Monday, June 07, 2004
Saturday, 5th. June, 2004
Good evening… It is now the afternoon in Baghdad, the weather is hot, the electricity is off, only the generator is buzzing outside…
We are looking for some good news… and who wouldn't want to hear the good news?? But unfortunately, looking for it is very hard these days…
********
Today I saw some workers of the Municipality of Baghdad painting the street curbs in black and yellow. I stood by one and asked if he would be here tomorrow, for I want to take a photograph of you?
He laughed and asked: Are you a journalist? I laughed but didn't answer.
He said: You might find me tomorrow, or you might not, for we are supposed to work on many sites in Baghdad, far fetched from each other.
I do hope I would see him again, so that I would put his photo on the site.
Just imagine how frustrating our lives are, making us feel happy by the mere sight of painted curbs in the street. It is a very small matter, but to our lives, our many disappointments, we find it a good start to the accomplishments we hope will grow and show-up, so that we could rebuild our cities, our lives, and our souls… all over again.
*******
When I got back from work, tired and hungry, I found the airport road closed, so I was stuck in the traffic jam, the car fumes, the loud air horns of trucks, the shouting of pedestrian salesmen, and, the terrible heat…
I finally got home an hour late, after so much torture, where I lost my appetite. I knew after I got home, by reading the subtitles on T.V., that a Land cruse convoy was attacked while passing through the air port road, and some of the cars were burned. These are almost daily occurrences, and you can't imagine the size of the jam in the streets around the high-way that has been closed. I am seriously thinking now of leaving this house and looking for a new one in another area, safer and closer to my work. It will be summer soon, and I can't put up with the heat, and this daily ordeal…
**********
Between the airport road and the residential areas surrounding it, there was a cement-block wall built during the 1980's. Two days ago, the American military shovels hit that wall, and destroyed parts of it. The people came, along with many trucks, pick-ups, even small cars, and carried the blocks away to other places, for sell or personal use, for it belonged to no-one now…
Why did they demolish a wall a few kilometers long??
Because some people hide behind it and shoot the coalition troops, through small gaps in the wall, while they wouldn't be able to shoot back.
Now, the whole area is clear, and anyone aiming at them, will be shot at, randomly… even on the residential area, so, let civilians die, or get wounded, let houses be damaged. We might even see on newspapers, the picture of a woman, crying, mourning a dead family member, or a demolished house…
************
A few days ago, after the declaration of the new government, there were some students studying at an old café’ overlooking the river Tigris, at the Al-Karkh district, called Al-Bayruti café’… every year, Khalid and his friends go to study there, where they gather, and stay late at night. Usually students from poor familes go there, because they don’t have generators at home. And as the café’ has one, it means providing them with electricity, cold water, tea, coffee, and light to study till morning. This year, I have forbidden Khalid from going there, because it was very far away, and the situation unstable.
Last Wednesday night, some students were there, studying, around 10 p.m., and there was a American tank standing in the street near the café’. There are some large gardens, with heavy shrubs and palm trees on the opposite side, from which a missile was fired upon the tank. The soldier turned around, and opened fire on the café’, killing some students, and wounding some more. A part of the café’ was destroyed.
Funiral parlors were set up at the victims houses the next day…. So, instead of going to the exam halls, these innocent people went to early graves….
**********
The question is : who is responsible about such conduct? And to whome the victim’s relatives would complain?
The American soldier would kill any Iraqi civilian in front of him, as revenge from those who bother him, and shoot upon him.
The Iraqi people always pay the price…
The American media always say that this soldier has come all this way to sacrifice his life for Iraq and the Iraqis.
Oh, yes… I believe that completely, as I see and hear, and as all the Iraqis believe with me…
The truth is : the Iraqi is paying his life for the American.
A hundred victims for one American. As was the case in Fallouja.
How many hundreds of Iraqis died, paying the price of the foolishness of a few? Why are we the cheapest item in the bargin? Bush and America would feel sad when they recive the body of an American soldier who died in Iraq. What about us??? What do we do about the bodies of our victims?????
************
It is as if the coalition forces are telling the Iraqis: we will keep on killing you, wounding you, and destroying your houses as long as you resist us. As for the explosions that kill Iraqi victims, Ah, well…, we don’t know who is responsible for them. But their only result is more dead and wounded Iraqis.
The criminal is always un - known….
His identity, and intentions,…. Un-known.
*************
As long as there is an occupying force, the situation will remain complicated, and unsafe…
As quick as these forces withdraw to the outskirts of cities, then outside the cities, then outside of Iraq as a whole, as it would be possible to provide safty and quietness…
And if we ask an innocent question: what is a tank doing inside a residential area??? Waiting, for a bullet or a missile, shot by an un-known, to kill the residents and destroy their houses???
There is a lot of un- necessary foolishness and stubbornness from the coalition forces side. And only the Iraqis pay the price of another’s foolishness…
We do not suppose these forces are there to monitor a night- time watch, for the civilians…
For such a watch could be arranged by the residents themselves, to protect their neighbourhoods, and that’s a small solution to the problem.
**********
A strong Iraqi government, with a wide sovereignty…
A strong Iraqi army, with enough personals and equipment… so with an Iraqi police force ….
This is what Iraq and the Iraqis need… so; whoever wants to help in that, please…go ahead…
The path is clear … the goal is clear…
We don't need any occupation force… killing our youth and children, stepping on the streets of our cities without mercy, crossing over the curbs without any kind of respect to our feelings. If it would have been an Iraqi soldier doing this, we would have said: where did this idiot come from? We would have found somewhere to complain against him. But, this is an American soldier, above questioning and complaints.
And … they say he came to die for you??
Well, thank you, we don’t want you, nor want you to die for us…
Go home in peace…
And let us posses the chance to live peacefully, as all other nations on earth…
************
Bush is in Europe today, in France and Italy.
He says the forces will remain in Iraq, by consent of the temporary government.
This government will remain in office untill the end of the American elections. This government, on which Bush is placing, bets, to give him a recommendation. To declear that he has accomplished the task of the American forces in Iraq in the best possible way.
While we, the Iraqi people, want this government to achive all that is good to the people.
We want independence as soon as possible… we want the occupying forces out of our lands.
It is clear that Bush is in agreement with the temporary Iraqi government to let the forces remain in Iraq indefinetly. So he would accomplish the political goals of his own, to save himself from a dark future.
We, on the other hand, want to raise banners saying: Thank you, America, for throwing Saddam Hussain off. Then, we turn the banner to the other side, and read: Get your forces out of Iraq. There is nothing to gain by staying, except Bush’s political interests.
***************
I wish a popular movement would start among Iraqis in this direction. I wish I would be a part of it, and with me all those who love Iraq and the Iraqis…
It is time to be independent, and build our own beautiful country…
A new free independent Iraq..
One hand…one heart…one Iraq
Built by Iraqis, suni, shiaa’, Arabs, kurds, Turkmen, Muslims, Christians, and Baptists…
Iraqis…Iraqis…Iraqis
*********
{translated by May, Baghdad}
Good evening… It is now the afternoon in Baghdad, the weather is hot, the electricity is off, only the generator is buzzing outside…
We are looking for some good news… and who wouldn't want to hear the good news?? But unfortunately, looking for it is very hard these days…
********
Today I saw some workers of the Municipality of Baghdad painting the street curbs in black and yellow. I stood by one and asked if he would be here tomorrow, for I want to take a photograph of you?
He laughed and asked: Are you a journalist? I laughed but didn't answer.
He said: You might find me tomorrow, or you might not, for we are supposed to work on many sites in Baghdad, far fetched from each other.
I do hope I would see him again, so that I would put his photo on the site.
Just imagine how frustrating our lives are, making us feel happy by the mere sight of painted curbs in the street. It is a very small matter, but to our lives, our many disappointments, we find it a good start to the accomplishments we hope will grow and show-up, so that we could rebuild our cities, our lives, and our souls… all over again.
