Peace in Baghdad

  “No single item in Baghdad for today,” I told my bureau chief with great joy. I was so glad to have that news as all Iraqis were, of course .The meaning of “item” is so simple--it means that no car bomb or roadside bomb targeted Iraqi people or Iraqi security forces. No mortar shell hit any neighborhood in Baghdad . No gunmen killed or injured anyone in sectarian violence or targeted security forces. No child, student, woman or anyone else was kidnapped for ransom.  So no ransom money was used to target other people.

I was excited to see the Daily Violence Report (which the McClatchy Baghdad bureau and special correspondents compile every day) did not mention Baghdad .  We were clear of violence on Friday during all day and night .I was so happy to see my city without violence.

  People ask why.  The answer is so simple, in my opinion. Iraqis found out their mistakes and restarted their normal life far away of the terrorism’s agenda.  For more than five years, Iraqis were busy killing, kidnapping, displacing and stealing. Recently, they realized that those who were killed were just Iraqis--whatever sect or religion they belonged to.

  Minutes before posting this blog ,I had a phone call from a police source telling me that a female child had been kidnapped in Baghdad .  This suffocated the happiness I had been feeling, but it didn’t kill the hope that this poor girl will soon be released to be with her family  ..Or my undying hope that all Iraqis live in peace.      

Is Iraq an Arabic country like Lebanon?

It is the first time for years; Arab governments did a positive thing. All of us heard about the political crisis in Lebanon that there was a conflict between two powers, the power that is supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia and France on the one side and the power that is supported by Syria and Iran from the other side. After the erupting of the crisis Arab governments decided to hold a summit for Arab foreign ministers that resulted in a meeting for the Lebanese political parties in Doha the capital of Qatar (Qatar has a good relationship with all the supporting powers). These efforts reminded me of the time of Arab nationalism that I read about it in history books, when Arabs were on the one hands against their enemies.
Really I was so glad when I was watching normal life return to Beirut after 18 months of crises but there were many questions passing through my mind, why don't the Arabs both government and people try to do the same with Iraqi conflicting powers? Instead they pour oil on our fire by deepening the gap among the fighting groups.
Why do Arabs reject even sending diplomatic delegations to Baghdad and instead they send us suicide bombers?
Do they consider Iraq a part of the Arab homeland away from sectarianism or not? If they do why don't they deal with the Iraq issue according to this basic common ethnicity?
I hope the day when Arabs become aware that Iraqi security is part of Arab security. The stability in Iraq will reflect on their stability and progress in Iraq will contribute to progress in the Arab world as a whole.
Please my brothers in Arab lands try to find a suitable table to make Iraqis sit at to solve their issues just as you found a suitable table for Lebanese to sit at to solve their issues.   

Social calls

   Social calls are one of the tradition customs in Iraq. This tradition was badly affected during the last five years. On Friday afternoon after finishing my work I made two social calls. I made my first visit to my cousin's house that I haven't seen for ages. He was so happy to see me after all that time .In fact ,the main reason was to deliver him something that his brother gave to me in Basra .That thing was some money that he is in need which forced me to make him have it as soon as possible. After that I went to my brother's house to have the second call. I haven't seen my brother for about ten days which I spent in Basra to cover news for my agency. On the entrance of the street that leads to my brother's house there was an American soldier with a machine gun in hand .Soon later, I saw two American armoured vehicles few meters away with few soldiers deployed in the street. I started a conversation with the first soldier saying "Good evening Sir, may I pass ". The response was short "Is your house here?" .I said yes only three house from here and I am a reporter for an American agency". He let me in after searching me with my two bags which I was carrying. I saw my brother outside his house with another cousin who came to have his car fixed by my brother. They were laughing when I arrived the house .I asked why you are laughing while the American soldiers searching the area. They said "We are laughing as you came only few minutes after having the Americans in our neighborhood .You either work with them or we are lucky to have you among us ". I realized that my brother needed me. So I waited till having my brother's house search .I spoke with the American officer in charge who was pleased to have a family member speak English. He said that they have a tip of a weapons cache in the area .Then, the officer asked my brother by me, as I became the interpreter for the American army at that time, about a deserted house in the area which belongs to a displaced family. I told him via my brother that the house was deserted a year ago and no one lives in it ever since and the house that my brother lives in belongs to a displaced family too. Then, the question became of the Shiite and Sunni. My brother said we are Shiite and I was displaced from my apartment in the other part of Amil neighborhood more than a year ago to let this house who belongs to a Sunni family .The American officer passed my brother two cards with phone numbers to call in case of help and tips and he ordered his soldiers to leave the house without being searched .I got relief as things were fine .I just had in mind a flash back of having my father detained in May of 2007 who didn't have me with him at that time when the raid took place. Any way, I came back home. I heard from my father that four of my cousins had been detained by the American troops in Amil neighborhood with at least three hundreds men detained in Amil neighborhood. The day after, most of the detained men were released including three cousins having one remained in custody who was in a social visit to one of his cousins who was released before him hoping to be released as well as the others who were either doing shopping when the raid took place or doing prayers in a nearby mosque in the area.

