Qana's Crime=Baghdad's Amiriya Shelter Crime

The men were crying for more help to evacuate the destroyed building. Their calls were accompanied by tears and cries but in vain. The shelter refugees have already died in one of the most brutal Israeli attacks. Qana Crime, a second one, killed at least 57 people in an Israeli attack on the village Sunday, 37 of them children, their bodies frozen in the angles that only death can bring.

The crime's TV footage and pictures posted on the internet reminded Iraqis with a similar crime happened in 1991 when the U.S. decided to punish Saddam for his invasion to Kuwait by killing his country's civilians. Amiriya Shelter crime was never forgotten. On February 13, 1991 at 4 in the morning it was hit by two American bombs, which incinerated the building, including all but ten of the 400 women and children seeking refuge inside of it. Despite severe looting to the shelter after the U.S.-led invasion, pictures of many of the victims remain, which includes several entire families who died in the slaughter. Shadows of women who died have been burned into the walls, similar to the infamous shadow of a man flash-imprinted into concrete as he was vaporized by the atomic bomb of Hiroshima.

I was 10 years-old when the crime happened. I still remember the footage of the men and women who were weeping for their families and relatives at the metal fence of the shelter. Their eyes were red as if they were crying blood instead of tears. Twenty-five years passed and I still see the same footage but this time in Lebanon. Lebanese civilians were crying blood for the loss of their relatives and friends in Qana.

It's shameful how the United Nations and the International community, including the Tyrants of the Arab World, became crippled and disabled. They can't stop the massacre. However, it is really great to see how the Arab peoples are not like their tyrants. Praise to be to the demonstrations that were carried out in Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen and Lebanon against the enemy. Praise to be to the Arab Bloggers who express their solidarity with their brothers and sisters. These are the true Arabs who will one day revolt against their tyrants and occupiers and bring back the glory of their Arab World.

Viva Lebanon… Viva Iraq… Down with the Terrorists…

RELATED LINKS:

A Refuge That Became a Place of Death

Iraq's divided parliament stands united over Israel

JORDAN WATCH

Amriya Shelter

AMIRIYAH SHELTER REVISITED

QANA - BAGHDAD

QANA: 2006

BAGHDAD, AMIRIYAH SHELTER: 1991

Reality Through Blogs

Iraq, Iraq and Iraq… what else can most Americans and Iraqis concentrate on? Today and as I was reading the news on the internet, I spared some time for reading blogs that deal with situation in Iraq. I was really amazed of the excellent work Iraqis and non-Iraqis are doing of reflecting the exact picture of how Baghdad and all Iraq look like in the midst of chaos and civil war. Thanks to the technology that made such good people reveal what newspapers and TV station show.

Video Blogging is a new step in the road of revealing the truth in Iraq. They are like a webcam moving in Baghdad's streets letting other people in the world see how Iraq looks like today. Other blogs which are in fact networks are combining the east with the west.

Alive in Baghdad is one of the excellent blogs I've ever seen. " Alive in Baghdad will encourage Westerners to ask questions about the similarity of life between working Americans and working Iraqis, to wonder about the strength of resolve it takes to continue supporting your family against all odds under occupation," Alive in Baghdad Team says in their "About" page.

The team of this wonderful video blog posted dozens of interviews and footage of daily life in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities talking to different Iraqis. Don't miss the chance to take a look at their great work. Good job guys!

An Australian young man does a great job by creating a network of people's thoughts and daily account of their lives. "Networking with people across the globe has been a goal of mine as long as I can remember, but until now I had always pictured doing it through overseas travel as an investigative journalist- not through theinternet; but I guess the "Olivebranch Network" changes this," he told me in an email.

The aim of the Olivebranch Network, he said, was decided upon in principal: An educational webpage which would provide reliable information about the life, culture and politics in the Middle East. The idea being to educate people across the globe in order to combat ignorance.

And finally, Salam Pax, Iraq's most famous blogger worked on his new 'Video Blogs' for Newsnight. He did a great job by interviewing people and describing how Bgahdad looks like these days. Take a look at what he did. Don't miss a second! It's not like Hollyowood. It's real.

