"Juba" = "Baghdad Sniper"

On Saturday, I took the day off and spent it at home resting, studying for the TOEFL and the GRE and hanging out with my friends whose main subject at that day was the Baghdad Sniper.
Baghdad Sniper is a man who shoots US soldiers with his silent guns. He fires once and vanishes just like ghosts. There is never a follow-up shot, never a chance for US forces to identify him. It’s a matter of seconds. You’ll never hear it.

In my neighborhood, a new phenomenon is incredibly increasing. CDs with videos of this ghost shooting at the US soldiers in Baghdad are being sold and exchanged by young men and teenagers who are incredibly interested in that mysterious sniper. As people say, he uses silent guns in his shooting and he never missed a target.

On August 5 of last year, the Guardian published a story about the sniper. The Guardian’s Rory Carroll quoted Specialist Travis Burress, 22, a sniper with the 1-64 battalion based in Camp Rustamiyah, saying "He's good. Every time we dismount I'm sure everyone has got him in the back of their minds. He's a serious threat to us."

"Juba" is the nickname applied to that sniper by the U.S. military in Iraq. He is alleged to be an accurate sniper, having killed and wounded up to several dozen U.S. soldiers. He fires only once and disapperas from his position, leaving behind no evidence of his whereabouts.

According to the CDs and internet posted videos I watched, the Baghdad Sniper waits for soldiers to dismount, or stand up in a Humvee turret, and then shoots. He has killed from 200 meters away.

Ok now, to be more frank, this sniper becomes a “hero” in my neighborhood. Yesterday, there was a group of young men gathering in an internet café watching series of his attacks on a website called, Ogrish. “He is so brave,” one young man said. “He is not a terrorist. He kills the occupiers only,” the other said with his both eyes concentrated on the computer’s monitor. Images of US soldiers being shot by that sniper was aired on Aljazeera more than once, specially in the period before I went to the U.S.

The only indication that Juba is the same individual each time in these incidents is a single bullet casing and a note left behind at the location where he is believed to have been. The message, in Arabic, "What has been taken in blood cannot be regained except by blood. Baghdad Sniper". These items were found only after nearby buildings. "Juba's" existence, however, is not proven. He may not exist, or he could be a combination of many different insurgents. It is also possible that Coalition forces have killed one or more "Jubas," but each time a new one emerges.

Warning:

This video shows the reality and horror of war and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

The Turban Republic of Iraq

Few days ago and when I was going to work with a colleague of mine, we passed by a gas station in Karrada near the headquarters of Abdul Aziz Hakim, the prominent Shiite leader who runs the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. At 8:30 a.m. and when most of the people were going to work and school on a rush hour, I saw something shocking. Two SUV’s that belong to “Badr” troops blocked the street. Four masked men were directing their rifles at the people. Literally, people were scared. Do you know what the Badris were doing? They were filling their vehicles with fuel and they blocked the street fearing possible attacks occur against them. It was really insulting. Even Saddam, the worst dictator on earth, did not do it.

Now this area is not Iraqi; it’s Hakimi and Badri. All what you see is Badr, Badr, Badr wherever you go. And if you don’t like it this way, go to hell. You might be taken to the Jadriya prison which is the office of Mr. Minister, who is a member of the Hakimi religious party. Moreover, his Excellency the president lives in the same area. He might be bored of the Green Zone where his other colleagues live. He feels he wants to be among “his people” who “love him” without taking into consideration that these people might be killed, just because his convoy passes by in a rush hour every single day.

There are many Iraqis that were killed in this area because of the presence of the peshmarga and Badr. And please do not tell me they are called army and police now. They ARE NOT. The army and police’s loyalty should be devoted to the country, not to the parties.

Once, the peshmarga stopped me and tried to ask me where I was going. They couldn’t; simply because they don’t speak Arabic. They don’t speak a word in Arabic in a city once was the greatest in the Arab and Islamic civilization. I tried to fool them with the few Kurdish words I know like “Spas” [thanks] and “Choni? [how are you?] Bashi? [Are you fine]” then they let me go. How ridiculous! I am not trying to attack the Kurds or the Shiites here rather than I am trying to show the people in the world what kind of leadership we have in the country.

