CPJ Blog: An Iraqi in America: In the middle of nowhere

An Iraqi in America: In the middle of nowhere

By Mudhafar al-Husseini

We are all stuck in the middle of nowhere. Millions in Iraq and millions outside it face an ambiguous future. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis fled Iraq under Saddam's regime, which lasted for almost 40 years, but since the led-American invasion in 2003 that number has exceeded 4 million, according to United Nations estimates.

Most of the Iraqis, including me, didn't expect to see Iraq torn to pieces as has happened these six years. Our own people have no identity, whether inside Iraq or outside it.

My country is cursed, and it seems predetermined for our people to live with a chain of endless sufferings. Iraq is a perplexing country. It has everything you could want. It has one of the oldest civilizations on earth with two rivers that connect all parts of the country and flow like the veins in a body. It has every reason to expect an affluent life—from agriculture to industry to precious commodities like oil and mercury—and yet the majority of its people live in misery and poverty.

I was thinking that by coming to America and by giving something to my parents to compensate them for what they've already missed in their lives, I would be able start a new chapter that had no connection to my distressed past, but it seems I was wrong. It's harder than I ever expected. Life has not been different.

The Iraqi refugees here in America are facing many problems, which has forced some to return to the places they came from. Some returned to Iraq to face the risk of death, and some returned to neighboring countries, like Syria and Jordan. Many had already fled to these places in the last six years to face bad treatment and an unstable life.

The American government is helping some Iraqis—those who worked for American armed forces and other American organizations—to resettle in the States, but there aren't any actual specifics about what happens once we get here. When refugees arrive, they are handed over to refugee organizations, and then begins the hardship.

There are a few organizations here in Tucson, but they are responsible for hundreds of refugees—mainly from Iraq, Somalia, and Bhutan. The first problem is that those organizations are not governmental and there is no governmental supervision of them. Another problem is that hundreds of refugees are sponsored by very few employees.

I was enduring the situation when I was by myself, but now with my parents and my younger brother with me it has become unbearable. I'm the one who is taking care of everything: I have to work in a restaurant with a wage lower that the one I received in Iraq as a journalist. It either covers our household expenses…or not. The financial aid we get from the government and the non-governmental relief organization the International Rescue Committee is not enough to pay the rent.

My parents now think they are a burden to me since they know I'm responsible for most of their expenses now, including rent, bills, and daily purchases. My father is thinking about going back to Iraq to work so he can send us money to help with my mother and brother's needs. It really hurts me to see my dad thinking like this; he spent most of his life working hard for us and I was thinking that by bringing him here I can give him the time to think about himself. I can't help after all, and I don't want to be apart from either of my parents now, not for any reason.

Many Iraqis I know talk about how Americans also suffer from unemployment. We sometimes lament our bad luck for coming to the States at this time. We even make jokes about us being a bad omen for this country.

There are too many stories to tell about the Iraqi refugees in America. Stories of old people, young people, and families. All came to the States looking for a better future but still can't believe how hard life is for them here. I have known many Iraqi friends in different cities of America and most of them find it hard or impossible to be part of this country, or at least imagine that they will be American citizens in five years.

I have to say that I haven't seen or heard any Iraqi complaints about cultural differences or any other issue related to our traditions or religion We all find that this country is truly the "land of freedom" in all its meanings. The American people are also very nice and polite and none of the Iraqis I know have ever complained about bad treatment.

The adjustment for old people and those who don't speak English is harder than it is for me. With this country’s current high rate of unemployment, it is nearly impossible to find a job, especially for those Iraqis with no English or elevated qualifications. The irony of the whole thing is that a lot of the Iraqi refugees here in the States are working or wanting to work as security guards for a country that was unable over the last past six years to provide security to their own country!

As for me, with a bachelor's degree, at a good age, and having served the U.S Army in Iraq in addition to working with The New York Times as a local reporter, I could barely find a job in a seafood restaurant. My sacrifice helping the U.S. Army and media organizations has not paid off financially here, but it has helped help me establish good relationships and to receive occasional words of commendation.

