Thursday, March 31, 2005

Iran's "no clear" nuclear bomb !

"first listen to this funny thing then we talk about the topic

iran government has filtered a blog ! but this time the writer is a man who nominated himself for the iran's next president .
as blog is so popualr among iranian youngesters (and iran is the youngest country of the world) he has made a blog to get some popularity .and as every other nomineee he has started criticing the currect president and giving un-beliveable promisses....
(mind that in iran not everybody can nominate himself for parrlement or president post, in the last parrlement ellection more than 3000 Famous Reformers been avodied to nominate themself in the ellection " so somebody who is allowed to nominate himself is nt such a nice person...)
well i think they un-filtered his site after they found out it is his blog."
Medya Daily

Mr. Annan , what was the point of the sanctions ?!

"Seriously, what was the point of the sanctions ? 13 years of a vicious embargo imposed on a suppressed people in the name of punishing its dictator ?!

I remember in the begining of the sancitons once Saddam Hussein appeared in one of his usual tours on Iraqi TV. He was in an Iraqi village where he was eating slaughtered sheeps "Iraqi BBQ style" he said "The sanctions are not on me. Look at Saddam Hussein I am eating very good now. It is on you"."
Kurdo's World

Fallujah Story-- Must Read

"I received this e-mail today from a friend . He forwarded it from Mark Manning, a California documentary film maker who was recently in Fallujah to talk with some of the Iraqis who managed to live through the U.S. "clean-up" (read "flattening") of that city

Read it and weep--literally.
"
A citizen of Mosul
I make no claim to the authenticity or lack there of, of this report. Or for that matter of anything on this blog.
"Previously: The Black-Winged Stilt

Next: Who knows?

Also, be sure to check out LTC Bob's and Major Ed's Birds of Iraq photopages, updated with pictures that for space reasons I can't display here."
Silflay Hraka
click this link to see the picture

UPDATE

"At this point, we are still unable to provide all the facts and conclusions of the last two “missing” months of our blog. This is for legal reasons only. Soon the time will come when nothing is held back.

But for now, on behalf of The Statistics from FIGHT TO SURVIVE, our apologies for not staying in better touch with everyone who has been such an inspiration to us. We are more than thankful for all of your support out there, no matter who or where you are. If no one had been listening to what we had to say, than we may as well have been typing to a brick wall."
FIGHT TO SURVIVE

Bad Ideas

"Not much has been going on for me. I have been doing pretty good. However, having to stand out in full battle rattle for 4 hours at a time checking ID cards and searching Hajjis all day in 90+ degree heat sucks."
Boots on the ground

The ranks of military birders in Iraq are expanding.

"Now for something completely different....truffles in Iraq! I think of truffles as the fungus that the Italians or French go to incredible lengths to gather using trained dogs or pigs and pay hundred to thousands of dollars a kilo. Apparently there are more humble desert truffles that are being harvested at this time of year in among other places, southern Iraq. This article from Saudi Aramco World magazine tells the story. The article talks about Kuwaitis sometimes boiling them in camel milk (recipe is included)."
Birding Babylon

Short Circuiting Fate

" As his story wound to a close he leaned forward as if he were about to release some great secret, dropped his voice and said “we got lucky”. I leaned back, looked him dead in the eye and told him the truth, saying “Luck had nothing to do with it”. Because in the end what sway can fate have over a man willing to wade through a mire of putrescence so that he could fight alongside his soldiers?"
365 and a wakeup

Stranger in a Really Strange Land

"He took another drag off his smoke.
"You come back, Sergeant, without vest and gun and helmet, you come back after the war is over and I show you the real Iraq." "
This is Your War

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Crowd Control

"A few days after the "Steve" event 2nd SQD was asked to stay behind to be a QRF element at the hotel.
I say a few days because I simply don't know. Working night’s screws you up, anyone that has worked a graveyard shift job will know what I mean. You simply have no days, no sense for the passage of days."
This is Yor War
I still don't understand "Steve" I get the feeling we have not heard the whole story...
"I'm watching Al-Iraqia TV now, waiting for news about the 2nd session for the national assembly.
The session was supposed to be held by noon (35 minutes ago) but till now nothing has happened and 5 minutes ago, one of the members from the Coalition list stated that there are still discussions among the Sunni members of the Assembly for choosing someone to be nominated for heading the National Assembly.
This, will (as came in the statement) probably force postponing the session until Saturday.
Yesterday, Ghazi Al-Yawir, the interim Iraqi president refused being nominated for the same position.

More updates, soon."
ITM
This is a review of what apparently did not happen at the second meeting of the assembly.
"Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, has introduced a Horowitz-inspired so-called Academic Freedom Bill of Rights in the Florida State legislature. In our Orwellian world, this is actually a bill to destroy academic freedom and take away rights of free speech on campus. Baxley is a funeral director, and apparently he wants to bury higher education in this country along with his other clients."
Juan Cole
This should be of interest to my Florida readers.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Iraq : The Cancer Case

"Ever wondered why Iraq has never worked as a state since its artificial creation in 1921 ?! Many people link Iraq's current failure in security and stability to the presence of the foreign forces.

Looking at Iraq's history since the day it was established in 1921, there has never been a peaceful period of time that we could identify. When the (Americans+Britons et. al., 2003) arrived, people started to become interested in Iraq. But they don't acknowledge Iraq's history."
Kurdo's World

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Army investigation reported abuse, possible torture at jail near Mosul

"They show the torture and abuse of detainees was routine and such treatment was considered an acceptable practice by U.S. forces," ACLU lawyer Amrit Singh said.

Guards at the detention facility near Mosul came from at least three infantry units of the 101st Airborne, including an air-defense artillery unit. The investigating officer, whose name was blacked out of the documents, said the troops were poorly trained and encouraged to abuse prisoners.

According to the report, the abuse included:

• Forcing detainees to perform exercises such as deep knee bends for hours on end, to the point of exhaustion.

• Blowing cigarette smoke into the sandbags the prisoners were forced to wear as hoods.

• Throwing cold water on the prisoners in a room that was between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.

• Blasting the detainees with heavy-metal music, yelling at them and banging on doors and ammunition cans."
USA Today
(hat tip Abbas Kadhim)
Birds Of Iraq: The Black-Winged Stilt
"So obviously I thought of her the moment I opened up the latest email from LTC Bob and saw the bird above"
Thanks LTC Bob, your pictures are great, keep up the good work.
Medya has a couple of interesting post, one about Zoroastrianism is the world's oldest continuing monotheistic religion and the next one about Turks hacking into Kurdish websites.

