knew and heard about from stories told by my elder siblings and parents. I was finally going to see and live those memories again, live it for them. I had no clue, no idea, that I will be stuck here in the GZ. I had no idea what to expect, infact I was kinda scared about how my own countrymen will view me, those who I was going to work with. I think I wrote about my fears back in March or April of 05. But Im here now, and I have learnt alot. Am I traitor for wanting to help all my life? I guess I am by your own definition. Am I traitor for wanting to give the people of this country a life? I guess I am by your definition. Am I a traitor because I hate Saddam and loathe the main reason we are where we are today? I guess I am by your definition. Am I traitor because I say the truth in trying to tell the world that if the troops leave, Iraq will no longer exist??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I a traitor because I talk to tens of Iraqis here that work with me and find out how they manage to survive this nutty situation??? I guess I am by your definition!!! But by MY own definition I see that YOU ARE THE TRAITORS, oh yes YOU ARE THE COLLABORATORS for wanting to sell your own blood, your own kids to terrorists!!! Yes YOU ARE THE ONES. Infact, YOU are worse than that. You are criminals, criminals for allowing terrorists blow your country apart and at the same time blow YOUR OWN children to pieces. YOU, are lower than the low. And if it takes me to be called a traitor and collaborator because I disagree with you, then be it.
As for the second arguement, that Im always blaming the American government, that is true as well. But as I always say, I dont only blame them for the poor post war tactics if any existed, but I also blame us for allowing a government, like the one now to take over. Dont tell me that Bush didnt make any mistakes. Because he did. He made fatal mistakes. Mistakes that cost the Iraqi people hundreds of thousands of lives. He relied on people that lived most of their life outside Iraq. He planned for the shock and awe, but didnt plan for after that. No Im not a Saddam supporter. Never was and never will be. So when I do critisize Bush's ideas and beliefs oh and lets not forget his lies, I dont think that makes me a Saddam loyalist. Bush had alot of chances to fix what he broke. Infact he had a gazillion and one chances. He had people here on the ground who supposedly are monitoring the situation and the results. Did they lie to him??? Did they tell him that everything is going according to plans????
I had a very interesting conversation the other day with my friend D. And D, the only reason Im writing about that particular conversation because it has alot to do with this post Im writing. D and I were talking about how much I hate going to the Palace aka the american embassy here. D thought that I dont like going there because it reminds me of Saddam. I negated that and said no, the fact I hate going there is because it reminds me of what could have been without having the Americans trample all over that place.
D got kinda defensive and said that infact it wasnt the Americans that looted everything else, it wasnt the Americans that stole antiquities and things from ministries because they thought that it was their "right". I agree, it was idiotic Iraqis who thought that freedom meant looting everything that Saddam and his clans owned. I didnt see it that way, infact I was stunned when I saw these images on TV. I was absolutely shocked. But at the same time, the troops that were there watching, should have been able to stop them and not contrary to what we saw on tv, encourage them to loot. I mean the images are still in my head, you have a group of soldiers, just watching and laughing as people carry things, anything. Yes we were in a state of anarchy, but hellloooooooo, you came here, you got rid of the whole army, you got rid of the border army, you got rid of the police force. You got rid of everything that meant "law and order" here. Whose fault is that??? Dont tell me its the Iraqi people??? Because at that time, Iraqis had no power. At that time, we didnt even have a government. Then some genius by the name of Bremer, decided that the Shia's and the Kurds should have the biggest piece of the cake since they were the ones greatly oppressed by Saddam. Im a shia, and I dont deny that, but for god's sake, YOU DO NOT and I mean DO NOT choose a government, people who are supposed to lead this place by their ethnic background. You have to study their competance, their strategy, their views.
So yes, the American government was wrong, the American government failed and failed miserably. I talk to people here, and like one anonymous who wrote that he was many of thousands and probably millions that were looking forward to this freedom, they were let down. Let down in an absolute horrendous way. We reached a point where the unwanted happened. People yearning for Saddam's times. Thats whats happening right now. Am I lying to you??? I know Im not. Am I being realistic, hell yes. With borders being open to every terrorist scum who wanted to enjoy "breakfast" with my prophet pbuh, by blowing up children and people could have been STOPPED by the original Iraqi army.
The Abu GHraib saga, wasnt that a crime??? Wasnt that an ugly crime against the Iraqi people??? The rape of women and girls by some of the troops, is that also part of the post war planning???And no, Im not denying that the current militias and insurgents arent doing the same barbaric acts, but my question is WHO STARTED IT??? WHO ALLOWED IT??? So am I an ungrateful Iraqi for saying that Bush made mistakes??? Again I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi for trying to find a solution by having the troops stay and fix what they broke??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi because I blame Bush for what has happened during and after March 03??? I guess I am by your definition. Am I an ungrateful Iraqi for wanting my people to live a safe and secure life??? I guess I am by your definition.
But you know what, you in the States are the ones ignorant for not wanting to see or hear the truth. You are the ones that hate reading the Iraqi blogs who talk about suffering, daily suffering caused by the mayhem we are in. You are the radicals for thinking that Bush is a god and what he did was something every single Iraqi should be grateful for the rest of their lives. Yup, we should all kneel down and hail the mr every waking hour. So really its an interesting insight. A lose lose situation, whatever I say and whatever I do, people from both ends of the globe see me as one, a traitor and two, an ungrateful saddam loyalist. I like that. But still confuses the hell outta me. So make your minds up. Should I allow the children of my own country be blown up and used as pawns just because YOU want the militias and insurgents rule??? Or should I allow the blood of my own countrymen flow because the Americans believe that its high time their troops withdraw and its now Iraqi people's problem to solve???
Look at yesterday's events. While Maliki and Moon were having their conference when suddenly BOOM, an explosion takes place. Moon ducks down and is scared to his wits. Imagine that every day and every night, the average Iraqi, the kids, the babies, listen to these bombs. They live with these sounds. The sad part is, they became so immune to it. Maliki didnt even flinch. Even funnier was when he was stating how well the Baghdad security plan is going. What bullshit. Even the media, the media keeps comparing the number of deaths. Umm, if the plan was so successful, why should they find bodies scattered in the streets in the first place. No the plan isnt working because they gave the militias ample time to leave. They left, and they will be back. Those cowards.
So anyhow, although I hate talking about the past and pointing fingers, instead of finding solutions, I had to get it out of my system. Im just a normal Iraqi, trying to make a difference. Whether its working or not, atleast I know that after I leave this place I tried my best. And I really am trying my best. Im trying my best in my own special way. I may not be an engineer, building things, but I am a human, who at the end of the day, believes in human life. The Precious Iraqi Human Life...
130 Comments:
Ha ha! This is UNCHASON by the way. I have something to say for "Just an Iraqi". The reason there is no construction being done is because we want Iraqis to do the rebuilding. We thought that by giving the major construction contracts to Iraqi contractors that they would take pride in their own country and use the money for rebuilding. Unfortunately, to be a successful construction contractor means that you have to be powerful enough in your own community to get construction done without getting your workers killed, i.e. this means you have to be affiliated with malitia or have some type of mafia type power base within the area. So, basically they are thugs. We give the money to these people and they keep it for themselves. They spend months in negotiations over contracts that get nowhere because all they are really trying to do is to take the money and not do any work. The contractors are corrupt, and there is no one else to do the work. So you can blame your own country for not re-building. As long as they are getting rich, they could care less about what happens to the re-building efforts. We spend lots and lots of money for re-building, but not much is done because Iraqis don't want their country re-built, they would rather keep the people destitute so that they can have them feed off of ignorance and poverty to support their militias. As long as the country is in shambles, the militias get stronger, and since the contractors have to have the backing of the militias to become successful businessmen, this is the way they will continue to do business. As soon as Iraqis stop being corrupt and greedy, they will see that re-building will make everyone's life better.
