One of KTAR listeners called me "a sore point with this radio show". Here is my respons to him. His letter is inclouded at the end.
Dear Philip
Thanks for the message. I hope that this will give you an idea about the way I look at situation in Iraq. You will see that it is based on facts and figures. I will be happy to answer any question you have.
Regards
Ghazwan
The best way to judge whether an ACTION is good (beneficial) or bad is to look at the BEFORE and AFTER effects. This applies to any action irrespective. I have realized few years ago that I must work to find out where Iraq was before 2003.
Data for conditions of 2002-2003 were not available and not universally acceptable. It was either data from the Iraqi government (hence the west considered it (Saddam propaganda) or from the west (and it was western propaganda). The best “independent and unbiased” data were available from UN reports prior to the war of 1991.
For this reason I collected data of where Iraq was in 1991 as my bases of reference. This is also connected to my belief that the war of 1991 was phase 1 of the war between USA and Iraq. The 13 years of sanctions were phase 2 of the war and the 2003 war is phase 3. Therefore the 1991 data also used to compare the effects of the war (in its 3 phases) to the current situation. I sometimes use US pre occupation data and compare it to current US data to show progress or the lack of it.
Having established my BEFORE reference point I could easily use that data and compare it to the AFTER and judge quantitatively.
In 2004 I was to present this paper in New York which deals in details with BEFORE and AFTER conditions. I have not found any reason to change the validity of the BEFORE condition. Today I can assure you that on EVERY single point raised conditions are a lot WORSE than it was in 1991!!!!
How do we describe this? 1- Saddam was doing a very good thing then!!!! Or 2- US is doing a bad job now. Take your pick.
Few years ago Bush said “you are either with us or with the terrorist”. I said sorry Mr. Bush I am not with you because I think what you are doing is wrong. I refused to be terrorized into changing my ideas of what is right or wrong. He can call me whatever he wants but I am not with him.
I base my assessment of Iraq situation on solid facts and figures. Those who disagree with me must show me where I am wrong. Just calling me “Anti-American” does not scare me. By the way “dictators” like Saddam could not scare me I called him atrocious dictator from Baghdad 2002!!!
Maybe I am not seeing the “good” things that the US is doing in Iraq. Maybe I am closing my eyes. Please let me know and I will be grateful. I will even admit my mistakes on Radio but please be specific.
I have noticed that you are starting to become a sore point with this radio show. I think it is the negativity that you portray on a week to week basis. People are beginning to take your rhetoric as anti-american which is obviously not popular here to listen to. You are starting to sound like the US has done absolutely nothing positive. I know there are many bad things going on, but there have to be something good in your country. Healthcare? Schools? I dunno.Why don’t you tell me. Is there anything positive going on in your country? It doesn’t even have to be something positive the US has done. Maybe your government has done something positive in your neighborhood. Maybe you have done something. Most Americans do not favor the war, don’t favor the occupation, and are not really pleased with the way things are going on in our part. We don’t listen to you on the radio to remind us of what we already know and feel. Your job should be to share with us the things we don’t know. The things that we can’t read about or hear about on TV. Personally, I can’t stand Tony and you are really the only interesting part of his show. Unfortunately, as of recent, I have grown a little tired of hearing you complaining over and over about the same stuff. Mix it up. Become interesting again and you will make us interested again. If you respond, I will happily write you back.
This is my response to Thomas Friedman article “Dear Iraqi Friends (Published September 23, 2008).
From: Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar
To: President George W. Bush
Dear Mr. President, I am writing to you because I know that your letter to President Talabani and others will not be answered. I suspect that they are busy jockeying for power and the wealth of my country Iraq. As an Iraqi citizen I have taken the liberty to reply for them.
Mr. President, I am writing to you on a matter of grave importance. It’s hard to express how deep the humanitarian crisis in Iraq today. There are nearly 3 million Iraqi refugees living in poverty in surrounding countries. Another 2 millions are internally displaced. Those who lucky not to be forced out of their houses are living in darkness because the electricity generated nowis less than that before the fall of Baghdadmore than 5 years ago.
