Have A Nice Surge
This child whose body is being carried out of the burning building after the double car bomb attack today Monday, Feb. 12, 2007 died because those who search for bombs are being stopped from doing so.
They are being stopped from searching for bombs because the Americans are having one of their surges. If you think that the “surge” is about protecting the people of Irak from bombers you are a fool. It is about protecting the puppet government in the green zone. The Americans have never kept their promise to issue the Baghdad police bomb detection unit with explosive detection equipment. There is no reason to believe they ever will issue the Baghdad police bomb detection unit with explosive detection equipment.
That particular bombing set off numerous secondaries. More of my people died in those. Yes those are civilians risking their lives to save the wounded and bring out the dead. Please note the age of the boy carrying the front of the stretcher. You should also note the size of the corpse.
No I do not care about your feelings. I am interested in what if anything you have done to stop your country from murdering yet more of my people. That is all I am interested in. When I want to decide about someone I look at what they do not at what they say.
Enjoy your surge and have a nice day America. I do not think you will enjoy the countersurge but that is your problem not mine. I for my part will be cheering on the Iraki resistance. Irak is for the Irakis. This is my home, these are my people. Leave.
The only thing a predator understands is force. Predators can become prey.
Mohammed Ibn Laith
Indexed under: Baghdad, bomb, bombing, Car bomb, Children, Follow Up, Negligent homicide, Women and Children
February 12th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Mohammed,
There IS much to talk about, you and I. I know that there is no discussion that can make sense of the experience you are living. And I believe, as I think you believe, that the presence of the “predator” as you refer should have never occurred.
It was wrong, and many of us throughout the world know this to be true. We are told by bush, and those that believe the invasion of Iraq was justified, that:
1. first story – saddam possesses weapons of mass destruction, supports terrorists and provides a safe haven for al queda. When this story was proven to be wrong, it changed to;
2. The U.S. led coalition forces are freeing the Iraqi People from a cruel dictator and allowing the Iraqi People to experience freedom and establish a “democracy”.
The saddam regime was overthrown in short order and bush declared “victory”. Now even he knows that he was wrong to suggest such a thing.
Having said that, there is a presence of the “predator” (coalition forces) that is now said to be present in order to assist the currently established Iraqi government in a “peace keeping” effort.
We are also told (propaganda) that the absence of coalition forces will allow the terrorists to gain power in Iraq and threaten the security of the west with terrorism.
Very little of this makes sense to many individuals in the west. And as you, there is so little that we can do to change the environment that you are experiencing. Understand though that there are many strong voices trying to change the policy in Iraq.
My questions to you:
Can there be any benefit received from coalition forces, such as a valid and substantial rebuilding effort that is financed by the west but implemented by the Iraqi people, businesses and Iraqi government? Would Iraqis think this to be positive?
Why, as we hear from global news sources, does the insurgent and sectarian violence include the Iraqi people. In other words, why are Iraqi’s killing Iraqi’s to end the occupation of the predator? Is there an explanation for this?
Viewing the photos that you post that demonstrates your reality evokes much sadness from many. And this helps to reinforce the need to end the violence as soon as possible. If removing the predator (the withdrawal of coalition forces) will cause the violence to ease, then it must happen.
But the perception, in my opinion, is that in the absence of coalition forces sectarian violence will continue (as will the death of many innocent Iraqis), and that equality among the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds cannot be achieved without this presence to “support” the efforts made to establish security and stability. And this sectarian violence appears to support the bush claim (that our presence is necessary) and makes it almost impossible for policy change (at least while bush remains in office).
Your thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Take care and be safe.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:07 am
Mohammed-
I’m going to second Michael’s voice here. Tonight, in the US, on one evening news program (NBC,ugh!) had an opening piece about a troop deployment in West Baghdad—new troops in the “surge.” According to the reporter/film crew, the troops were flagged down and told that gunmen were inside a bakery. The film showed the troops creeping up on the bakery, only to find the people inside slain. One man escaped. When the film crew interviewed the weeping neighbors, they said they called the police, but no one came. The police showed up to cart the bodies away.
The film crew cut to the commander of the troops, who essentially said it was Sunni on Shia violence in the battle to control Baghdad, and that in his opinion, the Americans needed to stay for three or four years to provide stability to the city and protect the citizenry!
So the GOP mouthpiece (NBC) is selling the idea that American troops need to be the local police force, to protect the Iraqis from themselves. (We’re all past the WMD reason, and most are pretty past the Al-Quaeda reason.) But you must understand, Mohammed, that when the average evening news watches in the US sees that story, they see what they always want to see about our troops: the paradigm of the American soldier they want to see—good boys and girls making the world safe for all the citizenry.
Can the team please help us understand what is really happening between Iraqis? And what you think is likely to happen when “the predators” leave?
