Taking off her black scarf immediately as she entered the restaurant, the westerner felt entering a place that is not in Iraq. Invited for lunch with an Iraqi friend who used to be scared to take her in public places normally, she felt free for the first time in Baghdad since she came two years ago. This westerner had never been in public places without putting on her "bullet-proof" scarf which she never forgets. This time, it was different! The restaurant was for high class people and no westerner has visited it previously."There were many people gathering and women wearing their modern clothes," she said delighted and happy to the extent that it was noticeable on her face and eyes.
In Baghdad after the US-led invasion, it became impossible for a westerner to work, live, or at least spend some time with friends. Journalists, contractors, foreign laborers and even anti-occupation NGO employees were abducted and taken hostages, some were beheaded by foreign fighters and remnants of Saddam's regime and some others survived and freed. This made large number of westerners who came to support this country leave it desperate and alone.
The question has to be asked, what is to be gained by scaring all these people out of Iraq? What would they gain in having no one from outside in Iraq?
It became so disgusting to make Iraq's friends scared in every moment they live in a country which was the safest among other countries.
Wake up Iraqis! Wake up, you, the government!! What the hell are you doing? When are you going to stop all of these disasters? Is it nice to see friends kidnapped, taken hostages, or beheaded? For God's sake! Would you imagine the same thing happening to you in their countries?
We have to restore the safety to Baghdad in order to restore the happiness and smile that we miss. Did you forget that we had the Arabian Nights?! Shahraiyar and Shahrazad are so sad. They want to do something but they feel that they are muted!!