*******
When I got back from work, tired and hungry, I found the airport road closed, so I was stuck in the traffic jam, the car fumes, the loud air horns of trucks, the shouting of pedestrian salesmen, and, the terrible heat…
I finally got home an hour late, after so much torture, where I lost my appetite. I knew after I got home, by reading the subtitles on T.V., that a Land cruse convoy was attacked while passing through the air port road, and some of the cars were burned. These are almost daily occurrences, and you can't imagine the size of the jam in the streets around the high-way that has been closed. I am seriously thinking now of leaving this house and looking for a new one in another area, safer and closer to my work. It will be summer soon, and I can't put up with the heat, and this daily ordeal…
**********
Between the airport road and the residential areas surrounding it, there was a cement-block wall built during the 1980's. Two days ago, the American military shovels hit that wall, and destroyed parts of it. The people came, along with many trucks, pick-ups, even small cars, and carried the blocks away to other places, for sell or personal use, for it belonged to no-one now…
Why did they demolish a wall a few kilometers long??
Because some people hide behind it and shoot the coalition troops, through small gaps in the wall, while they wouldn't be able to shoot back.
Now, the whole area is clear, and anyone aiming at them, will be shot at, randomly… even on the residential area, so, let civilians die, or get wounded, let houses be damaged. We might even see on newspapers, the picture of a woman, crying, mourning a dead family member, or a demolished house…
************
A few days ago, after the declaration of the new government, there were some students studying at an old café’ overlooking the river Tigris, at the Al-Karkh district, called Al-Bayruti café’… every year, Khalid and his friends go to study there, where they gather, and stay late at night. Usually students from poor familes go there, because they don’t have generators at home. And as the café’ has one, it means providing them with electricity, cold water, tea, coffee, and light to study till morning. This year, I have forbidden Khalid from going there, because it was very far away, and the situation unstable.
Last Wednesday night, some students were there, studying, around 10 p.m., and there was a American tank standing in the street near the café’. There are some large gardens, with heavy shrubs and palm trees on the opposite side, from which a missile was fired upon the tank. The soldier turned around, and opened fire on the café’, killing some students, and wounding some more. A part of the café’ was destroyed.
Funiral parlors were set up at the victims houses the next day…. So, instead of going to the exam halls, these innocent people went to early graves….
**********
The question is : who is responsible about such conduct? And to whome the victim’s relatives would complain?
The American soldier would kill any Iraqi civilian in front of him, as revenge from those who bother him, and shoot upon him.
The Iraqi people always pay the price…
The American media always say that this soldier has come all this way to sacrifice his life for Iraq and the Iraqis.
Oh, yes… I believe that completely, as I see and hear, and as all the Iraqis believe with me…
The truth is : the Iraqi is paying his life for the American.
A hundred victims for one American. As was the case in Fallouja.
How many hundreds of Iraqis died, paying the price of the foolishness of a few? Why are we the cheapest item in the bargin? Bush and America would feel sad when they recive the body of an American soldier who died in Iraq. What about us??? What do we do about the bodies of our victims?????
************
It is as if the coalition forces are telling the Iraqis: we will keep on killing you, wounding you, and destroying your houses as long as you resist us. As for the explosions that kill Iraqi victims, Ah, well…, we don’t know who is responsible for them. But their only result is more dead and wounded Iraqis.
The criminal is always un - known….
His identity, and intentions,…. Un-known.
*************
As long as there is an occupying force, the situation will remain complicated, and unsafe…
As quick as these forces withdraw to the outskirts of cities, then outside the cities, then outside of Iraq as a whole, as it would be possible to provide safty and quietness…
And if we ask an innocent question: what is a tank doing inside a residential area??? Waiting, for a bullet or a missile, shot by an un-known, to kill the residents and destroy their houses???
There is a lot of un- necessary foolishness and stubbornness from the coalition forces side. And only the Iraqis pay the price of another’s foolishness…
We do not suppose these forces are there to monitor a night- time watch, for the civilians…
For such a watch could be arranged by the residents themselves, to protect their neighbourhoods, and that’s a small solution to the problem.
**********
A strong Iraqi government, with a wide sovereignty…
A strong Iraqi army, with enough personals and equipment… so with an Iraqi police force ….
This is what Iraq and the Iraqis need… so; whoever wants to help in that, please…go ahead…
The path is clear … the goal is clear…
We don't need any occupation force… killing our youth and children, stepping on the streets of our cities without mercy, crossing over the curbs without any kind of respect to our feelings. If it would have been an Iraqi soldier doing this, we would have said: where did this idiot come from? We would have found somewhere to complain against him. But, this is an American soldier, above questioning and complaints.
And … they say he came to die for you??
Well, thank you, we don’t want you, nor want you to die for us…
Go home in peace…
And let us posses the chance to live peacefully, as all other nations on earth…
************
Bush is in Europe today, in France and Italy.
He says the forces will remain in Iraq, by consent of the temporary government.
This government will remain in office untill the end of the American elections. This government, on which Bush is placing, bets, to give him a recommendation. To declear that he has accomplished the task of the American forces in Iraq in the best possible way.
While we, the Iraqi people, want this government to achive all that is good to the people.
We want independence as soon as possible… we want the occupying forces out of our lands.
It is clear that Bush is in agreement with the temporary Iraqi government to let the forces remain in Iraq indefinetly. So he would accomplish the political goals of his own, to save himself from a dark future.
We, on the other hand, want to raise banners saying: Thank you, America, for throwing Saddam Hussain off. Then, we turn the banner to the other side, and read: Get your forces out of Iraq. There is nothing to gain by staying, except Bush’s political interests.
***************
I wish a popular movement would start among Iraqis in this direction. I wish I would be a part of it, and with me all those who love Iraq and the Iraqis…
It is time to be independent, and build our own beautiful country…
A new free independent Iraq..
One hand…one heart…one Iraq
Built by Iraqis, suni, shiaa’, Arabs, kurds, Turkmen, Muslims, Christians, and Baptists…
Iraqis…Iraqis…Iraqis
*********
{translated by May, Baghdad}
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 4:06 pm 
good morning...
I have received many strange emails recently that made me feel confused..
I`ll paste one of them below...so, please read it with me...
and please send me an explanation about it...
does the western media tell you these lies about our life?
do you actually believe that Bush's coming to Iraq will bring civilization?
did your media tell you that Iraqis were living in tents and were riding camels?
and do you really think that girls did not go to schools, until the occupation forces entered Iraq, and gave us the freedom to read and learn?
that`s really funny...and really stupid.
I really have to write a long blog about Iraq history, and lives of Iraqis before the war.
thousands of years ago, when nations were new born, Iraq was the leader of the civilization on earth... Iraqis invented the writing, the first wheel, the stamps, and a list of an endless inventions and achievements.
and in beginning of the 20th century, there was not much difference... my engineering college was established at 1936
and even in that time, girls and boys attended schools, and women and men attended universities to study.
is there any updated information about Iraq's culture and life in public libraries or in universities?? does the western media gives any information about life and culture of Iraq in the past 50 years?
who is telling all those lies about Iraqis, Arabs, and Muslims?
who is disfiguring our reputation? and why?
send me an answer if you have...or let the question go around the universe.
faiza
******************************
Dear Faiza,
I want to thank you for your blog. It's good to hear your "voice" as a mother, a business owner and a woman in Iraq.
I have been reading Iraqi blogs since a few months into the war.
(I even bought Raed's book!)
At first, some of my co-workers insisted they were all fakes or
propaganda. These are the same people who thing George Bush is a good speaker ... sure, if you don't listen to him, but only read the cleaned-up version of what he supposedly meant to say!
Every time I hear of another explosion in Baghdad I have to check on you and the others to be sure you're OK. Even though you don't know me, I feel it's almost like I have distant relatives there. I worry about you, your family, Riverbend, etc.
I work for a newspaper, and the letters to the editor are almost funny if they weren't arguing about something so sad.
One writer criticized the U.S. for destroying schools, hospitals, power stations, water systems, etc. Another wrote back that the first writer must apologize to the troops "trying to free the people."
He also says these are the improvements the U.S. has made in Iraq:
"Electricity at a higher level and more reliable, clean fresh water more abundant, more schools open with more and better supplies, more hospitals open and supplied with medications and operating rooms. All this is better than were available after 35 years under Saddam."
As one who lives there, would you say this is true?
Another popular letter that seems to be copied a lot is this list:
"- Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
- Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons that were stored there so education can occur.
- The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be offloaded from ships faster.
- School attendance is up 80 percent from levels before the war.
- The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
- The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
- 100 percent of the hospitals are open and fully staffed compared to 35 percent before the war.
- Elections are taking place in every major city and city councils are in place.
- Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
- Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
- Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
- Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
- Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
- Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
- An interim constitution has been signed.
- Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Text books that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years."
I think it's amazing that you became an engineer without ever being allowed to attend school! Ha!
I'm sorry this letter is so long. I hope you have time to read it.
Please keep writing; we need to hear your unique voice.
Mary Lutz, from Fort Ann (small town in the mountains in New York State)
I have received many strange emails recently that made me feel confused..
I`ll paste one of them below...so, please read it with me...
and please send me an explanation about it...
does the western media tell you these lies about our life?
do you actually believe that Bush's coming to Iraq will bring civilization?
did your media tell you that Iraqis were living in tents and were riding camels?
and do you really think that girls did not go to schools, until the occupation forces entered Iraq, and gave us the freedom to read and learn?
that`s really funny...and really stupid.
I really have to write a long blog about Iraq history, and lives of Iraqis before the war.
thousands of years ago, when nations were new born, Iraq was the leader of the civilization on earth... Iraqis invented the writing, the first wheel, the stamps, and a list of an endless inventions and achievements.
and in beginning of the 20th century, there was not much difference... my engineering college was established at 1936
and even in that time, girls and boys attended schools, and women and men attended universities to study.
is there any updated information about Iraq's culture and life in public libraries or in universities?? does the western media gives any information about life and culture of Iraq in the past 50 years?
who is telling all those lies about Iraqis, Arabs, and Muslims?
who is disfiguring our reputation? and why?
send me an answer if you have...or let the question go around the universe.
faiza
******************************
Dear Faiza,
I want to thank you for your blog. It's good to hear your "voice" as a mother, a business owner and a woman in Iraq.
I have been reading Iraqi blogs since a few months into the war.
(I even bought Raed's book!)
At first, some of my co-workers insisted they were all fakes or
propaganda. These are the same people who thing George Bush is a good speaker ... sure, if you don't listen to him, but only read the cleaned-up version of what he supposedly meant to say!
Every time I hear of another explosion in Baghdad I have to check on you and the others to be sure you're OK. Even though you don't know me, I feel it's almost like I have distant relatives there. I worry about you, your family, Riverbend, etc.
I work for a newspaper, and the letters to the editor are almost funny if they weren't arguing about something so sad.
One writer criticized the U.S. for destroying schools, hospitals, power stations, water systems, etc. Another wrote back that the first writer must apologize to the troops "trying to free the people."
He also says these are the improvements the U.S. has made in Iraq:
"Electricity at a higher level and more reliable, clean fresh water more abundant, more schools open with more and better supplies, more hospitals open and supplied with medications and operating rooms. All this is better than were available after 35 years under Saddam."
As one who lives there, would you say this is true?
Another popular letter that seems to be copied a lot is this list:
"- Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
- Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons that were stored there so education can occur.
- The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be offloaded from ships faster.
- School attendance is up 80 percent from levels before the war.
- The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
- The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
- 100 percent of the hospitals are open and fully staffed compared to 35 percent before the war.
- Elections are taking place in every major city and city councils are in place.
- Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
- Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
- Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
- Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
- Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
- Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
- An interim constitution has been signed.
- Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Text books that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years."
I think it's amazing that you became an engineer without ever being allowed to attend school! Ha!
I'm sorry this letter is so long. I hope you have time to read it.
Please keep writing; we need to hear your unique voice.
Mary Lutz, from Fort Ann (small town in the mountains in New York State)
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 11:34 am
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Good morning..
I have put new pictures for the link ....
and new post here..
tomorrow I`ll put the translation inshalla...
hope you all nice day.
faiza
I have put new pictures for the link ....
and new post here..
tomorrow I`ll put the translation inshalla...
hope you all nice day.
faiza
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 12:17 pm
السبت 5 حزيران
مساء الخير...
الوقت الآن عصرا في بغداد...الجو حار , والكهرباء مقطوعة, والمولدة تدور في الخارج..
ونبحث عن الأخبار السارة...
من لا يحب سماع الأخبار السارة؟
ولكن للأسف , ابحث عنها بصعوبة في ايامنا هذه...
********
رأيت عمالا من أمانة بغداد يصبغون أطراف الأرصفة باللون الأصفر والأسود...
توقفت عنده وسألته, هل ستأتي غدا ؟
اريد أن التقط لك صورة...
ضحك العامل وتساءل, هل انت صحفية؟
ضحكت ولم اجب...
قال ربما تجديني غدا أو لا...مطلوب منا تنفيذ مواقع معينة في بغداد, ومتباعدة عن بعضها...
اتمنى أن اراه ثانية...لأضع الصورة على الموقع...
تصوروا مقدار الإحباط الذي نعيشه, والذي يجعلنا نفرح لمجرد رؤية طلاء الرصيف في الشارع..
هو موضوع تافه , لكنه بالنسبة لحياتنا واحباطاتنا, نجده بداية انجازات نتمنى ان تكبر وتظهر,
لتعيد بناء مدننا وحياتنا ونفوسنا....من جديد .
*******
عندما عدت من العمل , متعبة وجائعة, وجدت طريق المطار مغلقا, وعلقت في الإزدحام ودخان السيارات
والأبواق الهوائية للشاحنات, وصراخ الباعة المتجولين, والحر الشديد...
ووصلت البيت بعد ساعة من العذاب حيث فقدت شهيتي للغداء...
وعرفت بعد وصولي , ومن قراءة السبتايتل على التلفزيون, ان قافلة سيارات لاند كروزر تمر عبر طريق المطار , قد تعرضت لإعتداء, واحترق عدد منها....
هذه حوادث شبه يومية...
ولا يوصف الإزدحام في الشوارع حول الطريق السريع الذي تم اغلاقه....
افكر جديا في ترك هذا البيت والبحث عن بيت في منطقة أخرى, اكثر أمانا, وأقرب الى محل عملي...
سيأتي الصيف والجو الحار ولا أحتمل هذا العذاب اليومي...
**********
بين طريق المطار والمناطق السكنية المحيطة به, يوجد جدار من البلوك الإسمنتي تم بناءه منذ الثمانينات,
وقبل يومين تقدمت الجرافات العسكرية الأمريكية , وضربته, وهدمت اجزاء منه, فجاء الأهالي , وجاءت شاحنات وبكبات وسيارات صغيرة, وتم نقله الى اماكن اخرى للبيع أو الإستعمال الشخصي لبعض الناس,
حيث اصبح مثل مشاع للجميع...
لماذا هدم الحائط الذي طوله عدة كيلومترات؟
لأنه يوجد من يختبيء خلفه ويستهدف قوات التحالف من فتحة صغيرة, فلا يقدروا على الرد عليه...
الآن , المنطقة اصبحت مكشوفة كلها, والذي يستهدفهم, سيطلقون النار عشوائيا ضده, وعلى الأحياء السكنية
فيموت من يموت, ويجرح من يجرح, وتنهدم البيوت, وربما طلعت على الصحف صورة امرأة تبكي أحد أفراد عائلتها الذي قتل , أو بيتها الذي تهدم .....
************
قبل أيام, اي بعد اعلان الحكومة الجديدة, كان ثمة طلاب يدرسون في مقهى قديم يقع على نهر دجلة,
جهة الكرخ, اسمه مقهى البيروتي...
كل سنة يذهب خالد واصدقاؤه للدراسة هناك, حيث يجتمعون , ويبقون لوقت متأخر في المقهى...
ويلجأ اليه عادة الطلاب من الطبقات الفقيرة الذين لا يملكون مولدات في بيوتهم....
في المقهى مولدة, يعني كهرباء وماء بارد وشاي وقهوة ودراسة حتى الصباح...
هذه السنة منعت خالد من الذهاب لأن الأجواء غير آمنه, والمسافة بعيدة...
مساء الأربعاء الماضي, كان الطلاب يدرسون, والوقت ليلا, بعد العاشرة مساء..
ثمة دبابة امريكية تقف في الشارع...قريبة من المقهى..
وثمة بساتين في الجهة المقابلة...جاءت منها قذيفة صوب الدبابة....
فاستدار الجندي , واشعل النيران صوب المقهى وقتل من الطلاب عددا , وجرح منهم عددا آخر...
وتهدم جزء من المقهى...
واقيمت بيوت العزاء في بيوت الضحايا صباح اليوم التالي...