I wonder what the benefit of detaining hundreds of men was so they are kept from their families. Iraqi families suffer from the unknown that could befall their fathers, sons and husbands.

In Search of a Tooth

I never thought I would learn so much about teeth.

But as things stand any accomplishment in any family is a collective effort.

We set off at six thirty; I thought I might just make it back in time for our morning meeting or perhaps be a little late.  I was going out with my daughter to hunt for a tooth for her to repair in her final Operative clinical exam. The tooth had to be diagnosed "class 2 with either mesial or distal extension" – I dropped her off at the college entrance and started out.

I found that I wasn't alone in my mission. Tens of students were out hunting, the road was studded with white coats – they all had clinical tests. And the people of that neighbourhood probably had the best repaired teeth in Baghdad.

Shop keepers, an ice-cream peddler and two car mechanics, all reluctant to go to the hospital, all with class 1 cavities – a break for ten minutes.

I forgot all about the time and our morning meeting. I forgot that my son had probably finished his exam by then, I just went on touring the neighbourhood in my car looking for that tooth.

High school students!

There were two high schools in the neighbourhood! Off I went again.

After eleven trips in all to the dental clinic with cases ranging from initial carries to root canals I was ready to give up. I just parked and took a breath.

Around the corner I saw a table-tennis table with some 15 young men and boys playing and joking, and I thought – last chance. It was past ten thirty and the exam started at eleven.

I approached the group and asked out loud if anyone had a tooth ache – and got lucky. Three young adults seemed interested. I took all three to the diagnosis room in the dental clinic and one of them had a class two cavity! I almost jumped for joy, and I could see the compassion in the senior dentist's eyes (he knew all about it!), and some envy in the eyes of the other students who were engaged in the same pursuit of "that tooth".

I then asked the young man for his name to be able to issue a written diagnosis – and he balked. I looked at his face drain of blood and I understood. I took him aside and asked for his name again and he barely answered, "Omar Abdulmelik" a name that is abhorred by Shiites – in this Mahdi Army controlled neighbourhood. I nodded and spoke to the registrar, "His name is Mohammed Abdullah" a name that is very common. Inwardly, I was shaking because this young man's life hung on a thread – and it was my doing! Suddenly I became aware of all the eyes in that wide corridor.

The registrar wrote the name and diagnosis without comment and handed the paper to me. I snatched it, motioned to Omar to follow me, and quickly exited the clinic.

I took him to the adjacent building, the college, introduced him to my daughter – who had finished her first clinic by this time and saw them walk away chattering happily.

I looked for a chair, sank into it, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Alhamdu Lillah, she did well.

The road home was blocked because PM Maliki had just personally re-opened the Sarrafiyah Bridge that was bombed some months before.

We got home at around six.

 

The roles of the ministry of trade

I’m sure most of the Americans don’t have an idea about the ration food card the Iraqi families have. Simply it’s a card by which the government supplies the families with their monthly needs of basic food substances like oil, flour, sugar and other things. When the family has a new baby, the father should go to the office of ministry of trade to register his new kid to be added to the family in order to have its share of the food substances.

Yesterday, my brother went to the center to add his new born daughter. They added her name to the list easily and everything was great. At nigh, my wife told me “laith, your brother just added his new daughter to their ration food card. It took him less than five minutes to finish the procedures”. I reminded her that I went to the office the last month and I have been told to apply in June. She insisted that things had changed and I can add our son to our food card. As a role in my life, I don’t argue women because she wouldn’t ever change her mind no matter what I say. I went to the office and I applied to add my son to my family’s food card. I was surprised when the employee said “you cant add your son to the list now. You have to wait for one month”. I asked him about the reasons, he said “it’s the roles of the ministry of trade”. Again, I asked why the roles don’t allow me to add my son any time after he passed his first year, doesn’t he need food to grow or he is not any more a member from the family? The man couldn’t say a word but “it’s the roles of the ministry of trade”.

I cant describe my shock, not because my son doesn’t have his food substances. I was shocked because the roles of my country are so strange to the extent that no mind can find real explanations for them.

