CPTnet
20 March 2006
IRAQ: Three years later--Iraqis speak about their disappointments and fears.
by Beth Pyles
[Note: The following piece has been edited for length. People wishing to
see the entire report may send their requests to kkcpt@earthlink.net.]
To mark the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, Christian Peacemaker
Teams (CPT) in Baghdad asked some friends and acquaintances to reflect on
the war and life in Iraq since.
Simah*, an Iraqi Christian woman, said, "I was happy when they came. I
thought they would come to get rid of Saddam and then go, but they did
not--What little we had, [the Americans] have taken. Before, we had
electricity, water, security and love among people. Now there are none of
these things. We have lost everything. I wish they had never come."
Hanna, a Palestinian woman, quoted an Arabic proverb, "A fever is better
than death." She said, "Life was bad under Saddam Hussein but at least we
had security. During the invasion we were able to avoid the bombs because
they were directed at military targets. Now there are about ten brigades
embedded in the army and police forces that are arresting, detaining and
killing our people. It is not safe for our children to go to school. They
are accused of being terrorists. There is no hope for the Palestinians in
Iraq now."
Aiya, a young Shi'a business woman living and working in Baghdad, says of
the occupying American forces, "They want terrorists to be in Iraq."
Regarding rebuilding, Aiya said, "People said wait five years. They entered
in five days. Did they make a change in one year or two or three? Instead
we are going backwards. I see only ruins." Regarding the conflicts between
Sunni and Shi'a, Aiya blames the Coalition for the divisiveness. "The
Coalition succeeded in making religious distinctions. We are Shi'a but my
brother-in-law is Sunni. We are all related. There is no distinction
between us."
The voices of all those interviewed ring a knell of despair when considering
the present, and perhaps no one more eloquently than Mahmoud, the engineer
who has lived in the United States and loved the time he spent there.
"There is no safety. No change, no use. We thought we would be better but
now we are worse. I have seen America. You cannot fool us. You can fix
the electricity easily. Under Saddam, the power station was repaired in two
days. We are waiting to die. We do not deserve this. It's a big game and
we are small people. I want to leave this country. It's not for us. You
[Americans] will take it."
In the way of Iraqis, even as he despairs about the massive injustice he
sees every day, Mahmoud invokes the help of God: "It's not easy for the
U.S., God help them. They cannot control this country. They got rid of
Saddam. This is their country now."
Mahmoud ends his interview by saying, "We are waiting for our turn to die.
Well, I'm still alive."
*all names are changed
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