A Deep-sworn Vow

"Two Iraqi sisters work the desk. Petit girls with golden skin, strong noses, flashing eyes, and dark hair streaked with blonde. Hour glassed shape and smelling of flowers. It's the only good part about standing in line, this momentary contact with beauty in this other wise drab place. I like watching them move, how their hands hold pens, they way they walk, and their quick rapid fire bursts of conversation. They seem to embody all things exotic any mysterious about the Middle East, as if by talking to them I could learn about this strange land and culture that fascinates and repels me."
This is Your War

Unseeing Eyes

"Today I had to take care of business in another FOB (Forward Operating Base) once again, and found myself riding along with the trustworthy PSD detail. The trip passed with fluid ease and after finishing up my work we prepared to return to our little outpost. But in the time it took me to finish up work the traffic started to pick up."
365 and a Wakeup

Dear friends …

"Dear friends,
We are in very critical time Iraq need any one could help or assist on the rebuilding process, and I wish if you could be able to help, I will be ready to assist any one wish, or like to work or invest in Iraq.
Iraq is witnessing a very big process of construction and rebuilding ,so I would like to invite any person we see in him self the ability to work or help Iraq and Iraqis ,to come forward ,and believe me he will not losses .
Dear friends many thanks for your help and concern"
Road of a Nation

Saturday, March 26, 2005

The long road of democracy.

"While a state of discomfort from the delay in announcing the formation of the government is growing on the streets in Iraq, the involved parties continue their discussions and negotiations to define the formation of the government and distribute the tasks and posts of the future administration"
ITM -Mohammed
"Children were not the only victims - in early 2001, two Jordanians were evacuated home with injured penises after attempting sexual intercourse with goats."
The Australian


We need a new UN commission to save the goats!!

Friday, March 25, 2005

Al-Ja’afari Premier Credentials Questioned

"Ibrahim Al-Ja’afari is under pressure from leading Shia to withdraw as their candidate for post of premier because of his slowing progress on forming a new government and concerns over his Islamist orientation.

Al-Ja’afari, the candidate of the Shia-dominated United Iraqi Alliance, UIA, is apparently struggling to deal with Kurdish demands for greater autonomy and a general resistance to the possible imposition of Islamic law, after more than a month of negotiations on the formation of a new government."
ChristianIraq
Thanks Joe

14 Cuban Refugees Arrive to the Dry Tortugas

by Julio C. Zangroniz

"Last Wednesday morning, March 23, just as the sun began to crawl over the horizon and light up the Dry Tortugas –the tiny group of Florida islands about 70 miles west of Key West— those placid grounds normally occupied by campers and vacationers became alive with excitement.
Did you see them… did you see the Cubans? nearly yelled one camper to another as he ran from camp to camp."
**Babalu Blog Exclusive. Must credit Babalu Blog**
Update:

Read the story of how Val got this story.

Situation at a glance

"After the 11 September tragedy and US-led invasion, Afghanistan has achieved much in the past three years. Around 80% of the Afghan people are happy that the US overthrew the Taliban and installed a democracy."
Afghan Warrior
"HAVANA - Saying that American tourism and trade can do more to undermine Fidel Castro's government than current U.S. policy, two conservative U.S. lawmakers promised Thursday to back more legislation this year to ease restrictions against the communist country.

"I don't think that the for the next four years we can maintain this policy," Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told a small group of international journalists."
kansascity

No Government any Time Soon in Iraq

Well if your not depressed yet, read Juan Cole
"The formation of a government in Iraq has been put off yet again, possibly until April 1 or beyond, according to AFP. The Shiites and the Kurds say they are close to agreement. But they could remain only close to an agreement for a long time. Parliament may meet again in the meantime.

AFP also says:"
Juan Cole

P.S.

"Many have reminded me of my love of wifeing. Of course I want to wife my husband; that's why I'm upset. He's doing all the husbanding! I am the one working all day and he has to take care of the house and cheer me up when I get home. That's not what I wanted at all! I wanted to take care of him...

We're doing OK. We've been talking a lot about how we felt during the deployment, all the stuff that went unsaid when we only had the instant messenger to convey our thoughts. Puzzle pieces are falling into place, and we're working through the usch."
Trying to Grok

Regret

"I was laying on my cot in the squad room looking at the ceiling tiles think of how I'm going to tell this episode and listening to the BBC.
We have Armed Forces Radio Network here but AFN tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one at the sametime - a couple hours of Country, Hip-Hop, Rock, all intermixed with news and cute little announcements that would be considered Public Service Announcements back in The World. We are reminded to pratice Operational Security (OPSEC) by the 'Future Robot' and two humans"
This is Your War

Gen. Waleed

"I didn’t know him well. But from my few conversations with the man, I gathered he was a true Iraqi Patriot and that he loved wearing suits and he kind of reminded me of Bill Cosby... I could just picture him in front of his grandchildren daring them to pull his finger. Of course, it’s considered an insult in Iraq to fart on somebody, but still he just had an avuncular quality to him. Gen. Waleed Kashmoula was the anti-corruption director in Mosul. He was killed this past week by insurgents."
In Iraq for 365

Situation Report

"Things are getting alittle interesting over here. Not in a good way either. While out in our area of operations in Baghdad. Nearby, a Bradley and a few other armored vehicles got ambushed yesterday. It was first hit with an IED and a fire fight broke out for about a minute. I only saw the puff of smoke from the IED from a distance, the rest, I could only hear the sound of small arms and the sound of the loud Coax gun on the Bradley firing away. About an hour or 2, the vehicles that got ambushed rolled past our spot where we were in the city and the only visible damage the IED caused was a black mark on the side of the Bradley that scorched the paint alittle bit. I don't know if any insurgents were killed, but I do know no Americans were hurt. Just from hearing the heavy guns from the armored vehicles and the 25mm from the Coax on the Bradley leaves me to assume they probably killed some of the enemy. The only thing that matters is none of our guys were hurt in that incident. Other than that, not much else happened in our area."
Boots on the Ground
"I came across an interesting article (at least to me) on the molluscs (clams, snails, etc) of the lower Mesopotamian wetlands. This scientific paper was derived from unpublished material from a 1980 expedition just prior to the beginning of the Iran-Iraq War, when the area was in much better shape. There are quiet a few photos of various gastropods and bivalves as well as some very nice photos at the end of the paper of the houses of the Marsh Arabs."
Birding Babylon

Balance of Judgement

"This morning I had to get to another one of our sprawling FOBs to take care of an urgent mission, but the only ride was with LTC Tomahawks mission. The commander’s mission was to sit in on one of the district advisory council meetings, but he was more then willing to let me use his PSD to get to my destination while he was in the meeting.

Our drive to the DAC (district area council) building was the usual white knuckled sprint, but the trip passed before my blood pressure had a chance to jump. We made short work of dropping off the commander and headed to take care of my errands."
365 and a wakeup
Fayrouz on moving, a new job for her husband, and news from some new bloggers.

The 2nd anniversary.

"These days we're living the 2nd anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, an occasion that is very dear to my heart and the hearts of all freedom loving people all over the world.
This operation is still controversial to many people some are with and some are against it and many people still question the legal and ethical basis of this operation which continues to be a source for many visions regarding its future positive and negative effects on the region and the rest of the world.
It is ironic that many cities in the world witnessed "Anti-War" demonstrations while in Iraq, the people were demonstrating against Arab countries interfering with the internal affairs of Iraq."
ITM

Thursday, March 24, 2005

"Iraqi Bloggers Central is proud to present:
The In T View: Nabil, Scholarly and
Soccer-Loving"
IBC -Mister Ghost

A couple of e-mails were asking me to talk about the "Iraqi resistance."

