Back to Baghdad
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(Before the Trip) Called by Dad
Dad called me to call him back. He is using a pay card running through the Marshes !!!!
I called him back to a friend's shop. The family is OK. It is winter and the gas bottle is ID 5000 and the Kerosene can is ID 2500. The problem is not the money but the scarce.
He mentioned that telephone exchanges were installed but no go life date yet!!! They don't know why.
The electricity is not going well but started back to normal yesterday. What he meant by normal is 3 + 3 which means 3 hrs on then 3 hrs off! Not even enough for recharging the INVERTER.
Mobile phone are supposed to go life on the 12th of Jan. He is going to buy a cellular because of the frustration they face without phone lines.
My mum is getting better but she is not leaving her room!
I told dad that I'm going to make my visit in the second half of February and wished him and the family a happy new year.
He asked me about Samir, my brother in Germany. I told him that he called 3 days ago asking about the bombing in ALDORAH. My dad mentioned that ALDORAH is getting settled now with no bombing in the past day.
They are all frustrated from the insurgent attacks on civilians and infrastructure. The truck in ALBAYYA district in Baghdad 2 week ago has its toll on civilians. He mentioned that many people bodies disappeared in that blast and a mass grave done and a memorial statue was built for those who lost their life in that criminal act.
Surprisingly, we both forgot the capture of Saddam in our conversation!!!!
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٩.١٢.٠٣::
(Before the Trip) Kerbala Bombings
This is the kind of act that drives me nuts. Terrorism should be addressed nationally by all parties inside and outside the IGC. People have to come forward and put their fear aside and inform the authorities about these activities. The problem is that the people are very desperate in living their daily life which affected by the lack of services which in turn are affected by the terrorists. It is a cycle of devastation that has to be broken sooner not later.
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٩.١٢.٠٣::
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(Before the Trip) Calling Baghdad after the new insurgents attacks
I managed to call my brother after 10's of trials. The communication lines are getting bad. He is living in ALDORAH district south west of Baghdad. The situation is very bad in their neighborhood as the insurgents are using this area to launch short range missile strikes against the Republican Castle in Karrada, Sheraton hotel and other areas in the past two day. The American cut the electricity and the telephone lines on this district thereafter. The price of Kerosene is very high and it is rare. So they are living in darkness, with no heat and the weather is getting too cold these days.
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٦.١٢.٠٣::
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(Before the Trip) Today's News
Here is the bunch of news I found on the Iraqi and Arabic media press
- Hundreds of Jordanian lawyers are offering their service to defend Saddam in his trial. (Hmmmmm .... this is good for Jordan and Iraq as this will bury the idea of bringing Monarchy back to Iraq :) and first and foremost, killing all future ties between Iraq and Jordan which is a great thing any way)
- Arab league Delegation to Iraq met Muqtada Al-Sadr and AlSistani. Both Iraqi figures praise the Arab League role in the future Iraq. (I don’t know why Iraqis are still favouring Arabic way of thinking >>>>>> Arab League is a gathering of the loser)
- Asking the Sunni Tribes to start a new chapter in Iraq with Iraqis. (Good luck and see you next decade !!)
- Assassination of another Judge in Mousol (a Kurdish one, the first Judge killed a couple of months ago was Christian). (I can see a trend here >>>>> this could be resolved in the next decade)
- Another sabotage to the oil pipe near Bayjee. ( Sunni Triangle !> )
- Sunni Muslims Scholars promoting a peaceful civil disobedience against IGC and CPA. (Isn't that too late ???? you are already engaged in a war against the rest of Iraqis more than the occupying forces)
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٤.١٢.٠٣::
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(Before the Trip) Calling the family after the Tyrant's capture
It was 10:45 PM on Sunday 14/12/2003. I couldn't sleep at that night when CNN, BBC and SKY news broadcast the capture of Saddam Hussein. I tried to call (S.H) in California but his phone wasn't answering. I called by Taif.M we were all cheering. Tried to call my brother Y.A at Al-Doorah/Baghdad he wasn't there. His wife was concerned saying that he didn't come from work and he was a bit late. I called him a couple of hours later, he was at home complaining about the traffic during the time of the announcement. He told me that everyone is happy and celebratory gun fire was in everywhere.
When they show the picture of the thug, we had the same feeling of people in the news conference. We didn't know what to do. Crying, shouting and laughing at the same time. I'm waiting for my next call to my father to know about the people reaction.
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٣.١٢.٠٣::
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(Before the Trip) A Quick Start
I decided to visit Iraq months ago when everything was in chaos. Things are improving now but I have many things that make me worry about the destiny of the people.
Things I promised myself to do in this journey (I may change it in the future):
1. Visit all my close relatives and friends.
2. Visit my College.
3. Visit the holy shrines in Kadhymia, Kerbala, Najaf and Sammara (hopefully).
Posted by
bahirjala :: ٢٢.١٢.٠٣::