It was February 2005, and after several months of front-line reporting from Iraq, I’d returned to the US a human time bomb of rage, my temper ticking shorter each day. Walking through morgues in Baghdad left scenes in my mind I remember even now. I can still smell the decaying bodies as I type this,
Full Circle
Among things that have not changed in Iraq is one that I hope never changes. After a four-year-long absence, each of my meetings here with former friends and fresh acquaintances seems to suggest that adversity has taken its toll on everything except Iraqi hospitality and Iraqi generosity. I am awestruck to find the warmth of
The Monstrosity of War
“Foreseen for so many years: these evils, this monstrous violence, these massive agonies: no easier to bear.” -Robinson Jeffers, American poet Agence France-Presse reports that the first person killed when the Israeli military began to enter Gaza on Saturday was a Palestinian child. On Sunday, a Palestinian woman and her four children were blown to
The Cost of Slumber
Long before I discovered the mysterious mix of pain and relief that writing from the heart brings, I was pursuing a Masters in English Literature at Central Washington University in the small town of Ellensburg, Washington. I was broke, like most grad students, and supported myself by working for two individuals confined to assisted living
Tomgram: Dahr Jamail, Missing Voices in the Iraq Debate
There’s an old joke in which a fellow natters on endlessly about himself. Finally, he turns to his friend and says, “Well, enough about me, how about you? What do you think of me?” Sometimes, we in the U.S. seem to be that guy. There are so many voices crucial to understanding our world that
Who Are the Insurgents?
“SUPPOSE IRAQ INVADED AMERICA. And an Iraqi soldier was on a tank passing through an American street, waving his gun at the people, threatening them, raiding and trashing houses. Would you accept that? This is why no Iraqi can accept occupation, and don’t be surprised by their reactions,” says “The Imam,” a young man from
The myth of sectarianism
The policy is divide to rule IF THE U.S. leaves Iraq, the violent sectarianism between the Sunni and Shia will worsen. This is what Republicans and Democrats alike will have us believe. This key piece of rhetoric is used to justify the continuance of the occupation of Iraq. This propaganda, like others of its ilk,
CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Iraq Progresses To Some Of Its Worst
WASHINGTON — Despite all the claims of improvements, 2007 has been the worst year yet in Iraq. One of the first big moves this year was the launch of a troop “surge” by the U.S. government in mid-February. The goal was to improve security in Baghdad and the western al-Anbar province, the two most violent
Mirage of Improvement in Iraq
Yet Another Facelift for the Failed Occupation The New York Times Nov 19 announces, “Baghdad’s Weary Start to Exhale as Security Improves.” The Washington Post Nov. 23 reports, “Returnees Find a Capital Transformed.” People in the US are willing to believe the establishment media telling them that refugees are returning to their homes in Baghdad
Another Casualty: Coverage of the Iraq War
Editor: Erik Leaver, IPS and John Feffer, IRC Iraq is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. Along with names and dates, the Brussels Tribunal has listed the circumstances under which Iraqi media personnel have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. This extremely credible report cites 195 as