UNCHASON again. I really liked your last post. I don't think you are a traitor. I am in Baghdad too, in the red zone though and I agree with many things you said. The Americans have made many many mistakes. I feel bad for the people, every child I see I want to take them away from this mess. you can tell when the insurgents post comments on this blog because they spout the same old propaganda, they don't think for themselves, and they are not educated. They only believe in violence, ignorance, and death. They want all Iraqi people to suffer so they can be powerful. I am glad you are an independent thinker. Iraq needs more of this. If people thought for themselves more instead of being paralyzed by fear, they would be able to take control of their neighborhoods and not let the imposition of fanatical ideas penetrate their peaceful lives. I pray for Iraqis every day that they can escape the terror that imprisons their minds. If they can do this, they will truly be free. This is stronger than any military force on earth.
Yes, that's because you give the contracts to collaborators and traitor Iraqi exiles who have never set foot in Iraq for years, like niw's "hubbie." Of course they would prefer to take the money and not do any work.
Dear NIW, thank you for sharing your opinions, i totally agree with you. i know you are so angry for what some said about you, but believe me, this is nothing to what some poeple say about me or about other poeple.
Hello NIW! I can only apologise for people like "UNCHASON". She/He reminds me of a fascist cab driver, "if i was in power" type person. They have the answers to every argument. In England we view America as having made many huge mistakes and so do many Americans. I agree with your attitude of not wanting to point the finger, but instead look for solutions and I think it is perfectly ok for you to want to express certain feelings about the situation. I enjoy very much reading what you have to say because I believe that you are honest and noone can take that away from you. You are a very real person trying best to describe your experiences in Iraq. Who these people are to tell you that you are right or wrong - I feel some comments are very silly. The thought of any human life suffering always upsets me greatly, particularly the women and children and I will personally be much more considerate in the comments I make. Keep doing what you are doing. Many best wishes.
NIW, that was very well said. I could occasionally argue some issues with you, but it would serve no purpose. I do think mistakes were made,by us, and Iraqis, but we(the U.S.) need to stay in Iraq until it can be stabilized. That will take the coalition and Iraqis working together, and it's going to take considerable time and effort. I think you and your husband going back to work towards that goal is admirable. I see Your countrymen not as Iraqis, but as people, human beings that deserve good peaceful lives, like anyone else does. As always, I wish you the best of luck.
NIW - as much as I like to keep up with your life, I would like you to at the very least glance at what is happening in my life.
http://911blogger.com/
NIW - it's not only Americans who are affected by this false flag, your fellow Iraqis have also died by the hundreds of thousands. Afganistan is now one big prison.
Have some compassion for honesty and truth. Please educate yourself about the lies about 9/11/01. It seems to be a dark pit, but therein, you'll find the light. Never give up hope for honesty! Better yet, become a catalyst for reality-based discussions.
Bring the lies of 911 to light, and the whole waron terror will END! What is stopping you????????
You still work for the people who get rich of the destruction of Iraq. You are the enemy of Iraq. Your work for the murderers. You work with them and you take a paycheck from them. Take a long, hard look in the mirror. Ask yourself, Am I a rapist? Why do I live off of rapists? Am I a murderer? Why do Iaccept a paycheck from murderers? How did Iend up in this shamefull place, and how do I make something better of myself? Am I willing to end this life for this disgusting reason? What kind of karma will I face for working for the enemy of life? Will I be punished?
Hi NIW,
I find value in reading your posts, even the parts with which I disagree. I appreciate that you use your own experiences to shape your opinion and that you don't feel an obligation to "take a side" if it doesn't make sense to you.
Unfortunately your sincere effort to "tell it like it is" is not appreciated by everyone. Some of the comments you receive are truly stupefying. I will never understand how people can view a complicated situation like the one in Iraq and reduce it to a set of simplistic absolutes. I don't care where the person is from - Iraq, US, Britain, Antarctica - if he or she thinks there is only one correct way to view this complex issue and refuses to honestly examine any contradictory evidence, opinion, or historical fact, then that person is either unwilling or unable to face the confusing and often contradictory nature of REALITY. It's been my experience that the truth rarely meshes completely with any one person's expectations or preferences. Here's hoping that more people acknowledge that the truth isn't always so simple, including the truth about the situation in Iraq.
Neuro,
Sooner is better than forced into later is better than dead. Leave that place. You are welcome anywhere, take advantage! Iraq is screwed. EVERYONE, GET OUT! The Bush Liars pushed this invasion through, regardless of what everyone thought.
Bush likes to see blood covering a neighborhood sidewalk. Wasted blood gets Bush sexually arroused. That's Bush. Bush is insane. Bush is today's Hitler. Nasty! Why do you still accept a paycheck from sadistic Bush friends? Are you one of them (barf)?
neurotic iraqi wife,
If you haven't already realized, nine eleven was a US government sponcered mass murder. Either you speak out for truth or you aid the criminals. Make your choice.
Cheney doesn't care about the lives of the dead. Do you? Don't be the idiot who's dumb enough to believe the official 911 story. It's a LIE!
NIW,
You said that “just a normal Iraqi”. How can your really think that that is true? Does “normal Iraqi” take vacations like you do? I’m not trying to be mean about this, but didn’t you live in England for the last 25 years? When you live in a place for that long it changes you, your customs and way of living has changed. The Iraqi people see you as a “rich kid” someone when the times get hard you go back home. I really feel for the Iraqi’s and what they are going thru, and I believe that we should go in and take control of the whole country and establish marshal law. That’s just my opinion. Also, while I’m talking about my opinion, Hubby is an idiot, if he loved you, you would be back in England.
Who are these anonymous nuts that keep posting comments attacking you. I really wish they would have the guts to identify themselves and say something worth reading. Great post. You go girl!
I think what you have to say is good and stirs us to think about what is going on even if we don't agree with everything.
I do think corrupt contractors are a problem.
I also think those who do actually get something accomplished and built are often faced with idiots wanting to threaten them and blow up their acheivments.
I too agree with Bush's mistakes and our American ignorance as a whole, but I don't think we should cut and run until things are better.
I was so hopeful the last few weeks when it seemed that Iraqis and Americans finally seemed to be working together to tackle the problems they were facing.
It would be so nice if a real conversation could take place where communities could meet with Americans and state what their needs were and each could bring the strenths they have to offer to the table and discuss ways to come to a solution. Iraqis could offer their experience, knowlege of the language & culture, manpower, and local resourses. Americans can offer their own expertise to complement the locals knowledge, money, help with security, and help implementing the goals of the community they are serving in. I know this seems like a pipe dream right now.
I also think in the next election, (yes there will be one if we can hang on long enough) people need to be able to vote for the person running not just a party as in the last election. This way they can vote for the person they think is best for the job. Not just try to stick with a certain party. They can be more selective in choosing the men they think are capable of good leadership.
Kathy
Neurotica,
Let me see if I understood your post about not being a traitor. You are saying that the very same people who murdered close to 2 million Iraqis through their imposed sanctions and no-fly zones since 1991 and a further 1 million during the 2003 invasion and resulting sectarian murders...The very same people who torture Iraqis on a daily basis, humiliate them at checkpoints, rape their daughters (and then set them alight with gasoline), impose curfews and restrictions, use snipers to target the people of Iraq, target hospitals women and children during their engagements...You are basically saying that its is OK to work with these satanic criminals, put your hand in theirs, receive a paycheck from them, carry out their instructions, etc. because you are really helping the people of Iraq?
No, you are not a traitor or a collaborator nuerotica...You are far far worse...You are a person who does not understand right from wrong and does not understand that in a court of law you would be considered an "accomplice" as you are part of giant the machine that makes the occupation able to sustain itself in the land of Iraq.
But to be honest, it was obvious all along you were without any moral or ethical consciousness else you would not have been in this situation in the first place.
Stay on the path you are on...Perhaps Sistani can give you a special fatwa that will make you avoid judgment and get you straight in heaven like Khomeini used to do with his "key to heaven".
