Reconciliation Vs Revenge

Primer Minister Maliki asked President Bush to hand over the Iraqi Government the defendants on the Anffal Case, who were sentenced to death, and who are still in the custody of the United States authorities, so that they Iraqi Government could execute them. PM Maliki is saying that, the reason behind his request is because not executing them is a Violation of the law since he is the executive authority and that he should execute the verdict within 30 days from the Verdict gets its final stage, which was a while ago. The defendants are the notorious Chemical Ali, Sultan Hashim Ahmed ( former Minister of Defense ) and Hussein Rasheed who is also a former Iraqi Army commander.

It is nice and really assuring that Prime Minster Maliki is so Keen that the law and Justice takes its coarse, we are all for it 100%, but to be selective in which verdicts and which laws should be a priority is another issue.

Do not get me wrong for I’m not defending Chemical Ali , God forbids, for he is even worst than his cousin Saddam. but to chose this verdict to execute against all the calls which are calling to pardon the former Defense Minster since he was a Military man following orders during a time of war, otherwise he would be executed without even a court marshal. Yet Mr. Maliki is so keen that this verdict must be executed.

Meanwhile, many families in Iraq have lost their houses, because they were driven out of it and many people who fled the country because of the violence returned to find that there are people who have taken over their houses. Those who were urged by the Iraqi government to return back to Iraq, and they were provided with a free ride back by buses from Syria and they were paid 600$ per family and 200$ per person. Yet this 600$ could only pay the rent for 2 months, while they figure out a way to get their houses back.

I heard of some people who were driven out of their houses and they moved to other neighborhoods and took over some of the abandoned houses in those neighborhoods. Defiantly they do not have to pay rent and this will be so convenient for them in the middle of this lawlessness.

This is not the case with individual families; there are tens if not hundreds of them. In the middle of all that, where are the police? Where are the courts and where is the entire executive authority, which is so concerned over the prevail of law and order. The Iraqi people know very well that executing people like Sultan Hashim Ahmed, who enjoys a very good reputation as a professional Military man, is just another chapter of revenge form all those who fought Iran. Many of the Iraqi fighter pilots and bombers have already been assassinated, and so many Iraqi Military commanders.

If you do not know who is Sultan Hashim Ahmed , he is the Minister of Defense who negotiated the end of the gulf war 1n 1991 with US Army general Schwatrtscof.

Such simple things give an indication to the Iraqi people, what are the priorities of the Iraqi government. Is it reconstruction? Reconciliation or is it revenge?.

I would like to ask Mr. Maliki, if you are so concerned over your statues as the executer and protector of law, why you don’t get those hundreds of house which are being looted, and burnt daily, back to their rightful owners. And one more thing Mr, Guardian of the law and order, how come that services and food ration materials were better during Saddam’s time when the price of oil was 17$ – 18$ dollars, while now it has greatly deteriorated and you are now thinking of Canceling the Food Ration, when the price of oil has went over 90$???!!!

THE IRAQI REFUGEES

Couple of Months ago I went on a trip to Syria to see my uncle, who moved there, like tens of thousands of Iraqis, because of the violence in Baghdad. One day, as we were walking in the market, we went into a store where my uncle doses his Daily shopping. Like any Iraqi man, when My uncle go for shopping he buys every thing that his family might need or like. Then the owner of the store surprised my uncle with a question. “Where do you Iraqis get all that Money from and spend it like that?” the store owner asked. My uncle turned red, and got angry. “Do you ask all your costumers, where do they get their Money from?! Do you ask the Saudis or the Kuwaitis when they come and buy stuff from your Store, where they gat there Money from????” My uncle asked as he was shaking with rage. He took that question as an insult, I knew exactly what was going on his mind, he was thinking that since we came to this country to take refuge from the Violence, then we must be considered like Beggars.

I have visited Syria Last year and I have seen it this summer, the development was so noticeable. the late 70’s Ladas, which were filling the streets of Syria, are now being replaced with band newJaguars. The living standards have been significantly improved. There are almost 1.5 Million Iraqis in Syria, and about 0.5 Million Iraqis in Jordon and the same Number in Egypt. Jordon and Syria Have been complaining because they are suffering from the large number of refugees on their countries, and that they represent a great burden on their amphora structure. Well I would not blame them on that particular point, but there are other things that they forgot to mention as well.

