by Peggy Gish

In a brief visit to the  Iraqi town of Rutba in mid-January 2010, seven of us returned to thank medical workers who treated our colleagues injured in a car accident while traveling from Baghdad to Jordan, during the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.  Many residents spoke to us about the U.S. occupation and the withdrawal of troops.   

 “With the invasion, Iraq became lawless, with kidnappings and horrendous crimes,” a school administrator told us.  “The crimes of the occupiers, however, were even more horrendous and provoked more violence.  U.S. soldiers stormed the school door five times, even though we gave them the key.  We have no animosity toward the American people, but the democracy that George Bush said he was bringing is fake.” 

“Before 2003, religious groups lived together peacefully,” said a religious leader.  “With the invasion, sectarian tensions surfaced and terrorism came in.  U.S. forces bombed homes, shot people, raided homes, terrorized the families, threw men on the ground handcuffed and kicked them, in front of their children.  Soldiers detained youth, who had nothing to do with violence, randomly off the streets.  They did it with the attitude, ‘ I can do whatever I want.’”

Asked his opinion about the timing of U.S. forces leaving Iraq, he responded, “What would you answer if the Iraqi army occupied you?  The U.S. never did protect Iraqis anyway.  At the top of the government are people who have dual citizenships, who don’t really care about the security of the Iraqi people.  Yes, sectarian forces might fight if the U.S. leaves, but the U.S. leaving will be good.  We will be OK.”

A government official said, “We have seen two kinds of U.S. forces.  Those here from 2003 –2007 did more destruction and killing.  Since 2007, they have been less aggressive in how they treat Iraqis.”

“We’ve been traumatized by the invasion,” a medical worker told us.  “We saw the destruction of homes, many children killed.  When soldiers raided, they knocked down my door.  It was very painful for me when soldiers pulled down a cabinet with nice china I had bought on my travels, destroying everything, for no other reason than to humiliate or be cruel.  I kept silent, afraid of being handcuffed and tortured if I complained.  Our children growing up witnessing these things will never forget this and will always hate Americans.”

He continued, “I was driving a woman to the hospital in Ramadi, who was in labor and needed a Cesarean.  She was bleeding and in pain.  American soldiers stopped us, put me face down on the ground for three hours while they searched the ambulance.  They heard her moaning and pleading for help, but they didn’t care.”

“Islam says the final word rests with the righteous people and those victimized,” a Rutba educator told us.  We are joining you in striving for peace.  We have only seen the violent side of the U.S. in 1991 and 2003.  Your visit shows us the other side of the American people.”