UNCHASON to ANONYMOUS
Wow, it's unbelieveable that you think the Americans are doing these things. The National Police are the ones killing and raping people, and shooting them with sniper fire. Anytime you see the Americans with the NP's, they are there to control them so they don't "ethnically cleans" the people in thir area. The Americans are there to stop them from randomly shooting at whatever they feel like. The establishment of the NP's was an American mistake because we thought that it would be good to have them create an autonomous security force that they can use for the security of their own people. We didn't control who became the leadership, and we don't have any control over their chain of command or who they hire and fire. Basically alot of them are corrupt, and alot of them are murderers and thugs. We try to keep them at bay as much as we can, but they go out on patrol without us all the time and do whatever they want in the middle of the night and we can't stop them. This was an American mistake for sure, but it is the Iraqis who make up the National Police force. They are in bed with militias, and sectarian power struggles, and alot of them are just plain bad people. I have a friend who stopped an NP Major after he took a knee and fired an entire magazine of AK rounds at a group of small children playing in the street. What kind of a person does that? Americans would never do that. Some of the inhumanity that I see is unbelieveable, and it is created by Iraqis fighting Iraqis. If they could just put down their Sunni/Shiite killing sprees and just accept the fact that people can live together and believe differently then perhaps the violence would stop. Honestly, I don't think Iraqis are willing to do this, I'm losing hope. There has been too much death on every side, and the culture here is seeped in revenge. They have to change the way they think. I don't see it happenning any time soon. Oh, by the way, the contractors I was talking about are Iraqi contractors, not Americans. If you missed what I was talking about, the construction contracts go to Iraqi nationals and they are the ones messing it up.
I can understand the sentiment of people who do not want foreign invaders in their country. As an Australian, I would hate to see, say Indonesia or Malaysia invade and occupy Australia.
Dick Cheney has consistently indicated a long occupation of Iraq is anticipated, that ""it will be a two generational war" (2003) and "it will be a long war."
There is a huge US embassy being built within the Green Zone and several US military bases being built in Iraq.
The US have no intention of leaving for a very long time.
How would I feel if I had a foreign occupying force in my country for decades??
Bloody angry.
gbaikie said...
"Now, the US military could defeat China or Iran in an afternoon or two in terms of crushing their military forces. In other words we mostly were set up to Defend interests not take territory."
I am sorry (from England again) America is not as powerful as it likes to have itself believe. This is the most absurd thing I have heard in a while. You are incredibly naive gbaikie if you believe that rubbish. This is precisely the problem with this war. America believed it was going to be a lot easier than it turned out to be. You really need to learn the error of your ways if you are going to be respected again. I am sorry but that is the reality of it. America is not even respected in England very much and that is the truth of it. We don't hate you and we do not wish to harm you but we do kind of feel embarressed for you. People always poke fun at the stupidity of your President and of the American Government. Many English people see the American Military as incredibly unprofessional. This is the truth. I would not lie to you.
Oh, yeah sure, you're not a traitor. Working with the forces that are occupying your so called country and you think you are "helping" iraqis. Oh, yeah, you are there to prevent "terrorists" from killing iraqis. lets just hope one of the resistance fighters catches you or your hubbie.
My advice is to close down the option for anonymous people to post comments coz i think they are taking advantage in an unsavoury manner.
u dont deserve such abuse.
sincerely.
To the neurotic iraqi wife...
I'm bowled over by the passion of your latest posting. Could feel your desperation and the multitude of raw nerves these various accusations touch. Collaborator, Iraqi, insurgent, apologist, radical.. There are endless accusations and endless truths. And how frustrating when you're on the ground, watching people you've met get killed, feeling the madness and chaos and then find yourself being assulted by all these accusations. All you can do is be honest about your own truth and is why your blogs are so interesting.
I listened to the Iraqi poem. Of course didn't understand a word of it. It was beautiful hearing that man's voice and tone but at the same time quite chilling considering the 'reasons' why it was being recorded.
If I have any complaint about your blogs (as well as many of the comments) it's the constant use of 'mistakes' when describing the American's role.
I'm curious about its use. For example, if I decide that to occupy your parents house and use my superior force to achieve this then is that a 'mistake'?
If I decide to use your parents bank accounts to repair all the damage I caused breaking into their house, is that also a 'mistake'?
If at every interval, trying to suppress your brothers anger at what I've done etc, I still only look at my own interests. Then is that a 'mistake'? Or are all of the above better decribed as 'crimes'?
My personal feeling it that the only long term solution for Iraq and the middle-east is to take America out of the equation. For example, if American troops were placed under UN control, if the American's returned all the wealth and private business contracts it has stolen from the Iraqi people, if the long term agenda is for peace in the region and not America's interests then I feel we can 'begin' to move forward.
But hey, you're neurotic and I'm a dreamer...
Yeah turn off anonymous posting. If they have anything useful to say, make them say it through an account!
NIW - You are an interesting person, but I can't escape from the fact that you work for the murderers. You take a paycheck from the very same people who torture, rape, enslave, murder your beloved Iraqis. Why are you living your life this way???????
It doesn't make sense.
FUCK your husband's wishes. What are you doing? WHY???? Why do you cash a paycheck from the very organization who tortures human beings? WHY?!
The sanctions were imposed
because of Saddams invasion of Kuwait or have you Iraqi forgotten that ???
Why didn't the Iraqi people vote
Saddam out of power after
his blunder in Kuwait???
If you took care of Saddam immediately after Kuwait
the new government coulds have
started brand new relationships
with The USA and othe countries
and the sanctions would have been lifted ...
Do you think invading Kuwait
was some big joke ... OK we invade ... but why punish Iraq if we leave ?? simple reason
so you won't invade again ...
Iraqi should have overthrown Saddam
OR Saddam could have changed ...
and reconciled with all his neighbors
Saddam is responsable for the sanctions you idiot
The oil for food program was in effect and Saddam used it to
profit for himself
Simple fact the Shia are the majority in Iraq the rest of iraq
factions are going to have to
accept a government with a large
Shia contingemt for many many year
accept it ... reconcile and
stop all this killing.
Hey English boy
1) get your teeth fixed
2) keep your beer cold
3) teach your navy
how to outmaneuver
Iranians
4) Listen to BBC ALTERNATIVES
5) try not to kill each other
after "football" matches
its uncivilized
The commenter was correct
American military has
no interest in occupation
or colonization and being
a foreign nations police force
which is essentially what we are forced into doing now because
Iraqi keep killing each other.
Our military was supposed to be out of Iraqi cities
within a year and be replaced by state department officials
You Brits were the colonizers
throughout the world were you not??
Hmm
1) America
2) India
3) Mideast
on and on ...
Its your History ...where your military was used to colonize and keep order in your colonies ...
US military has no experience in colonization like yours ...
This is the historical truth
By the way how great was your
experience in Northern Ireland??
Is that resolved yet ???
Why doesn't Blair send
5000 members of this
ultra professional military
into Baghdad to help out ...
I mean at least help secure the Hospitals in Baghdad or something.
Baghdad and Anbar is where the real
fighting is ... and where are the Brits ??? and you dare make
stupid comments about American soldiers.
please British soldiers please Show
Patreus how to patrol Baghdad
and Anbar ???
Hey Neurotica
1) Do not concern yourself with what others think ... its meaningless ...
2) Do not dwell on the past
if the work you and your
husband are doing is helping Iraq people now just a little bit
then do it and take pride in doing it.
That said lets end all of these simplistic solutions for Iraq
and all of these comments about Bush being stupid and Bremmers mistakes ...
Bush is Not stupid its absurd
for people who have never assumed
responsability for anything
to call a two term elected
President of the USA stupid.
Bush engaged in debates with Kerry
They both went to Yale at roughly the same time and Bush had
slightly higher grades ...
This is FACT
It is also a Historical fact that
1) George Tenet told Bush
personally that Saddam having
WMD's was a "slam dunk"
2) George Tenet was a Clinton
appointee
All of the Bush haters around the world and in USA forget that BUsh was in office only 7 months
before 9/11 .
Did Bush fire and then hire
a brand new CIA at all positions
in that time ???