The Iraqis who came to Syria, or Jordon in Particular, are mostly upper middle class families, if not merchants or wealthy families. Most of them fled Iraq so that the kidnapping gangs would not kidnap any one from their families and then ask for Ransom. Many of them started their own businesses and rented or bought good apartments or houses, which made the Jordanians and Syrians complain that the Iraqis have made the prices of the real state go rocket high, beyond the capabilities of the ordinary citizens of those countries.

Most of those Iraqis have money sent to them from Iraq, either from renting their houses, salaries, pension or that one Family member is staying behind in Iraq to run some kind of Business. In my Uncle’s case, he is a retired civil servant and I send him his pension every 2 months, which is enough to pay him the rent and sustain him and his wife.

The Syrians and Jordanians forgot to mentions how much money (mostly hard currency) the Iraqis are pumping into those poor economies. One look at the apartment buildings which suddenly emerged in those countries would show you how much the Iraqis have moved those economies and how many jobs opportunities they have created.

Last Summer, the Jordanian Authorities started to put restrictions on the flow of Iraqis to Jordon, to the level that they forced people to buy return tickets from Baghdad so that if they do not let them in, they would use the same ticket to send them back with it to Baghdad. And they did send back entire plane’s load of Passengers.

Late last October I was in Amman - Jordon and one Taxi Driver surprised me when he did not complain ( like many other Taxi Drivers used to do previously Every time I visit Amman) of the Iraqis and how they raised the praises.

“you Iraqis are the ones who are moving our Economy” the Taxi Driver said and went on talking about how Taxi owners started to buy more Taxis to meet the demand created by the Iraqis and how that create more jobs for Taxi drivers. But now the business is slow because there are less Iraqis coming, which means less work for them.

Another friend of mine told me how many people invested in building new apartment buildings and taking for granted that the Iraqis gone buy or rent them, but now many of them are bankrupt because there are no more Iraqis coming to Amman and they have o Cover the loans they took from the Banks for those investments.

Also last October, the Syrian authorities started to require Visas from the Iraqis, while before they could go in for 3 months and the would have to leave to Next Door Lebanon, spend 3 days there an then return to Syria for another 3 months for merely 100$ per person, or simply drive to the Iraqi boarders, check out of Syria, drive to the Iraqi boarders, check in and then out and then return to Syria for another 3 months. While now, if your 3 months are over you should leave, that is if you do not have a residency permit.

This forced many of the Iraqis to return to Iraq in large numbers, because they no longer can stay there. And Made the Iraq Government brag that the security situation has improved (which is far from true) and now thousands of Families are returning to Iraq.

All what I want to say is that, let Egypt remember, before banning Iraqis from getting into Egypt, that for 10 years there were 2 million Egyptians working in Iraq and sending money to their Families back in Egypt to build houses and apartment buildings while the Iraqi men are fighting in the Iran – Iraq war in the 80s. And let Syria remember the Economic crisis they went through for 2 months when the war was taking place in Iraq in 2003 and they could not send their products to be sold at the Iraqi Markets. Let Jordon remember how much money they got when they were the main entry point for Iraq during the 80s and the years of Embargo. And also how much oil they used to take for free or favorable prices during Saddam’s time and how now they are welcoming the 100 000 barrel or Iraqi oil each day ( at least 18 US$ cheaper than the global market prices) while they do not welcome the Iraqis themselves.

THE FEDRAL STATE OF IRAQ

Iraq now is being identified as a "Federal State". There are many countries in the world that adopt the Federal system of ruling, like the USA, Germany and India. Even though Iraq is not as big as those countries, but the new leaders decided that Iraq ( even though it is as big as California) should be a Federal state. Regardless of what the Iraqi constitution states, I'm going to tell you what the Federal system in Iraq really means. I'm going to replace the word (Iraq) with (America), since many of the readers have never been to Iraq, and I will talk about the state (Texas) as an Example, replacing it with (Kurdistan) and not  actual Texas and the United State. So that it will be places that you may relate to.

This State of Texas has its own Flag, Parliament, president,Constitution and Army, which is Called the Guards of the State ( I know that the term used in US is the National Guards). Yet, the state of Texas dose not recognize the Flag of the United States of America, in fact they ban raising the American flag on its territories and the security forces would confiscate the American flag if any one raised it in the"Federal" state of Texas.