I can only say, good job guys guys.

baghdadtreasure@gmail.com

On the Verge?!

When al-Jihad neighborhood sectarian massacre happened, I called different Shiite and Sunni lawmakers to get their comments on what is happening. All of which agreed that Iraq is "on the edge of a civil war".

After I finished the calls and filed my material, I kept thinking of the situation as an Iraqi citizen away from what the politicians say or pretend. Are we really on the verge of the civil war? No, we are not! We are going through a civil war right now. Let's face it.

What is the Civil War? Wikipedia defines it as A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight for political power or control of an area. Some civil wars are also categorized as revolutions when major societal restructuring is a possible outcome of the conflict. An insurgency, whether successful or not, is likely to be classified as a civil war by some historians if, and only if, organized armies fight conventional battles. Other historians state the criteria for a civil war is that there must be prolonged violence between organized factions or defined regions of a country (conventionally fought or not).

If we look deep into this definition, we'll find it typical to what is happening in Iraq, especially in Baghdad. The Mahdi Army consists of members of the same culture, society and sect. They all follow the traditions and teachings of Muqtada al-Sadr and his late father and uncle. Badr troops are the military wing of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Both are classified as militias as both of them are armed and ready to fight. Both have been involved in several incidents of kidnapping, beating and torturing of Sunni Iraqis, and many experts view it as a sectarian militia.

On the other hand, there are the Sunni insurgents whom I think started the sectarian killings. Since 2004, Sunni armed men controlled Sunni areas that lead to Shiite holy cities like Najaf and Karbala. These insurgents stopped cars and people in the middle of the day and killed hundreds, if not thousands of Shiites going to visit the holy Shiite Shrines. As a reaction to this, Both Shiite militias started their campaign against the Sunni minority in Iraq. It started as a sectarian conflict by individual shootings, killings, kidnappings and car bombs. The most famous incident Badr's hands were stained in blood with was the Jadriya interior ministry prison where Sunnis were found tortured. After that the Sunni insurgents increased their attacks against Shiites by full control of Sunni areas forcing the Shiite people to leave. Also as a reaction to this, the Shiite militias continued their sectarian campaign. They forced Sunnis in their neighborhoods to leave or they would be killed.

This sectarian conflict has arisen since Ibrahim al-Jafari took power after the elections which Sunnis did not take part in. Jafari was powerless. He was controlled by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council of Islamic revolution in Iraq who owns Badr troops. Hakim was smart enough to change the name of Badr troops into Badr organization to deny all the crimes they commit. He always justifies that Badr is an "unarmed organization" and that the troops have joined the interior ministry and became part of the security forces and they are no longer a militia. Bayan Jabur Solagh, the former interior minister in Jafari's government and the former head of the troops, played a big role in raising the sectarian conflict to reach its peak. These forces carried out hundreds of sectarian raids against Sunnis by his orders as some lawmakers and politicians say. They kidnapped hundreds of Sunni young men and elderly whose dead bodies were found few days after their kidnapping.

The bombing of the Samarra Askariya holy Shiite shrine was the spark that led Iraq reach this situation. As a reaction, Shiite militias and security forces took part in the deadly massacre against Sunnis in different parts of the country. The Baghdad morgue by itself received more than 1000 corpses in few days. I've been there at that time and I saw what no eye can endure seeing. Bodies were tortured, legs and arms were cut, and blood covered the piles of the bodies which were thrown on the floor. I had the feeling that this will never pass easily.

Day after day, sectarian killings increased leaving thousands of people die and thousands others flee their areas or the whole country. The worst confrontation erupted July 9 when Shiite Muslim militiamen rampaged through al-Jihad neighborhood and killed dozens of Sunni Arabs. By Friday, the sixth day, the death toll in Baghdad stood at 628 people, Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Nima of the Interior Ministry told the Washington Post. These attacks provoked the Sunni insurgents. They decided to carry out a new technique. Military-style assault on unarmed civilians took its way to Shiite areas, especially in markets and coffee shops. In one incident happened last week, assailants entered a cafe and shot dead seven men -- most of them elderly -- while they were having tea in Mahmoudiya south of Baghdad, Maytham Abdul Zahad, a police officer told the Washington Post. He said the gunmen stepped on their victims' heads to keep them still. The Post also said that Sunni Arab insurgents asserted responsibility for the slaughter, calling it retaliation for attacks against their own in surging sectarian violence.