Did Bush change all airport security measures in those 7 months
Idiots ...The Bush Administration
was working with intelligence
gathered by a CIA which
was managed by Clinton for 8 Years
Now Neurotica
If your Husband was given Bremmers job can you prove to me that
his choices would have led to
a peaceful Iraq ???
The point being none of your choices or his can ever be tested.
so to go on and on about what Bush should have done what Bremnmer should have done is meaningless !!!
Example
Everyone points to Bremmers
disbanding of Iraqi army as his first huge mistake because
much of the insurgency is made up
of former Iraqi service men ...
I ask you ... how do you know that
this huge Shia majority would not have launched a bigger insurgency
if Saddams Army was brought back ... with all his generals and men who in the past who once
turned their guns on The Shia ???
Its ludicrous to sit here and say
that The Shia would have accepted
an Iraq with no security changes accept
Bremmer replaces Saddam.
Iraqi must accept this Shia majority and once that happens
and the violence ends this Shia majority
must moderate and include
all of Iraq in the wealth and governance.
And all the people who think
its such a cushy job to work
in the reconstrruction of iraq ...
Well keep in mind that 800
contractors have also died in Iraq
Fruit cakes you all are. Americans make every effort to help. Christian beliefs will change you soon and you will pray to God for forgiveness. Unfortunately, I can say that I feel that your life’s and your country is not worth the American lives lost. If it was not for the oil you have America would not be there.
NIW, there is a lot of discussion on U.S. blogs and forums about our media. I would be interested on hearing your opnion(and others you work with) on the role the Iraqi media plays in all this. Also a little bit of a challenge : ) Can you list at least five positive things you have seen or heard pertaining to Iraqs future?
Mr Anonymous
"Hey English boy
1) get your teeth fixed
2) keep your beer cold
3) teach your navy
how to outmaneuver
Iranians
4) Listen to BBC ALTERNATIVES
5) try not to kill each other
after "football" matches
its uncivilized"
You make racist comments. You need to open your eyes my friend. Since I have spent a large part of my life attending football matches and so rarely witnessed any loutishness, the last one particularly made me laugh.
And to gbaikie,
You have not crushed even Iraq's forces. Americans continue to be killed and wounded each day and with your blind ignorance you honestly believe that you can crush these forces?
It's not simply about destroying a few buildings and killing people. You do not win a war until you win the hearts and minds of people on both sides.
America is not liked in much of the world at the moment. I do not say that because I wish to offend you or hurt your feelings, I say it because it is a fact. A lot of the reason is because many of you make comments like "And in terms of ground forces, US did in 3 weeks what Iran couldn't do in 5 years."
When the reality is you still continue to fight. It was not done in 3 weeks and it will not be done in 10 years.
To you it is as if you pride yourself in the attacking. This is how America is viewed around the world.
I always like this one:
The Sun and the North Wind were having an argument. Who was smarter? Who was stronger?
There was a man walking down the street and the North Wind says to the sun, "I bet I can make that man take off his coat."
"I'll take that bet", said the sun. And the North wind blew and blew and that man held onto his coat. The North wind blew harder and the harder the north wind blew, the harder that man held onto his coat.
Then came the sun. The sun came out and smiled and it became warm. Man took off his coat.
Ahh you know with that explosion with maliki.. if it was kofa annan he wouldn't even blink hehe
mind you nice post..i liked the way you embraced your new title of COLLABORATOR.. hehe.. it's a joke walla.. these idiots cannot handle someone having an opinion.. especially if she's a woman.. it's sick really.
so what if u work for the americans.. but ur iraqi and u CHOSE to be in iraq.. surely it makes u part of the good people group.. plus this word "collaborator" is a bit of a joke.. used by others that wanna sheild their own dodgy activities.
I would say keep on writing.
Keep on saying what you wanna say.
Allow others to disagree with you (like you always do) and that shows your standard and class.
Good work.
plaintruth.. yes.. she's a normal iraqi.. a LOT of iraqis live in the uk and EXILES.. they live in the gulf as EXILES.. they live in the states.. yes.. you got it.. as EXILES.
true they have the money to travel but that's because most of them work damn hard and are qualified professionals.
So what? You and your racist views? Normal Iraqis cannot have a proper vacation abroad? This is disgusting.
Buj,
You say “she’s a normal Iraqi” how can you say such a thing? She’s a woman of Iraqi descent living in England. The English don’t respect the Iraqi’s and the Iraqi’s don’t respect her because she is from England. All in a nut shell she is truly a person without a country. The English even hate us Americans; do you really think that they like Iraqi’s?
I never said that they never worked hard, and were not good people. My views were that she was not a “normal Iraqi”, one that is trying to get food and water. Normal Iraqi’s don’t go on vacations. Normal Iraqi’s don’t care to let there women have express there views. Yes, buj I lives around many in the Detroit MI. area. No racist views here, just the facts jack……..
As the people wake up, the support you enjoy will continue to be eroded. Even I am starting to wonder what your life's purpose is. Why do you work for the people you do? What is your mission? Sorry, but I'm starting to have questions about your purpose. I'm starting to not like you. I'm starting to wonder if you are life's enemy. Please prove me wrong. The US military's goal in Iraq is evil. Why do you still support that? Sorry, but your life makes me sick. How can you wake up each day? How do you sleep at night, knowing that you work for the criminals?
i ve to admit this anon guy is really persistent in this phsycological warfare that he has launched against NIW.
Stay steadfast NIW. put on your amour of truth and f*** the rest. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and there's nothing you can do about tht. Be true to yourself thts you're only goal in life.
To Mr Anonymous:
Over the course of history there has been many situations like this. Where the good people have no choice but to work for the power in charge. It's not the ideal situation all the time but it is the only way they can help their country the best they can.
And although I may agree to some extent that the US can be unprofessional in their approach. I do not believe however that the "US military's goal in Iraq is evil". The international community would not allow it to be even if it was. America really have no choice now but to stay and although politically they do not wish to announce it, we all know that it is going to take a long time to rebuild Iraq.
NIW,
I have difficulty understanding your self description of "a normal Iraqi" or your referrals to Iraq as "your" country because my parents came to the US many years ago and they brought children with them. Some of them were older than you were when you left Iraq yet they do not refer to the 'old country' as their country. This is their country even though they do not all carry US citizenship. My parents do not call the 'old country' anything but 'the old country'. I'm not trying to say what I think you should feel about either country but I feel it is very unfortunate, for you, that you don't feel more of a sense of belonging in your host country considering that was your home in your formative years. It gives me a bit of a better understanding of why Europe seems to have more difficulties with their immigrants assimilating though.
It seems to me that if you have managed to get people at opposite ends of the spectrum angry about your views, you are probably pretty close to the middle and actually in the majority or where the majority should be. I'm an American and love my country very much but refuse to disavow the mistakes we have made and will make. Facing our errors in public instead of burying them or blaming someone else has been a hallmark of the democratic process. It needs to continue.
When I hear President Bush saying that the Iraqis should be grateful, I have always taken that to mean the Iraqis participating in the slaughter, not the unarmed civilians who are in fear because of the bad ones. That the slaughterers should be grateful, and not collaborate with the foreign terrorists.
Saddam was everyone's enemy, and for a time, all of his enemies were cease fire with each other. But now old wounds are open, and new wounds are made. Shrines and mosques are blown up. Not because the people blowing them up wanted them to be blown up, but just to incite more violence. What a shameful waste.
Hmmm Plaintruth... Fair enough.. each has the right to an opinion.. and a lawyer.. and the one phone call :)
We agree to disagree..
But I tell you mate, there are loads of Iraqis everywhere in this world. True their country is a mess, and true the UK government hasn't always done what's best for Iraq, but it doesn't mean that they can't live there. It also doesn't mean that the English or British will not welcome Iraqis or any other. Actually, if you check the facts you will see that the UK has a long history of opening their doors to foreigners who flee their countries for whatever reason.
