Again...anyone here from Iraq?
457391
though i am not iraqi,but my mother is and i lived  in iraq till i left it last year more than 40 years,but i think i have the right to answer you.\n1. the war has almost totally destroyed the country.iraq was the jewel of the middle east,now it is a heap of garbage.it is the richest country in the whole world.now its people have the the rank of the 5th poorest country.in the 80,s iraq imported 3 million egyptian workers,now the unemployment is 80%.iraq who is floating on oil is importing gas,kerocine and disel.their prices have jumped 20 folds in 6 mounthes.\n2.from whom was iraq libreated.it was a sovrign independent country since 1921,it is now under occupation.if you think that removing saddam from power is the lebriation of the country,then i suggest you read a criditable book about the deserting army soldeir who by miracle claimbed to the chair of the vice president in 1968 without any qualifications or any service in the government,accept being a gangister,when he was at the age of 29.who was behind him..\n3.there were more than 15 attempts of assasinations and coups by the iraqi army and diffrent people sectores against saddam.who used to warn him,and give him full informations.\n4. wasnt easier and much less costlier to assasinate him since his regime was badly decaying instead of sheding blood from both side with these astronomical figures of us dollars.the proof for that is the us army faced no resistance in invading the country,had the regimn not decayed,the casualties would have been immence.the iraqis are known to be stubborn fighters,\n5.i wish that those who speak of the rebuilding of iraq give the names of the hospitals,roads,electric power stations,schools,water purifying plants ,and the locations of these new projects.otherwise why the electricity is much worse than it was before the war,till now.\n5.no one dosent like the democracy,but every culture has its own way of democracy.dont forget that iraq has 10,000 years of accumilated culture behinde it,it isnt easy to impose the american ideals and way of democracy on it in short time. it is natural that it is rejected.yes the iraqies lived black days since 1958,but the occupation made things worse.\n6.above all there was real security,who dared to kidnap a person before,he would be executed infront of the victims house.noe in the last 3 mounthes the kidnaping rate is 200 persons per day,halfe are wqomen and children.that is one example.who can dare cretisize any official.who can complain anything to any official,where can the officials be found to complain to them.in 1950 my fraind says taha if your phone goes out of service,it would be repaired in one day,now after lebriation it took 15 mounthes and it is not working yet.
286766
Should we still be in Germany, Italy, Korea, or Afghanistan.  Those have been over longer than Iraq and we still have people there.  We even made permanent bases there we have been there so long.  What is so different about Iraq to you people.  Stop watching the news and get some real facts based on real information not some news channel putting a spin on things.  Just to clear the record most do want our help over there.  I was guarding a demonstration of thousands of American supporters and about thirty anti-American protesters.  Guess how the news crew portrayed that seen.  To watch it on the news it looked just the opposite.
696252
Well,honestly,before coming to Iraq,I would have said yes,they're all terrorists.\n\nI am very glad I came to Iraq.It's opened my eyes to a race of people I hadn't experienced much if any.I have found Iraqis and other Arabs to be some of the nicest,helpful,hospitable people I've known.I wouldn't trade my time here for anything.I think I'd like to travel to a safer Arab country to experience more though.I hope Iraq will calm down and stabilize so people can return and experience what Iraq has to offer.A very rich history.I am in the process of learning Arabic.I love Arabic.It's a beautiful written language.So artful.\n\nArabian girls?What can I say.....I like the stereo typical Arabian girl....Long flowing black hair,eyes shaped like almonds......Oh man...My soul gets firery just thinking of them.How could ANYONE hate them????They have the most seductive eyes in the freakin world.How could anyone not get lost in them?\n\nHonestly,I would consider my self lucky if I found a girl who's even has a fraction of Arab blood.\n\nPeople who think they are all terrorist have not been to Arab countries.I can't say I really blame them,because I was one of them.But as for me,I know otherwise.\n\nI also like that even some Christian Arab women cover their hair.It's like saying,"This is for my man,and him only!"Who couldn't love that kind of loyalty and devotion.They seem to be mostly traditional minded.That's more than I can say for a lot of American women.\n\nIn fact,if I was talking to you and found out you were Arabian,you'd probably get tiered of seeing me.\n\nI wish one day I can have an Arabian woman for my own,but it'll never happen.But it's nice to think about..(-;
751527
Arcane are you  crazy?  Their are a lot more modernized middle eastern countries that Iraq.  I have been to a couple different countries and I saw nothing that even Iraq.  You need to know what you are talking about before you start saying stuff like that.  One other thing I want to tell you about.  If the Iraqis didn't want us there all they had to do is run us out,  but they are going through what we did  in our civil war, Losing life's, homes, family and what not they know that it is a necessary evil but most of them are ready for a change.  There have been more business open up in the last year than any other year in their history.  Soon as they can show that their military is able and willing we will be out but no sooner.  It would be a disgrace to the US and its people if we left now and let total hell rain down upon them.