Once, Hakim had an anniversary memorial of his dead brother. He blocked the whole Karrada area. They made it impossible for the people to go to work because they were afraid the mourners would be attacked. OK, if he was afraid, why didn’t he choose a quieter time in the day. Why did he make it difficult for people to go to work and schools? It took me 3 hours to reach the office and I had to walk for half an hour!!! While I was walking, a Badr trooper put his gun towards me. I was frozen. “What the hell you are doing?” I asked. The trooper laughed and said, “I am trying concentrate incase there is someone wants to attack us.”

Today when I was going to work, I passed by Mustanssiriya square in Baghdad. Before the US-led invasion, statue of Saddam riding a horse and the monument of an Iraqi soldier, his arms tied between two vehicles pulling them out of their sockets marked the area. After the war, these were taken down. Do you know what replaced the statue and the monument? A huge picture of the Hakims hanged on the base where the former dictator’s statue used to stand. And now, how happy I am to see the image of the three clerics wearing turbans hanged on the monument that showed how the Iraqi army soldier was tortured. “The soldiers of the Marjiya,” says the new poster hanged instead. Huh!! I think if they change the name of Republic of Iraq into “The Turban republic of Iraq” would be better for them to make the seculars, Christians, and Sunnis leave the country and make the country theirs only. Maybe they can invite the Iranians to live in it and make all women wear Abayas and all men wear dishdashas and grow beards. For God’s sake!!! What is happening in this country? They changed the name of a famous street in Karrada by calling it “Badr”.

What is happening to this beautiful city? These areas used to be the best before the “liberation”. They were full of lights, restaurants, shops, and clubs. But now they are full of people carrying weapons just to protect his “Excellency” and his “Samahat”. For God’s sake! If they cannot protect themselves, how come we expect them protecting us?! I don’t see any change happened. Saddam’s pictures were taken down and now they are replaced by other people who opposed him. They don’t understand that this country is free now and should not have any symbol of any leader unless he is a patriot. Do they think they are patriots and they toppled the dictator? No, they are not because the Americans were the one who toppled him, not them.

Why are they doing this to this beautiful city? I think because of all of them were not born in Baghdad and will never feel that they belong to it.

She needs all of us… She needs our prayers… [POST TO BE UPDATED]

The abductors of Jill have threatened to kill her if the United States does not free Iraqi women prisoners within 72 hours, Aljazeera reported last night. [Post to be update]

Aljazeera aired a brief video on Tuesday showing Jill speaking to the camera, without broadcasting her voice.

The Qatar-based station said the kidnappers identified themselves as members of a previously unknown armed group calling itself the "Brigades of Vengeance".

Jill's former employers The Jordan Times published a Sunday editorial, stating: "The kidnappers who abducted her could not have chosen a more wrong target. True, Jill is a US citizen. But she is also more critical of US policies towards the Middle East than many Arabs… Jill has been from day one opposed to the war, to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. "


Jill’s father issued the following statement:

"Jill is an innocent journalist and we respectfully ask that you please show her mercy and allow her to return home to her mother, sister and family. Jill is a kind person whose love for Iraq and the Iraqi people are evident in her articles. She has been welcomed into the homes of many Iraqis and shown every courtesy. From that experience, she understands the hardships and suffering that the Iraqi people face every day. Jill is a friend and sister to many Iraqis and has been dedicated to bringing the truth of the Iraq war to the world.
"We appeal for the speedy and safe return of our beloved daughter and sister."