"I don't know what to say, because I don't know who the people involved in the resistance are. To draw something from the Iraqi history: in the 1920 Revolution, which is considered by all Iraqis as a great chapter in Iraq's history, the leaders of the resistance against the British were well-known. They were people like, Muhammed Sa`id al-Habboubi, Muhsin Abu Tibikh, Ja`far Abu al-Timman, Muhammed al-Sadr, Ali al-Bazirgan, and the list goes on.

Every one of these men was a paragon of patriotism and good ethics. It was easy to make one's mind about the resistance then, knowing the people involved. Also, it was easy to admire their action. They fought with honor and they did not act like thugs and thieves."
Abbas Kadhim

Wednesday, March 23, 2005


"I'm still tired from the road but I'd like to share a few photos with you, here, here, here and here.

Serious blogging will be resumed tomorrow, hopefully."
ITM
"The political wrangling hopefully will conclude soon with a coalition government. Despite some violence, it seems to me that the progress continues in Iraq. It also seems Iraqis are more optimistic than Americans about their future."
Iraq calling

A Pinch Of Salt.....

"It was last Friday that I decided to break the news to my father, and my father alone,"
NIW
"Leading Shiite politicians say they have finally brokered a deal with Kurdish parties to end a debilitating impasse over the formation of Iraq's new government.

They said on Tuesday that Iraq's new parliament, which held its largely ceremonial inaugural session last week, would reconvene on Saturday to try to form a coalition administration.

"We have agreed on almost everything, and expect to present an agreement on a government of national unity to parliament by the end of the week," said Jawad al-Maliki, a senior aide to Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the prime minister in waiting."
Assyrian International News Agency

Veterans and this country

"One man was missing an eye. Another had no left arm. Others had extreme coughs and limps. All appeared poor, wearing stained sweat pants and old shirts and out-of-style tattered shoes. They were Veterans. The heart and soul of America. And there they sat at the Milwaukee Veteran’s Hospital awaiting treatment. What they’ve seen and been through could only be understood by somebody else who’d lived through it. Many probably held their buddies as his final breath left his lungs. Yet, they are poor and take the Metro bus for their medical treatment; they can’t afford cars."
In Iraq for 365

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Changes are Inevitable in Middle East

"On the 9/3/2003 the most tyrant regime in the history of Iraq and the region finished however the Middle East still full with dictators of different kinds. For many years these dictators used many ways to submit the people so as to continue in power. One of the most common ways was the issue of Palestine. The other ways were related to anti-Western or anti-American ideology which was supported to some extent by the USSR before. Some governments were so hypocritical by having pro-Western attitude while allowing anti-Western ideology to flourish like in Jordan and Saudi Arabia."
Hammorabi
"Republican Hisba will have the same effect in the United States that it does in the Middle East. It will reduce the rights of the individual in favor of the rights of religious and political elites to control individuals. Ayatollah Delay isn't different from his counterparts in Iran."
Juan Cole

Black Hawk Back Home

"

Picture flying through the air at speeds over a hundred and fifty miles an hour. Okay, that’s simple, most people have been in an airplane. Now picture doing that fifty feet above the ground the entire trip. This is no airplane ride; this is a Black Hawk helicopter ride through a combat zone."
Jon Jivan's
Also make sure you go to the main page and see the rest of the pictures and his vacation story.
"Reading through Mosul Today, I was struck at how frivolous it seemed to have pictures of Christina Aguilera, Elizabeth Hurley, and a few other women I couldn’t identify on the front page, while there seemed to be stories about terrorists in the middle pages, and politics on the back. Is this really what Iraqis value? Is this what their readers are most interested in? Is this what we have exported with our blood and treasure? It turns out that I was reading the newspaper backwards. "
Steven Kiel
I wish I could read it.

Monday, March 21, 2005

"Iraq, Jordan readying free trade zone

Baghdad, Iraq, Mar. 21 (UPI) -- Jordan and Iraq are placing the last touches on an agreement to set up a free trade zone, reports said Monday"
UPI
I wonder if this will turn out to be a free trade zone, or a free terrorist zone. We will wait and see.
"Jordan sends envoy back to Iraq

King Abdullah of Jordan has ordered his chief envoy to Iraq to return to Baghdad, in a move to resolve a diplomatic row."
BBC
Maybe he should also order his security to control the borders, and stop supporting sectarian violence inside Iraq, and against the Iraqi people. maybe, just maybe, someone will care about his latest orders.

Gunner Palace shows Iraq war as soldiers see it

"Michael Tucker, an American who lives in Berlin, first started going to Baghdad in May 2003. "I was making a film about an armored-car salesman who was looking down the road at postwar Iraq," said Tucker. "Business was booming. We went in twice, delivering cars -- armored Land Cruisers, armored Mercedes -- to Baghdad. The cars would be flown to Amman, Jordan, and we would drive them in.""
Sun Sentinel
"OSH, Kyrgyzstan Mar 21, 2005 — Thousands of protesters, some armed with clubs and Molotov cocktails, overran Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city Monday, forcing police to flee as the government lost control of the impoverished southern region of the former Soviet republic."
ABC
I just wonder if this is good news, or bad. Hopefully we will see something like the Ukraine, where people demand a free and fare election.

Mahdi Army Beats 2 Students to Death in Basrah

Juan Cole has now chimed in, and with a little new info

Fayrouz has an update
"No one seems to have reported the latest events in Basrah. Not any of the news services or the blogs.

Students of the Basrah and Shatt Al-Arab universities in Basrah city have been on strike for the last three days as a reaction to the attack last week by Sadrists and Mahdi Army militiamen on tens of students organising a field trip or a picnic at Al-Andalus park, downtown Basrah."
Healing Iraq
"Update: The Governor of Basrah appeared on Fayhaa tv yesterday claiming that the problem with Sadr's office was resolved peacefully. How exactly was this achieved? The esteemed Governor (who is a member of Da'wa) met with representatives from Sadr's office under the mediation of the Shia Islamic parties in Basrah (Da'wa, SCIRI, Fadheela, Thar Allah) and it appears that Sadr's aides had agreed to 'punish the guilty parties"
I believe Free Iraqi had the story the other day also.And Fayrouz has more too
Times online

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico

"Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico

These incredible photos were taken by María Elena Morejón and were included in an article written by Carlos Wotzkow that appeared in www.gentiuno.com on March 6 of this year.

They were taken at Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Joaquin Albarran in Havana.

