Another Iraqi Blogger

Zainab,

I found your blog through Salam Pax. It is good to have another voice from Iraq.

As an American, I’ve found the entire Iraq War a difficult thing to digest. On the one hand, Saddam Hussein was, by all accounts, a ruthless dictator who has needed to go for a long time. On the other, I question the Bush administration’s motives for marching on Baghdad. At times, the whole things smells a bit like an American jihad, albeit a politically correct one.

I read the reports of sky-rocketing unemployment and lawlessness in Iraq and have nothing but compassion for her citizens. No one in the U.S. has a clue what life must be like for everyone there. And, I do not subscribe to the train of thought that Iraq is an inherently lawless society. Hussein apparently dumped the worst criminals in your prisons back into society last fall. I suspect they, and Baath hardliners, cause the majority of the problems.

On the other hand, regardless of Bush’s motives, America’s sons and daughters gave their lives to liberate Iraq and continue to do so as they try to help Iraq establish order and rebuild her infrastructure. So, it disturbs me to see such strong anti-US sentiment and violence directed at US troops who are just their doing their jobs.

I don’t claim to have the answers. All any of us can do right now is pray (in our own particular way) for peace and a quick exit of coalition forces from Iraq. Regardless of whatever plans the White House might have, the American people do not want our soldiers in harm’s way any longer than neccessary.

Wishing you peace,
Doug Daulton
apakuni.com

I discovered Zainab while reading Salam Pax’s blog. Her first post raises some eyebrows and prompted the above comment from me. I am hoping Mahmood will read and offer his perspective as well.