THAT WHO FACES DEATH WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH FEVER.

This is a very old Iraq say represents a condition of hopelessness and despair. This say can be applied completely on our power providing situation in Iraq especially after the Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki accepted the resignation of the former minister of electricity Kareem Waheed and assigned the oil minister Hussein Al-Shihristani as a new minister of electricity.

During the reign of the old minister, we used to have electricity power for two hours on and four hours off. That means we used to have electricity for eight hours a day. Sometimes it was less than that. Now and during the days of Shihristani, we have it less than four hours a day during the crazy SUMMER of Iraq where temperature is always over 120 F for more than three months. The great minister came up with the reason of the problem and a very simple solution to solve the dilemma of electricity. He believes that we (Iraqi people) waste electricity and all the families in any house should gather in one room at night and sleep together . I do not know how could he even say so or even how could he think about this shameful solution.

Today id Friday, the second day of Ramadan. It is 3:38 p.m. The temperature outside is more than 130 F. It is my day off but no real day off in Iraq because house duties are always waiting for the work days off. Less than hour ago, I came back home after a tour in which I visited some fuel stations BEGGING for some fuel for my car and the house small generator. The street private generator that provides us with electricity was about to explode last night because it worked for more than 10 hours continuously.

I took about $30 for this tour. I thought going at midday would make things easier because people would be at home since they fast but I found out that so many people think the same way. The first fuel station I reached was so crowded. Waiting for my turn means waiting for more than an hour in hell. I decided to try somewhere else. I went to another fuel station. There were less people. I saw some young kids buying the fuel near the fuel station. When I looked at the fuel in the plastic tanks they sell, I knew it was a bad quality fuel and that is why few people came to this fuel station but who cares. All I need is fuel to turn on the house generator to have electricity to turn on the air coolers. I waited of my turn and when I filled my car tank, I asked the worker to give me some in a plastic tank I have with me but he refused. he told me that my tank's capacity is 20 liters and he can give me only 5 liters. I told him its ok if he gives me only five litters but again he refused. I went directly to the manager and explained everything so clearly. He told me that the ministry of oil sends some people to check their work. I did not make any comment but I told him "all I can say is I need fuel for my house generator because the private generator in my street was about to explode last night and that is all I can tell you." He looked at me and them told someone to join me. The young man took me to one of the fuel filling machines and said "take the hose and fill your tank." I thanked him and quickly started filling my 20 liters plastic tank and came back home. I filled the tank of the generator. My kids are sleeping now while I am writing this blog enjoying the nice air of the air cooler (not really cold but better than nothing).

Now after we practiced the very bad performance of the new minister of electricity, I yearn for the days of the former one, the days of FEVER (the old minister) which are definitely better than DEATH (the new minister).