Here are these amazing photographs that once again prove that those who say that Cubansare receiving great healthcare thanks to Castro, don't know what they are talking about:"



The real Cuba
From Trying to grok

A War in Words: An Iraqi Family Diary


Khalid Jarrar

"A War in Words: An Iraqi Family Diary tells the story of what life is like for ordinary Iraqis living in Baghdad. It takes us through the last two years in Iraq, as seen through the eyes of the Jarrar family. They have endured bombings and car-jackings, as Baghdad has become, arguably, the most dangerous city in the world. However, they have not lost their humour, or willingness to tell the world their story."
CBC
Reply to Khalid at Iraq Blog Count

Friday, March 18, 2005

From Dubai

"More than a month passed and we didn’t have our elected government yet, but guess what, we don’t care, actually…..we are waiting for the announcement of the new Prime Minister name very anxiously, but between Mr. Alawy or Mr. Jaffary we are happy for any one of them to be the next P M, both of them are more than excellent choice for the position."
Iraq & Iraqis

To my readers : More about my city diaries

"Today in the morning at 8 AM, the traffic movement was very slow causing jams every where especially near the bridges.
I have to cross the bridge from my house to the work place every day; I saw that security conditions applied by Iraqi security forces were dense this morning more than usual."
A Free writer

J. Q. Public

In the spirit of this blogs mission statement I have created a new account for you, J.Q. Public.
This account is open to anyone that would like to post a story to this blog.
The rules are the same as those described in the Mission Statement.

The instructions are easy, just click here to go to Blogger dashboard and enter this information:

1)
Username: tfwpublic@yahoo.com
Password: tfw123456

2) click "create a post" to go to the post editer.

3) Publish you post

**Any inappropriate post will be deleted**


"Today is the second anniversary of the crackdown on and arrest of the 75 writers, librarians and journalists in Cuba. I've written about their plight many times, including last year's first anniverary post here."
Babalu Blog
"Age has dampened the fire but it's still there. I'm feeling it now. I can't decide if I hate this country or not. I defiantly like it better than Kuwait, people wise. So far I am enjoying the Iraqi people. Even if they do some crazy things by Western standards."
This is Your War

Winds of change from the south.

"Thousands of students in Basra University demonstrated Yesterday against "terrorism". Al Basra University announced a general strike until the demands of the students are met. From Al Qabas Kuwaiti newspaper (Arabic). The rally was not against the terrorism carried by the Salafi/Jihadists but against the terrorist activities of the religious parties in Basra and mainly the Sadirsts"
Free Iraqi

Thursday, March 17, 2005

"Not much has been going on. Just the usual we have been doing. Which I am not really allowed to say what that is. The crackdown on military blogs is thanks for that."
Boots on the Ground
It continues...

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

IRANIANS RAGE AGAINST THE REGIME

"
Today is the celebration of Chaharshanbe Soori, an ancient Persian tradition in which Iranians jump over a fire to leave the mistakes of the past in the flames. The mullahs regime has tried to prevent the celebration from occurring, and it is causing clashes between people and the security forces. This is while OPEC meets in Tehran, and the Iranians are breaking loose. Read this report:"

Pablius Pundit
I don't know what to make of this report, it's the first I hear of it, and it almost sounds like the Lebanese revolution has spilled over to Iran. Like I said, I don;t know what's up yet, this might not be what it looks like but you never know if the Iranians might just have had enough, thank you, and are really out in the streets burning cars and attacking financial institutions. Sounds serious to me, but like I said this is the first I hear of it.

I just found this post from last night from the blog that the links lead to. I quoted this
"Eye-witnesses reported that full-size puppets of high-ranking officials, such as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime's president Mohammad Khatami, were set on fire by youths at numerous locations throughout the Iranian capital. Trucks belonging to Iran's security forces were also set ablaze. READ MORE
__________________________________

"Today in Syria there is a military coup going on! Bashir Assad is holed up in Aleppo coordinating his loyal special forces, as Damascus has been taken over by a junta against withdrawal from Lebanon. "
MythoPoet's Mirror
Another interesting little piece of news. What's the hell is going on out there tonight?

The In T View: Neurotic Iraqi Wife ~ Not So Neurotic After All

"Blogging from a secret location somewhere in the Middle East, the Neurotic Iraqi Wife reveals her thoughts, views, and desires through her appropriately named blog: Neurotic Iraqi Wife, while awaiting the return of her beloved Hubby busy reconstructing Iraq. And she really doesn't seem that neurotic. . ."
IBC -Mister Ghost
"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's first freely elected parliament in half a century began its opening session Wednesday after a series of explosions targeted the gathering. The opening marked a major milestone on the road to forming a new government in a country still beset by violence.

The parliament's 275 members, elected during Jan. 30 elections, convened in an auditorium amid tight security in the heavily guarded Green Zone with U.S. helicopter gunships hovering overhead.

Minutes before convening, at least a half dozen explosions detonated a few hundred yards away. The U.S. military said two mortar rounds landed inside the zone but caused no injuries.

The lawmakers opened with a reading of verses from the Quran. Iraqi Chief Justice Medhat al Mahmoud then administered the oath to the assembled deputies."
MyWay news

Another "Dignity " Round-up

"Según las fuentes, las autoridades señalan que si los salarios en Cuba no son mayores de 15 dólares al mes y eres un joven que deberías estar estudiando o incorporado a los planes de la revolución, ¿de dónde sacas un reloj Seiko, una cadena y dientes de oro; una moto MZ, ropa Benetton y zapatillas Adidas?"
Babalu Blog
If this does not say it all, if there is still anyone out there that thinks that Cuba is a "workers paradise", with free education and medical services, well then there is just no hope for you or the people suffering under the Monster, and fucking asshole castro.
If Cuba under the regime of the fuck'en bastard is so great, then it should be easy for people to have nice cloth and a watch, and some stupid Adidas, and a scooter. Wake up world an look at what you have been supporting for the last 46 years. The Cuban people will will wake up from this nightmare one day, and demand and extract payment from all the supporters, for what has been done to us. You are all officially, on notice.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Do you want to be on TV?

"Then read on...

TLC (of Trading Spaces fame... I promise you I never watched it) is launching a show called "Operation Homecoming," where they will be filming the homecomings of soldiers to their families and communities. "
Steven Kiel
"The painted teeth, like putting make up on a Tyrannosaurus Rex."
This is Your War

ASKING FOR HELP

"Dear friends .
Hi ,hope that every one is ok ,I was away for some time now ,and the responsibilities just make away and away ,we have a country need to be rebuild and this is our job to build this new country to be available to all ."
Road of a Nation
Hey if there are any corprate types out there that can help Sarmad. He is having a Major billing problem. Please if you know anything or have any experience, give Sarmad a hand. This guy, even though he rarely blogs today, had one of the best, and at one time my favorite Iraqi blog. He comes across as a very reasonable fellow, and I'm sure there's someone out there that could help.

Ibn Alrafidain

"it took an American soldier more than 48 hours & more than 30 Iraqi casualties to understand that his sign for the Iraqi car drivers to stop means a salutation according to the Iraqi tradition."
Ibn Alrafidain

I found this paragraph fascinating and posted it just so that this word would get out. Hopefully there is a campaign somewhere to help teach these little culture shock issues to both sides as to avoid making the bad, worse.

