The square in front of the July 14 Bridge in Baghdad is closed by troops several times a day. The square is not far from the Green Zone and in front of the square lie the offices of the president and the head of the biggest parliamentary bloc.
No one ever objected, in the many times that I have been there, sitting in the car waiting for the convoy of X official to pass by, to the closing of the square by the military. We all turn off our cars and sit their and wait.
Today was different.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
Around 12:30 p.m. several vehicles loaded with Iraqi soldiers accompanying two or three buses stopped in mid-square and tried to close it (like every day) but they couldn't. Drivers refused to obey, saying we are tired of closed roads.
The horns of tens of cars were loud. Angry drivers were yelling at soldiers who picked up their rifles trying to stop the cars that refused to stop.
Shots in the air and pointing rifles at vehicles failed, the convoy had to park in another place.
The convoy wanted to park in the middle of the circle because the soldiers wanted to talk and discuss something … imagine.
The drivers wouldn't let them. The military saw, for the first time I think,mass anger for blocking roads.
I have seen this square almost every day for the last four years and nothing like this happened. The soldiers parked their vehicles in a way that allowed civilian cars to pass.
There was news today from Fallujah of students demonstrating,demanding the release of Muntathar al Zaidi,the journalist who threw the shoe at President Bush. The students waved their shoes and threw stones at the American soldiers. Things esclated and soldiers started to shoot, witnesses said. One student was injured.
These incidents and many quotes from ordinary people make me ask, did the reporter, Muntathar cause this?
People have been talking about Muntathar everywhere and at all times for the last two days. For many, he's become an idol and a star to follow.
I hope so.
It seems that the people of iraq finally begins to recover his own country and dignity. The armys exists to take care of the people, serve the people, not vice versa.
Pat
from Brazil
Posted by: Pat | December 20, 2008 at 12:28 PM
The shoe chucker and support for him only demonstrate the fact that Iraqi emotion will always trump common sense and reason. If this doesn't change in Iraq, the educated will continue to leave the country and it will never stabilize. Everyone is angry, Americans and Iraqis alike, about the tragedies of the war. But, it unfortunately appears that Iraqis will always allow untempered emotion to govern their actions and live up to Lawrence of Arabia's observation and remain a silly people. Sadaam would have executed the man on the spot. I guess it's progress that he was only beaten and now will actually get a trial. Ironically, he has Bush to thank for the trial. It is Iraqi culture, however, to crave martyrdom, particularly for the Shia. That won't change. Bizarre.
Posted by: Haatim | December 19, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Shortly after the last American soldier leaves, or, alternately, when the force presence of American troops drops to a certain level, violence in Iraq will resume and escalate. Why? Because Iraq was never a unified country. France and England created a hodge podge of people -Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites - who were held together by authoritarian power - fear and terror if you will - and have yet to resolve their differences. Bush - one of the worst presidents ever in my opinion - destroyed the structure holding Iraq together, and the chaos will continue into the forseeable future. J P
Posted by: J. Paerels | December 18, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Wow! It's kinda cool though isn't it?
Doesn't it mean awareness is beginning to tingle through the masses? Awareness of the power those people possess within your country....
I wonder what will happen tomorrow?
Posted by: J | December 17, 2008 at 09:24 AM