– Jim, Mary Beth, and Katie Carroll


The Christian Science Monitor then released this statement:

"Jill Carroll's colleagues at The Christian Science Monitor and journalists around the world appeal to her captors to release her immediately and without harm. They have seized an innocent person who is a great admirer of the Iraqi people. She is a professional journalist whose only goal has been to report truthfully about Iraq and to promote understanding. As an intelligent, dedicated, open-minded reporter, she has earned the respect of her Arab and Western peers. Since arriving in Iraq in 2003, Jill has always been treated as a guest by Iraqis and has sought to reflect their views and their hearts to the world. She has doggedly pursued stories for a variety of news organizations from several different countries. She began to file stories to The Monitor early last year.
"Jill is in our prayers."

– Richard Bergenheim, Editor

CPJ issues appeal as kidnappers in Iraq threaten reporter [UPDATE]

"The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply alarmed by a report today that kidnappers in Iraq have threatened to kill U.S. reporter Jill Carroll if the United States does not free all female Iraqi prisoners within 72 hours."

The Iraqi Islamic Party issued a statement asking Jill's captors to release her. [UPDATE]

"A while ago, the media agencies have talked about the kidnapping of Jill Carroll, a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, in al Adil neighborhood in Baghdad after the killing one man with her. Yesterday, one armed group announced responsibility of the kidnapping and put 72 hours to meet their demands or she will be killed.

The IIP denounces the kidnappings because it is conduced against innocent people, who are mostly sympathized with the Iraqis in their miseries. At the same time, the IIP urges the kidnappers to release this female journalist as soon as possible."

With kidnappers' Friday deadline looming, Jill's mother called upon her captors in Iraq to "ensure that Jill is safely returned home to her family." [UPDATE]

"Jill has always shown the highest respect for the Iraqi people and their customs," Mary Beth Carroll said Thursday on CNN's "American Morning."
"We hope that her captors will show Jill the same respect in return. Taking vengeance on my innocent daughter who loves Iraq and its people will not create justice.
"To her captors I say that Jill's welfare depends upon you, and so we call upon you to ensure that Jill is safely returned home to her family who needs her and loves her."

Azzaman newspaper wrote a very nice editorial in their front page today. It was all about Jill. here is some of it: [UPDATE]

Azzaman has a word to say
Freedom to the messengers of freedom

The danger that surrounds the foreign journalists in Iraq, regretfully, reflected a false and bad image about the Iraqi people. The image came false because of what happened to the foreign journalists by unknown men.
Azzaman stands on the side of another messenger of the truth, who is the American journalist Jill Carroll. She is known for honesty and transparency in her articles. She didn’t take a side in her job and wasn’t deceived to adopt her country’s administration’s attitude on the war on Iraq. Also, it is not known for the newspaper that sent her, the Christian Science Monitor, to have published anything that provokes against the Iraqis or offends its traditions. There is no doubt that her kidnapping is considered as a crime and an action that harms Iraq and its people. This journalist was one of the closest to the sufferings of Iraqis. Her articles were known for their balance and objectivity, which are characteristics of the newspaper that sent her to Iraq. We are asked to protect those journalists and offer all the necessary needs to facilitate their work to help us pass this crisis of the country. The absence of Jill Carroll doesn’t benefit any side and harms our national cause. Azzaman urges all those involved in her kidnapping to protect her life and release her and send her to her country. We don’t know who is behind this kidnapping, but we sincerely ask them to think about the negative results of kidnapping her and threatening her to be killed without any political or national reason.

Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya television stations aired Jill's father's appeal.

"I want to speak directly to the kidnappers of my daughter Jill, who could be fathers like me. My daughter has no influence, she doesn't have the power to free anyone, she's just a journalist and an innocent person ... Use her as a reporter to support your cause."

Adnan Dulaimi, a prominent Sunni politician pleaded for the release of American journalist Jill Carroll on Friday, the day of a deadline set by her captors.