The In T View: Medya Reaching For the Stars

Mister Ghost over at IBC has posted the next interview in his The In T View: series

"Reaching For The Stars. That's what Kurdish-Iranian Blogger Medya G. is doing in his life these days and through his two blogs, Medya Daily and Focus on the Unfocused, his Photoblog about Kurdistan."
Go read what an Iranian Kurd has to say to a Ghost
Part 1
Part 2

Monday, March 14, 2005


War News Posted by Hello

This is Norman Rockwell's War News. I think this timeless painting captures how many of us feel. We sit here anxious for a little news of what is happening far away, in the war. We listen because those fighting the war are important to us, they are our, fathers, our mothers, our brothers and our sisters. Back in the day the radio was the cutting edge technology that could bring the news right to you. Just like the characters in the painting, we listen carfully to the latest report.
Today the Blog is the technology of choice that brings us the news and keeps us informed.
America has a great heritage of having an informed public, and today we continue in that great American tradition. So be a good American do your part in this great struggle of our time, stay informed.

Wahabism, and radical Islam in Iraq.

"In my previous post I tried to explain why in my mind the Islamic brotherhood had transferred into a terrorist group. The reasons I gave does not apply to Al Qaeda and Wahabism in general as I noted in the beginning of that post, as although both trends contribute to terrorism they differ from each other so much in almost everything.

While the Islamic brotherhood formation was a response -and an accumulative product of efforts- of many thinkers to the deteriorated social economic and political situation in Egypt with attempts to find a solution through Islam, Wahabism had no such background."
Free Iraqi

'Record' protest held in Beirut

"Nearly one million people have gathered for an opposition rally in Beirut, officials say - a month after the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says the crowds turned the city centre into a sea of red, white and green - the colours of Lebanon's national flag.

They were protesting against the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon."
BBC

In pictures
Thanks again boyintheworld
"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Kurdish leaders converged on Baghdad for talks Monday with majority Shiites as both sides pressed to secure a deal to form a coalition government before the newly elected parliament meets for the first time this week.

Shiites and Kurds have been haggling over the makeup of the government since a new National Assembly was elected Jan. 30. The parliament meets Wednesday.

The political deal calls for Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader, to be named president. Conservative Islamic Dawa Party leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari of the Shiite majority United Iraqi Alliance coalition would become prime minister.

"We're not interested in the government posts, we're more interested in Kurdistan and Iraq's interests," Talabani said in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad.

"We have made good progress. We have a common understanding with the United Iraqi Alliance that we should establish an Iraqi state based on the principles of federalism and respecting human and women's rights.""
story
Thanks to boyintheworld for the tip, It looks like the situation on the ground is fluid and changing with every moment. But This latest report does seem to point in right direction. cross your fingers XX

GO TO JAIL

"Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO, do not collect your rice cooker.

More Cubans thrown in jail for expressing their views:

PINAR DEL RIO, March 9 (Abdala Press / www.cubanet.org) - State security agents in Pinar del Río arrested at least five men and, after questioning them, warned them they could be charged for collaborating with a magazine which is illegal in Cuba.
The magazine, titled Cuban Cause, is published in the United States by a Cuban exile group.

Several members of organizations advocating peaceful opposition to the government and independent journalists were among those arrested.


I have not heard of the magazine Cuban Cause. Internet searches lead to nada. If anyone out there is familiar with the magazine, please drop me a line."
Babalu Blog
I put this up here just in case any of this blogs readers know anything about it. If you do please contact Val over at Babalu blog. Your assistance is appreciated.
"BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 12 - In the weeks after Baghdad fell in April 2003, looters systematically dismantled and removed tons of machinery from Saddam Hussein's most important weapons installations, including some with high-precision equipment capable of making parts for nuclear arms, a senior Iraqi official said this week in the government's first extensive comments on the looting.

The Iraqi official, Sami al-Araji, the deputy minister of industry, said it appeared that a highly organized operation had pinpointed specific plants in search of valuable equipment, some of which could be used for both military and civilian applications, and carted the machinery away."
NYT -From Druge
"According to radio Sawa and Iraq Net, the negotiations between the "United Iraqi Coalition" and the "Kurdish Alliance" have collapsed this afternoon.
The prominent Coalition figure Ahmed Chalabi explained the reasons for the failure of the negotiations in an interview on Al-Sharqiya TV. He blamed the Kurdish leaderships for this failure describing their demands as "unrealistic".
These demands were (as Chalabi stated):"
ITM

"the new information policy"

"The fact that our blogging has become less frequent is, in fact, a sign of normalcy beginning to return to our lives. Some time, sooner than people might expect, we shall be talking about things other than the War and Politics."
The Mesopotamian
In this Alaa latest post he seems to argue that the situation is getting better with the airing of the confessions of the captured terrorist. They seem to have turned it into a nightly TV show, and people are watching, and taking notice of who the insurgents are, and why they carry out their operation. Apparently freeing Iraq of the occupying MNF don't seem to score too high on the insurgent list. I myself have mixed feelings about the broadcasts. Way back when the subject cam up on the Kurdish blogs I was completely against the practice, but the Iraqi contributors were for it, but said that they were being pressured by the European powers not to do it. Now it would seem that after the elections the people in charge feel more of an alliance to a call from the populous for just this type of a response, and less worried by the reaction of outside powers. So in that regard, it does seem to present a step in the right direction, but on the other hand it could be seen as blow to individual freedoms, and having those issues imprinted on the people anytime soon.
Whenever I come across on of these issues that seem to defy logic, or at least any logic I can see, I tell myself that Iraq surly has a long way to go. It cant wakeup tomorrow looking like a western democracy just out of thin air. So I say let them have their way, let them experiment and find a path that is their own. After all the woods are dark and filled with danger. I at least would feel much better looking for a safe path surrounded by people that I know and trust, I'll assume Iraqi's are the same.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

The In T View: Kurdo Unbound!

"In the Elite Pantheon of Kurdish Bloggers, Kurdo of Kurdo's World stands high above the courtside of the Kurdistan and Iraqi geopolitical milieu, always ready to offer a needed Kurdish Perspective on events in Kurdistan and Iraq, as he does here in: The In T View: Kurdo Unbound!"
IBC- Mister Ghost

Al-Ghad inflammatory article translation

"I still can't get over the inflammatory article I read yesterday. I e-mailed the editor-in-chief of the paper and complained. I encourage everyone else to do so as well. As somebody who has worked in different newsrooms over the last seven years, trust me when I tell you that feedback has an impact. Also, upon hubby's suggestion, I translated the article into English for those who couldn't read it in Arabic. Part of the article is below, the rest is in the extended section of this post."
Mental Mayhem
Thanks Enigma for posting this link.

