It had been my fourth days in the office. I couldn’t go home since I came on Wednesday. When I tried to go home on Thursday afternoon, I couldn’t find a taxi because of the violence wave that swept Baghdad neighborhoods which pushed the government to announce curfew.
In a way or another, I could manage staying in the office in spite of the big pain in my heart. I always think about my son. I miss him so much. I miss hugging him, I missed his sweet kisses on my face, I miss his sweet smile when he sees me, I miss his tears when my wife doesn’t allow him to do whatever he wants and I really love his face when I defend him as if he teases his mother. I was planning to tell my boss that I want to go early tomorrow and I know she wouldn’t mind at all but it looks that planning for more that one hour is impossible in my country.
About less than one hour ago and while I was watching a football match with my colleague, our office manager told us that the government decided to extend the curfew until further notice which means I have to stay another night in the office.
When I heard the news, I started thinking seriously about the most important thing. I started thinking about food, not my food but Iraqis food. I’m really surprised with the way our government thinks because it didn’t take in consideration the most important need for the people, the government didn’t ever think about food.
Iraqi families are locked in their house for the last four days; they didn’t store much food because they never expected such a curfew. The food that the families usually store might be enough for two days as a maximum. The markets are empty since the second day of the curfew. It looks that our great government forgot that not all the Iraqis are prime minister or high rank officials or it may believe that Iraqis use the solar power to live. It looks that our politicians never read history; they never realize that hungry stomachs are timed bombs that may explode any moment.
Come on our great politicians, we don’t have the money you have, we don’t have the power you have and more than that, we have real human hearts not politicians hearts.
You grow up, america is only there for the oil.
Its people like you who give america a bad name, what a fuck nut!
Posted by: boots | January 14, 2009 at 02:27 PM
I don't think we should have ever gone in.
Posted by: Joe the Dog Lover | September 04, 2008 at 04:45 PM
"WHAT does THAT have to do with the U.S. - us, Mr. Leister, attacking and invading Iraq in 2003?"
It has nothing to do with our INVASION in 2003 but at this point the war supporters are grasping at whatever they can get. In the same rant Mr. Leister talks about Iraq's war with Iran that the US government supported; that should tell you right there how much Mr. Leister cares about facts. The sad part is this is an election year so no Politian (left or right) will be serious bringing the troops home (empty promises don't count) and God help us all if McCain is elected....
Posted by: aric | April 01, 2008 at 03:55 PM
[Remember Iraq attacked Kuwait and Iran BEFORE we took down Saddam!]
WHAT does THAT have to do with the U.S. - us, Mr. Leister, attacking and invading Iraq in 2003?
Posted by: Wordsmith@ work | March 31, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Hello Mr.Laith today the curfew ended in your city but in my city ended yesterday those 4days remebered us in the war before 5 years the same feeling but there is specific different that the causes of fighting before 5years was clear and the goal of this war was known 4 every one but today this war harm every one with out any results .Ihope that this curfew is the last one.ALHAMD LELAH ALA ALSALAMA
Posted by: noor | March 31, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Laith, I hope you've been able to get home by now and give your dear wife and son all the hugs and kisses you all have been missing.
I agree with Um Zahra: we Americans need to practice more courtesy. Even when we have compassion, for too many of us it is seasoned with arrogance. Let's remember, please, that we invaded and occupied this country. We weren't invited, our help wasn't asked for, and our opinions about people and issues are limited by our profound ignorance of history and cultures--not to mention, in some cases, deliberate blindness about U.S. politics....I think we'd improve our international relations over night if we'd give up presuming to tell other people what to do.
Posted by: Laura | March 31, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Iraqis, Americans... we all need to grow up. Bush took our country to war to enrich his already rich croneys. The men who control the oil and military industries. They are stealing from the citizens of our country and no one will call them out on it. Iraq is the country that Bush chose as the battleground for the war on terror. He has doomed many generations there because of it. Saddam was a tyrant who controlled with an iron fist. It is for the better that he is gone. Abolishing the Ba'athists was a big mistake. Now chaos rules where there once was order. The Saudis are using the USA because of our inherent "addiction" to oil. I assure you that if we spent $12 billion a month on finding and implementing alternative energy sources, instead of on the war machine, our addiciton would be broken and the middle east all but a memory.
Posted by: kelstermcgil | March 31, 2008 at 09:12 AM
I thought U.S supported saddam when he attacked Iran .. as for U.S army being in Iraq to help the Iraqis well Alan Greenspan did mention OIL didnt he ;-)
enough is enough .. do grow up :D
Posted by: santanu | March 31, 2008 at 08:14 AM
Lorri,
it is not up to iraqies to take control of their country.
i live in the us but i am iraqi born. the problem is you dont know what is going on in iraq all u know is what u see on the evening news. if u live in iraq for 24 hours you will loose all what u believe in. please be courtious.
well, i believe chaos causes major problems and it took the USA more than 300 years to establish freedom and stability. so please dont speak about growing up!
iraq is the country and mother of civilization!
Good Bless Iraq!!!
Posted by: um_zahra | March 30, 2008 at 11:58 PM
"No one likes War less than we in America!"
Um, yeah. We just like cakewalks.
Posted by: lorri | March 30, 2008 at 01:12 PM
No one likes War less than we in America!
Remember Iraq attacked Kuwait and Iran BEFORE we took down Saddam!
We in America want YOU to take control of your own DESTINY and act like grown-ups instead of fighting like children!
Americans are getting very tired of supporting YOU until you get yopur house in order!
Its up to you when we leave Iraq NOT to The American Military who are there trying to keep all of you from killing each-other our soldiers trying to protect you from each other!
Enough is Enough GROW UP!
Posted by: Dwight D. Leister:Chair | March 30, 2008 at 10:55 AM