I don't generalise but talk about personal experiences. Regardless of the number of expat Iraqis I've met from all over, they remain Iraqi in identity.
Finally, a last example. I've been living in the UK for the best part of a decade. I was doing my masters when 9/11 happened, and I just happened to be in Dubai. I flew back to the UK within 2 weeks of the incident, and was treated exactly the same as pre 9/11 even though I was Arab, and, and...
I respect the UK for that. Innocent until proven guilty or otherwise.
Most of my mates went to the US for study. Most of my mates left the US for most of the 2001/2002 academic year. Most of my mates graduated one year after me.
I felt a sense of pride when I read what you had to say buj. I am pleased that you had that experience of the UK. It is always a concern that the less educated in society will let us down with their racism. :) all the best
I don't believe we should withdraw. I think we should stay till Iraqi security forces are competent enough to defend Iraq without our support. Yes, we made some mistakes but we did make some achievements as well. We try. It's all we can do now. I'm cautiously optimistic about Patreus and the successes thus far of the counterisurgency. I read Iraqi blogs, just fyi. This is just one American's opinion.
To plaintruth
"The English even hate us Americans"
Errr, this is not correct. We do not hate you guys. We have a dislike for the way in which you go about things. This is something your country will change with time.
This comment has been removed by the author.
To matt. Very sensible comment and I don't really think there is any other choice. It would take the lid off completely and the country would be in chaos if we left. We have no choice but to stay. An englishman's opinion hehe, all the best
Wow, is this the most popular response you've had to your posts NIW? I see all kinds of folk here!
I do not claim to have any answers. I think that is the majority of the problem anywhere in the world, too many queen bees and not enough drones.
Anyway, I really wish you'd get started on that book, you know, the one you've been posting for the last few years? :) I think the identity crisis is a good place to start. Would've loved reading that in my philosophy class!
So, am I saying not having any answers to the world's problems is in fact THE answer? No, I am admitting to cyberspace that I do not posess such an education to make comments like the ones I have read. I am a simple nursing student who deeply values human life, simple as that. Maybe that's the answer?
I loved this post. Positively the best I've read of you thus far.
Always,
Your fellow human, Melanie
gbaikie,
I think you are more interested in Political definitions than the reality of the situation. The enemy was not an Army in the traditional sense anyway. We were always trying to combat terrorism and now they have gone to ground. The views of these people span many organisations.
I think to believe you protect the world against nuclear weapons in this war where none were discovered is a little odd.
As for thinking it is a fundamental error to have the rest of the world like you. That is the most rediculous thing you have said so far. It is very important to me that your country is not attacked again like it was on 9/11 or my country on 7/7. So it is very important that we go about thing's in the best way possible so more and more people begin to trust us and we install as much confidence as possible in the middle east.
And for when we leave Iraq and Afghanistan, that is going to be many years yet.
I am a little upset that you refer to killing so much. It has equally to do with winning the hearts of people. However deluded they may be, they are still human beings. I find it very upsetting when they have killed my countrymen but it is equally sad to see the child of some iraqi mother to grow up and die in such a way. It is too simple to brand these people evil. I personally believe it is a lot more scientific than that.
hello christopher..
thanks mate.. well let's not forget that Britain carved my country then gave it to others.. so I am not too hot about that.. but then again the UK has its uses.. and if that didn't happen I wouldn't be here talking about it.
again one cannot generalise and there is good and bad in all things.. i used to hate the UK but in feb 2003 I was part of about 1 million people (I'm sure MI5 know that too, but I also pay my taxes!) to demonstrate against the upcoming Iraq war.
You can't say that 1 million brits are evil eh? then again at the top echelons of power are people who have got a different agenda and it would be hard to call them "nice".
peace my man.
I enjoy reading your blogs very much. I am not American nor Iraqi, so maybe I have a more unbiased point of view. My boyfriend is an American Marine. He hates Bush and while serving in Iraq got to care a lot about the situation. Now he will have to go back and I am very scared, and I'm sure he is too. I think people tend to have a black-and-white view of everything. Either you love everything Bush and the military has done or you are a Saddam-lover. Reality is much more complicated than that.
buj,
with comments like "again one cannot generalise and there is good and bad in all things" you are a man after my own heart.
Peace bud :)
Hey NIW
I agree with you 100%. I live in Cleveland , Ohio, USA. Most Americans are so arrogant. They do not think what is happening in Iraq could ever happen in the USA. I guarantee you that if they got rid of all authority in the US like they did in Iraq, the situation would be the same. Just look at what happened in New Orleans after 3 days. The sects here (Black, White, Latino etc) are more segregated then the sects in Iraq
I don't think well in the abstract. Green zones and red zones and the body politic don't make a lot of emotional sense to me. I comprehend the events, but they don't really speak to me.
Then I stumble (thanks, BuJ) upon your blog and everything makes sense. I get it. And my heart breaks for you.
I guarantee you that if they got rid of all authority in the US like they did in Iraq, the situation would be the same.
Looting and crime? Probably. Chaos, rape and murder? Yes. Violent militias that threaten and murder collaborators? Sure.
But blowing ourselves up among innocent American civilians with ball-bearings and chlorine gas?
No! I disagree! Americans would not do that to each other.
I think few cultures on earth would respond this way. This is the sick invention of hateful Arabian Wahhabists. I am not saying this to isolate a race or a religion but as a warning that sometime cultural relativism can be taken too far. Are we so desperate to see the common humanity in everyone that we turn a blind eye to the inhuman acts that some commit in the name of misguided beliefs?
If you think we are all exactly the same than you will have a hard time understanding the world. We have many similarities, but we are not all the same. We have wonderful and terrible differences.
K
Hey K
I agree with you on that part.
"But blowing ourselves up among innocent American civilians with ball-bearings and chlorine gas?
No! I disagree! Americans would not do that to each other "
Long live Iraq, long live Iraq, long live Iraq.
Long live Iraq, long live Iraq, long live Iraq.
Death to the terrorists, the killers, the fascists, the occupation and all the enemies of Iraq.
Hi! I've been reading your blog for quite some time now but I've never left a comment. I pretty much stopped reading the comments because there always seem to be a few people who are so sure they know all the answers and I try to stay away from negative energy.
What I did want to say about the last post was that I appreciate that you always tell it how you see it, straight from the heart. I think this is very rare in this day and age. Whether I agree or disagree with what you post I respect you for what you are doing/trying to do and I really think the people who are trying to label you are those self righteous people who are convinced that they are right and no amount of reason could ever convince them otherwise. It reminds me of that saying. "it's like trying to teach a pig to sing" "it's a waste of time and it annoys the pig!"
Thank you for letting us into your life and telling it how you see it. I'm guessing that there are others like myself who appreciate your blog but don't feel compelled to comment every time somebody says something we don't agree with and who don't think they have all the answers.
Best wishes,
Iam
P.S. I know it's been a while but I REALLY got a kick out of the Christmas tree you decorated. You and I have something in common it seems.
Buj,
You do have a point about the UK, I will give you that. Then on the other hand the UK was not hit as hard as the USA as in the 9/11 mess. The UK has always been a passive country and always wants to keep everyone happy.
Americans don’t dislike Iraqi’s or anyone else, we just do some (a lot) of stupid stuff that piss off our own people. A good one that I found out today was that the start of Maryland is planning on waving instate college rates for illegal immigrants. Meaning they pay less for college, while we pay more. Even thou they are illegal.
All in a nut shell, we Americans only like things when we reap the benefits
Lady D.: You're most welcome.
Plaintruth: Well you said it. However as you know this is the modern face of imperialism.
The sooner you get diagnosed, the quicker you can get it sorted.
Peace.
Plaintruth 9/11 is not anywhere near as bad as the people of Iraq have had.
I really felt sad when that happened obviously but when you watch the videos with terrorists with knives clearly visible in their back pockets (while your security pat them down) you do kinda feel that security let you guys down a bit.