بدل الذهاب لقاعة الإمتحان...ذهبوا للقبور...
**********
السؤال هو..
من المسؤول عن هذه التصرفات؟
ولمن يلجأ أهالي الضحايا بالشكوى؟؟
الجندي الأمريكي , يقتل اي مدني عراقي امامه, لينتقم ممن ازعجه وأطلق عليه قذيفة..
العراقيون يدفعون الثمن دائما...
وسائل الإعلام الأمريكية تقول ان هذا الجندي جاء ليضحي بحياته من اجل العراق والعراقيين...
نعم اصدق هذا تماما...كما ارى واسمع...وكما يصدق العراقيون معي..
والحقيقة ان العراقي يدفع حياته ثمنا ليعيش الأمريكي...
بل مئات من الضحايا من اجل واحد...
كما حدث في الفلوجة؟
كم مئة من العراقيين ماتوا ليدفعوا ثمن حماقة فئة قليلة؟
ولماذا نحن البند الرخيص في الصفقة...وبوش وأميركا تتألم حين يدخلها نعش جندي أميركي مات في العراق
ونحن...ما نفعل بنعوش ضحايانا؟؟
************
كأن قوات التحالف تقول للعراقيين , سنظل نقتلكم ونجرحكم ونهدم بيوتكم ما دام فيكم من يقاوم..
أما التفجيرات التي يذهب ضحاياها من العراقيين , فلا نعلم من هو المسؤول عنها..
لكنها بالنتيجة...مزيد من القتلى والجرحى العراقيين...
والفاعل دائما مجهول...
مجهول النية والهوية..
*************
ما دام هنالك قوات احتلال, سيظل الوضع معقدا وغير آمن...
كلما كان هنالك سرعة بسحب هذه القوات الى أطراف المدن, ثم خارجها...ثم خارج العراق..
كلما امكن توفير الهدوء والأمان..
سؤال بريء: ماذا تفعل الدبابة بين الأحياء السكنية؟؟
تنتظر طلقة او قذيفة, تطلق من مجهول, لتقتل اهل الحي وتهدم بيوتهم؟
ثمة حماقة وعناد لا مبرر له....من قوات التحالف
والعراقيون وحدهم يدفعون ثمن حماقات غيرهم....
لا تظن ان هذه القوات تقوم بحراسات ليلية للأهالي..
ممكن اقامة حراسات ليلية من ابناء المنطقة لحمايتها...هذا حل صغير للمشكلة .
**********
حكومة عراقية قوية ذات سلطات واسعة...
وجيش عراقي قوي بمعدات وافراد.. وكذلك شرطة عراقية
هذا ما يحتاجه العراق والعراقيون....
فمن يريد المساعدة, يتفضل ...
الطريق واضح...والهدف واضح...
ولا نريد قوات احتلال...
تهدم بيوتنا...وتقتل شبابنا واطفالنا, وتدوس شوارع مدننا بلا رحمة, تعبر فوق الأرصفة بلا احترام لمشاعرنا..
لو كان الذي يفعل هذا جندي عراقي لقلنا من اين جاء هذا الغبي الذي لا يفهم ؟؟
ولوجدنا مكانا نشتكي ضده...
لكنه جندي امريكي...فوق مستوى السؤال والمحاسبة...
ويقولون انه جاء ليموت من اجلكم...
شكرا, لا نريدك, ولا نريد ان تموت من اجلنا...
ارجع الى بلدك بسلام...
ودعنا نملك فرصة العيش بسلام , كغيرنا من شعوب الأرض ....
************
بوش اليوم في اوروبا...في فرنسا وايطاليا.
يقول ان القوات ستظل في العراق برضى الحكومة المؤقتة..
هذه الحكومة التي ستظل حتى تنجز الإنتخابات الأمريكية
هذه الحكومة التي يراهن بوش عليها لتعطيه التزكية..
لتقول انه انجز مهمة القوات الأمريكية في العراق تماما بأحسن شكل...
بينما نحن الشعب العراقي نريد من هذه الحكومة ان تنجز ما فيه الخير للعراقيين..
ونريد الإستقلال بأسرع وقت ممكن..
ونريد خروج قوات الإحتلال من أراضينا....
وواضح ان بوش متفق مع الحكومة العراقية المؤقتة على بقاء القوات حتى أجل غير مسمى...
ليتم تحقيق أهداف سياسية تهمه وتنقذه من مصير مظلم...
ونحن نريد ان نرفع لافتات تقول : شكرا لأمريكا لأنها أسقطت صدام حسين...
ثم نقلب اللافته, ونقرأ : اخرجوا قواتكم من العراق, فلا فائدة من بقائها سوى خدمة مصالح سياسية لبوش.
***************
اتمنى ان تبدا حركة شعبية من العراقيين بهذا الإتجاه...
واتمنى أن أشارك فيها...ويشارك معي كل من يحب العراق والعراقيين...
آن الأوان ان نستقل ونبني وطننا الجميل...
عراقا جديدا حرا مستقلا...
يد واحدة...قلب واحد....عراق واحد...
يبنيه عراقيون,من سنة وشيعة, وعرب وأكراد وتركمان, ومسلم ومسيحي وصابئي...
عراقيون....عراقيون....عراقيون
*********
مساء الخير...
الوقت الآن عصرا في بغداد...الجو حار , والكهرباء مقطوعة, والمولدة تدور في الخارج..
ونبحث عن الأخبار السارة...
من لا يحب سماع الأخبار السارة؟
ولكن للأسف , ابحث عنها بصعوبة في ايامنا هذه...
********
رأيت عمالا من أمانة بغداد يصبغون أطراف الأرصفة باللون الأصفر والأسود...
توقفت عنده وسألته, هل ستأتي غدا ؟
اريد أن التقط لك صورة...
ضحك العامل وتساءل, هل انت صحفية؟
ضحكت ولم اجب...
قال ربما تجديني غدا أو لا...مطلوب منا تنفيذ مواقع معينة في بغداد, ومتباعدة عن بعضها...
اتمنى أن اراه ثانية...لأضع الصورة على الموقع...
تصوروا مقدار الإحباط الذي نعيشه, والذي يجعلنا نفرح لمجرد رؤية طلاء الرصيف في الشارع..
هو موضوع تافه , لكنه بالنسبة لحياتنا واحباطاتنا, نجده بداية انجازات نتمنى ان تكبر وتظهر,
لتعيد بناء مدننا وحياتنا ونفوسنا....من جديد .
*******
عندما عدت من العمل , متعبة وجائعة, وجدت طريق المطار مغلقا, وعلقت في الإزدحام ودخان السيارات
والأبواق الهوائية للشاحنات, وصراخ الباعة المتجولين, والحر الشديد...
ووصلت البيت بعد ساعة من العذاب حيث فقدت شهيتي للغداء...
وعرفت بعد وصولي , ومن قراءة السبتايتل على التلفزيون, ان قافلة سيارات لاند كروزر تمر عبر طريق المطار , قد تعرضت لإعتداء, واحترق عدد منها....
هذه حوادث شبه يومية...
ولا يوصف الإزدحام في الشوارع حول الطريق السريع الذي تم اغلاقه....
افكر جديا في ترك هذا البيت والبحث عن بيت في منطقة أخرى, اكثر أمانا, وأقرب الى محل عملي...
سيأتي الصيف والجو الحار ولا أحتمل هذا العذاب اليومي...
**********
بين طريق المطار والمناطق السكنية المحيطة به, يوجد جدار من البلوك الإسمنتي تم بناءه منذ الثمانينات,
وقبل يومين تقدمت الجرافات العسكرية الأمريكية , وضربته, وهدمت اجزاء منه, فجاء الأهالي , وجاءت شاحنات وبكبات وسيارات صغيرة, وتم نقله الى اماكن اخرى للبيع أو الإستعمال الشخصي لبعض الناس,
حيث اصبح مثل مشاع للجميع...
لماذا هدم الحائط الذي طوله عدة كيلومترات؟
لأنه يوجد من يختبيء خلفه ويستهدف قوات التحالف من فتحة صغيرة, فلا يقدروا على الرد عليه...
الآن , المنطقة اصبحت مكشوفة كلها, والذي يستهدفهم, سيطلقون النار عشوائيا ضده, وعلى الأحياء السكنية
فيموت من يموت, ويجرح من يجرح, وتنهدم البيوت, وربما طلعت على الصحف صورة امرأة تبكي أحد أفراد عائلتها الذي قتل , أو بيتها الذي تهدم .....