Today for instance, a suicide bomber blew up a minibus at the entrance to a market in Sadr City, a Shiite district of Baghdad, killing at least 33 and wounding more than 70 other people. Today's explosion was the second major car bombing in Sadr City this month. A blast July 1 killed 66 people, and set off a wave of reprisal killings of Sunnis by Shiite extremists seeking revenge.

Out of this continuous civil war, Baghdad became like city of ghosts. The absence of electricity for 22 hours made it look like a city in the middle ages. Lack of control by the security forces became so visible to all the people whom no longer trust them especially when Police and interior ministry commandoes were seen helping and supporting the Mahdi Army militiamen breaking into the houses of the Sunnis in al-Jihad neighborhood.

A new rumor is spread among people now: the American army may carry out a huge operation in Baghdad looking for militiamen and insurgents. People, including my family, started storing food and water. It is believed it is going to be as worse as the Falluja and Najaf battles.

Problems in my neighborhood, a neighborhood with Sunni majority, started again. Mahdi army militiamen were seen setting checkpoints and searching people's vehicles in front of the Iraqi army which did nothing to stop these outlaws. These militiamen broke into the opposite neighborhood and forced Sunni men leave their homes or they rape their daughters and kill them afterwards. My Sunni friends are so afraid and have no other choice so far but to stay armed in their houses to defend themselves and their families.

My uncle lives in Dora, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. At least 245 people died there last week, police announced. I called him once as he was stuck inside his house while he was peering through his window at the group of armed men clashing with each other. He told me he saw shirtless men firing machine guns, gunmen in black tracksuits toting rocket-propelled grenade launchers. His daughters cried at the rattle of gunfire, unable to fall asleep in their beds. Few days after the clashes were over, he took his family to my aunt's houses which considered a little bit safer.

Now, what should we call this? A sectarian strife or a civil war? I don't think we are on the verge; we are already in.

baghdadtreasure@gmail.com

Viva Lebanon… Viva Iraq…

History repeats itself, I said within myself as I was watching the news bulletin: same footage, same suffering and almost same attacker for the same reason. Buildings collapse and people die, cry and flee homes. Children are hurt, mothers weep and parents sob. Maybe no one in the world feel what is happening in Lebanon like Iraqis.

Footage of a destroyed beautiful country like Lebanon reminded me with the same footage I saw in Baghdad but in reality, not on TV. Footage of warplanes bombing and destroying one of the most beautiful cities like Beirut also reminded me with the warplanes that destroyed my lovely Baghdad twice, in 1991 and 2003.

Media broadcasted how Lebanese families are fleeing their homes fearing the aggressive strikes reach them. My God! We went through exactly the same thing in 1991 and 2003 when we had to flee our houses fearing the aggression reach us, Iraqi civilians, which actually did. Many families were left homeless, hopeless and sleepless.

I strongly remember how Baghdad looked after the 1991 aggression. It was scary and gloomy and very sad to see. Nothing was left but rubbles of destroyed infrastructure. Bridges, operators, towers, government buildings, and water and oil projects were all destroyed leaving civilians with no chance to live. Even medicine was banned. Wow! History really repeats itself. Lebanon which survived a long fierce civil war has to suffer again and go through the same destruction which the same attacker took part in creating.

Yesterday, one of the Washington Post articles described how a Lebanese physician was working in his hospital while the voice of Majida al-Roumi soared high. Roumi, one of the most famous and respected Arab singers, was singing "O Beirut, the Lady of the World." "Rise from under the rubble, like a flower of almond in April." I've heard this song several times before the aggression against wounded Beirut took place. When I hear her singing the word "Beirut", I feel she sings for Beirut and Baghdad, the two wounded cities which were ones of the greatest Arab cities. The song reminds me with almost similar song I always listen to, "Baghdad" by a famous Iraqi singer. "Shame on the era of civilization! O what a shame!" he sings. "Does terrifying the people become a medal of honor and pride? Does the killing of the innocents become a slogan of glory and victory?" the singer continues.