I mean even if we had the slightest idea there would be an attack we would of just tightened security as a precaution. In England you havent even been allowed to carry nail clippers for many years before 9/11 on an aeroplane.
The argument in England at the time was that it simply wasnt enough to go to war on. But now we are there, and with what is happening in Iran also, it looks as if there may be more to follow.
Buj, we hear the imperialistic comments all the time. But they are only called imperialistic comments when the richest countries make proud comments and obviously not helped by our history. But we all love our own countries. Whatever country we are from we make proud comments about them. It is sad that we cannot as British make comments without being called imperialistic.
The sad fact of the truth is, the middle east is seen as being horrifically unstable. There is all sorts of reasons for this. The current reason is obviously blaming us but in the long run Iraq will have a democracy. I believe in it.
If WW1 or WW2 was reported on, on a daily basis with no. of people dead etc. It would have been a great deal more frightening than this.
Dear NIW,
Some people are crazy and some people are stupid. Do not listen to them.
The people who call you a traitor are ignorant. The Americans and Brits who come up with every excuse in the book for not listening to your very valid concerns and fears are just plain assholes.
I know what it is to be caught between two cultures however I do not know what it is like to be caught between two cultures in a war zone.
Your latest posts sound desperate, frantic even. If you and your husband have the ability to leave, maybe you should consider it. Ideals be damned get out while you still can with whatever is left of your life and sanity intact.
christopher,
You got me wrong! I meant that the US is the new imperialist force out there.. with roadshows at a mall near you in Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and soon opening our newest branch in Iran.
Please visit our website :)
And yes, you can be British and talk without being called an imperialist!
Ok ... now people are going to question Neuroticas love for her homeland ... well she is working in Iraq along with her husband ...
Her Husband seems like a well educated guy and could probably
have many job offers ... yet they are both in Iraq working every day
BY CHOICE
to help Iraq get past this difficult stage ... the
Green Zone is not all that safe
just ask Ban Ki Moon !!!!
So she is not suffering as much
as the typical Baghdad family
... she knows this well.
Lets see now did ...
Faiza Jarrar of "A family in Baghdad" and her sons
who lived in Monsour during Saddams
time live like the Shia without
water or sewers in Sadr City ???
Does anyone question this clearly
Baathist family love for Iraq ...
Can not the 2 million people of Sadr
city look at this now prominent
blogging family and say "you never
lived like us" So SHUT THE HELL
UP
American forces are not really
"Hearts and Mind" people ...
They do the best they can in
guerilla warfare urban conditions
Current American Forces operate
under very strict rules of engagement amongst Iraqi civilains
and overall they have done a great
job ... I challenge any of these many Blogger/Commentators to walk
the streets of Baghdad in the Uniform of an American soldier and see how well you can operate and maintain composure after a roadside bomb ... followed by an ambush ... followed by another roadside bomb !!!
Americas main role is to keep the violence down and hand over security to new Iraqi government ... then if that ever happens train new Iraq air force,
navy, radar installation operators,
tank crews, helicopter piolets etc
Thats it ... there is no plan
to keep ground forces in Iraqi
cities for a long period of time ... The four big bases that all the America Haters always mention are the ones that are to be used for the real serious weapons training (tanks/jets)
And the plan is for those bases
to be turned over to Iraqi control also ... right now
Iraq has no air force and no
anti - missile anti-aircraft
systems no legitimate tank brigades
etc all of this takes time and people are crying for immediate withdrawal !!!
Within 10 years the 4 main bases
are going to be a symbol of Iraqi
Power ... NOT American Power !!
Seems as though we have a snooty
bloke with three names
commenting on this blog ...
I am hoping Sting replies so we can
balance it out ... Oh by the way
I was in London a few years back
and I "did it" with Posh
while Davey was out of town ...
seemed as though she needed an
American to make her happy !!!
i have been watching the
news footage of the British
Marine lads as provided by
Iran ... as such i feel the News
has not reported the name
of the British warship that was involved correctly !!! ....
After watching the young men
pander on to the Iranians
I think the main ship they
were associated with was the
HMS CornHOLE NOT Cornwall
the damn dingy's should have
been PINK !!!
I think that you hot and I want you to have my baby....
If NIW did just a tiny bit of research, would she realize the US is backing the terrorists in Iraq, creating violence, so those permanent US bases never close, would she rethink her job? If NIW knew the Truth about 911, would she still support her involvment in the Lie? If NIW lived up to her heartful persona, would she run, Run, RUN away from the green zone?
I certainly hope so.
Bonjour,
Je viens de découvrir votre blog dans Courrier International. Dommage qu'il soit en anglais mais tant pis je vais quand même en parler sur mon blog (http://chezmartine.canalblog.com). C'est ma façon à moi de faire connaître la vie actuelle des irakiens.
Amitiés
Martine
When Hitler's army prepared to inact his evil agenda, they had no idea he was about to wage the Holocaust.
Same for the Neuortica. She defends the current actions of the USA, she is payed by them. She does NOT think of the cost, or the price she will undeniably pay later, when life is better.
You're fucked, NIW. Good LUCK!
So it’s all America’s fault? Were the problems Iraq can’t do anything for themselves? We went over there to stop the bloodshed, but end up loosing our own guys to help Iraq out of there problems. What is America suppose to do when Iraq’s kill there own. Sooner or later it will stop, when there is no one else to kill. So hate America for trying to help out.
UNCHASON, you have NO idea of what is happening around the world. The Americans have turned the Middle East into an atomic bomb that is ready to blow up any moment now. Their acts have turned the public opinion worldwide against them and made the world more dangerous than it was some years ago.
The other thing you say about the reconstruction of Iraq really made me laugh. You cant go to someone's house, destroy it, kill some of the members of the family, rape the girls, open all the doors so all the burglars and terrorist can come in and then say to the housekeeper: "Now you can rebuilt it". This simply makes no sense, NO SENSE AT ALL!!!
And please tell me, why did Americans actually make this war? They felt threatened of the non-existent sadam's "nuclear weapons"? Or maybe because the big American companies wanted to benefit from the war and so they sent poor americans to invade Iraq? Do you know of any governor's son that enlisted and went to fight this war? I really don't.
So open your eyes to the truth and don't fall into the Bush's propaganda.
I guess you are an American who watches the news from FOX or NBC or CNN and
Oh my gosh, what happened to your beautiful site! Where did all these liberal quacks, conspiracy kooks, and demonizing agendists/propagandists come from!
Well, all I can say is, be prepared for an onslaught of misinformation and misrepresentation of the facts, putting it mildly!
I hope you are well, it has been a week. I would encourage more reading from various points of view pertaining to the conflict in Iraq. Far too many, as is evident in some of this comment are written by the uniformed or those who mouth the words of the commercial propagandists. The emotional liberal view based on West centric preconceptions and arrogant “enlightenment” will continue to aide and abet the terrorists. The Iraqi Army and Police secretly forces are proving to be a capable force. Elected members of Parliament and Congress are behaving in a manner equivalent to a coup Da’ta with their “career” interests above that of the nation. The conflict is not just about Iraqi, the repercussions ill or good with effect security and stability across the planet.
Taji
i find the negative comments very motivating. i've always thought that we should invest more money and time in promoting an equal and better school system in America. some of the comments on this blog illuminate this need very ineloquently. thanks you all for your support.
NIW,
Happy Easter!
K
I just want to say how much I admire you. You must be beste on both sides, with ignorant Iraqi's that think you are the enemy, to ignorant Americans that do not see how we ruined your country even more than Saddaam... I wish you nothing but peace and happiness, but it absolutely breaks my heart that my government, and my (stupid) President, meaning so well, have brought you all such pain and misery...
I do not know if I will ever be able to forgive my country or my people for what they have done to your country and your people...
Please know that there are some American like me who are sick to out stomachs over how horrible our bungled occupation has been for you... that there are some people in my country whose hearts are broken for you adn the paind we have caused so any innocent people...