I went back home and told my wife about the whole thing. She didn’t say a word but her look asked me thousands of questions that I one answer for them all. Dear wife (its the roles of the ministry of trade)

"The Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands"

"I hate the National electricity! I wish it would never come!"

I was appalled at my mother's words. Electricity – in summer, is a "rare" blessing not to be scorned in this way!

The details of the matter, I found out, are that the government had applied a new system by which all the houses in the neighbourhood are given 10 amperes each for three hours on – and three hours off.

So, the workers came to my parents' house and told them that they would now connect their house to the new system – and they did.

When my mum told me about this I wasn't very happy. To work the boiler we needed 12 amps, to work the iron we needed 7, and as summer was coming I thought about the air conditioners – each required 12 amps – I didn't know what to feel. I was hoping for something better than this.

My mum thought that I was being unreasonable – and made it very clear.

But they didn't reach our house – they mysteriously stopped.

The days passed.

Yesterday, we dropped in as usual, and my parents were sitting in the garden, in the flaring heat of late afternoon.

"Hi Mum, hi Dad, why on earth are you sitting out here at this time of day? It's really very hot, let's go inside where there's a fan at least." They looked up at me, but did not budge.

"Mum, what's wrong? There should be electricity inside."

"We were cheated."

"What! How?"

"I was very happy to have traded in a system by which we got unlimited power for two hours a day for a system by which we should get ten amperes twelve hours a day, three on and three off. But the reality is that we have ten amps for even less than two hours a day! It comes in fits and jerks for a duration of less than one hour and disappears again. And maybe it will visit us again in the other half of the day. I don't know what to do – you were right, they are not to be trusted."

Reconstruction – Building a country – Where to start?

Is the Electric Power Supply a good place to start?   

Are schools a good place?

How about some sanitary water in our homes?

People need services – and people need jobs and incomes. Some of our provincial budgets were returned to the treasury with only a small portion used up, why?

Put the people to work! Give them something worthwhile to do, let them re-build their country.

"The devil makes work for idle hands" a proverb that did not come out of a void, but out of experience and wisdom.

Young men, out of jobs and incomes are easy pray for any group willing to "support" their "ideals",

And they will fall pray – and they have!

What's the matter with our government? Why are they neglecting this fact – they have seen how true it is. We have all seen simple examples of this in our lives on a different level. Where are their "advisors"?

Give them work to absorb their energy, satisfy their pride – Give them work to keep heir minds focused – Give them work to support their families proudly without having to look for "other" means to do so.

I am so afraid for all the young – and not so young men and women who are desperate for jobs in a country that needs so much work done – and has the money to do it.

Just give them work and see!

The great interview with the spokesman of the ministry of education.

I believe everyone read the story of Alice in Wonderland but no one could ever travel in his imagination to reach this wonderland or even tried hard to know where this wonderland is but today I think I found the real answer. I’m like 80% sure that Alice came to Iraq and when she couldn’t find reasonable answers for her questions, she called Iraq the Wonderland. You know she has the right to call it so because this is really the wonderland. Today I m going to write a different story. Im going to call it Laith in the Wonder Ministry.

My assignment today was to join our American colleague Raviya to the ministry of education to finish her story about education in Iraq. Its still dangerous to go out with an American reporter. Anyway, we reached the ministry after more than one hour trip. We were searched three times in less than 30 meters. I was asked the same question three times (where are you going) and I was always saying shortly (the third floor to meet the spokesman of the ministry) and at last I’m in the room. The spokesman looked like a young man in his forties. He was talking to someone when I entered his room. I kept silent until he finished his phone call and then I started talking. I introduced myself and Raviya  and gave him a very short brief about the story. I expected to hear anything but not the answer my ears got. The spokesman said “Im not in the mood to talk”. I was about to say (WHAT? Not in the mode to talk Your job is to talk to me and any other journalist) but I was so calm. To be honest, his answer made me boiling but I had to control myself because I wanted to do the interview. I was so patient but the man simply ignored me and my colleagues. He kept receiving the phone calls and he was complaining “if only I don’t get any phone calls, I would be fine” I told him simply you can switch your phone off for a while” and I kept talking with the man to convince him t do the interview but the man insisted on neglecting me and he suggested to meet some officials in the other side of Baghdad. He called the guy but he couldn’t find him. Again, I told him that I want to talk with him for ten minutes only because he is the spokesman and he is the one who has the answers but he changed the subject and again he ignored me. After twenty minutes, I told Raviya that we have to leave because it’s useless to talk to the guy because he doesn’t want to.