************
قبل أيام, اي بعد اعلان الحكومة الجديدة, كان ثمة طلاب يدرسون في مقهى قديم يقع على نهر دجلة,
جهة الكرخ, اسمه مقهى البيروتي...
كل سنة يذهب خالد واصدقاؤه للدراسة هناك, حيث يجتمعون , ويبقون لوقت متأخر في المقهى...
ويلجأ اليه عادة الطلاب من الطبقات الفقيرة الذين لا يملكون مولدات في بيوتهم....
في المقهى مولدة, يعني كهرباء وماء بارد وشاي وقهوة ودراسة حتى الصباح...
هذه السنة منعت خالد من الذهاب لأن الأجواء غير آمنه, والمسافة بعيدة...
مساء الأربعاء الماضي, كان الطلاب يدرسون, والوقت ليلا, بعد العاشرة مساء..
ثمة دبابة امريكية تقف في الشارع...قريبة من المقهى..
وثمة بساتين في الجهة المقابلة...جاءت منها قذيفة صوب الدبابة....
فاستدار الجندي , واشعل النيران صوب المقهى وقتل من الطلاب عددا , وجرح منهم عددا آخر...
وتهدم جزء من المقهى...
واقيمت بيوت العزاء في بيوت الضحايا صباح اليوم التالي...
بدل الذهاب لقاعة الإمتحان...ذهبوا للقبور...
**********
السؤال هو..
من المسؤول عن هذه التصرفات؟
ولمن يلجأ أهالي الضحايا بالشكوى؟؟
الجندي الأمريكي , يقتل اي مدني عراقي امامه, لينتقم ممن ازعجه وأطلق عليه قذيفة..
العراقيون يدفعون الثمن دائما...
وسائل الإعلام الأمريكية تقول ان هذا الجندي جاء ليضحي بحياته من اجل العراق والعراقيين...
نعم اصدق هذا تماما...كما ارى واسمع...وكما يصدق العراقيون معي..
والحقيقة ان العراقي يدفع حياته ثمنا ليعيش الأمريكي...
بل مئات من الضحايا من اجل واحد...
كما حدث في الفلوجة؟
كم مئة من العراقيين ماتوا ليدفعوا ثمن حماقة فئة قليلة؟
ولماذا نحن البند الرخيص في الصفقة...وبوش وأميركا تتألم حين يدخلها نعش جندي أميركي مات في العراق
ونحن...ما نفعل بنعوش ضحايانا؟؟
************
كأن قوات التحالف تقول للعراقيين , سنظل نقتلكم ونجرحكم ونهدم بيوتكم ما دام فيكم من يقاوم..
أما التفجيرات التي يذهب ضحاياها من العراقيين , فلا نعلم من هو المسؤول عنها..
لكنها بالنتيجة...مزيد من القتلى والجرحى العراقيين...
والفاعل دائما مجهول...
مجهول النية والهوية..
*************
ما دام هنالك قوات احتلال, سيظل الوضع معقدا وغير آمن...
كلما كان هنالك سرعة بسحب هذه القوات الى أطراف المدن, ثم خارجها...ثم خارج العراق..
كلما امكن توفير الهدوء والأمان..
سؤال بريء: ماذا تفعل الدبابة بين الأحياء السكنية؟؟
تنتظر طلقة او قذيفة, تطلق من مجهول, لتقتل اهل الحي وتهدم بيوتهم؟
ثمة حماقة وعناد لا مبرر له....من قوات التحالف
والعراقيون وحدهم يدفعون ثمن حماقات غيرهم....
لا تظن ان هذه القوات تقوم بحراسات ليلية للأهالي..
ممكن اقامة حراسات ليلية من ابناء المنطقة لحمايتها...هذا حل صغير للمشكلة .
**********
حكومة عراقية قوية ذات سلطات واسعة...
وجيش عراقي قوي بمعدات وافراد.. وكذلك شرطة عراقية
هذا ما يحتاجه العراق والعراقيون....
فمن يريد المساعدة, يتفضل ...
الطريق واضح...والهدف واضح...
ولا نريد قوات احتلال...
تهدم بيوتنا...وتقتل شبابنا واطفالنا, وتدوس شوارع مدننا بلا رحمة, تعبر فوق الأرصفة بلا احترام لمشاعرنا..
لو كان الذي يفعل هذا جندي عراقي لقلنا من اين جاء هذا الغبي الذي لا يفهم ؟؟
ولوجدنا مكانا نشتكي ضده...
لكنه جندي امريكي...فوق مستوى السؤال والمحاسبة...
ويقولون انه جاء ليموت من اجلكم...
شكرا, لا نريدك, ولا نريد ان تموت من اجلنا...
ارجع الى بلدك بسلام...
ودعنا نملك فرصة العيش بسلام , كغيرنا من شعوب الأرض ....
************
بوش اليوم في اوروبا...في فرنسا وايطاليا.
يقول ان القوات ستظل في العراق برضى الحكومة المؤقتة..
هذه الحكومة التي ستظل حتى تنجز الإنتخابات الأمريكية
هذه الحكومة التي يراهن بوش عليها لتعطيه التزكية..
لتقول انه انجز مهمة القوات الأمريكية في العراق تماما بأحسن شكل...
بينما نحن الشعب العراقي نريد من هذه الحكومة ان تنجز ما فيه الخير للعراقيين..
ونريد الإستقلال بأسرع وقت ممكن..
ونريد خروج قوات الإحتلال من أراضينا....
وواضح ان بوش متفق مع الحكومة العراقية المؤقتة على بقاء القوات حتى أجل غير مسمى...
ليتم تحقيق أهداف سياسية تهمه وتنقذه من مصير مظلم...
ونحن نريد ان نرفع لافتات تقول : شكرا لأمريكا لأنها أسقطت صدام حسين...
ثم نقلب اللافته, ونقرأ : اخرجوا قواتكم من العراق, فلا فائدة من بقائها سوى خدمة مصالح سياسية لبوش.
***************
اتمنى ان تبدا حركة شعبية من العراقيين بهذا الإتجاه...
واتمنى أن أشارك فيها...ويشارك معي كل من يحب العراق والعراقيين...
آن الأوان ان نستقل ونبني وطننا الجميل...
عراقا جديدا حرا مستقلا...
يد واحدة...قلب واحد....عراق واحد...
يبنيه عراقيون,من سنة وشيعة, وعرب وأكراد وتركمان, ومسلم ومسيحي وصابئي...
عراقيون....عراقيون....عراقيون
*********
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 10:39 am
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Wednesday, 2nd. June, 2004
Good morning…
The weather is nice, the garden is green, and still has some flowers, which will probably disappear with the approaching heat, by mid-summer season.
The generator is roaring outside, the electricity is going off for long, annoying hours, while the temperature these days goes up to 38-40 degrees. We do hope electricity gets better before heat escalates to a degree of 50 C.
*******
Today secondary schools students all over Iraq start their finals…, these exams are very important, deciding the future of the students, and decides which collages would accept them. Majid went to school early. I wish him and all the boys his age God's safe keeping from explosives, and the best possible success in their exams, Amen.
Collage students also have exams these days, so Khalid spends the night with his fellow students, keeping the generator on till morning… I wish them a prospering success.
Raid is in Amman, busy with his Masters Degree, his presentation should be in two months time, he is very busy, and I wish him the best of success.
My mind is very tense and preoccupied, thinking of them, worried about them… I pray for them and all Iraqi students, I wish the hearts of all mothers and fathers to be joyous and happy for the success and well-being of their children... Amen.
********
Today I have my final exams at the American language institute. I have some worries and anxieties, pushing me back to the memories and fears of my school days. We students feel sad because our teachers will be leaving to America for the summer holidays. There will be a small party after the exams, and, by God's will, we'll be taking some photographs.
We do not see these people as we see the occupying force... those people are civilians, risking their lives to help Iraqis, we have mingled with them, known them closely, and they have known us... we no longer have barriers between us. As for the occupation forces, we keep as far away from them as possible, for the matter is different here. It is a matter of politics, interests, armies, bullets, tanks, and things much more complicated … differences of opinions, and a soldier from the occupying force who would shoot me by mistake, then give account to no one for it.