"MAN AT HIS BEST"

"MAN AT HIS BEST"
"For those who might be interested, part duex to the peice that I wrote for Esquire magazine is on newstands now."
My War

Friday, March 11, 2005

Italy, Iraq and Suicide Bombing

Fay this article of yours is as sharp as a knife, you lead us right into that picture, and you strike with the accuracy of a sniper. They are not just numbers anymore.
Thank you.

This week, anti-war Italians and non-Italians, the Italian government and the media had a reason to talk about Iraqi checkpoints after the killing of intelligence officer Nicola Calipari and the wounding of journalist Giuliana Sgrena by American soldiers.

First, there's no doubt this was an accident that must be fully investigated. Iraqis have tried to tell the world about similar accidents happening near checkpoints. Iraqi voices aren't well heard and - even if heard - people doubt their credibility. So, it took an accident like this to shed some light on the rules of engagement at Iraqi checkpoints."
Live from Dallas
I posted my comments on the top, because I could not post to Fayrouz's blog. So I wanted to make sure I said it. A must read for everyone.

Allawi's choice

Well anyway, I was just thinking, Allawi's only got a few more days. He must be feeling the pinch right about now. It's never easy to step aside, and let someone else take the reigns.
This is one absolute fact, that we can all read in any history book that's worth the ink and paper.
Allawi is at one of those moments in history, where the security situation sucks big time, it would be so easy, so tempting to somehow delay, for just a few more days, till the situation settles back down. Just till it's safe.
What will he do, he has to make an important choice that will impact the future of Iraq. Will he chose wisely
Just a few more days and we find out if Allawi deserves the (A)in his name.

Our Life.....

"That was one helluva of a trip,I enjoyed it big time. Went to Amman to meet up with HUBBY(who was coming from Baghdad) then off to Amsterdam for 4 days, took a day trip via the train to Brussels and off to Stockholm for 5 days, then back to Amman for the dreaded farewell. What can I say, Im starting to understand HUBBY more and although I used to moan and complain for him not being around, I finally came to realise how important his work is. Darn I sound boring no???"
Neurotic Iraqi Wife
A tale of sex and drugs!!

Halabja: Silence Was Approval

"Every March, mixed feelings of joy and sorrow fills the skies of Kurdistan. From the first few days of March up to the middle of the month, there are celeberations of the anniversary of the 1991 uprising which was a begining for self-rule and freedom.

Then comes 16th of March, the Wednesday, 16th of March 1988 where Halabja was chemically and barbarically attacked."
Kurdo's World

Night Dogs

"It began raining here the night of the 9th and hasn't let up much since. The rain will stop then come down in torrents, then drop to a steady drizzle that makes the air heavy and thick. And, of course, there is the mud. Rich thick, stick to your boots slop that is still light enough to splattered the back of your pants and cover your boots. And get tracked into the hallway, and latrine, and room..."
This is Your War

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Hope - An Iraqi man will die to give it to his family

"Talking with the ING soldiers has really made me realize how off the mark the media has been. If one only read what is reported in the newspapers you would think that the country is so divided along religious lines that having any hope of cooperation is naïve and unattainable."
Steven Kiel

News Alert!!

A know terrorist ringleader know only as "Green Toad" captured April 2004, LSA Anaconda, near Balad, Iraq.
Military intelligence is said to be interrogating the suspect now.
This blog has been in contact with highly placed sources on the ground and has been told:

"we got em, and he's croaking like a frog"

Story developing....

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

All because I went to chow.

"I don't know what to say. I want to tell him he's a fucking moron. We are in a war, people are being killed every single day outside the wire, C for Charlie dose not have enough vehicles to perform our mission and the vehicles we do have are beat up from hard use. They spend more time in the motor poole than on the street. Our commo equipment only works half the time and this guy is sweating me about my Goddamn patch! In the Army you are supposed to respect the rank, not the man. Well, if an idiot is wearing the crown of a king he is still an idiot."
This is Your War
This is the next one! or Love at first read!
Did you see the latest post on Miramar blog

cash and carry or don't
"Today's big story turns around the key exception to the US trade embargo with Cuba. For years, the US has allowed the sale of food and medicine to the island, but a rule change whould require that Cuba pay up front for it's $1 billion in annual food purchases."

He even provides a few links, but I have not checked them out yet. but what a relife to know that I am not the only crazy that see it.

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Home sweet home

While we are on the subject of posttraumatic stress disorder
"On the second visit, I focused on the right things… not my shrink’s long legs. I told her about my latest nightmare…

I camped outside with Abby. The moon was bright and the bull frogs and crickets loud. I love the Oklahoma country. As a kid, I slept outside all the time. This time I fell asleep in the back yard within a matter of minutes. I woke up hugging a tree in the front yard, crying and yelling.

My little bro said he was looking for me in the back yard when I started yelling “get down, mother fucker. Get down, or I’ll shoot.” I was chasing him with my arms at the ready. I chased him to the house and I was yelling for my friend “Sammy,” telling him to get his weapon and that Haji is everywhere. I then proceeded into the house at 3 a.m., pounding on doors telling everybody that Haji is everywhere and that we need to go. At first, they thought I was playing a joke until they looked into my eyes… they knew I was dreaming. When I woke up with my arms wrapped around a defoliated Craped Myrtle, my parents and little bro were there. I was relieved I was just dreaming… as the experience felt real. In the dream, I manned a guard tower at my parent’s house. We had a strong perimeter set up and somehow black man dresses surrounded the area."
In Iraq for 365
You can ship the soldier out of Iraq, but can you bring them back home?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans over Time.

"This is a research paper I did for one of my classes. It received a very good response so I thought you all might be interested. Please don't steal this!! Write me if you want to use it.

Surviving combat is what all of us who have been there wished for. Guaranteed, though, that someone you know well wont. If you have a job that places you in constant contact with combat or its aftermath, you will see the resulting death and devastation. This wears heavily on everyone especially seeing the death of the vulnerable, children, or the elderly. How we are able to deal with it is where we begin to have issues.

The phrase "time heals all wounds" has been permanently attached to the vernacular as the solution to all psychological problems. The idea that the passage of time will miraculously cause an erasure of painful memories may ring true for a lost job or a relationship, but what of truly traumatic events such as the stress suffered in combat or a terrorist attack. It has gone by many names: combat fatigue, shell shock, and battle stress."
A Candle in the Dark
Long, but worth it.

Children , rising prices we are still paying

"A friend of mine who is working in a children’s hospital as a doctor, told me that in the last four days ,this hospitals was hit with mortars in around middle of the day , causing the death of tow mothers and one kid , destroying a car , and thanks God few a shells didn’t exploded ."
A Free Writer
and also this post from the same guy about the antiquities issues should be read by anyone that's in the business.