We are not sure whom to blame or whom to hold responsible for the whole thing. Is it the American government? It seems to be morally obliged to resettle Iraqis in America. Is it the refugee organizations? They have limited aid and support to offer the refugees. Or should we blame Iraq—the wealthy country that has left its refugees scattered in other countries living like orphans?

Mudhafar al-Husseini worked at The New York Times in Baghdad for two years, reporting news stories and writing blog entries as well as acting as a fixer and translator for other reporters. Before that, from 2004 to 2006, he was a translator for the U.S. Army in Iraq. He graduated from Baghdad University in 2007 with a degree in English literature. Now living in the United States, he is updating us on this new chapter in his life.

Read al-Husseini's previous entry here. To read all his "Finding Refuge" entries, click here.

Mudhafer.abbas@gmail.com

Iraq's war will not be forgotten

Iraq's war will continue running and never be a forgotten one. And American taxpayers will not pour billions of dollars any more to keep this war alive.It will cost only $79.95!

The Modern Conflict Studies Group (MCSGroup) announced today the January 29, 2010 release of the new simulation board game Battle for Baghdad with a primary purpose to demonstrate the kinds of challenges inherent in the occupation.

The simulation game comes complete with a mounted satellite image map of the city of Baghdad, playing cards that comprise the Arms Bazaar, Arab Street, and Command Structures of the various groups, conflict displays, and infrastructure and security tokens.

The final retail price of Battle for Baghdad will be $79.95.

Just wondering what would happen if this game was produced before the invasion? would it stop Bush and Blair?

kassakhoon@gmail.com

McClatchy's Baghdad Observer: The forgotten war?

December 03, 2009

The forgotten war?

The Korean War used to be known as "the forgotten war." More recently, during the hey-day of the Bush administration's adventure here in Iraq, Afghanistan was the forgotten war. No more, of course.

Now, it seems, Iraq is the forgotten war. I've been here nearly 5 weeks now, and I'm amazed at how far this conflict has fallen in the American consciousness, if I am judging it correctly from thousands of miles away. Iraq is off the front pages, off the television screens and, for the most part, off the main page of major news Web sites.

This isn't entirely a bad thing. News follows conflict and bloodshed, and Iraq has less of both than it used to. Sectarian violence is still an every-day occurence, but it is way down. U.S. troop deaths are way down too - there were two deaths each in October and November from combat-related injuries. Most of Iraq's problems now are of a more complex, murkier political and economic variety.

But that's no reason not to pay attention. Iraq appears to be at a tipping point, where things here could get a wholoe lot better--and still go badly, badly wrong. And what happens in Iraq matters a lot, because of its oil, because of its central geographic position in the Middle East, because of the US invasion here, and because it's the only Shiite-dominated political system in the Arab world.

In other words, just as Iraq enters a really critical period, where its leaders will decide whether they will solve differences without violence, and when the country truly stands on its own with a much smaller crutch from the US. -- many in the West have stopped paying steady attention.

The once-huge international press corps here has shrunken significantly, with many verteran war correspondents decamped to Afghanistan. Major U.S. TV networks have pulled out, or are in the process of doing so. Other news organizations are hanging on until after the elections, which have been delayed from January to at least late February or March. (McClatchy, I am proud to say, plans to maintain a presence in Baghdad).

One of my Iraqi colleagues and I were talking the other day and, sad to say, we both knew what it would take to bring Iraq back to the front pages and the television screens. A major bombing that kills dozens or hundreds. Renewed civil strife. Iraq really having weapons of mass destruction.

Regardless of your views of the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq in the first place, the United States has spent enormous amounts of blood, treasure, political capital here in Mesopotamia. It's been the subject of a divisive national debate and played a role in elections for offices high and low.

And the story is not over. So keep paying attention. I know that even after my assignment here is complete, I will.

Barham Salih is a killer

In an interview with the pan-Arab television station Al-Jazeera, the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Iraq's northern Kurdistan Regional Government, Dr. Barham Salih has killed all the hopes inside some Iraqis that his presence will help ease tensions between Kurds and Arabs.

