In pictures: Iraqi lives two years after Saddam

[Gaard]

Kind of a Man-on-the-Street thing.

link



This one stood out to me. It's from #10.

Inaam Tadra, student, 24

Our biggest problem is the loss of security. We need to re-establish security in the country. Hopefully the new government will be strong and united, so they can start the process.
The Americans brought the terrorists here. They weren't here before. And I don't believe the terrorists are Muslims.

The Americans search our houses. With their aggressive behavior, they are turning the Iraqis against them.

 

[Acanthus]

dead link.

 

[MedicBob]

Fixed.

 

[Gaard]

fixed

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Gaard
Kind of a Man-on-the-Street thing.

link



This one stood out to me. It's from #10.

Inaam Tadra, student, 24

Our biggest problem is the loss of security. We need to re-establish security in the country. Hopefully the new government will be strong and united, so they can start the process.
The Americans brought the terrorists here. They weren't here before. And I don't believe the terrorists are Muslims.

The Americans search our houses. With their aggressive behavior, they are turning the Iraqis against them.

Freedom is on the march. :roll:

 

[conjur]

But...but...but...they just had that Iraqi business expo in Amman, Jordan. They're all optimistic about making money!

 

[yllus]

What kind of miracles were expected to be worked here? They don't even have a Prime Minister yet. Unforunately someone forgot the list of ingredients for the "Go From Dictatorship To Democracy In Just One Step!" spell at home.

And some people seem to think things are improving:

Rana Mohammed, student, 20

Six months ago it was very bad. There were many kidnappings and explosions. We were afraid what could happen on our way to university. A lot of bad things happened along the route I take. The situation is not so bad any more, but it is still not always good.

What we need is a strong government with a lot of authority that could reinstate a sense of security. Only then could the situation improve.

Mohammed Madth, student, 25

We have no security and stability in Iraq. Once they establish that, we will be okay.

There is a lot of unemployment in Iraq. We finish college, but cannot find jobs. None of the ministries follow the law. They employ their friends and people from their tribe. If you do not have connections, you cannot find a job.

Deeply root the democratic government in place. Build infrastructure, with that comes employment. Stem corruption where possible. It'll all happen, given a reasonable time frame. 🙂

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: yllus
What kind of miracles were expected to be worked here? They don't even have a Prime Minister yet. Unforunately someone forgot the list of ingredients for the "Go From Dictatorship To Democracy In Just One Step!" spell at home.

And some people seem to think things are improving:

Rana Mohammed, student, 20

Six months ago it was very bad. There were many kidnappings and explosions. We were afraid what could happen on our way to university. A lot of bad things happened along the route I take. The situation is not so bad any more, but it is still not always good.

What we need is a strong government with a lot of authority that could reinstate a sense of security. Only then could the situation improve.

Mohammed Madth, student, 25

We have no security and stability in Iraq. Once they establish that, we will be okay.

There is a lot of unemployment in Iraq. We finish college, but cannot find jobs. None of the ministries follow the law. They employ their friends and people from their tribe. If you do not have connections, you cannot find a job.

Deeply root the democratic government in place. Build infrastructure, with that comes employment. Stem corruption where possible. It'll all happen, given a reasonable time frame. 🙂

Too bad the Bush administration didn't take the opportunity to ruin Saddam without letting terrorists flood into the country.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Too bad the Bush administration didn't take the opportunity to ruin Saddam without letting terrorists flood into the country.

Oh please. The U.S. can't stop Mexicans from coming over its own border, but you figure that locking up Iraq would be no problem?

Besides, to a certain extent letting terrorists come at the troops in Iraq was part of the plan.

 

[jciiv]

Give me a break. The terrorist being referred to are insurgents. They were there before.

US involvement is the best thing to happen to the country in 50 years.

Iraq's leader isn't nicknamed "The Butcher of Baghdad", like it once was.

A very successful free election- the first one in over 50 years. Women were out voting. And they didn't have to worry about being dragged back to a rape room and being beaten and ravaged.

 

[Steeplerot]

Originally posted by: jciiv
Give me a break. The terrorist being referred to are insurgents. They were there before.

US involvement is the best thing to happen to the country in 50 years.

Iraq's leader isn't nicknamed "The Butcher of Baghdad", like it once was.

A very successful free election- the first one in over 50 years. Women were out voting. And they didn't have to worry about being dragged back to a rape room and being beaten and ravaged.

Yeah, makes you proud to know they are so well off with a brand new puppet government,
but hey our guy to kick them around this time will be a New and Improved Saddam! Change is good!

 

[jciiv]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: jciiv
Give me a break. The terrorist being referred to are insurgents. They were there before.

US involvement is the best thing to happen to the country in 50 years.