When we left the ministry, Raviya asked me about the conversation between me and the spokesman. I told her about all the details and I even told her about the details of the phone calls. Raviya was completely shocked with the details. This is one story of the wonderland, Iraq.

Bye till the next story.

Dear Politicians, Did you change roles?

When the American forces invaded Iraq in 2003, Iraqis divided themselves into two teams. The first team which was the majority included Shiite and Kurdish people who were oppressed during Saddam regime. This team was always shouting and demanding the Coalition forces especially the US to stay in Iraq until the security situation is settled. This team was always reminding people that the Iraqi security forces are not capable of controlling the security situation for years because the army had been just re formed on complete different bases. The second team which included Sunni and some Shiite trends were demanding the US to set a time table for their departure. They used to remind Iraqis that the Americans are not more than occupation.

During the last two weeks, everybody noticed that the two main teams had exchanged the roles. Now the big bloc is demanding the US forces to set a schedule for their departure while the other bloc or to be more accurate the main part of the bloc demands the US troops to stay longer.

People like me who are very close to the daily political scene sometimes have the strange feelings towards such changes. I asked my colleagues about their opinions but none of them gave me an acceptable answer. I couldn’t ever expect that politics can push people to change that way especially those who experienced the oppression of the dictatorship.

Until now, I’m like most of Iraqi, completely disappointed with our politicians who care only about their parties and forgot that we are the ones who put them in their positions.

Welcome Back Sadoon Street

When I was a young boy, one of my biggest dreams was going to Sadoon Street with my friends but my father was always against that dream because it was too far for a 12 or even 14 years old boy. The Street used to be called the heart of Baghdad. It didn’t get its name for nothing, it was once the center of trade, most of the international airlines have their offices in Sadoon Street, most of the cinemas are in Sadoon Street and many other kinds of business including alcohol stores which we can call the trade mark of Sadoon Street because most of the stores are in that street.

When I went back home yesterday, the taxi driver took me through Sadoon Street. It was about 6:30 p.m. I saw all the liquor stores opened. The costumers, mostly young me in their twenties were joking with the shops owner and having their drinks. The taxi driver laughed and said “well, they are really busy these days because they could start working freely at last”. I laughed and said let them work, I know its prohibited in Islam to drink alcohol but we cants force people, if the government closed the stores, they will find other ways to buy it and things would be even worse because they will love to challenge the authorities.

While I was coming to the office today, the mini bus through the same street. Tow guys were sitting behind me and when we reached the same area, I heard them saying “it looks the brothers are so busy and. Good at last we get out of the controls of the turbans men” I laughed then he addressed me “Im serious, I don’t drink but I hate to be forced to do something”.

I felt happy when I talked to the three men. I felt happy not because liquor stores were re opened but because we still have people who respect the others way of life although they don’t agree with them about it. I’m happy for Sadoon Street because it just walked its first step to be back the heart of Baghdad. May life and happiness return back to all my sad country.

God Bless Iraq.

Natural catastrophes are more acceptable than human catastrophes

During Saddam's regime I was working in a Turkish company in Baghdad ; my boss was always complaining from recurring earthquakes that claim thousands of victims from time to time. At that time Iraqis were living with a one human earthquake – Saddam, and his Baathist.

"Your disaster is natural phenomenon, but ours is bigger" that was my answer to condole him.

At that time we had a joke in Iraq about a dialog between a Turkish and an Iraqi man. The Turkish man said "The degree of the earthquake magnitude 6 degree on Richter scale "Yes but we have Richter himself, sits to rule Iraq " Iraqi man replied.

In the last few days all of us watched the regrettable natural disasters that happened in Myanmar and China, that unfortunately caused tens thousands of victims with millions left homeless, and again Iraqi are comparing between these disaster and their own daily disaster (terrorism and occupation) that caused killing 1 million, 5 million left homeless, 5 million orphans and 2 million widows since collapse 2003.

Yesterday I heard a strange opinion from my friend, he was comparing between what happened in China with what has been going on in Iraq … "God … the car bomb and roadside bomb are nothing if we compare it with these catastrophes" my friend said.

When I was telling my young sister about this opinion, she replied "yes but you should take in consider that the natural catastrophe doesn't happen every day".

Iraqis are praying to God to protect all people in the whole world from natural and human catastrophes. May God help people in China , Myanmar , Lebanon , Palestine , and Iraq .

Another Method to Write Down History

A few years ago I bought a book, a history book, the writer chose writing down jokes annually to  reflect the situation and the outlet people's use to express frustration and hope.  Here are some of the jokes told around and sent by e-mails in Iraq. These jokes are not intended or written to make you laugh nor does it represent my point of view.