"I urge those who kidnapped her to release her without a condition. I will take care of dealing with the issue of releasing the detainees from the Iraqi and U.S. forces prisons. I have paid many efforts to release those detainees, and some of these efforts were fruitful and many detainees were released. Kidnapping this noble journalist will decrease the importance of y efforts. No, it will interrupt them. I urge the men who kidnapped this woman to release her for the sake of God and our country and our religion and our honor. We call for the unity of the Iraqis and at the same time we call the government to stop the government’s terrorism, which provokes these actions. Raiding houses, torturing and killing is behind provoking violence in the country. Since the elections, 50 men and young men were killed. Don’t these actions provoke violence? We call for the American and the Iraqi authorities to activate the law and stop the raids, which will encourage us to continue our efforts to rebuild Iraq.

I repeat my call for those who kidnapped this journalist, who came to convey our news and defend our rights. I repeat my plead to release her without any condition. We, in the Conference for People of Iraq, will demand those conditions of releasing the detainees in the Iraqi and American prisons. We will demand this by word, negotiations, and talks with Iraqi and American officials.

In the name of God, in the name of religion, in the name of every word of sympathy that exists in Iraq, I urge you to release this female journalist. She is one of the journalists who denounced the war on Iraq. We call for all to protect the journalists no matter what their nationality is and urge all to release any journalist or innocent non-journalist.

This act tore me apart and pained me. A journalist came to interview me and after she left my office without meeting me, she was kidnapped 300 meters away from my office. If it wasn’t embarrassing, I would cry.

The entire world is waiting for her release now. I get calls form the Islamic communities asking me to intervene. I plead to you to release her. "

Please do not forget to pray for her. She needs my, your, her, his, their, our prayers. She needs all of us.

Donation

Our wonderful and great friends, Fayrouz and Mad Canuck suggested something noble. Few days ago, I received an email from both of them suggesting starting a donation for Mrs. Enwiya, Allan’s widow. They are going arrange with me and 24 Steps to Liberty by end of the month on how to send her the money.

We know that money will never bring Allan back to life but remember, he left a widow with two children. They have to live in Iraq alone in the middle of this terrible situation. So, few dollars would make a difference in their situation. Moreover, this would make Mrs. Enwiya proud of her husband because what you are going to do is a message to her that her husband did not die of nothing and that there are people in the world that care about his heroic death.

On my first entry about Jill’s kidnapping and Allan’s terrible assassination, I received a comment from Lisa Ramaci, Steven Vincent’s wife saying that the Steven Vincent Foundation will donate $500 to Mrs. Enwiyah, and if they can scrape some more money together, they will add to that total.

Thanks a lot Lisa. I am really speechless. The whole world is honored of knowing how great you are and how your late husband, the hero, died for the sake of revealing the truth and the word of righteous.

Thank you to all the people who are trying to wipe at least one tear drop of Mrs. Enwiya.

Guys, we count on you.

Treasure of Baghdad


List of donors
NOTE: I put the Pay Pal donation button at the top of the sidebar.

We miss you, Jill

Once, a close friend, who was a colleague of mine, was leaving Baghdad for good to study abroad. We had a farewell party in the office for him. Jill was present. When we started fare welling him, I was standing next to him. He was crying and made me cry. I couldn’t endure this moment.

Then Jill, who is part of this family, hugged both of us and started crying. She did that because she is one of us. She feels what we feel. She becomes sad when we are sad and becomes happy when we are happy.

Jill, I miss you and I am prying for you day and night. I can’t sleep every night. I just think of you and your bravery. I really miss you, Jill. I wish I can call you as I used to before you were kidnapped. I hanged your picture on the cabinet near my desk. Do you remember it? It is the one that is full of the Arabic newspapers that you used to read when you come to see us. These papers miss you, miss your delicate hands, miss you experience in reading the Arabic language, miss the intelligent brain that analyze what is written in them.

The plants in the office are sad. They are pale and almost dead. Come and see them. They will re-live when you come back. Please come back. even the dishes in the kitchen miss you. Um M, W, and Um H feel they cannot make food because you are not there to tell them that it is “Kullish Tayyib”[very delicious]. I miss you and I wish I am kidnapped instead of you.