How can I believe he is my friend?? Or that he is here to help me???
*********
Yesterday, the new government was announced, a President and Vice-presidents, the Priminister, and the Ministers. Of course, we feel happy for such an accomplishment, but also feel worried, for what the coming days would bring, thinking of what this government would accomplish of good deeds to Iraqis.
This is the important question.
What authorities dose this government have in possession to re-build the country??
Do they have a budget to implement the re-building program?
This is what concerns us in the entire subject…
This government has a period of time, the coming months till the end of 2004, until they prepare a new national assembly, elections, and a new government.
How shall we spend these six months?
Would they be spent as was the case of the late Governing Council? Without neither authorities nor achievements?
We want to feel that there is a state that has some dignity, that the streets would be free of litter, traffic policemen present to ease traffic-jams, policemen to provide security, prevent killings and kidnappings. We want to see a clear movement of re-construction, employment provided to Iraqis, the infrastructure re-habilitated; (water supply, electricity, communications, …etc), and, we want to see officials and ministers who care for the happiness and well-being of the Iraqi citizen, not the happiness and well-being of themselves, and those whom they care about.
The Iraqi people are sick of the injustice, the lying, and the corruption of state management..
We want to see a new Iraqi leadership, one that feels responsible towards the country and its people, dedicated to the nation…
And the leadership always sets the good example to the people…promoting them to do every thing that is good, sincere, and dedicated to their country…
We wish all the beautiful, good things to Iraq and the Iraqis …
We wait to see, for we have months, then years to work, to re-build….
As for the occupation forces, the earlier they would leave Iraq, the better for the Iraqi people and their unity…
The majority looks upon the Americans as an occupying force, refusing to deal with them…
But there is a minority that sees them as a liberation force, wishing that they would stay.
But I see that if they stay, they will be a reason to divide the Iraqis, which is not in our favor… their staying will give a reason to more violence and more bombings… because they still maintain the strong hand that kills and detains.
And they usually enlist some dumb Iraqis, who give them information about other Iraqis, so they would be detained, exactly as Saddam Hessian used to do…
There is no reason why an Iraqi would become an enemy of another Iraqi…
Iraqis are brothers, and there must be a common dialog among them…
They all love Iraq, and want the best for it; so, they must find dialog channels among them. The presence of a foreigner would only cause a rift between them, no matter how beautiful the reasons were, there is no need for him to stay…
Iraq has leaders among its people, and there are those who implement and work. If ever there was the need for a foreign expert in a certain subject, it's O.K., but the Iraqi is the original countryman, so he is supposed to behave in the best interests of his country and people. If he misbehaves, he gets changed by a better Iraqi … this is how I understand matters… as would any one who loves his country, and wishes for its independence.
In our hearts and memories there are old stories about imperialism that make us feel anxious about any presence of foreign forces on our land…
The alternative is to establish a strong Iraqi army, a strong Iraqi police force, and a strong Iraqi state, with real sovereignty…
And as the time passes, the people will learn to distinguish between the sincere leaders, and choose them.
The experiences of nations are very much like those of people; they make errors, and learn. So, it is imperative to get to the truth of matters, distinguishing true from false, at the end.
I wish all the good to Iraq and the Iraqis …
I wish they would join themselves in one word, for that is where their force would be…
*******
{translated by May.. Baghdad,Iraq}
Good morning…
The weather is nice, the garden is green, and still has some flowers, which will probably disappear with the approaching heat, by mid-summer season.
The generator is roaring outside, the electricity is going off for long, annoying hours, while the temperature these days goes up to 38-40 degrees. We do hope electricity gets better before heat escalates to a degree of 50 C.
*******
Today secondary schools students all over Iraq start their finals…, these exams are very important, deciding the future of the students, and decides which collages would accept them. Majid went to school early. I wish him and all the boys his age God's safe keeping from explosives, and the best possible success in their exams, Amen.
Collage students also have exams these days, so Khalid spends the night with his fellow students, keeping the generator on till morning… I wish them a prospering success.
Raid is in Amman, busy with his Masters Degree, his presentation should be in two months time, he is very busy, and I wish him the best of success.
My mind is very tense and preoccupied, thinking of them, worried about them… I pray for them and all Iraqi students, I wish the hearts of all mothers and fathers to be joyous and happy for the success and well-being of their children... Amen.
********
Today I have my final exams at the American language institute. I have some worries and anxieties, pushing me back to the memories and fears of my school days. We students feel sad because our teachers will be leaving to America for the summer holidays. There will be a small party after the exams, and, by God's will, we'll be taking some photographs.
We do not see these people as we see the occupying force... those people are civilians, risking their lives to help Iraqis, we have mingled with them, known them closely, and they have known us... we no longer have barriers between us. As for the occupation forces, we keep as far away from them as possible, for the matter is different here. It is a matter of politics, interests, armies, bullets, tanks, and things much more complicated … differences of opinions, and a soldier from the occupying force who would shoot me by mistake, then give account to no one for it.
How can I believe he is my friend?? Or that he is here to help me???
*********
Yesterday, the new government was announced, a President and Vice-presidents, the Priminister, and the Ministers. Of course, we feel happy for such an accomplishment, but also feel worried, for what the coming days would bring, thinking of what this government would accomplish of good deeds to Iraqis.
This is the important question.
What authorities dose this government have in possession to re-build the country??
Do they have a budget to implement the re-building program?
This is what concerns us in the entire subject…
This government has a period of time, the coming months till the end of 2004, until they prepare a new national assembly, elections, and a new government.
How shall we spend these six months?
Would they be spent as was the case of the late Governing Council? Without neither authorities nor achievements?
We want to feel that there is a state that has some dignity, that the streets would be free of litter, traffic policemen present to ease traffic-jams, policemen to provide security, prevent killings and kidnappings. We want to see a clear movement of re-construction, employment provided to Iraqis, the infrastructure re-habilitated; (water supply, electricity, communications, …etc), and, we want to see officials and ministers who care for the happiness and well-being of the Iraqi citizen, not the happiness and well-being of themselves, and those whom they care about.
The Iraqi people are sick of the injustice, the lying, and the corruption of state management..
We want to see a new Iraqi leadership, one that feels responsible towards the country and its people, dedicated to the nation…
And the leadership always sets the good example to the people…promoting them to do every thing that is good, sincere, and dedicated to their country…
We wish all the beautiful, good things to Iraq and the Iraqis …
We wait to see, for we have months, then years to work, to re-build….
As for the occupation forces, the earlier they would leave Iraq, the better for the Iraqi people and their unity…
The majority looks upon the Americans as an occupying force, refusing to deal with them…
But there is a minority that sees them as a liberation force, wishing that they would stay.
But I see that if they stay, they will be a reason to divide the Iraqis, which is not in our favor… their staying will give a reason to more violence and more bombings… because they still maintain the strong hand that kills and detains.
And they usually enlist some dumb Iraqis, who give them information about other Iraqis, so they would be detained, exactly as Saddam Hessian used to do…
There is no reason why an Iraqi would become an enemy of another Iraqi…
Iraqis are brothers, and there must be a common dialog among them…
They all love Iraq, and want the best for it; so, they must find dialog channels among them. The presence of a foreigner would only cause a rift between them, no matter how beautiful the reasons were, there is no need for him to stay…
Iraq has leaders among its people, and there are those who implement and work. If ever there was the need for a foreign expert in a certain subject, it's O.K., but the Iraqi is the original countryman, so he is supposed to behave in the best interests of his country and people. If he misbehaves, he gets changed by a better Iraqi … this is how I understand matters… as would any one who loves his country, and wishes for its independence.
In our hearts and memories there are old stories about imperialism that make us feel anxious about any presence of foreign forces on our land…
The alternative is to establish a strong Iraqi army, a strong Iraqi police force, and a strong Iraqi state, with real sovereignty…
And as the time passes, the people will learn to distinguish between the sincere leaders, and choose them.
The experiences of nations are very much like those of people; they make errors, and learn. So, it is imperative to get to the truth of matters, distinguishing true from false, at the end.
I wish all the good to Iraq and the Iraqis …
I wish they would join themselves in one word, for that is where their force would be…
*******
{translated by May.. Baghdad,Iraq}
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 7:47 pm
Good morning...