- An Iraqi man found an old lamp as he brushed it a Genie appeared.

"Shubaik Lubaik, I will make your wishes come true," he said.

"I want you to build us a bridge to Sweden," the Iraqi man said. 

"This is impossible make another wish," the Genie said.

"I want you to fix the electricity in Iraq," the Iraqi man said.

"How many lanes do you want on that bridge?!" the Genie replied.

- An American man, a French man and  an Iraqi man were caught drunk in Saudi Arabia. They were sentenced to be whipped 20 times. The executer came in happy because he got a phone call telling him that his wife gave birth and it’s a boy. He told the three men he will give each man a wish before he whips them. The American wished to have a pillow attached to his back. After the first five whips the pillow were torn and the American received 15 whips.

The French man wished to have two pillows to cover his back after ten whips the pillows were torn and he received 10 whips.

The executer told the Iraqi man he has two wishes as he is an Arab and a neighbor.

The Iraqi man's first wish was to be whipped 100 times, the executer agreed with amazement. The second wish was to cover the Iraqi man's back with the American.

- Imam Mahdi appeared, an Islamic figure who Muslim will be a savior at the end of time. He was leading his army ( the Mahdi army). He met Muqtada Al Sadr, the leader of  the Shiite Mahdi army militia in Iraq, and asked a question.

"Who are these men behind you?"

Al Sadr replied, "They are the Imam Mahdi army,"

"So who are these people behind me? Sahwa," the Imam Mahdi said. (Sahwa in Arabic is Awakening, the U.S. sponsored mostly Sunni militia).

- An Iraqi and an American were playing chess. The American replaced a pawn with the queen, in Arabic the Minister, at the end of the chessboard. The Iraqi made his knight, in chess the piece is called the horse in Arabic, cross to the other end of the chessboard and tried to change it with the queen.

The American objected.

"You cannot change the Horse to the Minister," the American said.

"Then why in my country did donkeys became ministers?!" the Iraqi said.

Final examinations commence today…A begining or an end?

On the first day of the final exams, at work, translating an article about the difficulties that are expected to face students during their exams, my phone rings.

“MOM! There was an explosion near to our school! Some of the boys ran to see – but I remembered what you told me about them coming in twos and kept walking. But I took photos of the smoke – Mom, do you think many people were hurt?

A wave swept over me. I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep – shuddering – breath and answered him, “Well done, habibi. Abu Ahmed will be waiting for you around the corner, don’t go home, just come straight here.” I didn’t want to think of the outcome of an explosion so near to a boy’s school at the time they were all going home.

Ten minutes later, my phone rings again.

“Hello, Khala (aunty), please tell me that your son is OK!” A young friend of the family, a doctor who works in the nearby hospital.

“Yes, alhamdu lillah – he called me after the explosion. You please tell me that none of the school boys were hurt.”

“The first explosion was just a trap to catch their attention. Many boys walked towards the site out of curiosity. It was only after there was quite a group surrounding the burning car that the second explosion went off. It was terrible.”

I pick up my cell and I try to ring him. My fingers wouldn’t work the buttons. I try again and again – and finally, it rings! But there is no answer. Again and again I ring – and I get “it’s either switched off or out of coverage... I feel myself slip into a vortex of possibilities. Is he gone? Have I lost him too? His big brown eyes – his narrow face – his typical teenage silliness, like a slide film in front of my eyes. His laugh, his serious frown, his strong shoulders … No, no - that was Mazin, my other son. A tidal wave of tears flow down my face – NO! Not again!

I find myself sitting in my chair, with a buzzing sound growing louder and louder in my ears. I look up. The monitor of the entrance is in front of me. I stare at it and wait.

And I don’t know how many centuries later I see him at the entrance! He is alive! He looks up at the camera and waves!

OH! How dear he is! OH! How I hugged him until I nearly crushed him! How I love the way he is pushing me away in embarrassment, his mom is hugging him and kissing him in the newsroom! When I wouldn’t be pushed away, his worried eyes look deep into mine, “MOM, is anything the matter?”

HOW am I going to tell him that some of his school mates may have been hurt in the explosion? Some may even be killed – I don’t know yet.

And HOW am I going to send him to take his next exam??

My son survived – this time. God help the mothers, the fathers, the sisters and brothers of the boys who got hurt, or who may have died.

It is said that God, almighty, will not look straight into the eyes of a mother who has gone through the pain of losing a son (or daughter), her pain is so great. How many women in Iraq will not see the gaze of the almighty on judgment day?? And who will be held accountable for their pain?