Jill, my mother is feeling terrible because of what happened to you. Do you remember when I told you what she said? “Tell Jill to be careful. She should be very careful these days.” Do you remember what you told me to tell her?? You asked me to hug her and tell her “I will, inshallah”. Do you remember when we chatted via the webcamera when you where in Cairo? We were so happy that day. I still have the photo you sent me of you standing near the pyramids and in front of Abu Alhawl in Egypt.

I was about to return back to smoking when you were kidnapped but I remembered you saying “Mosh Kwayis”. Do you remember how happy you were when I told you I quit smoking last year? “Ahsan, ahsan. Sihitak…” do you remember these words. I will never forget them. I can hear you saying them.

My new neighbor looks like an insurgent!

It's the first day of Eid. I did not have any intention to celebrate it because of what happened to Jill. I decided to go to work.

Like every Eid, I kissed my parents on their cheeks hoping that in the next year they go for Haj in Mecca. Then, I had breakfast with them and prepared to go to work. I opened the outside door and was surprised to see a man in his forties wearing kaffiya and a grey dishdasha [Arabic traditional dress].

"Oh Oh!! He looks like an insurgent," I told my father. I did not go out immediately because I was carrying my laptop bag. I did not look like someone celebrating Eid. Instead, I looked like someone going to work. I was afraid this man might see my bag and then guesses where I work.

"Who is that man? I haven't seen him previously," I asked my father. He said, "These are our new neighbors." I was surprised. "What happened to Um Abbas and her handicapped son?" I wondered. Simply, my father said that she died and her son wasn't her real son. Inheritors rented the house to these new people and no one knows where they came from. But they look like they came from Falluja or Ramadi, my father said.

That was another bad news I heard since I arrived from United States. These days, people in my neighborhood are concerned of the fact that many people form Anbar province, where most of the military operations and the kidnapping and killings happen, started moving from their cities to my neighborhood which is considered a very Sunni neighborhood.

What happened to Jill and Alan made think of any stranger in the street as an insurgent. It is so easy to be killed these days and nothing would be changed even if you are killed. It's only the US army that is working for Jill's rescue while the Iraqi government is busy. And do not ask me with what they are busy because since they formed the government last year, they were busy fighting for new positions in the coming government. They did not even denounce the assassination of Alan. Of course not. How come? They will never do it because it would be a public announcement of their failure in maintaining security in the country.

Anyway, let's stop talking about the cowards and stick to the subject. When I returned back home at night, I asked my parents about the new neighbor who looks like an insurgent. They told me that this new neighbor came last month with his family whom nobody knows very well. They are not so friendly with people. Even my mother said the only time she saw a woman in the house was last month when they first arrived and that's it. Other neighbors told my father that they are also worried and they are afraid that these people might be insurgents or at least hiding an insurgent in their house.

I began to be really worried because the number of people from Anbar is increasing and everybody knows that people from those areas strongly support insurgency.

I'll try to monitor this new neighbor. My concern is if I discover he is really an insurgent, I don’t know what to do. Should I inform the police or army? If so, will my fate be like the fate of others who informed about insurgents and then got killed. It's a difficult situation. I hope I am wrong and my new neighbor is NOT an insurgent.

I'm Back But She is Gone...

For almost a week before I returned back from the U.S., I was sad. I thought I am going to be happy to be among my friends and family. But what happened was shocking. I never expected it. “Jill is kidnapped and Alan is killed,” O. told me when I called him the moment I left the Baghdad airport going back home. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe him first or in fact, I did not want to believe him. “You must be kidding!” I said. “Do not joke with me now. This is not the time to joke,” I added. And of course, I was wrong. He wasn’t kidding. He was saying the truth.
I did not want to believe the news. I wanted someone to tell me that O was joking. I called G, a colleague of mine in the office. After greeting me he tried to hide the news. I asked him, “What happened to her? Is what O said right?” sadly, he replied, “yes”. I hanged up and started crying and crying. And as usual I couldn’t do anything because I was in a taxi cab. I couldn’t say a word. I had to keep my tears fall secretly like my feelings that are hardly revealed.