"I thank those who are counting on me because I consider it a trust.But I warn from the gravity of any exaggerated expectations," Salih told the TV."...Counting on one person and one stance will not be a right thing."

On the KRG's controversial nearly two dozen oil deals with some 30 Western oil companies, Salih defended them as constitutional, adding that his region acted in tandem with the powers that are given by the constitution to the provinces and regions when manage the oil sector.

"The region's government insists that these (oil) deals are signed in compliance with the powers that are given to it by the constitution," he said.

While his statements on the oil-rich Kirkuk were: "I'm a Kurd and my point of view is clear regarding Kirkuk.I say that Kirkuk historically, geographically and from the population aspect is part of Kurdistan region."

Salih didn't forget also to offer a solution to what he called his Arab and Turkmen "partners who do not agree with me." This solution is to rely on constitution, a word which is used by all Iraqi politicians since it was approved in December 2005 but none has solved any problem yet because simply it is vague enough to keep politicians at loggerheads.

Since he was assigned to his new position, the eyes were turned to Salih to find some other solutions as his wide experience in Baghdad's political atmosphere and politicians could help to ease the tension.But after this interview he has killed all the hopes inside those who believe so.

kassakhoon@gmail.com

The Iraq Inquiry: an evidence for the West arrogance

The Iraq Inquiry has started.The facts are being unearthed.The liars are on the stage one after one.But who will punish them? Who will heal Iraqis' wounds and bring back their beloved ones who are lost to this dirty war? And who will fix Iraq?

These are questions the West must tackle because simply they were behind all the sufferings and ordeals this country has been facing since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion which, day after day, is being approved that it was based on lies and those who were behind it were only blood-seekers.

Last June, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the Inquiry.That's fine.But only "to identify lessons that can be learned from the Iraq conflict" and not seeking the facts for setting the appropriate apology to Iraqis and determining the mechanism on how to help their country, which has been turned into a jungle, stand on its legs again.

"Those lessons will help ensure that, if we face similar situations in future, the government of the day is best equipped to respond to those situations in the most effective manner in the best interests of the country," the Chair of the Inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, said at the launch of the Inquiry.

What an arrogance.This is the West double standards.

This is as if someone says: LET the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who are slain since 2003, the millions of widows, sons, lovers who are left behind them, the millions of displaced people and refugees and the 179 dead British soldiers and their families, GO TO HELL.

The first two liars were William Ehrman, the Foreign Office's director of international security from 2000 to 2002, and Tim Dowse, the Foreign Office's head of counter-proliferation between 2001 to 2003.

Ehram said: "in terms of nuclear and missiles, I think Iran, North Korea and Libya were probably of greater concern than Iraq."

While Dows added that Iraq "wasn't top of the list" and "In terms of my concerns on coming into the job in 2001, I would say we put Libya and Iran ahead of Iraq."

SO WHY YOU BOTH DIDN'T MENTION THESE COUNTRIES THEN?

But even the two went further when said that Iraq's previous regime had no relations with Al-Qaida and no evidence was found that Saddam Hussein had provided terrorist groups with material for chemical or biological weapons as the West was alleging at that time.

And for possessing chemical and biological arms can be detonated within 45 minutes, Ehrman said: "We did, at the very end, I think on the 10th of March, get a report that chemical weapons might have remained disassembled and Saddam hadn't yet ordered their assembly."

kassakhoon@gmail.com

Iraqi presdient guarntees oil deals to Total

During an official visit to Paris, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani assured France's Total that it will have a special treatment and will get oil deals in his war-torn country in its second bidding round.

"We might favor a French bid whatever the figures. Don't fear this auction. ... The figures aren't everything," Talabani quoted by AFP. "We want to see Total work in our oil fields."