The Psychological Change Started.

I believe that the buses are mini mobile societies where a journalist can find stories.

I was watching the parliament session when I remembered the daily trip I make to work using these mini buses. I remembered the crazy discussions we usually have when we pass through the traffic and when people see the same scenes since the first day of the invasion. We repeatedly see the buildings that have been bombed and neglected. So many people start suddenly cursing the politicians and the government repeating the same sentence “we were cheated by the slogan of the religious parties but we will not anymore.”

This reaction always make me feel happy because it means people started to leave their sectarian castles and look for the real life where they can share Iraq with all Iraqis. It’s the real start which cost us hundreds of thousands of souls but yet the sacrifice is worth this change. I hope people realize the truth that politics has nothing to do with religion because religion is something private and has a limited effect while politics has mass effect. Politics can destroy a nation or build a nation.

The other sign of the psychological change is the disagreements among the political alliances. Everyday we read and hear news about some politicians in a political bloc who decide to separate and form their own new political bloc because the mother bloc is practicing a democratic dictatorship by giving the main position to a specific party or group. These disagreements will destroy the sectarian blocs and help people to differentiate between the politicians and recognize the good ones who can really build the new Iraq regardless their sect or belief. They will look for the best because they want a better future.

I can say that these psychological changes are the real awakening which we need. I pray it grows bigger for the sake of the coming generations who dream to have a real strong united Iraq.

May Allah Bless Iraqi

Muting the opposition

Only 6 days after the occasion of World Press Freedom, Iraqi media witnessed a new violation against freedom of speech.

Yesterday Iraqi forces closed Al Ahad Radio Station an excuse of adopting provocative political speech. I have many friends who listen to this radio as I do; I asked my friends if they notice any instagative tones in the programs or newscast of this radio ….. the answers were negative - always. This radio was broadcasting religious programs and these kinds of programs that depend on the audience's participations in addition to newscasts.

Iraqi authorities closed the radio upon orders from Iraqi cabinet office because the current fight with Mahdi army. The order said that this radio provokes sectarianism and violence. 

Journalistic freedom observator said it was a violation of freedom of speech because it wasn't implemented according to a court order; neither had the government given any warning. That if we take for granted they were using provoking speech. 

Al Ahad Radio belongs to Sadr trend, the trend that is considered now as in opposition of the government. They are oppositions –may be this is the only fault. Iraqi government headed by Al Maliki use the same policy of extinct regime, the policy of eliminating the oppositions. I hope that our politicians in the current government remember that they were opposition one day and they wanted people to hear their voice.

Iraqi Cartoons

I received few Iraqi cartoons by e-mail from Iraqi groops; below are two of them.

The first cartoon shows the Iranian Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, the commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, holding a member of the Iraqi parliamentary delegation to Iran that carried documents prove the Iranian interference in Iraq. The flying papers are "the documents of the Iranian interference"

The Iraqi cleric says "By Abbas (an Imam) I won't do it anymore, I repent.

The second cartoon shows the Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki before (scarecrow) and after Basra events.

These cartoons show the opinions of many Iraqis as I see it and hear it.

These cartoons are by Mr. Salman Abed.

Student ID – Corruption??

How far will corruption – and therefore distrust take us? Has the issue of a student's campus ID card become a national security risk – because of corruption?

Several weeks ago I took my daughter's student ID, issued by her college, to follow up a documentation process in officialdom. I hate handing over original papers because they have a way of disappearing. And it did. Who to ask – who is responsible – who can I vent my anger on – no one. No one is accountable.

In despair, I let it go.

Now the final exams are coming on. We've been told that no student will be allowed to sit the exams without their ID clearly displayed on their desks. And this time for real.

A rush to issue a new one.

It turns out that colleges are no longer authorized to produce their own students' cards, because so many cards have been produced for people who were not students! I got goose bumps – who were these people? How and why?? I was sent off to issue a police statement verifying the loss of our document. It seems they have shoved the responsibility onto the police – they, surely, are straight.

At the Police Station. A place of clashing loyalties and God knows what agendas.

I took great care to dress for the part of the simple ignorant elderly lady – down to wearing flip flops.

Hesitantly, I walked in and asked for the person in charge of statements, and was directed to him. "NO, no Hijiyah! You don't understand! (patronizingly)We are no longer at liberty to issue police statements. We are forbidden." So what now?? "You should go to the courthouse and register a formal claim for a student's ID."