Iraq's leader isn't nicknamed "The Butcher of Baghdad", like it once was.

A very successful free election- the first one in over 50 years. Women were out voting. And they didn't have to worry about being dragged back to a rape room and being beaten and ravaged.

Yeah, makes you proud to know they are so well off with a brand new puppet government,
but hey our guy to kick them around this time will be a New and Improved Saddam! Change is good!

You're damn right change is good. I would take anything over living in pre-US Iraq.

It has to a comforting feeling to know that you dont have to worry about your own leader having you executed for a (lemme borrow from Orwell) "thoughtcrime". The only thing they people of Iraq have to fear is being beheaed by insurgents for showing support to us. And believe me, they do support is. And that is why we're currently fighting the insurgency. Because they're the problem with Iraq right now. Not us. Things are vastly better than they were when Saddam was in charge. And no, what you hear on CNN about them hating us is not the majority. Talk to some real, brave US soldiers who have fought there and you will hear about how they are adored.

 

[mhillary]

Originally posted by: yllus
What kind of miracles were expected to be worked here? They don't even have a Prime Minister yet. Unforunately someone forgot the list of ingredients for the "Go From Dictatorship To Democracy In Just One Step!" spell at home.

And some people seem to think things are improving:

Rana Mohammed, student, 20

Six months ago it was very bad. There were many kidnappings and explosions. We were afraid what could happen on our way to university. A lot of bad things happened along the route I take. The situation is not so bad any more, but it is still not always good.

What we need is a strong government with a lot of authority that could reinstate a sense of security. Only then could the situation improve.

I think they have to work up on an infrastructure really fast.

Mohammed Madth, student, 25

We have no security and stability in Iraq. Once they establish that, we will be okay.

There is a lot of unemployment in Iraq. We finish college, but cannot find jobs. None of the ministries follow the law. They employ their friends and people from their tribe. If you do not have connections, you cannot find a job.

Deeply root the democratic government in place. Build infrastructure, with that comes employment. Stem corruption where possible. It'll all happen, given a reasonable time frame. 🙂

 

[JackStorm]

Originally posted by: yllus
They don't even have a Prime Minister yet.

Incorrect, they do. His name is Ibrahim Jaafari.

 

[conjur]

Iraq Recovery Undermined by Waste
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld...0,1757114.story?coll=la-home-headlines

BAGHDAD ? Iraqi officials have crippled scores of water, sewage and electrical plants refurbished with U.S. funds by failing to maintain and operate them properly, wasting millions of American taxpayer dollars in the process, according to interviews and documents.

Hardest hit has been the effort to rebuild Iraq's water and sewage systems, a multibillion-dollar task considered among the most crucial components of the effort to improve daily life for Iraqis. Of more than 40 such plants run by the Iraqis, not one is being operated properly, according to Bechtel Group Inc., the contractor at work on the project. The power grid faces similar problems. U.S. officials said the Iraqis' inability to properly operate overhauled electrical plants contributed to widespread power shortages this winter. None of the 19 electrical plants that has undergone U.S.-funded repair work is being run correctly, a senior American advisor said.

An internal memo by coalition officials in Iraq obtained by The Times says that throughout Iraq, renovated plants "deteriorate quickly to an alarming state of disrepair and inoperability."

"There is no reason to believe that these initial experiences will not be repeated for the other water and sanitation projects currently underway throughout Iraq," the memo said. "This is the antithesis of our base strategy and a waste not only of taxpayer funds, but it deprives the most needy of safe drinking water and of streets free from raw sewerage."

In control of the country for 2 years and infrastructure rebuilding is going almost nowhere.

 

[LordMagnusKain]

Originally posted by: conjur
Iraq Recovery Undermined by Waste
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld...0,1757114.story?coll=la-home-headlines

BAGHDAD ? Iraqi officials have crippled scores of water, sewage and electrical plants refurbished with U.S. funds by failing to maintain and operate them properly, wasting millions of American taxpayer dollars in the process, according to interviews and documents.

Hardest hit has been the effort to rebuild Iraq's water and sewage systems, a multibillion-dollar task considered among the most crucial components of the effort to improve daily life for Iraqis. Of more than 40 such plants run by the Iraqis, not one is being operated properly, according to Bechtel Group Inc., the contractor at work on the project. The power grid faces similar problems. U.S. officials said the Iraqis' inability to properly operate overhauled electrical plants contributed to widespread power shortages this winter. None of the 19 electrical plants that has undergone U.S.-funded repair work is being run correctly, a senior American advisor said.

An internal memo by coalition officials in Iraq obtained by The Times says that throughout Iraq, renovated plants "deteriorate quickly to an alarming state of disrepair and inoperability."