There are check points at the boarders of the Federal state of Texas, which would not let fellow Americans into Texas unless some one inside Texas would vouch for them, or they would send back those whom they do not want into the "Federal" State of Texas.

The Texas Federal Parliament makes its own legislation, without going back to the central Federal Government. Like they have their Own Hydrocarbon Law ( Oil and Gas), which deals with the oil and Gas investments and revenues of the oil, while the Federal Constitution, to which the Texan people voted for overwhelmingly, states that the Oil is the property of all the American people (that is the Iraqi People).and it is the Texan who hinder the drafting and Passing of a Federal oil law so that tings stay in a state oh limbo, where they can do what ever they like.  

At Each America Embassy, there is a representation office for the Federal state of Texas Government. Separate from the work of the Embassy and it is in charge of the Affairs of the Texan people and the Texas State Government......... No comment!

The American Government, when it first designed the electricity power network, it decided that the power network should be one National network and that the power plants built in Texas near the oil fields, would supply the other American States like Alaska with power. But then the Texan State Government decided not to supply other American states and leave them without power because what is produced in Texas remains in Texas.

Oh Yah one more thing, the US Army is not allowed to enter the Federal state of Texas before getting the approval of the Texas authorities. And then when they are threatened by another Neighboring country like Mexico, Texas Government would say that you are not threatening Texas but you are threatening the Entire USA. Yes, now they remembered that they are part of the USA when it is convenient. How could the poor Mexicans know that this is an American soil when there is No American flag raised over it and no American Army present there. Do not they have the right to go in till they find a place with an American flag over it to know that this is actually an American territory???

Probably by now, if you are an American, you might feel a bit upset if not outraged. Well, you know that this is not the case in Texas or the USA but it is the Case in the New Federal state of Iraq where some "regions" (not even states) are acting in this manner. And when you argue against this type of federalism, which I could only see it as separation rather than Federalism, they would argue back and say that Federalism is a good system and it is being applied in several countries in the world. Forgive my ignorance is this is how the Federal system really work in your country, if you live in a Sovereign Federal country???!!

The Lions of Mesopotamia

First I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to the Real Iraqi Team the Soccer team the only people who are carrying the Iraqi flag on their chest and really work for the sake of Iraq. They are the only people who know what it means that their flag is raised high. It means that their team Effort did not go in vain.

That is said, let us talk now on the Match's after math. First as the the Saudi people started to congratulate the Iraqi people for their win and achievement, the sectarian minded people in Iraq started to chant that " against the Wahabists ( the sonni sect in Saudi) this cup is a shiat". And they say that the others are sectarian!.

The prime minister rushed to reward this team and so did the Iraqi president and no matter what they give them it is not enough, but they have no credit in creating this team. This was the same team which got the Asia youngsters champion ships before the invasion and Uday Saddam Hussein back then decided that this will be the next Olympic team. All the players, but one, are not playing in the Iraqi local league, for they play in clubs all over the region and the world. For the Iraqi football league is now only played in the North of Iraq.

The Iraqi team and the fans who risked their lives when they went out in the streets celebrating and carrying the Iraqi flag, because they were happy for their country. While the Kurdish Security forces in their Kurdistan, confiscated the Iraqi flag and they did not allow any flag to be raised other than their Kurdish flag and not the Iraqi Flag. And then when they get threatened by Turkey they would say that you are not threatening Kurdistan you are threatening Iraq. Well I think it is shameful that they pull out the Iraq Card when ever it is convenient and put it back when it is not, especially when they are practicing a Constitutional violation by filtering those who are allowed into Kurdistan and those who are not. There are like border check points in which they would send back those whom they do not like in Kurdistan ( mostly the Arabs) unless there is some one inside who would sponsor them. This is a violation of the very the constitution that they have voted for and now raising hell against the delay of Article 140 of normalizing the situation in Kirkuk and threatening with a civil war.

Every Body said that the Iraqi Team united the Iraqi people behind them and did what the politicians failed to do which is bringing the Iraqis together. I think the Correct statement is that the Iraqi National team fixed what the politicians are trying to do which is dividing the already United Iraqi people.

Another letter

Hi. the follwoing is another Letter that I wanted to share with you. hope you find it informative . I talked about the sectarian warfare in Iraq, politics and oil. hope you like it and I would be interested to hear your comments.

