Free Iraq

dr.khadduri, you will be well soon and as clear and strong of will and spirit as you have always been. insha'allah. as for the hard disk what is a little technological failure compared to the fatal failures of sense and imagination that we are having to contend with? your human readers await your recovery on both fronts.
khairan.
 

Had been concerned, wondering how the 30th was for you. Though I'm sorry you are ill (and have had computer difficulties) am glad that otherwise you are well. As for the first comment, I am stunned. Does it represent the "newly liberated, democratized" Iraq? I fear it does. Our media represents the election as a glorious success. We can be sure it will be represented thus in the State of the Union Address on Wednesday. Accurate information is so hard to get. From far away I send my best wishes for all of Iraq and for you in particular. Thank you for this blog.
 

Dear Dr Khadouri
Wishing you a quick recovery from the Flu , However The second illness is more difficult - that of Hard Disk Failure . I am immensely interested in this second illness !! I also , everytime I get into a chat room and utter few words against the occupation , almost immediatly after My computer gets "stuck". Nothing moves , no mouse or keyboard , not even Ctrl+Alt+delete . Even the power buttom gets stuck . you can only shut it down by pulling the power cord . Obviously some one is distributing these democratic advanced viruses .
Grateful you tell us more about this problem and how did you recover ?? Useful to exchange notes here.
Regards
Faris
 

Dr. Ihud,

Hope you get better. Look forward to your thoughts on the election, how you think they will affect Iraq, it's people, and yourself personally. I especially would appreciate your description of voter turn-out, and your impression of election day including the amount of violence that took place. Also, maybe a prediction for the future, immediate, long term, etc. Sorry about your computer also...

(Actually I agree with the guy that said that when he talks negatively about the people in charge -- things happen. i like to think that some pretty influencial people read my blog - and i just happened to start mentioning yours and riverbend's blog on my site. I usually don't believe in coincidences, but i am forcing myself to here. I mean, who am i, right? Speaking of coincidence, MSNBC actually featuring Iraqi blogs in their coverage. Fox News, of course, would never...)

Sorry about jackasses like that first comment-or, also.
 

Welcome back. Hope you are fully recovered very soon.

The first person to comment displays a mentality that belongs in the dustbin of history (to use a phrase that seems to be gaining currency in the Iraqi blog comments sections).

If you do not already have a router between your computer and your connection to the Internet/web, it might be worth considering getting one.

All best.
Rachel, a Brit in London
 

I'm sure Dr. Khadduri recognizes compassionate conservatism when he sees it.

Godspeed on your recovery, sir.

And thanks for the unfortunate reminder that I need to back up some files...

All the best.
 

COURTESY REMINDER

File on 4
20:00-20:40 GMT
BBC Radio 4 [See programme entry in alphabetical listing: there will be a "Listen" icon there when the programme is broadcast]

Gerry Northam investigates allegations that much of Iraq's oil wealth has been squandered by incompetence and corruption during the current occupation.Rachel, a Brit in London
 

This is the sort of thing that can happen, where it is too dangerous for the media to travel around. Found on another forum:

According to reporter Dahr Jamail, the BBC images [by razorwire] of Iraqis described there as "Iraqis queued to vote in the former rebel stronghold of Falluja" actually show Fallujans queing at the main Fallujan checkpoint for the seaching and "processing" they must endure to access what remains of their homes.

Also posted on Healing Iraq.

Rachel, a Brit in London
 

Awww, somebody didn't get their Flintsone Vitamin today.

Speaking of lies & propaganda, has anyone heard if WMDs have shown up yet?

Don't forget to drink lots of fluids, Doc.
 

Found this through the Democratic Underground forum, published today:

After the Election
The Future of Iraq and the US OccupationBy NOAM CHOMSKY

It begins,

Let's just imagine what the policies might be of an independent Iraq, independent, sovereign Iraq, let's say more or less democratic, what are the policies likely to be?

Well there's going to be a Shiite majority, so they'll have some significant influence over policy. The first thing they'll do is reestablish relations with Iran. Now they don't particularly like Iran, but they don't want to go to war with them so they'll move toward what was happening already even under Saddam, that is, restoring some sort of friendly relations with Iran.

That's the last thing the United States wants. It has worked very hard to try to isolate Iran. The next thing that might happen is that a Shiite-controlled, more or less democratic Iraq might stir up feelings in the Shiite areas of Saudi Arabia, which happen to be right nearby and which happen to be where all the oil is. So you might find what in Washington must be the ultimate nightmare­a Shiite region which controls most of the world's oil and is independent. Furthermore, it is very likely that an independent, sovereign Iraq would try to take its natural place as a leading state in the Arab world, maybe the leading state. And you know that's something that goes back to biblical times.

What does that mean? Well it means rearming, first of all. They have to confront the regional enemy. Now the regional enemy, overpowering enemy, is Israel.The rest is worth reading, too.

Rachel, a Brit in London
 

Noam Chomsky is a left wing, anarchistic nut whose views cannot be taken seriously. He is a typical self-loathing American Academic who has never worked a day in his life and has conveniently used the lectern to serve as a launchpad for his radical views. He decries the lack of freedom in the world but as soon as a once-despotic nation is given an opportunity to assume its own affairs he dreams up doomsday scenarios as noted above. Anything to not lend support to the U.S. mission in Iraq. Chomsky is a classic limousine liberal who lives the good life in America and, all the while, pisses on everything he sees.

Perhaps Rachel could convince him to come live on the other side of the pond. The US would gladly share him with you.
 

Please study what the US did to the Philippines at the turn of the century (1900s). After killing nearly a million Filipinos, the US put together an interim Constitutional Assembly of collaborators and created a sham government. It continues: the Philippines is a disaster area; it controls none of its resources, even gold; it sells its women overseas. There are 4,000 Filipinos in Iraq, both men and women (the latter undoubtedly providing rest-and-recreation for troops). They are paid $800 a month by Kuwaiti subcontractors of Halliburton et al. This is the fate of Iraq as George W. Bush has said, pointing to the Philippines as the model for this Middle East country. I am very sorry for all the Iraqis, even Allawi who has no idea what's down the road for the country.
 

I am glad you're recovering. Take care.
 

Damn Jo,
That is interesting stuff. I might have to do some reading on the Phillipines now (I'm sure Chomsky's got something good).

Dr. Ihud,
Where you at? I'm starting to get worried. We need you, man. Hope you feel better.
 

Lest we forget:

b What I Heard about Iraq

Eliot Weinberger

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v27/n03/wein01_.html