"There is no reason to believe that these initial experiences will not be repeated for the other water and sanitation projects currently underway throughout Iraq," the memo said. "This is the antithesis of our base strategy and a waste not only of taxpayer funds, but it deprives the most needy of safe drinking water and of streets free from raw sewerage."

In control of the country for 2 years and infrastructure rebuilding is going almost nowhere.

so nation building only works if it's posible?

 

[arsbanned]

Originally posted by: jciiv

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: jciiv
Give me a break. The terrorist being referred to are insurgents. They were there before.

US involvement is the best thing to happen to the country in 50 years.

Iraq's leader isn't nicknamed "The Butcher of Baghdad", like it once was.

A very successful free election- the first one in over 50 years. Women were out voting. And they didn't have to worry about being dragged back to a rape room and being beaten and ravaged.

Yeah, makes you proud to know they are so well off with a brand new puppet government,
but hey our guy to kick them around this time will be a New and Improved Saddam! Change is good!

You're damn right change is good. I would take anything over living in pre-US Iraq.

It has to a comforting feeling to know that you dont have to worry about your own leader having you executed for a (lemme borrow from Orwell) "thoughtcrime". The only thing they people of Iraq have to fear is being beheaed by insurgents for showing support to us. And believe me, they do support is. And that is why we're currently fighting the insurgency. Because they're the problem with Iraq right now. Not us. Things are vastly better than they were when Saddam was in charge. And no, what you hear on CNN about them hating us is not the majority. Talk to some real, brave US soldiers who have fought there and you will hear about how they are adored.

But you didn;t HAVE to live there, did you. So it wasn't YOUR decision to make, nor should it have been King George's decision. Yeah they're "adored" when they kick in doors and frighten little girls by terrorizing their parents. :disgust:

 

[BBond]

U.S.

Troops

Adored

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: yllus
It'll all happen, given a reasonable time frame. 🙂

I take it this is just more [unsubstantiated] optimism on your part [or are you making a statement]? 😉

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: jciiv
Give me a break. The terrorist being referred to are insurgents. They were there before.

US involvement is the best thing to happen to the country in 50 years.

Iraq's leader isn't nicknamed "The Butcher of Baghdad", like it once was.

A very successful free election- the first one in over 50 years. Women were out voting. And they didn't have to worry about being dragged back to a rape room and being beaten and ravaged.

Oh B.S. in Iraq women never had to worry about that. They went too college and took prestigous and prominent jobs along their male counterparts. There are bad cases everywhere, but in Iraq women are GENERALLY not opressed like they are in Afghanistan.

 

[jciiv]

Originally posted by: BBond
U.S.

Troops

Adored

Yep, that incident at Abu Ghraib is standard protocol, and they were not courtmarshalled *sarcasm*


I'd post some of the pics and videos of Americans being beheaded, but thats not what you want to hear.

Also, do you really blame US soldiers for firing on a car that didn't stop when warned? Especially when cars drive to checkpoints and blow up, killing American soldiers. You have to be f***ing joking.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: jciiv

Originally posted by: BBond
U.S.

Troops

Adored

Yep, that incident at Abu Ghraib is standard protocol, and they were not courtmarshalled *sarcasm*


I'd post some of the pics and videos of Americans being beheaded, but thats not what you want to hear.

Also, do you really blame US soldiers for firing on a car that didn't stop when warned? Especially when cars drive to checkpoints and blow up, killing American soldiers. You have to be f***ing joking.

The people responsible for Abu Ghraib weren't court marshalled. Just some grunts.

If you don't want beheaded Americans don't attack foreign countries.

I blame the US for being in Iraq in the first place which made such atrocities possible. And all over a lie told by a fool.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: jciiv

Originally posted by: BBond
U.S.

Troops

Adored

Yep, that incident at Abu Ghraib is standard protocol, and they were not courtmarshalled *sarcasm*


I'd post some of the pics and videos of Americans being beheaded, but thats not what you want to hear.

Also, do you really blame US soldiers for firing on a car that didn't stop when warned? Especially when cars drive to checkpoints and blow up, killing American soldiers. You have to be f***ing joking.

For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction.

Abu Ghraib happened first.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: BBond
U.S.

Troops

Adored

#1 - The car did not stop, hand signals and warning shots were used. OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO SHOOT.

#2 - It was not napalmed, there has never been any proof, get over it.

#3 - Ok, it happened a year ago in ONE location, get over it

 

[MemoryInAGarden]

The people responsible for Abu Ghraib weren't court marshalled. Just some grunts.

If you don't want beheaded Americans don't attack foreign countries.

I blame the US for being in Iraq in the first place which made such atrocities possible. And all over a lie told by a fool.

It's not necessarily fighting that gets you beheaded Americans; it's who you're fighting against and what they are fighting for that gets people beheaded.