I have put new pictures from Baghdad..
and tomorrow inshalla, I`ll put new arabic lesson
and the translation of the last post
wish you all nice day..
faiza
I have put new pictures from Baghdad..
and tomorrow inshalla, I`ll put new arabic lesson
and the translation of the last post
wish you all nice day..
faiza
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 1:30 pm
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Good morning...
I have put new pictures from souvenir shops, I wish you`ll like it .
and nobody is going to steal it ,and makes money from them...
if so , plez send me the money to give it for poor Iraqi families...
hope you nice beautiful day...
faiza
I have put new pictures from souvenir shops, I wish you`ll like it .
and nobody is going to steal it ,and makes money from them...
if so , plez send me the money to give it for poor Iraqi families...
hope you nice beautiful day...
faiza
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 11:40 am
الأربعاء 2/6
صباح الخير...
الجو لطيف , والحديقة خضراء, وما زال فيها بعض الورود, ربما ستختفي مع اقتراب موسم الصيف وشدة الحرارة...
المولدة تدور في الخارج, الكهرباء عادت لتنقطع لساعات طويلة مملة, ودرجات الحرارة تتراوح بين 38-40 مئوية هذه الأيام...
نتمنى ان تتحسن الكهرباء قبل اشتداد الحر وارتفاع الحرارة الى 50 درجة مئوية...
*******
اليوم تبدأ الإمتحانات النهائية للمدارس الإعدادية في كل العراق..
هذه امتحانات مهمة وتحدد مستقبل الطلاب والكليات التي سيدخلونها...
ماجد خرج مبكرا للمدرسة, اتمنى له ولكل الأولاد من عمره , ان يحفظهم الله من التفجيرات
ويوفقهم في تأدية امتحاناتهم على افضل وجه...آمين.
طلاب الجامعات ايضا هذه الأيام امتحاناتهم, خالد يقضي الليل مع اصدقائه في الدراسة والمولدة تظل تدور حتى الصباح... اتمنى لهم النجاح والتوفيق.
رائد في عمان مشغول في انهاء متطلبات دراسته في الماستر..موعده لتقديم الرسالة بعد شهرين , وهو مشغول جدا ...اتمنى له النجاح...
اعصابي متعبة من التفكبر بهم والقلق عليهم...
ادعو لهم ولكل الطلاب العراقيين , واتمنى ان تفرح قلوب كل الأمهات والآباء بنجاح اولادهم وحفظهم من كل سوء...آمين.
********
واليوم عندي امتحان نهائي في المعهد الأمريكي للغات.
عندي قلق وخوف, ارجعني الى ذكريات ورعب ايام الدراسة والإمتحانات..
وعندنا حزن نحن الطالبات على فراق المدرسين والمدرسات حيث سيسافرون الى امريكا لقضاء اجازتهم الصيفية...
ستكون هنالك حفلة صغيرة بعد الإمتحان, وسوف نلتقط صورا تذكارية ان شاء الله.
هؤلاء لا ننظر اليهم كما ننظر لقوات الإحتلال..
هؤلاء اناس مدنيون يخاطرون بحياتهم من اجل تقديم فائدة للعراقيين...واختلطنا بهم وعرفناهم عن قرب ,وعرفونا , وما عادت بيننا حواجز...
اما قوات الإحتلال...فنبتعد عنهم ما امكن , حيث ان المعادلة مختلفة, هنا سياسة ومصالح, وجيش ورصاص ودبابات , وامور اكثر
تعقيدا...واختلافات في وجهات النظر
وجندي من قوات الإحتلال يمكنه ان يقتلني بالخطأ
ولا أحد يحاسبه
فكيف اصدق انه صديقي؟
أو انه جاء من أجلي
*********
وبالأمس اعلنت الحكومة العراقية الجديدة, الرئيس والنواب, ورئيس الوزراء والوزراء...
طبعا كلنا يفرح حين يرى هذا الإنجاز...
لكن القلق والتفكير بما ستحمله الأيام...وبما ستحققه هذه الحكومة من انجازات مفيدة للعراقيين
هذا هو السؤال المهم...
ماذا تملك هذه الحكومة من صلاحيات اعادة اعمار البلاد.؟
وهل لديها موازنة لتطبيق برنامج الإعمار؟
هذا ما يهمنا من كل الكلام...
لهذه الحكومة فترة الشهور القادمة , حتى نهاية 2004
حتى التحضير لمجلس وطني جديد وانتخابات...وحكومة جديدة...
كيف سنقضي هذه الشهور السته؟
هل ستمر كسابقاتها مع مجلس الحكم, بلا صلاحيات بلا انجاز؟
نريد ان نحس ان ثمة دولة لها هيبة, وان الشوارع نظيفة من القمامة, وشرطة المرور يتوفرون بكثافة لتخفيف الإزدحامات في الشوارع...والشرطة العادية موجودة بكثافة لتوفير الأمان في المدن لتقليل حوادث الخطف والقتل ...ونريد ان نرى حركة اعادة البناء تجري وفرص العمل تتوفر للعراقيين, والبنية التحتية يعاد تصليحها (ماء وكهرباء واتصالات)...
ونريد ان نرى مسؤولين ووزراء يسعون لراحة وسعادة الإنسان العراقي...لا راحة وسعادة انفسهم ومن يحبون...
العراقيون تعبوا من الظلم والكذب وفساد ادارة الدولة...
نريد ان نرى قيادة عراقية جديدة , تشعر بالمسؤولية تجاه وطنها وشعبها, وتتفانى في الإخلاص...
والقيادة دائما هي القدوة للشعب...
تحثه على عمل الخير وحسن الإنتماء والإخلاص...
نتمنى كل الأشياء الجميله للعراق والعراقيين...
وننتظر لنرى....امامنا شهور ثم سنوات للعمل, واعادة البناء..
أما قوات الإحتلال...
فكلما كان خروجها مبكرا من العراق, كان هذا افضل للعراقيين ووحدتهم...
الغالبية تراهم قوات احتلال, وترفض التعامل معهم...
وثمة اقلية تراهم قوات تحرير, وتريد لهم البقاء..
أما انا فأرى ان بقاءهم سيكون سببا لإنقسام العراقيين, وهذا سبب ليس لصالحنا ابدا...
بقاءهم يعطي مبررات لأعمال عنف وتفجيرات...لأنهم ما زالت لهم اليد القوية التي تقتل وتعتقل
و يستعينون ببعض العراقيين الأغبياء الذين يعطون معلومات عن عراقيين آخرين للقبض عليهم تماما كما كان يفعل صدام حسين ...
لا يوجد ثمة مبرر ليصبح العراقي عدوا للعراقي...
العراقيون اخوة, ولابد من لغة حوار مشتركة بينهم...
كلهم يحبون العراق , ويريدون الخير للعراق...ولا بد من ايجاد قنوات حوار بينهم...
الأجنبي وجوده يسبب التفرقة, مهما اعطينا مبررات جميلة, لا داعي لبقائه...
العراقيون منهم القادة ومنهم من يعمل وينفذ, وان كان ثمة حاجة لخبير اجنبي في موضوع معين ,فلا بأس, لكن العراقي هو ابن البلاد, والمفروض انه يتصرف بما فيه الخير لشعبه ووطنه..
وان اساء التصرف, يستبدل بعراقي افضل منه, هكذا افهم الأمور...ويفهمها كل من له حب لوطنه ورغبة في استقلاله .
في قلوبنا وذاكرتنا قصص قديمة عن الإستعمار, تجعلنا نتحسس من وجود فوات اجنبية على ارضنا...
البديل هو اقامة جيش عراقي قوي وشرطة عراقية قوية, ودولة عراقية قوية ذات سيادة حقيقية...
وبمرور الوقت , الشعب يتعلم كيف يميز القادة المخلصين , ويختارهم .
تجارب الشعوب مثل تجارب الإنسان, يخطيء ويتعلم, ولا بد من الوصول الى حقيقة الأشياء
وتمييز الكاذبة من الصادقة, في نهاية المطاف...
اتمنى الخير للعراق والعراقيين
واتمنى ان تتوحد كلمتهم, فيها تكمن قوتهم...
*******
صباح الخير...
الجو لطيف , والحديقة خضراء, وما زال فيها بعض الورود, ربما ستختفي مع اقتراب موسم الصيف وشدة الحرارة...