I take a bow with full respect to the Lebanese people, brothers and sisters of the Iraqi people. Both will win in the end, not necessarily by weapons but by will, the will of revival despite the hateful aggressions and successive wars. The will of Iraqis that rebuilt their country after the 1991 aggression is the same will which Lebanese people will adopt in rebuilding their country and is the same will Iraqis will restore to revive their country and the smile of its people.
Viva Lebanon… Viva Iraq… Down with any killer of any innocent…

baghdadtreasure@gmail.com

Pictures speak for themselves

Iraq 2003

Lebanon 2006

Advertisments and Reality

The boy was playing with his friends in a local vegetable and fruit market. A stone was stuck in his shoe. As he bent to get rid of it, his eyes caught a man walking abnormally. He chased him but the man didn't give the boy a minute to identify him. In a quick move, he opened his brown thick Jacket and pressed a button on his explosives belt blowing up everything around.

In moments all bodies were grilled like chicken. They flew away from each other and fell over sidewalks, shops, and burning vehicles. Out of the effect of the blast, men were thrown at a coffee shop at the same time the windows were breaking into small pieces. Women in black Abayas died with their blood mixed with the grilled vegetables and fruits they bought. Close to them, a wounded woman sobbed and wailed in the burning market. As everything was burning, the shoe of the boy fell on one of the cars indicating that he also died and nothing was left of him but his shoe. "Terrorism has no religion" appeared in the background after the shoe fell.

This was not a real story. It was an advertisement against terrorism in Iraq. However, in reality, such footage happens almost everyday.

Anti-terrorism advertisement campaign increased in Iraq in the latest period. The interior ministry's advertisement can be seen and read in all media outlets. The most notable ones are those appear on TV. "For the eyes of Iraq, open your eyes," one of the advertisements shows urging the people to call on a specific phone number if they see or hear about terrorists.

One of the other moving advertisements I've watched is about a group of Iraqis fighting each other as they are gathering around a palm tree trying to grasp as much dates as they can and put them in their baskets. Suddenly, they all stop and share the dates equally.

During the elections Iraq witnessed after the fall of the former regime, intensive advertisement campaigns urged the people to go out and vote defeating all terrorist attempts which tried to make this process fail. Accompanied by the melody of the national anthem with the Iraqi flag flapping in the hands of voters, the advertisements played a big role in making the process succeed.

Until now, it's only the elections advertisements proved to be successful. Others like the first one I mentioned have not succeeded yet. In my own point of view, I think it's hard to succeed. Let's be frank and say that Iraq is no longer going through terrorism only. We are going through a fierce civil war where no one trust the other and no one considers the other a brother or a sister which I think is applied to the third example mentioned above. Everyone wants everything for him. Iraqis, specifically the ones who are left in Iraq, want everything by forces like those who were fighting over the dates. I wonder when the day comes when everyone believes in sharing this country.

Most people now believe that the interior ministry should not be trusted. Police commandoes' reputation is stained with blood with evidence. It's hard to make people believe that what happened in the prisons or the sectarian raids may not happen again. When al-Jihad neighborhood clashes were erupted, the interior ministry commandoes were allegedly seen helping the Shiite armed men breaking into the houses of the Sunnis and killing them. A Washington Post article mentioned that citizens in Amiriya neighborhood dialed the interior ministry emergency phone number which the advertisement kept showing.

Saleh Muhammed, an Amiriyah resident, told a Post special correspondent that he dialed 130 into his cellphone, Baghdad's emergency number. "The Mahdi Army has attacked Amiriyah," he told the Interior Ministry dispatcher.

"The Mahdi Army are not terrorists like you," said the dispatcher at the ministry, which is controlled by a Shiite party and operates closely with militias. "They are people doing their duty. And how could you know that they are the Mahdi Army? Is it written on their foreheads?" He hung up the phone.

baghdadtreasure@gmail.com