" ...there are No problems among Iraqis ( as people) whither they are sonnies, shiat, Kurds or Turkmmen. the problem is that the Iraqi politics after 9/4/2003 was built on sectarian and ethnic bases. When you bring Kurdish parties and Shiat parties and Soni Parties you are building politics on sectarian and ethnic bases. They are not social parties or liberal democrat parties. So it became a matter of Rivalry between sects and when there are elections there would be winners and losers.
The Bases on which the whole political process is wrong. Iraqis were not at each other's throat before the war, but they became like that when sectarian polarizations started and each sect felt threatened by the other.
The American administration is the one who laid those bases and after the structure came up they discovered the grave mistake they made and now they have to put down that Ugly structure that they have been building and supporting for 4 years and start from the scratch, which is making them face tow options the sweetest of which is bitter. either to keep it as ugly as it is or bring it down and start all over again.
As for the Oil, in order to invest that oil you need a safe atmosphere. The Importance of the Iraqi oil lies in 3 crucial facts.1st, according to the oil excavations ( which stopped in the 70s of the last century), Iraq is the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world After Saudia Arabia ( which means it could easily be number one, once we really figure out how much oil we actually got).The point is that we have lots of oil. 2nd the Iraqi oil is cheap and easy to get out from the ground. 3rd, and most importantly, is that the Iraqi oil dose not have to be exported through the Gulf. It could be exported to Europe and the rest of the western world through the Mediterranean , through the pipe lines which gose through Turkey or any other country like Syria. Why all that is important?? because if any gulf country fell in the hand of Extremists or for example Iran wanted to stop all the oil Tankers from getting out of the region by closing the Gulf ( which can easily be done) there would be a global fuel crisis, and then Iraq would be the Safety valve with its abundant, easy to get out and deliverable oil that dose not have to go through the Gulf.
This is the strategic importance of Iraq's oil and that is why the whole world would not mind, not only thousands but even hundred of thousands die to keep that safety valve under control. but the question is HOW??!! and on what expense??

Once again .............please let it be known to you and to all the American people, the Iraqi people are not religious Fanatics, and they are not against the west, other wise you would not find millions of them leaving their dear country and escaping this sectarian and violent hell".

the American withdraw from Iraq

A friend of Mine from America asked yesterday wither I think that the American Military should leave or not and below you will find My Answer to that question

" ……As for the American army , they should stay. we do not have an Army (just some boy scouts with AK 47on Pick up trucks) no Air force what so ever (not a single fighter jet) only 4 or 6 Hewe Helicopters with no real fire power and only being used to Taxi officers to the south and the north for it is out of the question that they drive through some areas. As for the Government it is totally dysfunctional, no services what so ever and it is getting worst. No law enforcement and the real power in the street is for the insurgency and the Militias, who scares the shit out of the Army and the police . People are being killed and kidnapped in front of the police and the police are doing nothing, either because they are affiliated with them or they simply fear for their life.
Now the Americans are planning to blame it on the Iraqis and just leave. They could not do that for it will simply be punishing the Iraqi people. Those politicians who are now in the Government were brought by the Americans in the first place and now the Iraqis are paying the price and they will be the one bearing the consequences because those people who were brought by the Americans did a bad job. As I see it, they should fix what they destroyed in the first place and then we will be more than happy to see them leave. But to say sorry we have suffered too much in the mess that we have created and we will leave you to handle that mess that we created for you, this is outrageous".

we have a saying in Arabic ( the one who took the donkey up the Minatare, is the one who should brings it down)

This is what I said, and please tell me what you think about it.

The New Iraqi Army

The Iraqi Army Just announced few days ago that they will be replacing the AK-47 Assault rifle, (widely known as the Kalashnikov after its Russian designer Michael Kalashnikov) which has been the standard issue weapon of the Iraqi Army since the 60s, with the American Made M-16 and M- 4.

So, what is wrong with this news?

Since I have been in Iraq all my life I know for a fact that almost every Iraqi Youngman, and boy, knows how to deal and maintain the AK-47. This came as a result of an 8 year long war with Iran, during which the AK was the constant and trusted companion of the Iraqi Soldier in the Battle field. Then it was widely used by almost every Iraqi on August 8^th 1988, when the seize fire was announced between Iraq and Iran, marking the end of the war between the 2 countries. People went out in the streets firing their AKs to celebrate the great announcement for days. The AK was ululating for them.