February 13th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Dairymaid,
Mohammed has actually replied your earlier question here
Michaael at the risk of sounding snarly :-) The guides team members who live in Iraq especially the ones who live in Baghdad as Mohammed does live under difficult circumstances. Not least of which is the lack of electricity and in Mohammed’s case the fact that he lives in an area that is mixed in terms both of its ethnic makeup and in terms of sect and religion. He has Christian neighbours, Sunni neighbours, Shia neighbours, Kurdish neighbours, and wants to keep it that way.
I saw to it that, like all team members, he has a reasonably good laptop a lot of batterys and the ability to access a secured internet connection. But batteries need to be recharged and that can be difficult if at most you get two hours electricity a day and must use your generator for heating water, light, and keeping food edible.
All of this means that replies can sometimes take a while - you can keep an eye out for them either on the front page which lists the last 5 comments or by using the feed for comments (the little RSS icon at the bottom of the screen.)
I can see that there is a what looks to be draft reply up on the server - I can also see that it’s written in Arabic which is how Mohammed does things he writes a draft in his own language first then translates.
In the meantime you might find this background briefing helpful: Background To The Current Outbreak Of Sectarianism In Iraq
Hope this helps
markfromireland
February 13th, 2007 at 4:21 am
Another day of killing in Iraq. However, reading this blog which has extensive reporting on everyday’s killings it appears to me that not only there is no security for ordinary citizen (there is only for the green zone) but that there are no organised rescue teams when a bomb strikes civilians. I mean isn’t silly to organise a ’surge’ or whatever when you cannot do the job of protecting people from being killed everyday ? Did you notice also that the Bush administration is playing again with words ? ‘Surge’ comes from ‘Insurgency’. Well at least the occupation while not being able to protect the people of Iraq can at least try to appear successful by borrowing words suggesting that it is effectively fighting the insurgency.
When these people; Bush, Blair, Rice, Cheney and all the technocrats that supported this war, will stand trial for war crimes, for having on their conscience the wrecking of a country and the killing of Iraqis by the hundreds thousands ?
February 13th, 2007 at 6:00 am
How can anyone trust the american troops to “protect” Iraqis when they refuse to allow Iraq’s to have bomb detection equipment so they can protect themselves against these bombs? This seems to me to be a very important piece of information Mohammed (and others here) have reported over and over.
And why should Iraqi’s, residents of a sovereign nation, have to ask outsiders, invaders for such basic protection and the tools to secure their own neighborhoods?
February 13th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Mark-
Please forgive me if I appeared rude or impatient. I did not mean it that way. Michael’s post, on top of the news spot, made me impulsive in my desire to explain to Mohammed and the other Iraqis the strange paradox of being in the US, watching the “news” then reading these posts. My apologies…
February 13th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Why are you apologising for something of which you are not guilty?
February 13th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Nice piece Mohamed, very nice indeed…
This person has been banned
Mohammed Ibn laith
February 14th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
[…] link […]
February 14th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Mark - Thank you for your response and explanation of the circumstances that exist for Mohammed and other team members. I did read the “Background to the Current Outbreak of Sectarianism in Iraq” and would like to thank you for the information; it was well written and very helpful.
I also want to apologize for the delay in responding. It is sad, but true, that I have not had time to respond because of my daily responsibilities and, as I write this, dealing with a major snowstorm in Northern Ohio. If folks like me pay attention to living conditions facing the people of Iraq compared to their own, changing perceptions (regarding the Iraq situation) may be a bit easier. But the average American is not being exposed to the reality of daily living conditions in Iraq.
I will continue to share your website (and others like it) with as many people as possible (both liberal and conservative) in the hope that they too may begin to understand the impact of the bush mentality.
Also, please understand that I have no expectation for direct responses to my noted questions and concerns. I deeply respect the strength and courage displayed by Mohammed and the Team members. And I can only imagine the danger and treacherous conditions that they (and all Iraqis affected by this war) must be faced with daily.
My lack of understanding regarding the “mechanics” of diplomacy, negotiation, et.al. leaves me to wonder how Iraqi leadership has failed to establish an adequate level of autonomy (from the U.S.) that can promote a unified Iraq that can strive for peace and economic stability.
The established Iraqi (pro-occupation) government, as I understand, represents the majority Shiite population, as well as Sunnis and Kurds.
What control can the U.S. have that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other legislators would be unable to openly discuss a number of the issues that you have noted in your Background piece. Clearly there are economic issues relating to oil.
But the strength of Iraqi leadership is critical in gaining the support of the Iraqi citizenry. It is my belief that the sectarian violence, as well as violence perpetrated by any outside influence/insurgents can be thwarted by the Iraqi people posing a unified front if they can first see changes from the government that benefit all (security and economic stability). It is also my belief that the Iraqi people, already demonstrating the strength and courage to persist under current conditions, can be more effective than the occupying forces at exposing those that actively engage in violent activity toward their own (Iraqi’s killing Iraqi’s).
I know that I may somewhat naïve in voicing these points, but it is only with continued dialogue that there can be a thorough understanding of our cultures that may lead to greater tolerance and ultimately peace.
I wish you, Mohammed and the rest of the Team well, and pray for peace in Iraq.