How can anybody sit like that for more than 2 minutes without getting cramps?
Friday, March 31, 2006
April fools? Who is the real fool here..
I have a few thoughts about this country...
It takes 10 minutes for the Iraqi to wash his face, but I have never seen one get in the shower
Could somebody please teach these people how to flush a toilet?
Give an Iraqi a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach an Iraqi to fish, and he will blame you for destroying his way of life with your infidel ways.
If women are supposed to be modest in typical Iraqi society, and are not supposed to attract attention of men, why is she wearing a Hijab with a slip up to her pelvis? And is that a micro-mini skirt underneath?
5 million cars in this country, and nobody ever taught them how to drive?
For such a religious muslim country, how come half the people we arrest are drunk?
In a country where time doesn’t mean a thing, who knew they observed Daylight Savings Time?
Putting bricks in the road is not considered a road block
Why would you hang your clothes from a clothes line to dry them, but burn trash upwind from the clothes?
If senators sent their sons and daughters off to war, would we still be here?
It takes 10 minutes for the Iraqi to wash his face, but I have never seen one get in the shower
Could somebody please teach these people how to flush a toilet?
Give an Iraqi a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach an Iraqi to fish, and he will blame you for destroying his way of life with your infidel ways.
If women are supposed to be modest in typical Iraqi society, and are not supposed to attract attention of men, why is she wearing a Hijab with a slip up to her pelvis? And is that a micro-mini skirt underneath?
5 million cars in this country, and nobody ever taught them how to drive?
For such a religious muslim country, how come half the people we arrest are drunk?
In a country where time doesn’t mean a thing, who knew they observed Daylight Savings Time?
Putting bricks in the road is not considered a road block
Why would you hang your clothes from a clothes line to dry them, but burn trash upwind from the clothes?
If senators sent their sons and daughters off to war, would we still be here?
Friday, March 24, 2006
Random comments are good too!
Well, it’s been a while since I have had a chance to update. It has been really busy around here, what with the NON-civil war and all. I was reflecting with my interpreters just what that meant for them, and they didn’t quite think that a civil war as we define it, is the same as what they call it.
For us, a civil war is a generic term to describe one element inside a country to take up arms against another side. These sides can be divided along political or religious lines, or areas or the country, or a number of different things. In any case, a lot of people on both sides die, and it’s hard on everybody, because you are despised for who you are, or what you believe.
For them, for him, it’s not a civil war. He says that the people are not as bad as the press makes it out to be, and it’s not a civil war. He believes that the only reason that the Sunni and Shia are killing each other is because that is what they are told they need to do. I thought this was interesting, and asked him to explain. He says that it’s typically the militia that is killing the innocent people, and they are being told to do so by either religious or criminal leaders. I tried to say, but isn’t that against the religious beliefs of most of the people. He said, that most of the people have no idea what they believe, and that they believe in what they are told. So, if all you are told is that the Shia are evil, then you will go out and kill the Shia. If you believe that the Sunni are going to kill you, then you will kill them before they get you. It’s not a civil war, he says. He calls it a criminal war. The thugs are killing the people, and it’s not going to end until somebody kills the thugs.
All that said, I am tired of the bodies. The Shia and the Sunni are killing people at random, and dumping the bodies all over. I can’t understand how they could hate each other so much, and I know it goes way back to some religious thing. I don’t know how many we have found, or had to remove, but its frightening to think that people could hate so much. Our area is amazingly quiet, and we patrol the streets daily. We have gotten the Iraqi’s to meet and greet people every day to get information, and to enforce to the public that we (the Police) are here to provide protection and preserve the peace. I think we are doing a pretty good job, because wherever we go, people come up to us, talk with us, and tell us how happy they are that we are here. We go about our business, and then return to the compound. After we leave, there is some sporadic shooting, but its usually not in our area, but nearby. We have made some significant gains the past couple of weeks, and the police here are getting better very fast. Now if I could just get them to focus and plan properly, these guys would be in total control
For us, a civil war is a generic term to describe one element inside a country to take up arms against another side. These sides can be divided along political or religious lines, or areas or the country, or a number of different things. In any case, a lot of people on both sides die, and it’s hard on everybody, because you are despised for who you are, or what you believe.