Then Came the Days of the war with America, Saddam decided to train the Iraqis, all the Iraqis, and young, Old, men and woman on using the Ak-47 to "defend Iraq". So as you can see there is a long history between the Iraqis and the AK-47.

For those who have never used or even seen a gun, the Ak-47 is considered the most practical assault rifle ever. It hardly jams and it has been battle tested and it came out with flying colors. I still remember when J. Garner ( the first American civil administrator in Iraq after the war) when his body guards came to the press room carrying all kinds of Semi Automatic rifles and guns. The next press conference they all came Carrying AKs. I was surprised then, but the camera man who was with me that day, who happen to be an Ex-Marine, was not.

"Are you kidding, it is our dream weapon" he said when I pointed out that the American PSDs (private security detail) are carrying AKs.

So why the Iraqi Army would switch from the weapon which is most efficient, well trained on and never had problem with, to another weapon that they are totally unfamiliar with and known for its problems and how much maintenance it requires.

The Ministry said that they want to do that in order to put an end to the weapons being stolen and sold at the Black market, which means that now we would find the M-16 and M-4 in the black market, but no one will buy them for 2 reasons. 1^st they are not as good and reliable as the Ak so the Iraqis are smart enough not to buy them, 2^nd where do you think the Aks that the Iraqi Army abandoned will go, they will definitely end up at the Black market which will reduce its current price( which is around 300$). The Ministry also said that they almost got those rifles for free; well we did not want them in the first place. What the Iraqi Military need is new Modern tanks instead of the T-52 second hand Tanks which are imported after the war form former Soviet republics and eastern Europe. We want new fighter jets, and modern warship helicopters like the Cobra, Apache or the Chinook, so that we have a real Military force in stead of the Current boy scouts who are being slaughtered on the hands of more powerful and better equipped terrorists and militias. Then we will be able to say to the foreign forces, now you can go back home safely for your "Mission" is really "accomplished" and you do not need to fear for us any more. So in stead of sending us Junk, send some F- 16 s in stead. It is only one letter different but it makes all the diffrance at the Battle field.

DRINKING BEER IN BAGHDAD

For those who fancy a cold can of BEER in the middle of the heat of Baghdad, the following is a guide to where you can find BEER now in the free, democratic and liberated Baghdad.

For those who live in the northern part of the city, there is always the liquor stores compound which is right behind the concrete Blast Barriers around the Italian Embassy in Wazziryia. For the thirsty people of Central Baghdad you can either get it across the street from the Famous Baghdad Hotel. Right across the street from the other concrete Barriers protecting the residents of Baghdad hotel with its high guard towers that provides protection to those liquor stores ( later you will know from what).

As for the poor people across the river in the side, which we Iraqis Call Kerkh, now dominated by the extremist Islamist, as far as I know you can only get liquor from the liquor stores at Karadat Maryam area, situated between the 2 check points guarding the entrances to the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad.

You may now wonder why all the above mentioned liquor stores are situated in areas close or inside heavily guarded and fortified places. Why you no longer could go and Buy them from the other liquor stores like the Honey Market, the liquor stores in Arrasat, Karada, Sadoun Street or from the Many liquor stores and whole sell merchants at street 52 in Al-Ellwyia? Well the answer is very simple, because they all closed their liquor businesses after receiving threats or actually attacked or had their shops blown up and burnt.

That is why you need protection and that is why you need guns and gunmen inside the shops to protect you. The only exception to this role is a shop in Karada (I will not say exactly where so that it remains open) where they have at least 3 – 4 guards with AK-47 machine guns and BKCs ( a more powerful and bigger Machine Gun) on the roof of the store. No front windows for they were sealed off with a brick walls. No signs announcing the name of the store or promoting a brands of Beer or Johnny walker whiskey or the local Drink Arak ( kind like the Greek OUZO). Just a narrow front door which takes you inside that store.