Wonderful Mr. President...travel around the world and spread oil deals. You don't care about the figures but you only care about seeing Total in Iraq.Saddam Hussein did the same!

kassakhoon@gmail.com

"Mabrouk Iraq al-Jadid"

Eventually "Iraqi" parliament passed today the long-delayed election law which will help the nation to hold its Jan. 16 parliamentary elections, thanks to, NOT the lawmakers and politicians, but to the American Ambassador to Baghdad or "Iraq's real ruler."

Yes, we should thank Ambassador Christopher Hill for his distinguished role today at the parliament which I my self saw it and none told me about it.He was relentlessly moving between all the parliamentarian blocs' offices at the parliament building to put an end to this mess.

All those who attended Today's session, mainly reporters were seeing Hill and his aids more than anyone else from the Iraqi lawmakers who preferred to stay inside their offices or who left the country to Qatar with the Speaker and leave the problem to Mr. Hill.

As an Iraqi who lived today's story, which is full of shame, I can only say what the U.S. civilian administration that President George W. Bush installed in Baghdad after the invasion L. Paul Bremer used to say: "Mabrouk Iraq al-Jadid" or "Congratulations to the new Iraq."

Go to hell our "elected" lawmakers!

kassakhoon@gmail.com

To whome this victory: Hussain Al-Shahrisntani or Big Oil?

Unlike his previous public appearances, Iraq's Oil Minister Hussain Al-Shahristani on Tuesday was happy and friendly and never complained when local and foreign reporters circled and rained him with questions, but even I had the feeling that he was ready to talk for hours about his last achievement, the biggest in Iraq's history.

Yes, it is a victory for Al-Shahritsnai to bring UK's BP and China's CNPC to develop Iraq's biggest oil field, the 17.8-billion-barrel Rumaila, with these companies' money and according to the Iraqi terms. And even he promised that more such deals will see the light in the coming days.

Analysts say Big Oil accepted Iraqi low fees only to set foot in this country and then they will have more lucrative deals in the future. But what would happen if they find Al-Shahristani again in office in the next government? Would be any chance for any lucrative deals in the future after signing such deals now?

kassakhoon@gmail.com

Iraq's new Kurdish government takes over

Iraq's former deputy prime minister, Dr. Barham Salih and his 20-Minister Cabinet sworn in today before the parliament of the self-ruled northern Kurdish region as the region's sixth government since 1992.

What is interesting is that Salih reappointed the region's Minister of Natural Resources , Dr. Ashti Hawrami, despite the controversy that surrounds his career due to his vague oil deals.

The latest controversy is around an illegal transaction of shares in which he worked as a middleman, or may be as a businessman, between Norway's DNO and Turkey's Genel Enerji.

The other interesting thing is that assigning the Justice portfolio to judge Raouf Abdul-Rahman, a previous chief judge in Baghdad who sentenced Saddam Hussein to death in November 2006 for his role in the killing of Shiite Muslims in the town of Dujail after an assassination attempt in 1982. Saddam was hanged the following December.

For more on Salih's biography click here: http://barhamsalih.net/

kassakhoon@gmail.com

For how long Iraq will continue like this?

Despite the grief and sorrow that have engulfed Baghdad since last Sunday when two suicide car bombers killed 155 people and injured hundreds others, some upbeat news were brought amid that atmosphere.But of course will not help removing that grief.

The Associated Press reported today that Iraq's oil exports climbed almost 6 percent in the third quarter of the year, gaining $12.18 billion in revenues versus $9.57 billion in the prior quarter.Daily oil exports averaged 1.998 million barrels per day compared to an average of 1.885 barrels per day in the preceding quarter.

How much of these money will be spent to renovate the buildings, roads and other infrastructure which were destroyed in Sunday's attacks? how much of these revenues will be allocated to buy more or new "technologically advanced" equipment to detect bombs or stop the suicide bombers?

And for how long Iraq will continue like this: spends what it earns to fix things damaged by the war or buys weapons or loses what it earns due corruption?

kassakhoon@gmail.com

Another dagger in Baghdad's heart

At least 736 families are grieved now.Some 155 of them lost their beloved ones while the rest have their beloved ones wounded in today's explosions in the heart of Baghdad.

kassakhoon@gmail.com