For them, for him, it’s not a civil war. He says that the people are not as bad as the press makes it out to be, and it’s not a civil war. He believes that the only reason that the Sunni and Shia are killing each other is because that is what they are told they need to do. I thought this was interesting, and asked him to explain. He says that it’s typically the militia that is killing the innocent people, and they are being told to do so by either religious or criminal leaders. I tried to say, but isn’t that against the religious beliefs of most of the people. He said, that most of the people have no idea what they believe, and that they believe in what they are told. So, if all you are told is that the Shia are evil, then you will go out and kill the Shia. If you believe that the Sunni are going to kill you, then you will kill them before they get you. It’s not a civil war, he says. He calls it a criminal war. The thugs are killing the people, and it’s not going to end until somebody kills the thugs.
All that said, I am tired of the bodies. The Shia and the Sunni are killing people at random, and dumping the bodies all over. I can’t understand how they could hate each other so much, and I know it goes way back to some religious thing. I don’t know how many we have found, or had to remove, but its frightening to think that people could hate so much. Our area is amazingly quiet, and we patrol the streets daily. We have gotten the Iraqi’s to meet and greet people every day to get information, and to enforce to the public that we (the Police) are here to provide protection and preserve the peace. I think we are doing a pretty good job, because wherever we go, people come up to us, talk with us, and tell us how happy they are that we are here. We go about our business, and then return to the compound. After we leave, there is some sporadic shooting, but its usually not in our area, but nearby. We have made some significant gains the past couple of weeks, and the police here are getting better very fast. Now if I could just get them to focus and plan properly, these guys would be in total control
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Article from the Guardian
I cut these posts from the Brit paper, the Guardian. Thought it was pretty insightful. I guess mothers on both sides know the anguish of having their children die..
The Iraqi mother
'I heard screams, shouting and gunfire. My son was dead'Sayida al-Hassan, 27, a mother and widow who lives in Mosul
You want to know what the last three years has meant for me? It has been a confusing mixture of grief, humiliation and hope. I will first tell you about the grief. It was at the end of 2003. I remember I was outside in the yard washing the clothes.
I heard a commotion outside in the street. I saw a big American armoured vehicle, I don't think it was a tank, turning into our street. It was followed by lots of the local children, including my two boys, who were running, shouting and waving at the American soldiers. The soldiers looked very smart and I wondered who did their washing for them when their mothers were not around. Then the vehicle stopped and they got down and started handing sweets to the children.
They seemed very friendly. I called inside to my husband, Mohammed, who was as usual sitting there doing nothing. I told him to go and check on the two boys and while he was there ask the soldiers for a job. Mohammed used to be in the army in Saddam's time, but he spoke some English and I thought he could be of use.
To tell the truth I was fed up with him in the house all the time, giving me orders when I was the one who did all the work. Anyway, he grumbled and got off his chair and went down the street towards the soldiers. Then there was a bang like the end of the earth and the wall around my house fell like it was made of paper. I could see a big cloud of smoke and then I heard screams and shouting and gunfire. I knew it was a bomb. I raced out on to the street and saw Jassim, his face was black, running towards me crying. He said he was standing with his brother but he didn't know what had happened to him. I shouted for him and for my husband, but there was no finding them. Later my neighbour told me a suicide bomber had driven into the street - driven at the American vehicle. My neighbour told me that six children had been killed, including my Saif. He was only five. Also my husband was dead.
Since that day, our life has been so hard. It is very tough for a widow and a mother. Everyone forgets us. I am hopeful people will listen to women instead of pushing us around. It is Iraqi women who have suffered most. We have to keep our families together while mourning our dead.
When the bomb went off I was pregnant. Four months later I had a baby girl. I think when she grows up she will not have the problems that we have had. I will make sure she gets a good education.
The American mother
'Bush doesn't cry for our soldiers'Diane Santoriello, of Verona, Pennsylvania, lost her son, Neil, who was serving with the US Army's 1st Division near Falluja. He was killed in action on 13 August, 2004. He was 24
The day I heard that my son had died I heard the doorbell go and then I heard this horrible sound that I realised was my husband screaming. I came down and saw a minister, a police officer and a soldier. I think my mind just wanted to screen out the military uniform. I saw my husband and I thought his father had died. Then my mind cleared and I saw the soldier and I started screaming too. I knew if Neil had been wounded they would telephone. If he had been killed they would have sent an officer.