The liquor store would wrap what you bought in a black plastic bag or a big Cartoon box so that you do not get in trouble while you carry what you just bought which either could get you killed or save your life. If some of the police members caught you with a can of beer or any kind of liquor they just might beat you like hell for that , even though it is legally Ok to have, move or consume liquor and there is no law against that, and the constitution which Many of those people voted yes to guarantee such right. Some Islamic fundamentalists, who are now separating the cucumber from Tomato at the Markets just because they have a twisted mind that looks at vegetables like human mating organs, might kill you for drinking liquor. It might also save your life for it proves that you have no religious or sectarian affiliation so none of the sects or religious extremists groups would target you and they do not look at you as a source of threat.

Since the real power in the streets of Baghdad is the Militias and the terrorists and not the government, they are the ones who set the rules. And they even have clever ways to get to their victims (unlike the Government). In Iraq, people who drink costumary eats Pacha ( boiled sheep head) a traditional Iraqi dish, because they think that the meat would absorb the alcohol that they just consumed. So Militia elements started to hang around the Pacha restaurants to catch those who were drinking. Some times those Militia elements come in the form of a police patrol car, for the police is already infiltrated by the Militias. Those are the Law enforcement elements but the question is that which law they enforce???!!.

During the past decades till the early years of the 90s, you would have been able to drink liqoure practically every where in Baghdad. There were bars, night clubs and at hotels. In addition to that there were many liquor stores every where. But on the Early 90s Saddam launched his religious Campaign to win the Back-warded Arab and Islamic world on his side in his stupid confrontation with the west, So he closed Bars, night clubs and banned drinking in 5-star Hotels, but not the liquor stores. The liquor stores remained open and no one messed with them. Even Saddam did not go that far.

Right after the war there was too much freedom that street vender's would have a scotch with rocks ready for you that you can pick it up while driving down the Aa'adhmyia Cornish. But now since there is a Government dominated by Islamists extremists ( Sonnies and Shia) and parliament which more dominated by Islamists groups ( also Sonnies and Shiat) we will never have a legislation nor an executive power which will guarantee the Iraqi thirsty man have a cold beer in a hot summer day without Having to build a concrete Blast Barrier around him.

The IRAQI Prime Minister :

Today the Newspapers in Baghdad delivered the good news that Prime Minster Maliki will be Granting 2 Million Iraqi Dinnars ( = 1562 $) to every Family of the victims from the Kerbala Bombing which took place couple days ago. This generosity is not the first of its kind from the "Iraqi" prime Minister. Last week Prime Minister Maliki distributed money on the victims and shop owners in Karad which witnessed bombings on January 25^th of this year. And he also gave 2 Millions to the Families of those who were killed in Sadr City bombings late June 2006 and one Million to those who were injured.

Before that Prime Minister Ja'afari also ordered generous financial compensations to the Victims of the Shiat stampede on the 2 Imams Bridge between Kadhumyia and A'adhamyia over 18 months ago. He was so generous that people started to wish if their wife or Mother died in that stampede.

Do not get me wrong, I'm not against generosity, I'm all for it. I'm even more pro generosity when the Prime Minister is involved and innocent Victims are benefiting from it. But when all that generosity is heading in one direction only and the simple rights of others are not granted, then questions should be asked.

Has not been there MAJOR bombings as well in Kirkuk ( at least twice) with many people getting killed there. Have not there been Major Bombed Trucks with Chloride gas, in Amiryiat Al-Falluja. Have not been there Major Bombing in Telafar whose Sonies and shiat Killed in the same time? Are those people killed on those bombings less human than the first group?! Why the " Iraqi " Prime Minister is always Generous with his compensations when the area is Purely shait and the Victims are Mainly Shiat. Are they Afraid that this Money would Go To sonnies (God Forbids).

In order to be fear and Call your self an " Iraqi Prime Minister" and head of a " National Unity Government" you should be just in your generosity with all the Iraqis, so that all the Iraqis consider you as their Prime Minster and not look at you as the SHIAT Prime Minster. You are seeking recognition from the entire world while your own people do not recognize you as their Prime Minister.

So you either be equally generous to every one or do not call your self "Iraqi" Prime Minster.

PLASTIC DATE PALM TREES IN THE HEART OF DATE PALM TREES LAND

Through out history Date Palm Tree was always a revered symbol for the Middle East societies in general, and Iraq in particular. You can trace that respect and love all the way back to the old civilizations which flourished in Mesopotamia. Iraq is considered the No.1 country in Date Palm trees and the Best (that is up till the 80 of the Last century) in Date production.

