2005-05-30

Dahr Jamail

Things Are Getting Worse by the Day

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

Two suicide bombers detonated themselves after walking into a crowd of policeofficers in Hilla, south of Baghdad. The policemen were demonstrating outsidethe mayor's office to protest a government decision to disband their SpecialForces unit.

In yet another horrible PR move (or attempt to raise sectarian tensions?) by theUS military the head of Iraq's largest Sunni political party, Mohsen AbdulHamid was detained from his home early this morning in western Baghdad. Ofcourse his head was promptly bagged and his hands tied before he was taken awayto be interrogated. His three sons were also detained with him. Stun bombs andbullets 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-backedsecurity operation now engulfing Baghdad because they believe the securityforces 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 anyinconvenience and acknowledge (Abdul-Hamid's) cooperation in resolving thismatter.”

Abdul Hamid refused their apology in the Arab media, and stated that he washumiliated when US soldiers held their boots on his head for 20 minutes. It wasalso stated that he accused American soldiers of removing items from his home,including a computer. This is standard operating procedure with home raids-Ican't tell you how many Iraqis I've interviewed after their homes were raidedwho complained of money, jewelry and other belongings being looted by Americansoldiers.The Islamic Party released a statement after the release of Abdul Hamid whichsaid, “The U.S. administration claims it is interested in drawing Sunnis intothe 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 inlate April, and with the ongoing operations sparking more attacks each day, itdoesn't look like there is an end in sight. Keep in mind, the vast majority ofthe Iraqi security forces are either Shia or Kurdish battling against aprimarily Sunni resistance (for now). It can easily be argued that we arewitnessing a US-backed Iraqi government who is deliberating using its power towage a civil war.

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

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

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

“Electricity shut offs drive us crazy in this hot summer,” one of my friendswrote me recently, “Even we can't read at night because of long hours ofelectricity cuts and because the outside generators can't withstand runningthese long hours and we have to turn these generators off for some time to coolthem!”

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 inservices and electricity! They say again and again the terrorists are to blameand I would accept this, but why they do not protect these facilities? Do theAmerican camps have cuts of electricity? No, no, and nobody will allow this tohappen...but poor Iraqis, nobody would be sorry for them if they burn with thehell of summer, small kids and old men they get dehydrated because noelectricity, no cold water, etc. Have you heard about the tea that is mixedwith iron particles? It is real in our life. People have to make sure their teais not mixed with iron by use of magnets.”

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

He sent me that email three days ago.

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

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

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