Everything became black in my eyes. I couldn’t see anything except her picture in front of me. I remembered how I worked with her for the first time before working with the paper I am working with now. I remembered how delicate, lovely, sensitive, and honest she is. Then, memories flashed back into mind to reminding me with her translator whom I know. I remembered how all of us gathered on the referendum day at night. We chatted, sang, smoked hookah and enjoyed the beautiful weather in our office’s huge garden. I remembered how he taught me to make Hookah in a professional way. I remembered how she described him being jealous of us sometimes as he used to accuse her of loving us more than him.

My parents were shocked, specially my mother who cried continuously for a long time. I couldn’t have lunch although I was starving. I took a shower and went to the office to know the whole details.

She was in love, but not with a man. She was in love with Iraq and its people. She always felt that she belongs to this country. It was obvious in her eyes. once, I had hamburger for lunch. “What is this?” she said sarcastically. “You leave all this delicious Iraqi food and eat a Hamburger?” she used to come to the office when she has time and we spend great time altogether.

I wonder what she is doing now. It’s cold. Is she covered well? She was kidnapped wearing her light black abaya. She used to call it a “bullet-proof abaya” but it seems she was mistaken. I am afraid that she might die out of the shock seeing her translator, the friend, killed in front of her.

Today, I was busy with the news but just when I finished, I felt sad. “What’s wrong B?” O. asked me. I told him I don’t know I just feel sad. I didn’t even feel my hands that reached the laptop and played a song of Kadhum Al-Sahir which I used to listen when I was in the US.

Come back, Habibi, come back
Come back, Habibi, come back my dearest
Loneliness and emptiness, I am collapsed
You left me alone among four walls.
I sleep and wake up with pain and sorrow
Come back… come back

After you left, I announced my strike
Even on the most dearest thing
On my happiness and joy
Even on myself and all my friends

Come back… come back…

I couldn’t control my tears that were falling on my tears like rain. I tried to stop them, but I couldn’t. I kept the whole way back thinking of her and her situation now.

I did not stop praying to God to save her and rescue her. She is a good person who dedicated herself for the sake of the case in Iraq. she wanted to help Iraqis and the only thing she was able to do was to write. Now, even this might disappear.

I am watching at her photos now and my eyes are full of tears that never stopped since I heard the news.

I wish they had kidnapped me instead of her. I cannot imagine her sitting among armed men carrying rifles or maybe a sword. I might collapse and never wake up again out of shock.

Thank you all and Good bye

January 3,

Well, I was supposed to leave on January 3rd, but it seems America did not want to get rid of me that fast. I went to Reagan airport to leave to NYC and then to Jordan. My flight was supposed to be at 5 p.m. but it was delayed first till 7. They said the airplane did not even arrive because of the bad weather. I said ok, it might come soon and still I have time to catch the RJ flight to Jordan which was supposed at 11 p.m. Suddenly, the screen changed the NY flight till 9. I was shocked. I thought about it for a second and said within my mind that I won’t be able to make it. I should be before 10 p.m. in NY to check in and inform the airport that I am leaving, being a visitor to the country.

I was really mad. I did not what to do. I called J. She was surprised as well and she suggested that she calls RJ to see if they wait for the passengers coming from Washington DC. She called but she got the Answer machine which said that the RJ flight is still on time. She advised me to change my flight and not to depend on luck or chances. And that was what I did. I changed my reservation for the next day. And so did all the other people who were supposed to be on the same plane. Finally, I discovered that the flight is cancelled and will not arrive at 9. So, I was glad that I changed the reservation.

The worse part for me was receiving the luggage and take them back again to J’s house. Anyway, I had to do it. I took the luggage and took a taxi to J’s house. Now, my other bad luck was that the driver did not know the areas well. So, I was trying to reach J to explain to him the route. I called her several times but I did not reach her easily. I left a voice message to her asking her to call as soon as she gets this message. And she did.