790780
I have never been to Iraq, born and raised in the U.S.A.! But my heart goes out everyday for the people there, I HOPE, that one day you and all the others can laugh again, and my god bless you my friend
526743
It is an interesting experience. My husband and I have been together for only 3 years and we are on our second deployment. He is currently serving in Iraq. Be proud because your husband is doing something truly great. Feel free to contact me if you want to talk.
730331
I really appreciate your sentiment for it is what we were all brought up to believe is good about this country.  But may  I suggest that this is not a war.  It is an occupation by the United States of another country.  We were told that the people of Iraq were being held in oppression by the horrible dictator Saddam Hussein, and that they would be throwing flowers at our troops for setting them free, we would be welcomed with open arms.  Why do you suppose we have had to stay for three years, fighting door to door with citizens who desperately wanted us to enter their country and set them free?  If our policy was so concerned about their human rights, why are they fighting us to the death?  I offer this thought for discussion, for it sounds to me like we were not told the truth about what we are doing there, and the Iraqi people have made it very clear with the sacrifice of the own blood, that they do not like what we are doing?  If we were oppressed by a dictator and someone came in to set us free out of the goodness of their heart, would we fight them door to door for doing so?  I think not.
449753
The few Iraqi people that i have meet. \nHave been ordinary people who just want their country to have peace. \nthey want the chance to rebuild their country, to live in freedom and security, \nSome thing which they have not had the chance to do since Saddam. \nThe few i have meet told me they don't mind the western soldiers being there, until the time is right for the Iraqi people to take over. \nif the insurgence will leave them to get on with it.
693330
I have been thinking that way for a long time. there are some dodgy questions being asked. a couple i have seen, How Many Exactly US troops in Iraq.How do you get to a certain navel station. How many tanks has US got in Iraq. Do you know when a certain Division is about to be moved over to Iraq. these are just some of the ones i think are suspicious.
329089
Ok last time I do this. Afghanistan was already taken care of and a democratically elected government now holds power there. Granted its a gov based on Islamic Law BUT theyre learning AND it was elected by the PEOPLE. We did not go into Iraq for oil...how many tankers have arrived here from Iraq? NONE.  The main points the President and his admin cited were Saddam's alleged links to Al Queda which rather recently are starting to be CONFIRMED by siezed Iraqui documents as well as Saddam's refusal to cooperate with UN weapon inspectors and even going as far as covertly transporting most of its WMD programs to friendly neighbor nations. Evidence of this is also starting to come out of siezed regime documents. There is ALOT more but I only have a short space to make my main points. The rest of it IS out there, if you have the intelligence to look for it and the wisdom to see that ALL the "mainstream" press is biased...even the socalled "fair and balanced" Fox News.
410423
thanks!\nmy husband was there and is going to Kuwait for a few weeks very soon and then back to Iraq next year.  \n\nwe appreciate it----ooo rah
1152639
Yeah! There are people like me out there! I agree 100%. People are forgetting that Iraq wasn't exactly the peaceful little place people thought it was before we got there. If we leave now, a huge civil war will erupt between all these different muslim groups to try to control power.