It really aches the Heart of every Iraqi who looks to this great Generous if Not sacred tree, to see Plastic palm trees Made in Iran, filing the streets of Baghdad and Najaf ( the Heart of Palm tree Land) and replacing the Ever green, Beautiful, tall and glorious trees .

Being Made in Iran dose Not Make them more holy and more revered than the original Date Palm Trees which provides, food through its nutritious sweet Dates, wood through its strong trunk, furniture and baskets from its leafs and I could go on for pages and pages and not to give it justice.

This is the Blessed tree In Judaism, Christianity and Islam " Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards thee: it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon thee. Eat, then, and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened!" (Qur'an 19:25-26). And that is why you see Dates on the Christmas Banquets in some Christian societies. And the Palm tree leafs is what is carried as part of a ceremony in Jerusalem. Fronds used on Palm Sunday, commemorating the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem (Lion's Gate or east entrance to Jerusalem, through which Jesus is supposed to have entered the city).

All of this! and now we are replacing this magnificent, always giving tree, which Prophet Mohamed Said " honor your Mother the Palm tree" because it is just like a mother which gives so much with unconditional love. We replace it with a plastic mother just because it came from Sacred Iran??!!... Shame on you. The Iranians made Plastic palm trees because they simply do not have it and they Envy you because you (I mean the Iraqis) do have it.

Why should you blindly imitate the Iranians in every thing. Isn't it enough that you brought from over there all the beating and Chains wiping, which is the ugliest thing ever and it got nothing to do with Islam? Why you did not bring from over there the clean street and the highest nationalistic spirit to your Nationality (and not theirs because you are already good in that).

Wake Up and respect your Country, your identity and your Mother… the Date Palm Tree ( Al-Nakhlah).

THE GREAT WALL OF A'ADHAMYIA

For those who do not know what I'm Talking about, the American Army announced that they will be building a concrete wall that separates the Sonni Dominated city of A'adhamyia in Baghdad from the Entire shiat Dominated Eastern Part of Baghdad. The Americans, and the Shiat dominated Iraqi government are claiming that this wall is a "protective security wall and Not a separation wall".

Through out what I will state now, I think you will come to the same conclusion that I have reached which is that all of this is a big Piece of Crap.

According to the American and Iraqi Security forces, this wall was built in order to protect the People of A'adhmayia from Car bombs and Militias attacks as well. Can any body tell me when was the Last bombed car in A'adhmyia??? And when was the Last Militia attack in A'adhmyia taking place?? For I could not remember the last time there was a bombed car in A'adhmyia ( it was like several Months ago). And the Last Militia attack on A'adhmyia took place at Al-Ja'afri government when Solagh was still the Minister of interior, which is way over a year ago.

I'm Not saying that A'adhmyia is the Virtues city, for there are lots of criminal gangs that are killing people there ( especially Shiat) and Now the Islamic State of Iraq ( another Name for Al-Qayida) has moved in Town and started to kill all the other insurgency organizations in A'adhamyia.

To say that this wall is to protect the people of Aadhmyia is a lie, it is simply that the Government is not able to get there to root out the terrorism there, and at the same time they do not want terrorism to spread out to the rest of the city. The government has simply tagged the entire city of A'adhmayia with Terrorism, which is outrageous and it also shows how incompetent this government is in cracking down terrorism.

So the solution they came up with is that they just imprison the whole city there and let every one eat the other. And they stay out of it. So much for law enforcement security plan!. This is just another phase of tagging the sonnies with Terrorism, something the Iraqi People do not approve but the sectarian government is doing that. And do not be surprised if another Wall emerged separating the Shiat dominated Kadhumyia city from the rest of the sonni dominated western part of Baghdad.

Just one question, if those walls are to protect people from Bombed car why they do not put one around Karada where bombed cars explode at least twice a week.

With all those divisions the government make, they claim that they are all for a reconciliation…..Right!! A separation wall or a protection wall it is still a wall.

WHY NOW?

Hi, since I'm a journalist and also a resident of war torn Iraq. and since I have been seeing lots of things which I feel allegiant to the city which I was born, raised and grown loving, that Is Baghdad. I decided to put down my thoughts and sightings of what is going on in Iraq in General and Baghdad in particular . hope you will be able to see Baghdad through the eyes of some one who consider him self to be one among millions of Baghdad's Lovers.