To file a case in court?? "Tell me, my son, why has this become so complicated? It's just a student's ID – not even a national civil affairs ID – and a girl's ID at that!", "You don't understand, Hijiyah. When they put the responsibility with the police instead of college administrations, more – rather than less fake IDs were issued! So now no student's ID is issued without a court order from a judge. So, I hope the number will not get even higher!" He laughed out loud.

So that's why I was standing in line at the judge's door until closing time yesterday. I met so many extraordinary people with unbelievable stories to tell, I nearly forgot why I was there!

I did not, however, reach His Honour's door. Maybe I have to pay to get there!

But I cannot forget what he said about so many fake IDs issued for "other" people. Who are they? Why do they want to enter the campuses??

I thought it was relatively safe inside her college - now I have serious doubts.

The Spanish league

     "Down with Real Madrid" and "Down with Barcelona" are some of the mottos which became so familiar for Iraqis to be seen on walls recently instead of those against the government, some parties or the occupier. This matter doesn't mean that the Iraqi people don't like Spain or they have enmity with sport or they became in love with government or the occupier to have these new mottos. In fact, Iraqi people are fond of sport and especially soccer despite all disasters they passed or pass through which wouldn't give them time.

    For the last five years, the Spanish league fans increased enormously. We have family members sit together watching and arguing about the Spanish league. People are divided into two parts; Barcelona fans and Real Madrid ones. For instance, my family has three Real Madrid fans and seven fans of Barcelona including me. The next match between them will be on Wednesday and the house, as the other houses, schools, offices and even walls, will have its reflection. I bought seven Barcelona T-shirts and mugs for Barcelona fans including my nephew whose father in fond of Real Madrid. It is good to have the sportsmanship among Iraqis in loss or winning.

I congratulate my brothers when their team wins as they do with me, but sometimes we have jokes and mocks in loss. Sometimes, SMS plays a role in loss when the fan wouldn't answer the phone calls. All these things came on surface when Iraq has got the satellite service and as the Iraqi national league of soccer had been abolished for three years due to the lack of security and having thousands of people in one place (in stadiums) motivate the criminals to kill as many as they could which forced the Iraqi football association to abolish it first and then, have the league in Kurdistan region in the north of Iraq where peace is found.

When the national league was abandoned for three years, dozens of Iraqi players fled abroad looking for safety, money, fame and experience. Though the Iraqi national association for football started the league last year in Kurdistan where people can find peace and discipline, but it wasn't good enough to have the league players and fans' wishes. It also lacked the fans that represent the main feature in any kind of sport. As you know most of the popular teams in Iraq are from Baghdad Zawra, air force (Jawiyah), police (Shurtta) and students (Talaba) while we have one famous team club from Basra in the southern part of Iraq. Those fans used to go to stadiums in or around Baghdad with no difficulties, but in 2007, the fans suffered a lot due the long trip from Baghdad to Kurdistan, the procedures taken to let them be in the north and the heavy expenses coming from the long distance between Kurdistan region and the fans' locations; besides the lack of security on the way between Baghdad and Kurdistan.

    This year, the association had divided the teams according to geography or the place where the club locates to have the fans enjoy their teams. Thus, we have three groups; one in the north, the second in Baghdad and the third in the south.

  Despite that ,the Iraqis become fond of the Spanish league due to the best players its has and the interesting matches the spectator can watch which might compensate the lack of the best Iraqi players among them and on their on land .Also the repression people have made its real reflection on the written words on public walls.

World press freedom day

Iraq is the most dangerous area for journalists. We are considered wanted targets for the enemies of freedom of speech.

According to the Journalistic Freedom Observatory in Iraq, or the JFO, between March 3, 2007 and March 3, 2008 violations against journalists marked a 60% increase over the last year. This means one violation every 43 hours. It is an indicator to the reality of the freedom of journalists in Iraq and the risk for the future of independent media organizations. It will pave the way to widen the governmental policies that prevent journalists from reporting and repress their work.

Below is part of the JFO's report:

"The systematic monitoring of violations recorded across the ground or by direct communications from victims, revealed that the escalation of attacks happening against journalists by beating or use various forms of humiliations conducted by security forces and by elements of private protection forces to prevent the journalists from covering important events especially on explosion sites.

The JFO monitored the reported period 197 violations against journalist and media organization within the mentioned period, these violations distributed as are follows 88 cases of assault and preventing journalists from reporting by the Iraqi security agencies. 37 murders by unknown gunmen. 30 Arrests and detentions by Iraqi security forces. 15  violations attacks conducted by American forces, local authorities, and militias.

