“This is the freedom and democracy that America has brought us.”

[Henk Elegeert]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

http://dahrjamailiraq.com/weblog/archives/dispatches/000250.php#more

"
May 30, 2005
“Things are getting worse by the day.”

The mayhem continues in Iraq, with today at least 40 people
dead, including five US soldiers in Diyala province as the
meltdown of the failed US-led occupation continues.

Two suicide bombers detonated themselves after walking into
a crowd of police officers in Hilla, south of Baghdad. The
policemen were demonstrating outside the mayor’s office to
protest a government decision to disband their Special
Forces unit.

In yet another horrible PR move (or attempt to raise
sectarian tensions?) by the US military the head of Iraq’s
largest Sunni political party, Mohsen Abdul Hamid was
detained from his home early this morning in western
Baghdad. Of course his head was promptly bagged and his
hands tied before he was taken away to be interrogated. His
three sons were also detained with him. Stun bombs and
bullets were said to be used during the raid, according to
his wife.

It just so happens that his party, the Islamic Party,
opposes the new US-backed security operation now engulfing
Baghdad because they believe the security forces will
disregard the rights of innocent Iraqis.

Later today he was released and the military admitted it
made a mistake.

The military statement concerning the matter said,
“Coalition forces regret any inconvenience and acknowledge
(Abdul-Hamid’s) cooperation in resolving this matter.”

Abdul Hamid refused their apology in the Arab media, and
stated that he was humiliated when US soldiers held their
boots on his head for 20 minutes. It was also stated that he
accused American soldiers of removing items from his home,
including a computer. This is standard operating procedure
with home raids-I can’t tell you how many Iraqis I’ve
interviewed after their homes were raided who complained of
money, jewelry and other belongings being looted by American
soldiers.
The Islamic Party released a statement after the release of
Abdul Hamid which said, “The U.S. administration claims it
is interested in drawing Sunnis into the political process
but it seems that their way of doing so is by raids, arrests
and violating human rights.”

At least 740 Iraqis have been killed since the new
“government” took power in late April, and with the ongoing
operations sparking more attacks each day, it doesn’t look
like there is an end in sight. Keep in mind, the vast
majority of the Iraqi security forces are either Shia or
Kurdish battling against a primarily Sunni resistance (for
now). It can easily be argued that we are witnessing a
US-backed Iraqi government who is deliberating using its
power to wage a civil war.

On that note, today Major General Ahmed al-Barazanchi, a
Kurdish man who was the director of internal affairs of
Kirkuk province died this morning after being shot yesterday.

My sources in Baghdad also said there have been fierce
clashes today in the al-Amiriya district of Baghdad between
resistance fighters and Iraqi and US soldiers. “Open gun
battles in the streets,” as one friend told me, “And as soon
as the Iraqi and US soldiers leave the area, the resistance
takes it back over.”

Keep in mind that all of this is against the backdrop of
well over 50% unemployment, horrendous traffic jams, and an
infrastructure in shambles that continues to degrade with
next to no reconstruction occurring in Baghdad.

“Electricity shut offs drive us crazy in this hot summer,”
one of my friends wrote me recently, “Even we can’t read at
night because of long hours of electricity cuts and because
the outside generators can’t withstand running these long
hours and we have to turn these generators off for some time
to cool them!”

He continues, “Two years of occupation…for God sake where is
the rebuilding, where the hell are these billions donated to
Iraq? Even not 1% improvement in services and electricity!
They say again and again the terrorists are to blame and I
would accept this, but why they do not protect these
facilities? Do the American camps have cuts of electricity?
No, no, and nobody will allow this to happen...but poor
Iraqis, nobody would be sorry for them if they burn with the
hell of summer, small kids and old men they get dehydrated
because no electricity, no cold water, etc. Have you heard
about the tea that is mixed with iron particles? It is real
in our life. People have to make sure their tea is not mixed
with iron by use of magnets.”

He concluded his email with, “Things are getting worse day
by day. Iraq has become a country not for its people, every
day thoughts jump into the mind that sooner or later we have
to leave this country, searching for another. And there is a
saying, “your home is where you sleep safe,” but this is not
true in Iraq anymore.”

He sent me that email three days ago.

Yesterday the Iraqi government announced that it may
decrease subsidies for fuel and electricity, despite a
severe shortage of both in the country, according to the
electricity minister who warned Iraqis to prepare for more
blackouts this summer.

Ongoing fuel, electricity and drinking water shortages
persist, and only 37% of Iraqis have a working sewage system.

As so many of my Iraqi friends continue to say, “This is the
freedom and democracy that America has brought us.”

Posted by Dahr_Jamail at May 30, 2005 09:25 PM
"

**********
Dit bericht is verzonden via de informele D66 discussielijst (D66 at nic.surfnet.nl).
Aanmelden: stuur een email naar LISTSERV at nic.surfnet.nl met in het tekstveld alleen: SUBSCRIBE D66 uwvoornaam uwachternaam
Afmelden: stuur een email naar LISTSERV at nic.surfnet.nl met in het tekstveld alleen: SIGNOFF D66
Het on-line archief is te vinden op: http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/d66.html
**********