New Parliament to convene in 10 days

"Iraq’s new parliament to convene in 10 days
Iraq’s new parliament will hold its first session in 10 days, more than a month after the country’s historic vote, top officials in the Kurdish and Shiite blocs negotiating a governing coalition revealed.
“We agreed that the first session of parliament will take place on March 16, the anniversary of the chemical bombing of the Kurdish town of Halabja by the former regime of Saddam Hussein on March 16, 1988,” outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told AFP."
IEDs
Finally!!
"Nearly at noon, we heard a sound of successive explosions near the hospital & these explosions took place Addan Square in Al-Kadimia city by the terrorists. Firstly, they explode a bus between the walking people & then as the peoples crowded there trying to save the injured victims a couple of terrorists explode themselves among the crowd & then followed by other explosions in the same location."
Iraqi Humanity
I found this blog over at IBC and this post is a must read.

Wahabi terrorism

"Fifteen beheaded bodies have been found south Baghdad today. The IDs of the beheaded men and women are not yet known but it is most likely belongs to Iraqi Shiites among the pilgrimage to the holy cities in Najaf and Kerbala.

Wahabi terrorists who shed the Shiite blood have killed hundreds of them in Latiyfiyah in the last few months. These thugs use Saudi Wahabi Fatwa to carry out their crimes against non-Sunni people like Shiites and non-Muslims.

On the same time the Najaf police found 33 ready to fire rockets directed towards the city centre from the side of Bahr Al-Najaf which is from the side of Saudi Arabia. Many Saudi Wahabi terrorists have been captured in Najaf recently."
Hammorabi

March Of The Marsh

"More on the restoration of the southeastern Iraqi marshes.

The scientists reported that less than 10 percent of the original marshes still function as true wetlands, but that about 20 percent of the original area had been reflooded by March 2004, according to satellite imagery.

High salt content in soil and water, threatens the recovery of the marshes in certain areas, the paper said.

As Dr. Hussain's team pulled up muck and spinachlike aquatic plants from the bottom of this marsh for testing, he confirmed the problems and said the thickets of reeds in this marsh were still only about half as dense as they had been before the marsh dried up.

Some plants, like water lilies, had not come back at all, he said.


I supect that, given time, and despite the obvious pessimism of Western researchers, the marshes will regain much of their former glory, possibly even meeting Dr. Ali's goal of 80% restoration. All the flora and fauna really need to re-colonize the area is water and time."
Silflay Hraka

Monday, March 07, 2005

"I've just taken my first walk through Damascus. Which I'm glad I've done since this is the 4th time I've passed through this city. Now I know there's nothing to see, and I want to go home. Tomorrow I might be off to Amman and wait it out there, it all depends on Dad I guess."
Baghdad Bacon & Eggs
This is the new blogger listed over at IBC, and I was reading thought it and that joke just made me laugh, not even sure why, as I would not know Damascus form Havana, but it gave me the giggles. Check him out but beware he's a bit harsh.

Blogs of War

"Soldiers are trying to make sure their version of the truth from Iraq gets out.
Even though for many, that truth doesn’t include revealing their identities, their online diaries are becoming an increasingly popular way for anyone with an Internet connection to “listen in” on the war zone"
Army Times

Sistani for peace prize

"A group of expat Iraqi Christians in the United States launched a petition to nominate Al-Sistani for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize."
Live from Dallas
And
"I did sign the petition to award Ali Al-Sistani the Nobel Prize for Peace for 2005.

I believe that awarding the prize to him will inspire many Muslims to see what he advocates. As the petition states, "Al-Sistani has helped Iraqi society to avoid civil and multiethnic violent conflicts that terrorists intended to draw, and by this he has promoted peace and respect to human brotherhood in Iraq, the region, and all over the world.""
Abbas Kadhim
Wow two Iraqi blogger that I respect from opposite sides of the spectrum have both independently signed this petition. I had already commented that I find it a bit weird that the most reasonable guy in today's Iraq, was the Ayatollah, with Abbas endorsement I was thinking about signing, but if Fayrouz signed it too, I feel like I'm missing out on a good thing...What to do....I know that I have been surprised by many things I have heard form Sistani, But can I sign?

Iraqi man helps young girl after a terrorist attack

"Someone hit me now. Someone punch me in the face because I still cannot believe what I read today on the front page of Al Ahram newspaper. They published a picture of an Iraqi man rescuing a young girl right after a motorcycle suicide bombing in Iraq. The caption under the photo went like this: Iraqi man helps young girl after a terrorist attack in Azamiyah in Iraq."
Big Pharaohs
I wonder if Abbas's last article at al-Ahram has made a difference to the way they see things over there. I don't know, but I am going to ask him if he thinks so. I know that when I read it, I was taken aback, and asked him if he thought he would be expelled for his outrage. He never answered.

check points !! I saw them

"As I said before in a comment I saw those check points in Iraq, it is a total chaos miscommunication between the American soldiers among themselves or American and Iraqi soldiers. It happened when I was sitting beside my father while he was driving and approached an American check point, the first soldier gave a gesture, waving with his hands to continue driving and the next soldier shout STOP, so we been in a situation “doomed if we do and doomed if we don’t” according to the soldiers theory “all Iraqis are suspicious” but the accident passed without any victims"
Baghdad Dweller

Dangerous games.

"Was the Iraqi vote successful? I was asked by an Iraqi-American friend prior to the election whether I think the Iraqi vote would be successful or not. At that time I answered my friend saying that it will be successful in terms of participation and I estimated it to him to be more than 60% but I also thought that it won't be successful if we consider success to be a true democratic election that results in a stable democracy"
Free Iraqi
Ali has an important post, that looks a little deeper into what's going on right now on the political front, were it appears that the trenches are dug deep into the ethnic soil of Iraq.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Lawmaker questions military value of entitlements

"I normally don't talk about politics unless it has something directly to do with the military but this story has been hanging over my head since I read it. I'm just surprised that the MSM have not picked it up (but was on the Marine Corps Times website), there are some law makers on the hill that are questioning the value of military entitlements. This lawmaker, who is a Naval Reservist, says that costs for dependent and retiree support provide "next to no defense benefit"."
Doc in the box

Very Busy

"We have been very very busy going out and conducting patrols through our area in Iraq. The kid still wave at us and give us thumps up. They even put on sunglasses that were handed to them previously by US Soldiers to look cool in front of us.

A few nights ago was my first time since being here a second time we were attacked. We stopped in a neighborhood asking people if they've been hearing and loud booms or saw anything. Next thing you know, about 15 minutes later while we were still there, a mortar lands about 100 meters from our position. A very lucky shot or a good one. It was way too close for comfort. It just exploded in the alley in next to us. I ducked immediately, my heart was pounding really hard. We finally took off, and my nervousness went away and became anger. I wanted to find out whoever did that. A few guys have already hit some IEDs and been shot at, but no one has been hurt."
Boots on the ground

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Blogger Alert!

"Three blogs which published sensitive information about upcoming Apple products could be made to disclose where the leaks came from.
A California judge said in a preliminary ruling that bloggers should not have the same protection afforded to journalists under US law."
BBC
Every blogger should join in taking this to the highest Court.

