Liberated, Right Into Refugee Camps

Until you hear the stories from the people living in a warzone, it's hard to imagine what that life would be like.  So far we havefailed in truly liberating the Iraqi people. PresidentBush read us a few lines of an Iraqi blog that has received some less thanfavorable reviews. Here are some excerpts from the Iraqi blog Treasureof Baghdad.

"TheDay of Your Liberation is Near" Bush Said Three Years Ago (click to read full story)

The day was Monday 17, time was 10 p.m., but the year was 2003. Sitting closeto the radio, I was listening to the news on the BBC. Silence filled the room.My mother and sister were like me, concentrating on every word. Most of the newswas about the coming war, later called “Operation Iraqi Freedom”.

For us, war means a lot. Destruction, killings, more suffering and sorrow.The war with Iran, Gulf war and its aftermath uprsing caused a lot of pain and anegative image of the west and east inside Iraqis’ hearts.

"Theykilled us. They displaced us." (click to read full story)

On the eve of the US-led invasion to Iraq, my aunt and I were standing in front of the metal, dark-blue kitchen doorfacing the garden. We stood there after the last drive I did in Baghdad with myfriend M. As we stood together, she sighed and said, “We’ll be likePalestinians one day and say ‘They killed us. They displaced us.’” Ikept wondering if what she said would happen. I knew that the situation in Iraq is completely different although Saddam kept saying “Iraq and Palestine are one case.”

Refugee camps? What a disgrace to the Iraqigovernment. Is that what people were waiting to get out of this democracy? Ishumiliation and displacement is the reward of those who sacrificed themselves tovote in the elections? Is that how you build the new Iraq? After living in their own houses, having jobs and businesses, and sendingtheir children to schools. After living in their country with their pride. Nowthey will be sent to refugee camps?!! And not only this? The Jarab Arabs don’twant these camps to be on their lands! Huh! Where are these officials? Won’tthey say something? Oh! They will. They will thank the International Communityfor their kindness.

After reading these two stories, it's evenharder to listen to the pro-war minority tell us how great this is for the Iraqipeople. Maybe it looked good on paper, but at this point our governmentshould start being honest with themselves and realize the war just isn'tworking. It's time for plan "E" (I think we're up to E by now)