Seeds of democracy beginning to stir on Baghdad streets

[charrison]

linkage

Outside the heavy gates of the Iraqi Hunting Club, in the swish suburb of Mansur, a burly guard blocked the way to the offices of the Iraqi National Congress at the heart of Baghdad's vibrant new Democracy district.

The well-appointed offices behind him testify to the standing in Iraqi politics of the INC and its Pentagon-backed leader, Ahmed Chalabi.

But a few yards away other, humbler political parties have also set up stall, evidence of Iraq's initial burst of political activism since the downfall of Saddam Hussein.

Around the corner is the office of a Shia group, the Society of Honourable Scholars of Najaf. The Iraqi National Accord Movement, the Al-Wafaq Islamic Movement and the Royal Democratic Alliance can all be found nearby.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

It's good to see that there are some that wish to have their political voice heard.🙂

CkG

 

[Nitemare]

Let freedom ring

May Iraq be a shining light of freedom for it's neighbors

 

[AvesPKS]

Among the bizarre beneficiaries is the newly re-established Communist Party.

Cold War II: Electric Boogaloo!

 

[burnedout]

In Iraqi City, a New Battle Plan - Washington Post

"Saleh, a stocky taxi driver, was shot in the ankle when U.S. soldiers fired on protesters gathered at a school across the street from his house..............."

".............Alarmed at attacks by angry relatives, U.S. Army officers in Fallujah did something unusual for the American military but common in rural Iraq. In an effort to ease the desire for revenge, they delivered formal apologies to local tribal sheiks and paid blood money for every dead and injured person deemed not to be a combatant............"

".........Even Saleh, whose right foot was amputated after the school shooting, has mellowed. "I have nothing against them now," he said as he showed off five crisp $100 bills he received from the U.S. military by way of the mayor.

He said that U.S. soldiers have visited his house four times -- to apologize, to provide a medical check-up and twice to assess damages to his property. "They've changed my opinions," said Saleh, 41, who hobbles around on crutches. "I used to hate them, but now I realize they made a mistake and they really want to help us................"

EDIT: headline on link

 

[BarneyFife]

LOL. They blew his foot off but he forgives them for $500. I guess everyone has a price.

 

[DealMonkey]

Personally, I would have held out for at least $1,000 and an autographed picture of Dubya struttin' across the flight deck. But hey, $500 in Iraq's current economy will keep you knee deep in booze and generic pain-killers for quite some time. Won't even feel the pain 😉