647417
I'd rather see if I could hold my breath forever whilst holding high-voltage cables and trying to hum all of Wagner's Ring Cycle...note perfect.  Although I was born in CA, I'm now living in Scotland, thank feck.  I am keeping my eyes on that shower of bastards however.  I know a man here who is a semi-retired military advisor, with the highest security clearance who has worked over there many times and he says that the Iraqis are far worse off now than before, and yes, all this is for the oil.  Shocking.
367780
25, was active Army, 25F (Network/Switching systems Op/Maint)\nI just exited the service after 6 years and 7 months (was stop loss-ed for my second Iraq tour), and the things I ask someone else that was in Iraq is where they were, what they were doing, and whether or not the local nationals nearby would "misbehave."  The answers to the first and second are always different, the third one is usually yes.\n  One thing I've learned about the news is that the news only exists where the reporters are, and it is only as good as their understanding of the situation.  There were so many things that I've witnessed that the news would mention as side notes, using the phrase "reports of..." because they didn't have anyone there.\n  One thing I've always wanted people back home to be aware of is that the situation is both worse and better than what they hear.  The news only seems to focus on US casualties, but never talks about police forces built, infrastructure repaired, people helped, anything with a positive outcome, etc.  The news also misses the significance of some of the Iraqis targeted by insurgents if no US forces were involved.  During my second deployment, I spent the majority of the time in Mosul, and it never ceased to amaze me how the insurgency would actively target local officials with the same techniques and weapons they'd use for CF (Coalition Forces).  It seemed like incidents were occurring constantly, Iraqi Army being hit with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), police were being gunned down, sheiks (who are more or less the equivalent of an alderman here) being assassinated, sometimes with their families.   If you want a good question, consider the amount of times you are quoted the number of US soldiers killed by hostile fire, and wonder how many Iraqis are killed by the insurgency.  Not like those estimations of bystanders killed, but how many have been actively sought out and killed by the insurgency since the start, before you heard the words "sectarian violence" on the news.  That's a question I wish I knew the answer to.\n  I hope that gives you a start of sorts.  Please continue to ask more questions, and you will receive replies.
309023
Maybe I have a unique perspective from those that have posted so far considering that I am one of the "troops" and a veteran of the current conflict.  From my own viewpoint it is discouraging to hear all the anti-Bush/anti-war rhetoric--not because I support him/it personally, but because it belittles what we are doing over there.  Can you imagine what it would be like to be in a combat zone and know that your fellow citizens think that what you are doing is pointless, worthless, and/or "illegal"?  It is more than a little disheartening.\n\nAs for what I do: I correspond with a number of my fellow service members who are in Iraq and Afghanistan, I wear a Support Our Troops bracelet 24/7 to remind myself at all times of the sacrifices made by those in uniform, and I strive to educate those that I come in contact with about how not supporting the war that we are fighting hurts almost as much as being called "babykiller".
1111652
I (american) completely agree with you that our country has been completley out of line in trying to be the worlds "big brother". You should know that your mirror will only show what is shown to it.  My mirror would show acceptance and love for all people. I was deeply disturbed by one of your previous posts. Please dont think that americans actually have a voice in whether or not we go to war! How would you feel if I was one of the closeminded americans that thinks that just because you are middle eastern, you know the terrorists and can make them stop if you want. I can't even begin to understand what it feels like to live in a warring country, my condolensces to you and yours. But remember that not seeing all sides of the story is one of the problems that led us to where we are today.  You are obviously very upset, and for good reason. So I would like to personally appologize to you for the occupation, although I have absolutely no control over it. By opening our eyes and truly thinking about things before we believe them, we might eventually be able to achieve peace. I wish you, and your family, and Iraqi and American troops peace. Please rethink your hatred for all americans and know that there are many of us here that agree with YOU rather than our own government. By finding a way to see that no culture as a whole is inherantly evil and that every individual is different and needs to be respected, you too will be a part of the path to peace.  Peace to you my brother. Tasharrafna. Shukran.
221925
First learn to speak their language then book a flight to Kuwait.  From there you'll probably need to find a drive to take you into Iraq.  They may not be in the mood to chat though man!