Friday, March 04, 2005

"What do u do if ure village was razed when u were a child, had ure family deported and be sent to a torture prison all before u turned 15

1) Join the holy resistance and kill kill kill
2) Join the university circuit with your sob story and then explain why u need to kill kill kill
3) Leave the country, get a BA in film and start a dance group"
KBU - Dilnareen
Even though I have never talked or commented on any of her? post Dilnareen has got to be my favorite blogger over at KBU. I don't know why, but it's like she blogs just for me, or something. But I can know it's a post from her after reading the first sentence.

life is not fair

Fayrouz reminds us that life is not fair
Iraqi blogger Husayn has some bad news:

All I can say to all those that have paid the high price of freedom in this war, is that we will prevail, so that they will not have died in vain

Blog Cuba

Check out this new blog about Cuba
The Miramar Project I found it at Val's babalu blog
Val got this mail from the new bloggers:
"Val,

My name's Loren Crowe, and I've enjoyed reading your blog for some time now. I'm currently finishing up my undergrad degree at Columbia University in New York, and have just launched a new website at www.miramarproject.com. I have the unfortunate distinction of having been a part of one of the last Study Abroad programs to la Universidad de la Habana that could be attended easily by American undergrads.
What I saw in my four months in Cuba still keeps me up at night. Even more horrible, I think, is that amount of Cuba disinformation that inhabits liberal American universities like mine.

I founded The Miramar Project with a young, liberal, academic audience in mind, and with the goal of creating a picture of real life in Cuba.
I can't do the kind of hard core advocacy that you do because I will alienate those that I'm trying to evangelize and lose the majority of my contributors. But, I believe that I have come upon a formula of subtle news, short features and photo essays, along with a growing collection of primary souce data that can be used by undergrads for their own research that may begin to chip away at the "Cult of Che" that dominates students' perceptions of Cuba.

Don't miss this Photo Essay it's great, and give you a look at Cuba that don't come from an exile.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Heroism

"The other day, I was sitting in the conference room of our headquarters building during a meeting with the Executive Officer and the rest of the staff. When we heard a loud explosion that was strong enough and/or close enough to rattle our building"
Major K.

The Nightmare

"It’s the same nightmare every time… I’m in the town of Avgoni on an operation. We’re moving through the woods. Then shots are fired. A soldier next to me is hit in the neck. I try to help him, but it’s hopeless. He’s lost too much blood as he goes into shock. In the dream, I can feel somebody watching me even as the medics move and a platoon secures a perimeter for a helicopter. The kid is young, maybe 20, and I just look into his lifeless blue eyes while the medics move him to the evacuation point. I feel like I’m invisible and nobody in the dream seems to recognize me or realize I’m standing there with a camera and an M-16. Everybody leaves. And then I am back at the Palace, where again I feel invisible. At my desk is a CD with Arabic writing. I pop it into my laptop, and it’s a video of me."
In Iraq for 365

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

"Yet the decent majority of Mesopotamia will not bend to anything. The Genie has been released from the bottle and no force on earth can stop him.

All we can say is: Inna Lillah Wa Inna Ileihi Rajioun: “We are all to God, and to him we shall return”."
The Mesopotamian

Mosul TV

"Since the beginning of February, the local TV in Mosul is showing some groups of the terrorists whom have been captured by the commandos brigade which came to Mosul in the beginning of last December.

This brigade called Al-Deeb which translated to (wolf) proved that they are doughtily men and they are strong enough that they incur no losses but one soldier in the first month after they arrived Mosul. The command of this brigade who Brigadier General Abo Al-Waleed became very famous man and very favorite for many of the Mosulian people."
Iraq Today

Al Jazeera has a good effect on the Arab street

"This might look strange especially that it comes from someone who repeatedly had criticized Al Jazeera harshly and even accused it of being the terrorists' mouthpiece but it's still true as I believe, despite I would never withdraw my accusations that are more than well founded and that so many people share. Al Jazeera is still a pillar for terrorists and fanatics and it still serve the agenda of dictatorships in the region but they do have some good effect too."
Free Iraqi
I am sure I must have some Arab ancestors
"Much of the authoritarianism in the Middle East since 1945 had actually been supported (sometimes imposed) by Washington for Cold War purposes. The good thing about the democratization rhetoric coming out of Washington (which apparently does not apply to Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and other allies against al-Qaeda) is that it encourages the people to believe they have an ally if they take to the streets to end the legacy of authoritarianism.

But Washington will be sorely tested if Islamist crowds gather in Tunis to demand the ouster of Bin Ali. We'll see then how serious the rhetoric about people power really is. "
Juan Cole
A very intresting read, even though as usual, they can't help but throw in a few unsubstantiated jabs. What's new.

New Milblog

Major K
Thanks to Brian H for the link, though I guess this is not one of his favorite blos. I won't hold it against him as long as he keeps finding new milblogs.
Major K
Thanks to Brian H for the link, though I guess this is not one of his favorite blos. I won't hold it against him as long as he keeps finding new milblogs.

Democracy Revolution in the Middle East started

"The spark ignited and the big ball started to role. The choices for the late runners are limited.

In 1990s the democracy in East Europe started in one place and spread like the electrical current to other places so quickly. Not so late after that the world discovered that the parts which remained under the totalitarian role represent the evil and danger which may lead to world catastrophe. The international community then acted to exterminate them."
Hammorabi
People are very selfish, they want what other people have. Once a place like Iraq, where no one in their right mind would have believed that basic liberties and democracy could be remotely possible, start on the road to achieving these things. The other people of the region will wonder, well what about us. And once they see with their own eyes that it's not some outside force that denies them, but only internal forces (the dictator) then they will on their own focus their efforts there.

Democracy Revolution in the Middle East started

"The spark ignited and the big ball started to role. The choices for the late runners are limited.

In 1990s the democracy in East Europe started in one place and spread like the electrical current to other places so quickly. Not so late after that the world discovered that the parts which remained under the totalitarian role represent the evil and danger which may lead to world catastrophe. The international community then acted to exterminate them."
Hammorabi
People are very selfish, they want what other people have. Once a place like Iraq, where no one in their right mind would have believed that basic liberties and democracy could be remotely possible, start on the road to achieving these things. The other people of the region will wonder, well what about us. And once they see with their own eyes that it's not some outside force that denies them, but only internal forces (the dictator) then they will on their own focus their efforts there.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

By: Ayad Allawi

"Barely a month ago, Iraqis voted in their first ever fully democratic elections. It was an exciting and proud moment for all Iraqis, free at last after decades of tyranny. There was never any doubt, despite the intimidation and terrorism, that millions of Iraqis would take their chance to play their part in history.
The new-and freely elected-Iraqi Parliament has already been formed. We are now in the process of shaping the new Executive. When this is achieved, the role of the Interim Government will be complete. For me, personally, it has been a great honor to have played my part in laying the foundations for a free and prosperous Iraq, at peace with itself and with its neighbors."

Baghdad Dweller