Yesterday I was on my way to my nephew's wedding party. The trip usually takes 20 minutes but now everything changed in Baghdad because the traffic jams, the blocked roads and the continuous Iraqi and American convoys. Now the shortest trip takes two hours.
I left the office at 3:30 to get to the party on time. Thank God I crossed half the way without problems except the swift passing Iraqi convoys here and there. In the center of Baghdad I faced my first real problem: a "huge traffic jam" around al Tahreer square. The traffic was still, worthless waiting. But suddenly one of stopped car lines started moving and we saw the American convoy emerge. I felt happy that finally I'll get rid of this huge traffic jam because of the gap made by this convoy; I was rushing to take my place behind them to resume my trip. I counted three Humvees, which was the usual number of vehicles in a convoy, and drove in! And found myself in an awkward situation because I was in the middle of the American military convoy, which turned out to be more than three vehicles this time and the scene froze.
I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I said to myself "I'm dead!" and I was waiting for the "execution" of my fate.
But the nice soldier who was opening the road for his comrades was satisfied with jumping and yelling at me! I had broken into this convoy like a car bomb would.
The convoy stopped for two minutes until I found a space for my car away from them. Everyone round me was astonished. I think the Americans, this time, did not behave in aggressive reaction towards such a situation. I was lucky. I remembered all the stories of Iraqis who found themselves in the wrong place at wrong time and paid their lives as the cost. They deserved such a chance from the American side, but unfortunately aggressiveness was the master of such situations.
great blog
Posted by: insanity jane | November 25, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Jenan, thank Allah for your safety.
It is a fact that tugs on my conscience and essence as a free human being that there is ANY country where one must fear for their LIFE in something as small as a strategic commute movement, regardless of the many variables and debatable subjects we can all dispute and throw around. I am, again regardless of the specifics, immensely sorry that it is part of a daily reality for the people within your country to face fears and realities such as these every day. I hope and pray, every single day, that inshallah tomorrow will be the day the world wakes up to peace. I promise I am trying, along with many other (as I am sure you well know.)
Assalam Alaykum
Posted by: JessicaL | November 14, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I share relief at your safety, Jenan, and hope the situation there is soon improved --@Mike Jason--I don't think Laura's comment was all that naive considering the near 1 million casualties the USA's war of aggression and occupation has wrought in the last 5 1/2 yrs.
In fact I would have been even more condemning if not for the fact that we are congratulating an Iraqi citizen on surviving a crosstown trip to a wedding. I wonder how you or any USA citizen would feel if they had to deal with this kind of fear every day of their lives for 5 years? I am more than ashamed of my country's action there and in Afghanistan, where the sky rains bombs on civilians and we are bogged down in yet another idiotic exercise of misguided power. We need to leave both countries NOW and reduce the Pentagon's budget by half of the obscene $500 billion so we can once again reflect the true USA abroad.
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Personal Story by:
Mike Jason
Posted by: mike | November 06, 2008 at 08:45 PM
I am also glad that you are alright. As a US Soldier, I will say that the last thing we ever want is to harm an innocent civilian. We are proud of the fact that our mission is to protect the citizens of Iraq and help them secure and lead their own country. You have to also consider the Soldier's perpsective... they don't know if you are a suicide bomber and they are just as fearful for their own lives. I am glad they were able to realize you weren't a threat and you got out of convoy safely. As for Laura's naïve comment about what our country is doing to yours... You're there, so you know we are trying to help in a very difficult situation and as you know, we are making progress. I am hoping and praying for a safe and free Iraq and that ALL of our Soldiers can return home soon. God bless you!
Posted by: MAJ Mike Titus | November 06, 2008 at 07:35 PM
I'm so glad you are OK Jenan and so glad the soldiers stayed cool.
Posted by: Steve | November 04, 2008 at 11:09 PM
This position is very difficult, but it was good disposition by soldiers Bactvaihm scream at the Miss Jinan is occupied by humanitarian not seen any Iraqi citizen, or the conditions of the truce agreed upon between the Iraqi government U.S. military
Until the Iraqi people convince that the security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq is the only way for the future of Iraq, which has yet to find a Adadeh where we are not killing, displacement and looting of public funds without the expense of the pretext of security companies and the dream of occupying Iraq's neighbors while the U.S. military out of Iraq
Posted by: GOLDENMAN | October 31, 2008 at 05:49 PM
I'm glad you are alright! I wish God's blessings on the bride and groom!
Posted by: Heather Ann | October 31, 2008 at 03:16 AM
Glad you are okay.... hope this never happens again. whew......
Posted by: Susan | October 30, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Good Heavens, Jenan! What great fortune you weren't harmed and lived to tell this story. Long time readers will remember that another McClatchy writer did not have such luck.
What my country has done and is doing to yours leaves me speechless with shame and anger.
Very glad a cool head prevailed in your case!
Posted by: Laura | October 30, 2008 at 03:28 PM