I'm afriad that we will levae you to your misery, when we are some of the only forces present preventing an even worse bloodbath...
if there is a God, I hope he protects you... my thoughts have been with you for a long time, and I hope, with all heart, that things will get better for you
Don't give up, know that there are people who care about you, and Iraq!
Sincerely,
Brian Frydenborg (from Weston, CT, outside of New York City)
my e-mail is bfry1981@gmail.com
I just want to say how much I admire you. You must be beste on both sides, with ignorant Iraqi's that think you are the enemy, to ignorant Americans that do not see how we ruined your country even more than Saddaam... I wish you nothing but peace and happiness, but it absolutely breaks my heart that my government, and my (stupid) President, meaning so well, have brought you all such pain and misery...
I do not know if I will ever be able to forgive my country or my people for what they have done to your country and your people...
Please know that there are some American like me who are sick to out stomachs over how horrible our bungled occupation has been for you... that there are some people in my country whose hearts are broken for you adn the paind we have caused so any innocent people...
I'm afriad that we will levae you to your misery, when we are some of the only forces present preventing an even worse bloodbath...
if there is a God, I hope he protects you... my thoughts have been with you for a long time, and I hope, with all heart, that things will get better for you
Don't give up, know that there are people who care about you, and Iraq!
Sincerely,
Brian Frydenborg (from Weston, CT, outside of New York City)
my email: bfry1981@gmail.com
Hello,
I hope you are having a pleasant day so far. I thought you might be interested in a new site. www.iraqhasavoice.com is a new web site dedicated to collecting open letters from the Iraqi people to the American people. We accept and post all letters. We would love to have your participation.
With peace,
~Josh
josh@iraqhasavoice.com
I think NIW has been very generous to allow us all leave our comments here, be they good or bad. I like reading what all sides have to say as much as I enjoy people making idiots out of themselves with some of the ridiculous comments they leave, some of which just go to reinforce what NIW has to say all along. Enough said!
Expat
What neurotic? Just an honest reply to all the BS coming at her. Sadly, neither Bush nor Congress had a clue what we were getting into. I was blown away when they disbanded the Iraqi army, like didn't these people know anything from history? No, the Bush clan and cohorts are the Free Trade (all else be damned) wing of the Repubs, that may be why Daddy Bush was so clueless about leaving Saddam in power after he called upon Shiites and Kurds to rise up. Daddy and his oil buddies helped create the devastated Iraq that Sonny thought he could waltz in and out of real fast. Bremer acted like this was just another hostile corporate takeover. So our soldiers and Iraqis have paid a high price for the US learning curve (we may never fully catch up). Now that we finally have a general in charge who knows what he's doing and Iraqi forces that can take on the enemy full bore, the fools in Congress want to hand the country over to the Global Jihad. No wonder the lady is bent out of shape.
I've never left you a comment, so I guess I'll say hi and I get a lot of strange thoughts from your thoughts. I am an American. A young one, who has watched her own country fuck up more times in her 20 years then she wants to tell her (future) grandchildren about.
I agree with you that the administration is not doing enough organizing. That the troops are not handling things like they should. But in their defense, the troops are mostly my age. They were never trained for this kind of war, and are dealing with their own shit caused from it. I know this because I know a few of them, all in different areas, all in different branches of the military. Please don't forget that they do care, and if they didn't have any humanity they wouldn't want to wear the uniform.
Yeah I realize Iraqi's go through this everyday and "try to live with that thought". Ironically and thankfully, I'm an American girl, and I don't have to worry for one day that that might happen to me. But to say I have no heart and I can't empathize and want to help, is a lie. All Americans want to help others. If you've ever heard someone writing to their senators to keep another nationality out, they are a disgrace to the American flag, and on behalf of all truly patriotic Americans I apologize for their ignorance.
I do not like my president, I do not like his way of doing things and I am absolutely flabbergasted at the incompetency of my government, not just in the handling of this war, but in the handling of their own country, such as Hurricane Katrina and the continued neglect of the Gulf region. But I'm still an American, and I know that these are just growing pains for our countries, and I'm hoping one day we'll all live in peace.
yes it's a travesty that so many Iraqi's have died and continue to die, and I hope somehow, people like you and your husband, can help build up the people of Iraq, so they can build their country.
And as to that anonymous commenter who keeps talking about how 9/11 was a hoax, did you possibly watch the news on that day? Did you even see the planes hit those buildings? and hit the Pentagon? My eyes never left the tv and if it was some government conspiracy I think they deserve an oscar for such good cinematography. And if you're disappointed by the fact that Americans fell for it and went for an unjust war, then stop wasting your time on the internet and find the ones who DID fall for it and teach them logic. Obviously they lacked some, and really it'd be a bit more productive. Stop feeding off the paranoia you claim to denounce! It's hypocritical!
I pray for you and Hubby every day.
I trust you are safe and far away from the cafeteria blasted today.
Bob
This is not a case of no news is good news. Please let us know that you are ok.
NIW,
You have spoken so much about the cafe tht you visit. Understandable now I am very worried and so are a lot of your readers. Please as soon as you can send us word tht you are safe. Dont let those who care live with this added anxeity of not knowing. Please.
It would be great to hear some news from you.. but I am confident you're ok coz I don't think you'd be going to some cafe when you have a house in the GZ.. hope u and ur hubby are safe.
Im sorry, I didnt mean to take long. My yahoo wasnt working, nor was my blogger. Im fine, Dont worry, I will write in a few days. Thanx alot to all of you for your concern.
NIW,
I love your posts. Ignore the unpleasant comments. We need sensible views and opinions, whether from the right or left, to find out what is happening in Iraq, since we know so little from the normal media.
Now, my view. The USA is one of the greatest of the world’s democracies. Anybody can be President and anybody normally is. That’s its problem! As Michael Moore said, it is nice to wake up in the morning, and realise that you are more intelligent then the President.
So why did Bush invade Iraq!
He would not appear to be one of the world’s most intelligent leaders. Probably after succeeding in Afghanistan, he felt, overenthusiastically, he could gain yet more popularity by removing Saddam, something which his father would have said to him he had always regretted. Thus he invaded Iraq with not a little help from the Neo-cons. After all, the Bush family help each other. He could well not have been President without his sibling Shrub’s, his brother, help.
Speaking from the UK, who can do little to help solve the world’s difficulties, I see Iran as the greater problem. If we can save face and withdraw from Iraq, the US and UK will, hopefully with Iraq, being at least stable whether under a democracy or dictator. The only encouragement for the future of Iraq is that a country becomes tired of division and killing and the terrorists grow old and decide to take more conventional political options.
Knowing nothing about Iran, I can only hypothesise. Indeed, very few people in the UK, and probably the US, know anything about the country. However, a country with a backward looking regime led by the old, while its young population increases rapidly, is inherently unstable, just as the US was to a lesser extent in the 1960s. Will there be a revolution? Will it gain its nuclear bomb? I don’t know. But the West, in particular, the US, are and will be wondering what to do,
Jefferson
NIW.. welcome back.. glad ur safe.. i would be greatly honoured if you accept this "award" :)
http://bujassem.blogspot.com/2007/04/thinking-blogger-award.html
We miss you. Hope you are ok. Some harsh comments have been posted, but fear not, your fellow human beings are becoming wiser and more open minded each day: It's a good thing! Please, at the very least, write something so we know you aren't dead. All of your loyal readers always feared for the day you would stop writing...............................................................
Hopefully, you used your gift and got out of that fatal place, and are now too occupied with rebuilding your life, in a safer land, to post.
Whatever, a simple letter or two "ok" would settle many hearts.
Please write.
NIW,
Just stopping by to say hello and wish you well.
Melanie
Hello NIW, this may sound silly, but you are missed.
oh, by the way you should ignore the Idiots who only seek making themselves a bit 'diffrent'
Sallam, and take care.
NIW,
Hopefully everything is doing well with you.