13 abductions by unknown groups, 6 of them released after having been beaten and tortured because of their profession, and 6 of them killed while one of them still unknown destiny. 9  cases filed by government officials against the journalist and media organizations to sue them in court. 5 storming operations against media organization by the U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Some journalists feel that this report neglected the threats and violations against independent media organizations, according to local reports in the newspapers.

Also the report didn't mention to the provoking attempt against some media institution by religious pulpits and mosques that air the agendas of their political parties which may represent a threat against Iraqi independent media, that one well known Iraqi cleric and MP used his Friday speech to urge worshipers against certain Iraqi media TV channels or newspapers that oppose the government's agendas.   So perhaps even this observatory is not quite free and neutral in its observations and therefore needs another observatory to monitor its output. As the ancient saying goes "Who watches the watchers???"

RUN FROM THE CAMERAS!

At the bureau, we got an invitation to witness the return of 701 archaeological pieces from Syria, so our rotating reporter, Shashank and I went off to the museum. It was a strange experience for me.

The museum was one of the delights I remember enjoying from my early years. It was such a pleasure because my mum always told us stories related to those ancient civilizations, their heroes, their achievements and, of course, the greed that is the downfall of all human civilizations.

I knew every gallery by heart, to the extent that my mind would race ahead to the more exciting artifacts, to the bigger more amazing figures and sculptures, to the gold jewelry, to the musical instruments crafted more than five thousand years ago; how the fleeting images still draw me back to tales of those times.

As I stepped into the outer gates, there was a deep misgiving in my heart. I didn't want to enter the museum. I didn't want to see the broken remains of my dear memories. More than fifteen thousand priceless witnesses to our historical heritage were stolen. I knew the museum was looted, but I didn't want to see.

I walked in - and the hall was empty. The corners were covered with deep, dark cobwebs.

My beautiful memories were shattered. One more beautiful memory ruined in our unique march to democracy. I tried not to dwell upon my pain, and looked up hoping that the minister had arrived.

Half an hour later they opened the doorway to the hall in which the returned pieces were displayed and we entered.

One peep inside the hall and I got the serious urge to run.

More than fifteen cameramen were setting up their equipment in each and every direction to film interviews with the minister, the administrator of the museum and a number of experts who were present. Not just that, each and every reporter had his own camera and was clicking away happily. Where am I to hide? How to avoid appearing on TV with all these people filming around me? One appearance on TV is all the evidence the extremists need to uncover my deep secret - a journalist!

PANIC!

I ducked behind Shashank and hoped for the best. As I was in that delicate situation I looked around me. I noticed several other furtive glances and felt like laughing – I think I did giggle nervously for a second. But there was nothing for it. Out I came, and we spoke to the experts, took a few photos and ran after the minister to his car – and I wondered in my heart was I really running after the minister – or running from the cameras??

First time since a long time

I'm sure every employee likes to use the shortest road to reach home on one condition, the short way should be safe. This base cant be applied on me because I never use the short way home because the short way for along time used to mean death for me. The short way home passes through Sunni areas and they are not regular Sunni areas because I pass through Sunni neighborhood everyday but the Sunni neighborhood in the short road are all used to be controlled by Qaida.

Yesterday, when I wanted to return back home after a long workday, I took a taxi and told him about the road he should take. The man didn’t even discuss me and he did exactly as I told him. We found out that all the roads were closed. I had only two choices, to go back to the office and spend the night there or to take the risk and go through the high way which passes through what was considered once the most dangerous areas in Baghdad. The driver worked hard to persuade me. At the end he said “I swear I'm Shiite like you and I lost three cousins”. I told him frankly “I haven’t been there for about two years so how do u want me to trust you simply”.

After a long debate, I told him “ok, lets do it” To be honest, the idea of being kidnapped by some masked insurgents didn’t ever leave my mind. The only good thing in my mind was the violence report that we write everyday, there were no incidents mentioned by police or eyewitnesses in these neighborhoods for a real long time except for the unidentified bodies that are found from time to time and its not even like it used to be.

Anyway, we went through the areas and you could realize Im a live simply because I wrote these words. During the way home, the man did his best to assure me that everything is fine, he was pointing to the check points always. When I saw all these check points, I really felt that the situation is getting better and the government is doing its real duty, securing Baghdad, the heart of Iraq. I know how hard it is to defeat all the insurgents groups who were the real rulers of Iraq until few months ago but I know also that the most difficult step is the first step and I believe the Iraqi government stepped its first step successfully but I believe it need more efforts to rebuild the broken trust.

I hope next time im going to write about Rabei Street which passes throughout the same Sunni areas , the street where I used to spend nice time before I leave Iraq and where I deeply wish to go to have some fun with my wife and kid.