It was only 90 minutes till sunset, and my brother and I decided to go to Shaab neighborhood. The road was very long because of the concrete walls that now divide Baghdad neighborhoods. They took away the shortcuts that we used to pass through.
We arrived at our destination in an hour; our mission didn't take long because we were afraid of the dark. Unfortunately, there was a sand storm spreading all over Baghdad so thick that we could hardly recognize our road--especially with thousands of concrete fences erected and dozens of Iraqi security checkpoints.
We took the Al Qanat highway, which is located along the length of an old canal on our left and a very long and high concrete wall on our right in which there were breaks where Iraqi police vehicles sat to watch the road.
We arrived at our destination in an hour; our mission didn't take long because we were afraid of the dark. Unfortunately, there was a sand storm spreading all over Baghdad so thick that we could hardly recognize our road--especially with thousands of concrete fences erected and dozens of Iraqi security checkpoints.
We took the Al Qanat highway, which is located along the length of an old canal on our left and a very long and high concrete wall on our right in which there were breaks where Iraqi police vehicles sat to watch the road.
The highway is supposed to be an open road where cars can go at top speed, but suddenly the cars in front of us started to crazily turn aside from the paved road and get too close to the concrete wall. I couldn't see the reason why. Finally. and with difficulty, I recognized an American military vehicle looming on the side of the street, a dusty color, carrying camouflage nets and giving off a sinister look. It was parked on the left side of the highway and was standing still; there weren't any soldiers nearby it.
It was only one parked vehicle--no more no less. But for poor Iraqis; what they had seen and heard about this kind of vehicle made them try to get as far away from it as they could to avoid appearing in a regrettable incident.
The scene reminded me of wild animals, when they come to drink water at a pond and they find a tiger or lion. Even if he is not hunting, they try to tiptoe away as quietly as they can, lest they invoke his wrath.
It was only one parked vehicle--no more no less. But for poor Iraqis; what they had seen and heard about this kind of vehicle made them try to get as far away from it as they could to avoid appearing in a regrettable incident.
The scene reminded me of wild animals, when they come to drink water at a pond and they find a tiger or lion. Even if he is not hunting, they try to tiptoe away as quietly as they can, lest they invoke his wrath.
Iraqi man: I assume that you are implying that Americans (or possibly Iranians?) brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq and then have somehow prevented Iraqi police and military from fighting them.
Again, I've never gotten the impression that the Iraqi police or military can fight - and win - against Al-Qaeda. It is very hard to fight against an enemy that attacks without warning, dressed as a neighbor or countryman ...someone who strikes quickly and leaves just as quickly.
It is harder but more effective to remove support for Al-Qaeda. There are so, so many reasons to fight: lack of security, a feeling of powerlessness, no real hospitals/health care, not enough work, not enough electricity, not enough petrol or kerosene ...and so on.
If people feel safe, not hungry and can sleep through the night... they won't fight or help those who want to fight. I think.
Posted by: Brad Zimmerman | July 03, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Hi Brad
the Most important question is (WHO BROUGHT AL QAEDA to Iraq? WHO DIDNT ALLOW THE IRAQI TROOPS TO ATTACK THE QAEDA IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS?
Posted by: Iraqi man | July 03, 2008 at 02:57 AM
Jenan: Do you feel that the Iraqi police and military are ready to take on... well, "insurgents" or "Al-Qaeda" or whatever you want to call non-Coalition guys with guns?
I don't get the impression that the Iraqi police and/or military are ready to take on the "bad guys" and win or even hold their own. If the alternative to jumpy Americans with guns is jumpy Iraqi military with guns... has anything really changed? Is that better for the long-term?
I'm not advocating Americans (or anyone else) being in Iraq or staying in Iraq. I'm just thinking which I would prefer if I wanted to stay alive.
Posted by: Brad Zimmerman | July 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM
I suggest a better title would be: Occupiers. An ugly word, but more accurate, no?
Posted by: Laura | July 02, 2008 at 02:32 PM