“I said I’ll see you soon, but I did not expect that soon!” J said when she opened the door for me. Although I was so mad and tired, I laughed out loud because the same thing happened to her when she was leaving Baghdad few months ago.

I went in, and saw S, J’s friend. She was watching a football match! When I sat to get some rest, J brought a bottle of beer for me to relax.

After that I had a shower and went to bed because I was so tired and exhausted.

January 4,

“Ah! I have to do the same thing today,” I said when I woke up. I was really tired and wanted to sleep. Anyway, I put my luggage in J’s car. She went to the newspaper and I went for a walk as it was too early for me to go the airport. My flight was at 2 p.m.

Thirty minutes before I left, I went to Starbucks. I had my daily regular coffee and sat there for about 20 minutes thinking of the coming days. I was sure enough that I miss Baghdad. I sat next to the window and looked at the people walking in the street and said to myself. “Poor Baghdad!”.

At this time, I felt as if I am back there. I remembered the streets that are now dangerous, I remembered the Tigris that is now isolated, I remembered the children that are deprived form their smile, I remembered the old days which I wish they are not gone. Within myself, I said I don’t to go back but I miss everything there. I will not lie and say that I wanted to go back. No, I wish I stay here. I am fed up. I sometimes hate myself and hate the day I was born. Why should everything be miserable? Isn’t it enough? I dare any one in the world endures what Iraqis are enduring now. Seriously, now I am going to turn my blog from public into private and make just my family and close friends read it. I want to speak freely about me, about my life and about my everyday life without thinking that because of what I am writing I might be killed because there are strangers in Iraq read blogs. I am afraid one day an insurgent might discover who I am and kill me for what I am writing considering me “an infidel in the lands of the infidels”. And by the way, I am not being illogical here. You can see how Zarqawi’s group read the most famous newspapers that are in English. They have people who read, translate and analyze. If they just analyze my situation, I am gone.

Few days ago, Jeffrey predicted where I work. I cannot blame him. I should blame myself for publishing my diary that might take me to death. One more thing, I think there is no benefit from writing about politics because there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Moreover, I really do not like the fact that there are some people who use insults in their comments like Jeffrey and someone called Diana who once said "you and yours weren't worth one hair on the head of one American. Not a one." Ignoring any kind of respect to the people who are dying by hundreds per day. Diana, if you lose one soldier per day, remember that there are 100 Iraqis die on the same day.

Anyway, this time, I made my mind. This would be the last entry on this blog. I apologize to those who really enjoyed reading "Treasure of Baghdad". I am sorry to tell you that neither the true Treasure of Baghdad nor the treasure of Baghdad, the blog, will no longer exist. The real treasure was destroyed by wars, looters, terrorists, exiles, and tyrants. The treasure of Baghdad, the blog, has the same. When I started this blog, I thought there would be some kind of change in my life. Unfortunally, it seems that I was fooling myself and so do other Iraqi bloggers.

Hopefully, I will continue blogging privately to pour everything in my heart in mind in a blog to get some kind of relief.

To end this entry, I wanted to say, that I arrived in Amman last night and will be going to Baghdad tomorrow hopefully.

And as 24 Steps to Liberty always says, Feeeeeeh!

My Trip to the U.S.A. Treasure of Baghdad's Diary

January 1, 2006

This morning I woke up lazy. Of course, I slept at 5 a.m. because I stayed late in R’s house and returned back home at 3:30 a.m. I arrived the house drunk!. Yes, drunk. It was New Year’s Eve for God’s sake and I haven’t had any fun since the war. And of course, I am not in Baghdad to be afraid going out late.

Anyway, I text-messaged O to make him call me. He did and he was asking about the time because he knows the time difference. So, we chatted and all what I remember is that I was lying on the floor when I was talking to him. I was laughing and laughing but I don’t know why. I don’t remember even what we talked about.

Anyway, I was really tired this morning. J noticed this. Watching the TV news made me really mad. Then J gave me a Mimosa which is a New Year’s tradition and to help my New Year’s Eve hangover.