المولدة تدور في الخارج, الكهرباء عادت لتنقطع لساعات طويلة مملة, ودرجات الحرارة تتراوح بين 38-40 مئوية هذه الأيام...
نتمنى ان تتحسن الكهرباء قبل اشتداد الحر وارتفاع الحرارة الى 50 درجة مئوية...
*******
اليوم تبدأ الإمتحانات النهائية للمدارس الإعدادية في كل العراق..
هذه امتحانات مهمة وتحدد مستقبل الطلاب والكليات التي سيدخلونها...
ماجد خرج مبكرا للمدرسة, اتمنى له ولكل الأولاد من عمره , ان يحفظهم الله من التفجيرات
ويوفقهم في تأدية امتحاناتهم على افضل وجه...آمين.
طلاب الجامعات ايضا هذه الأيام امتحاناتهم, خالد يقضي الليل مع اصدقائه في الدراسة والمولدة تظل تدور حتى الصباح... اتمنى لهم النجاح والتوفيق.
رائد في عمان مشغول في انهاء متطلبات دراسته في الماستر..موعده لتقديم الرسالة بعد شهرين , وهو مشغول جدا ...اتمنى له النجاح...
اعصابي متعبة من التفكبر بهم والقلق عليهم...
ادعو لهم ولكل الطلاب العراقيين , واتمنى ان تفرح قلوب كل الأمهات والآباء بنجاح اولادهم وحفظهم من كل سوء...آمين.
********
واليوم عندي امتحان نهائي في المعهد الأمريكي للغات.
عندي قلق وخوف, ارجعني الى ذكريات ورعب ايام الدراسة والإمتحانات..
وعندنا حزن نحن الطالبات على فراق المدرسين والمدرسات حيث سيسافرون الى امريكا لقضاء اجازتهم الصيفية...
ستكون هنالك حفلة صغيرة بعد الإمتحان, وسوف نلتقط صورا تذكارية ان شاء الله.
هؤلاء لا ننظر اليهم كما ننظر لقوات الإحتلال..
هؤلاء اناس مدنيون يخاطرون بحياتهم من اجل تقديم فائدة للعراقيين...واختلطنا بهم وعرفناهم عن قرب ,وعرفونا , وما عادت بيننا حواجز...
اما قوات الإحتلال...فنبتعد عنهم ما امكن , حيث ان المعادلة مختلفة, هنا سياسة ومصالح, وجيش ورصاص ودبابات , وامور اكثر
تعقيدا...واختلافات في وجهات النظر
وجندي من قوات الإحتلال يمكنه ان يقتلني بالخطأ
ولا أحد يحاسبه
فكيف اصدق انه صديقي؟
أو انه جاء من أجلي
*********
وبالأمس اعلنت الحكومة العراقية الجديدة, الرئيس والنواب, ورئيس الوزراء والوزراء...
طبعا كلنا يفرح حين يرى هذا الإنجاز...
لكن القلق والتفكير بما ستحمله الأيام...وبما ستحققه هذه الحكومة من انجازات مفيدة للعراقيين
هذا هو السؤال المهم...
ماذا تملك هذه الحكومة من صلاحيات اعادة اعمار البلاد.؟
وهل لديها موازنة لتطبيق برنامج الإعمار؟
هذا ما يهمنا من كل الكلام...
لهذه الحكومة فترة الشهور القادمة , حتى نهاية 2004
حتى التحضير لمجلس وطني جديد وانتخابات...وحكومة جديدة...
كيف سنقضي هذه الشهور السته؟
هل ستمر كسابقاتها مع مجلس الحكم, بلا صلاحيات بلا انجاز؟
نريد ان نحس ان ثمة دولة لها هيبة, وان الشوارع نظيفة من القمامة, وشرطة المرور يتوفرون بكثافة لتخفيف الإزدحامات في الشوارع...والشرطة العادية موجودة بكثافة لتوفير الأمان في المدن لتقليل حوادث الخطف والقتل ...ونريد ان نرى حركة اعادة البناء تجري وفرص العمل تتوفر للعراقيين, والبنية التحتية يعاد تصليحها (ماء وكهرباء واتصالات)...
ونريد ان نرى مسؤولين ووزراء يسعون لراحة وسعادة الإنسان العراقي...لا راحة وسعادة انفسهم ومن يحبون...
العراقيون تعبوا من الظلم والكذب وفساد ادارة الدولة...
نريد ان نرى قيادة عراقية جديدة , تشعر بالمسؤولية تجاه وطنها وشعبها, وتتفانى في الإخلاص...
والقيادة دائما هي القدوة للشعب...
تحثه على عمل الخير وحسن الإنتماء والإخلاص...
نتمنى كل الأشياء الجميله للعراق والعراقيين...
وننتظر لنرى....امامنا شهور ثم سنوات للعمل, واعادة البناء..
أما قوات الإحتلال...
فكلما كان خروجها مبكرا من العراق, كان هذا افضل للعراقيين ووحدتهم...
الغالبية تراهم قوات احتلال, وترفض التعامل معهم...
وثمة اقلية تراهم قوات تحرير, وتريد لهم البقاء..
أما انا فأرى ان بقاءهم سيكون سببا لإنقسام العراقيين, وهذا سبب ليس لصالحنا ابدا...
بقاءهم يعطي مبررات لأعمال عنف وتفجيرات...لأنهم ما زالت لهم اليد القوية التي تقتل وتعتقل
و يستعينون ببعض العراقيين الأغبياء الذين يعطون معلومات عن عراقيين آخرين للقبض عليهم تماما كما كان يفعل صدام حسين ...
لا يوجد ثمة مبرر ليصبح العراقي عدوا للعراقي...
العراقيون اخوة, ولابد من لغة حوار مشتركة بينهم...
كلهم يحبون العراق , ويريدون الخير للعراق...ولا بد من ايجاد قنوات حوار بينهم...
الأجنبي وجوده يسبب التفرقة, مهما اعطينا مبررات جميلة, لا داعي لبقائه...
العراقيون منهم القادة ومنهم من يعمل وينفذ, وان كان ثمة حاجة لخبير اجنبي في موضوع معين ,فلا بأس, لكن العراقي هو ابن البلاد, والمفروض انه يتصرف بما فيه الخير لشعبه ووطنه..
وان اساء التصرف, يستبدل بعراقي افضل منه, هكذا افهم الأمور...ويفهمها كل من له حب لوطنه ورغبة في استقلاله .
في قلوبنا وذاكرتنا قصص قديمة عن الإستعمار, تجعلنا نتحسس من وجود فوات اجنبية على ارضنا...
البديل هو اقامة جيش عراقي قوي وشرطة عراقية قوية, ودولة عراقية قوية ذات سيادة حقيقية...
وبمرور الوقت , الشعب يتعلم كيف يميز القادة المخلصين , ويختارهم .
تجارب الشعوب مثل تجارب الإنسان, يخطيء ويتعلم, ولا بد من الوصول الى حقيقة الأشياء
وتمييز الكاذبة من الصادقة, في نهاية المطاف...
اتمنى الخير للعراق والعراقيين
واتمنى ان تتوحد كلمتهم, فيها تكمن قوتهم...
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# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 8:42 am
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
mom, I think we should start selling our family pictures soon
:*)
it will be a new e-shopping trend
dear customer, u can have the original signature of the jarrars for an extra 50 bucks
haha
:*)
it will be a new e-shopping trend
dear customer, u can have the original signature of the jarrars for an extra 50 bucks
haha
# posted by Raed Jarrar @ 11:04 pm
Good morning...
I have put new pictures on the link..I feel it can talk much more than words..
and I have put a translated post on the war diaries link..
I`ll put new blog here inshalla, within two days may be..
the weather in Baghdad is hot (38 c),the electricity is bad , and the students have their final exams this days..we all hope safety and success for them.
our hearts go with them, until they are back from schools..
we all hope that the coming days are better for Iraqis..
faiza
********
I have put new pictures on the link..I feel it can talk much more than words..
and I have put a translated post on the war diaries link..
I`ll put new blog here inshalla, within two days may be..
the weather in Baghdad is hot (38 c),the electricity is bad , and the students have their final exams this days..we all hope safety and success for them.
our hearts go with them, until they are back from schools..
we all hope that the coming days are better for Iraqis..
faiza
********
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 12:02 pm