Neither of us has slept a good night's sleep since Neil died. It tested my faith in God. For a while I just could not pray. I had lost the idea of what to say to God.
Joining the military had always been an ambition of Neil's. I had raised my kids with the idea that it was a good thing to do service, to improve the world. That is what he wanted and I am very proud of him. He had a great feeling for the Iraqi people and I know he took good care of his men. I know he served with honour and he won medals for his bravery.
I have trouble looking at George Bush's face when I see him on the television. I just cannot bear to see his smirk. There is a song called 'Arlington'. It has the line: 'There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road. The man inside he cried the day they brought me home'. Well, Neil is buried at Arlington and I don't buy that line at all. Bush didn't cry at all for our soldiers. He did not cry at all. It is us parents who do all the crying.
The Iraqi mother
'I heard screams, shouting and gunfire. My son was dead'Sayida al-Hassan, 27, a mother and widow who lives in Mosul
You want to know what the last three years has meant for me? It has been a confusing mixture of grief, humiliation and hope. I will first tell you about the grief. It was at the end of 2003. I remember I was outside in the yard washing the clothes.
I heard a commotion outside in the street. I saw a big American armoured vehicle, I don't think it was a tank, turning into our street. It was followed by lots of the local children, including my two boys, who were running, shouting and waving at the American soldiers. The soldiers looked very smart and I wondered who did their washing for them when their mothers were not around. Then the vehicle stopped and they got down and started handing sweets to the children.
They seemed very friendly. I called inside to my husband, Mohammed, who was as usual sitting there doing nothing. I told him to go and check on the two boys and while he was there ask the soldiers for a job. Mohammed used to be in the army in Saddam's time, but he spoke some English and I thought he could be of use.
To tell the truth I was fed up with him in the house all the time, giving me orders when I was the one who did all the work. Anyway, he grumbled and got off his chair and went down the street towards the soldiers. Then there was a bang like the end of the earth and the wall around my house fell like it was made of paper. I could see a big cloud of smoke and then I heard screams and shouting and gunfire. I knew it was a bomb. I raced out on to the street and saw Jassim, his face was black, running towards me crying. He said he was standing with his brother but he didn't know what had happened to him. I shouted for him and for my husband, but there was no finding them. Later my neighbour told me a suicide bomber had driven into the street - driven at the American vehicle. My neighbour told me that six children had been killed, including my Saif. He was only five. Also my husband was dead.
Since that day, our life has been so hard. It is very tough for a widow and a mother. Everyone forgets us. I am hopeful people will listen to women instead of pushing us around. It is Iraqi women who have suffered most. We have to keep our families together while mourning our dead.
When the bomb went off I was pregnant. Four months later I had a baby girl. I think when she grows up she will not have the problems that we have had. I will make sure she gets a good education.
The American mother
'Bush doesn't cry for our soldiers'Diane Santoriello, of Verona, Pennsylvania, lost her son, Neil, who was serving with the US Army's 1st Division near Falluja. He was killed in action on 13 August, 2004. He was 24
The day I heard that my son had died I heard the doorbell go and then I heard this horrible sound that I realised was my husband screaming. I came down and saw a minister, a police officer and a soldier. I think my mind just wanted to screen out the military uniform. I saw my husband and I thought his father had died. Then my mind cleared and I saw the soldier and I started screaming too. I knew if Neil had been wounded they would telephone. If he had been killed they would have sent an officer.
Neither of us has slept a good night's sleep since Neil died. It tested my faith in God. For a while I just could not pray. I had lost the idea of what to say to God.
Joining the military had always been an ambition of Neil's. I had raised my kids with the idea that it was a good thing to do service, to improve the world. That is what he wanted and I am very proud of him. He had a great feeling for the Iraqi people and I know he took good care of his men. I know he served with honour and he won medals for his bravery.
I have trouble looking at George Bush's face when I see him on the television. I just cannot bear to see his smirk. There is a song called 'Arlington'. It has the line: 'There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road. The man inside he cried the day they brought me home'. Well, Neil is buried at Arlington and I don't buy that line at all. Bush didn't cry at all for our soldiers. He did not cry at all. It is us parents who do all the crying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)