After that I kept most of the day checking emails and reading newspaper and blogs. At 6:30, I took a nap for half an hour and then took a shower to get ready to go to a dinner party. J and I were invited by C, one of my favorite reporters who came to Baghdad last year.

“Ahlan Wa Sahlan,” said C when she opened the door with her great and beautiful smile. It was very nice of her to welcome me in Arabic. I was really impressed and I immediately remembered how nice and beautiful she was when she used to say “Sabah Alkhair” [good morning] every morning in Baghdad. C, won the Pulitzer Prize winner in 1991 for her coverage of Iraqi invasion Kuwait and the first Gulf War. I am very proud to meet her.

When we entered I saw K, a freelancing journalist who was in Iraq few months ago. She stayed in our office all that period where she was very nice and everyone in the office like her. Another journalism student was also invited to the dinner.

At 10 p.m., Th, our friend and journalist arrived. I was really excited and happy to see her because the last time I saw her in Baghdad was in 2003 where I had just started working. I was different at that time, completely different. you know, I had just got my B.A. degree and had no full idea of what does journalism mean. She was really surprised to see the shy B speaking.

While we were having dinner, C played one of my favorite CDs. It was a CD of Sabir Rubae, a Tunisian singer, I gave her when she was in Baghdad.

When we left C’s fancy condo, we looked at our watches and discovered that it was midnight. J drove K back home because it was really late and we thought that it would be very dangerous for her to stay late to get a taxi cab at that time.


January 2, 2006

Today, is my last day in the United States. I spent most of it reading and checking emails. The first thinking I heard was the continuous violence in Iraq.

One of the most things that kept me sitting in front of the computer was the new entry of 24 Steps to Liberty. It was a great and clear description of how life looked like before and after the war.

In blog standards, discussion is a very important thing. But when this discussion starts with an insult, the situation would be different. I left a comment on 24’s blog giving some of the examples that happened to me and my family in the period when Saddam was in power. What surprised me is a blogger called, Jeffrey, insulted me in public. His words were posted on 24’s like this, “I say to your face, Baghdad Treasure, FUCK YOU.”

What made me really sad is that it is known that all the reader’s of 24’s blog respect each other even if they disagree. I totally understand that everyone has his/her own point of view. But insulting others??!! That was really not in my dictionary. I think the worst thing people may do is insulting others without discussing issues with them in a very civilized way.

As an educated and civilized Iraqi, I replied to Jeffrey’s comment in a very polite and civilized way because this is how my family raised me. RESPECT is above all. And it makes me sad because he is a blogger and many people read his blog. I wonder how would people read for someone who uses words like “fuck You” in a comment on a blog?


Anyway, don't bother yourself. Today I had Indian food for dinner. J and I went to an Indian restaurant, called Tiffin, and bought some delicious Indian food. We went back home, had dinner while we were listening to American and Arabic music. Then J said, we should make Nargeela, Hookah. “This time, I am going to make it,” she said and she did. Yes, she was professional. She made it exactly as I made it the last time. even the way she blows on the piece of the coal was very professional. Heehee.


Hopefully, tomorrow and before I leave to the airport, I shall go to the newsroom to thank the editors and the other journalists there for their hospitality and concern about their staff in Baghdad.

Finally, at the end of my wonderful and successful trip, I say thanks for everyone considered me a brother and a friend. A great thanks to J and her family who surrounded me with their warmth and love. Thanks to my newspaper’s editor’s for listening to my concerns. Thanks to my friend Ivan whose generosity and help in New York City would never be forgotten. Thanks to the staff of the Committee to Protect Journalists who considered me part of their family. Thanks to all the readers who enjoyed my journey and left respectable comments whether they agreed or disagreed on what I wrote. Thanks to the American people who were very friendly and lovely with me. I hope one day we see an end to terrorism and see all Americans and Iraqis friends together in both countries. Finally, thank you AMERICA. Hopefully, I am coming back to you.

See you in Baghdad.