One thing that I have learned in life is that nothing is what it seems and everything changes. In earlier post you wanted to act or respond like a journalist. Report to everyone what is happening in Iraq from your point of view. Yes, your posting was interesting and educational. Lately your posting went from informational to sounding like your “neurotic” (insecurity, anxiety, depression, and irrational fears). If you’re going to report on what is going on over there, report. Be a journalist and don’t worry about what others say about you, there will always be someone like that. On the other hand if you’re setting a home eating cupcakes and drinking coke and mad about what others say, you don’t need to be a journalist.
Well in defence, she's not sitting home eating cupcakes for sure. shes in the worst place to be right now on this planet, people do get a bit edgy when morters keep dropping everywere and helecopters flying 24 hours around you.
If you haven't lived it to critisize other people who are acually there.
but of course, thats the point of Blogging from Baghdad.
Please come back and give us an update. I have read your column for a couple years and miss you and am concerned for your welfare. Sally
You must not believe that all 'Westerners' have been influenced by the 'dumbing down' of the general populace by the 'Bubble gum' news. It is a crime, what has been bestowed upon your country, but has it not been like that since the dawn of time. There has not been good leaders since they began 'leading' from the rear.
Dear neurotic Iraqi wife
You are not a traitor or a patriot
The crude truth..
The Americans are there because of there self interest only. They can list the reasons they like, they didn't come to protect our interest. They say they are, but in reality their self intrest first.
Also,
You are in Iraq because of your self interest only. If they stop paying you or your husband his salary your are out from Iraq the next day. You can say that you care about Iraq first but in reality your self interest is first.
Also,
The militias are after their self intrest.
The Gangs are after their self intrest.
The Bathist are after their self intrest.
The Kurds are after their self intrest.
The Sunnis are after their self intrest.
The Shia are after their self intrest.
The Iranians are after their self intrest.
No one care about the other "every one cares about his self interest only"
When their self interest clash each one claim he is right and the other is wrong.
States and People claim they are not after their self interest, but in reality that is the only driving force behind their actions.
The result is current IRAQ
you should be upset and angry at the terrorists and militias that are purposely killing innocents
instead of being angry at the US Soldiers and Bush who are trying to protect you and the iraqi people from the monsters
maybe if you could convince more people to actually HELP the USA and HELP the Iraqi Army and Police, then maybe things would start to get better.
اشو ماكو؟ وين صرتي؟ ضل بالي
Hi ---I'm an American and I want to ask a simple question:
What should the USA do to help Iraq? You talk about how horrible an American pull-out would be, but I don't see anything we can do to make things better. What would work??? More troops? Install a dictator? Stay and pray for the best?
joetheguy is an idiot. NOT a rep of the sane people of this world.
Hope you return to posting soon. Worried about you!
Hi ---I'm an Iraqi and I want to ask a simple question:
What should Iraq do to help the US? You talk about how horrible an Iraqi pull-out would be, but I don't see anything we can do to make things better. What would work??? More troops? Install a dictator? Stay and pray for the best?
I don't know whether to laugh or throw up.
new dirty trick
There has been a major effort by insurgents to sell and hand out a wide variety of realistic-looking toy guns. Their hope is for the ISF and coalition forces to engage children.
taji
civilaffairsmosul@yahoo.com
Full story
http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/04/27/2877-soldiers-want-to-accomplish-mission-in-iraq/
joetheguy, go let your dog lick your mouth. That's the best you can do to yourself you idiot.
Joetheguy is right. Sorry to say you might not see it that way, but he is.
Police your self’s. You say “insurgents to sell and hand out a wide variety of realistic-looking toy guns” Well Pass the word around and take them away fro the kids.
The Iraq’s can also start by quit looting from each other. Get the guns off the streets and stop protecting the ones who are killing your people and pray to god that the Americans are there trying to help you. Help the Americans Help you.
Sadly, the more publicity your blog gets, the more you attract the crazies and reactionaries. I am a long time reader that wants you back. Ignore these hotheads who like to insult one another. You don't have to answer to them. Just continue being YOU. Hope you are ok. We are concerned.
This is my first time here. You have a great blog, and it looks like you have many fans! Keep blogging.
NIW...hope you are okay. You have not written for sometime now and I'm beginning to get worried. Hope all is well with you and hubby. Please update as soon as you can to let us know that you are well.x
Hey NIW...Hope all is well. It's been a while since your last post. I hope all those stupid anonymous losers didn't discourage you from posting. Let us know how you're doing...
ellen said ....
i'm surprised that you aren't blogging ...just because of some not agreeing with your point of view?
you just give up that easy?
starting to wonder if that's an iraqi trait ... genetic perhaps?
been a long time reader ... guess i expected more of you ...
I really feel for you, and how frustrating the situation is for all Iraqi people.
am wondering how you're doing?
bests!!
Your situation is kind of related to mine.. I'm an Arab-American born citizen and there are these situations when both sides consider you one of the other, and it's devastating to be in the middle.. very much!
You'll definitely make it..
Take care
NIW,
Please don't hide your thoughts bring 'em on, I really miss reading your posts...to me, you are the shining star in the dark GZ, please write soon, pretty please :'(
Ellen,
You assume too much.
Shut up.
The beauty of this is, you have a place where you are entitled to say whatever you want. You can feel whatever you want and voice it. You are absolutely correct in the fact that Abu Ghraib was a criminal act, and those responsible are going to be punished. We may not agree on the politics but my stance is this- There is ALOT of information out there that neither of us have so it would be pointless to blame any one government. Lets just say, politics is politics- All politicians LIE. Gather facts and make an informed decision, not one based on emotional sentiment.
neurotica where are you?? we miss you! hope you are okay
Ok so ya, you think we don't hate what are country is going over in Iraq? Maybe your talking about the religious radicals who voted Bush into office, because the majority of Americans (Bush didn't win by Majority vote) do not like our current situation in the States or Abroad.
Who knows? Maybe she is a typical Iraqi, like the rest of them that has given up on there own country. Like one old Iraqi told me one day “ bla, bla, bla, hu bba hubba.” I never did understand him, but I interrupted it as “why should we fight, even if we did win, we still would not get MTV or McDonalds.” My suggestion is to turn the land over to USA, put up condo’s. Iraqi’s likes condos. Iraqi’s like MTV. Iraqi’s like McDonalds. So there should no problems…..
WUHHAAAA!!
where/how are you doing?!?!?
you'll leave some note soon?
take care
Surely NIW your computer should be sorted by now aint it.
I hope you are no longer in Iraq, this absence is too too long.
I hope you are safe.
Yo, NIW it's May 14th (just doing a timestamp thing, in case I come back later and this is still the latest post by you). I hope you're ok and doing well. Alright, hope to hear a new post from you. Take care!
شنو هلغيبة
Come back....come back.....come back....come back....come back....please come back.
I think that neurotic wife, or someone of her family DIE.
If never happend, please say
I was just sitting here thinking the same thing. We will never know coz I dont think anyone but NIW will have access to her passowrd to get into her blog.
It is possible with whts going on in the GZ but, lets hope tht it is not the case. Who knows eh?
I want to thank NIWE for her hard work and dedication in the new free and democratic Iraq.
It is people like you who gives our soldiers a reason to be there.
**hugz**
نيوروتيكا وينج؟؟؟
الله يخليج بس كولي كلمة نتاكد منها انتي بخير هاي مو من عوايدج؟
I think that old hubby realized that she’s a hot little momma. He received his rations of the little blue pill and been knocking the bottom off her all this time. You can’t really blame him, but hey life goes on.
Hi NIW,
Really worried about you. Please post something. A single "fine" would be sufficient. People care about you and want to know you are ok. Your silence is the greatest fear of all your fans and supporters. If you are still alive and well and able*, please post something!
*NIW's site may have very likely been blocked!
In such a case, one would hope NIW would find a way to have someone she trusts update the rest of us as to what's going on.
May 24th...
i was shocked to come here and see you havent updated. i have been a long time reader of your blog, and this is probably the longest you've gone without an update. i pray all is well with you...
please at least leave a simple message so we can breathe easy...
a,
Hey sis, tell everyone u r ok. its time to write again.
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