To compound the misery of the Iraqi people your friends, Talabani and Maliki, are starving the civilian population of Iraq. Through corruption and inefficiency the food ration system provides now less than that before the fall of Baghdad. The food ration system was installed in 1991 in response to your father’s war on Iraq. The UN said then that the Iraqi food ration system was “the most equitable food distribution”. More than 80% of the population is dependent on the system. It was less than 60% before your war of terror 2003.
Probably your friends, Talabani and Maliki, are too ashamed to tell you that the people of “the land between the two rivers” do not have clean drinking water. As a result now Cholera epidemic is killing hundreds of poor Iraqis mostly children. Last year Cholera started in “Al Qaeda free” Kurdistan. This year it started south of Baghdad and is speeding fast. Your friends, Mr. President, deny it but the death is continuing.
The Sick and injured civilians in Iraq can not find the proper medical care that they used to enjoy in the past.. Nearly half of the Iraqi doctors have fled the country for their own safety. I know, Mr. President that you do not like to be reminded that JohnHopkinsSchool of Public Heath study which estimated that more than one million Iraqis died then, because of your war of terror on Iraqis. That is a fact my friend that is a fact.
I know Mr. President that you are now interested in the economic conditions in your county which you called the economic 911. I totally agree with you, that it is too much for America to spend One billion dollars a day in Iraq. America could save hundreds of billion of dollars by pulling your troop out of my country. I am sure that the billions saved could be a great boost to the American economy. It could used to help rebuilding New Orleans, or Galveston. I do trust your wisdom of knowing whatto do with the saved Billions.
Do not misunderstand me, Mr. President; I do appreciate Americans effort to establishing the “New Iraqi Army”. What I am criticizing is the wisdom of dissolving the “Old Iraqi Army”. Iraq had compulsory military service which made the “old Army” a truly representative of the Iraqi society. Everybody, irrespective of his ethnicity, or religious sect served in the “Old Army”. It was The Notational Army. What you have created now is an ethnic, secretion and sometimes party affiliated “New Iraqi Army” units. Probably you know that the separate Kurdish parties have separate military units of the “New Iraqi Army”. Those unite follow orders from their respective parties and not the Central government in Baghdad.
I find it strange, Mr. President that you talk about constitutions being imposed on the Arab people by kings or dictators. The current Iraqi constitution was written by Noah Fieldman and was imposed on us by the Americans and not by Arab kings or dictators. It was cosmetically modified to ensure its acceptance. So far after 2 years the parliamentary committee has proposed modification to 60 of the 142 articles. I am sure that the committee will continue quarreling for the next few years without reaching agreement on the supposedly our “Noah Fieldman” constitution.
No doubt you know the Iraqi government has accumulated more than 80 billion dollars deposited in US banks. They have the money to help the poor Iraqi refugees. It is just that your friends do not give a damn. They are busy running their corruption racket. For two years in a row Iraq occupied the top of the list of the most corrupt governments behind only the war lords run Somalia and the military Junta in Myanmar.
Mr.President, Iraq does not need a new oil law to give long term concessions to your oil companies. Iraq in 1980 exported twice as much as the current export figures. Few short term service contracts will double our production in a very short time. Even your best Iraqi friends, Talabani and Maliki, could not accept conditions put to them by the American companies. They activated a Saddam era service contract with the China. Mr. President, we owe it to future generation of Iraqis to safeguard their wealth. It is important thatIraq oil should be explored wisely and rationally. It is important also to keep the oil in the ground if for nothing else to safely keep it away from the hands of the Thieves of Baghdad.
Finally, Mr. President, even your friends in Baghdad, Talabani and Maliki, want the US forces to leave Iraq by 2011. My question, to you and to the American people, are you going to impose yourself on the Iraqi people? Are you going to continue to be un-welcomed guests in our country?I know that no self-respecting American would agree to stay.
It takes courage, Mr. President, to admit a mistake. It is even more courageous to take actions to correct the mistake. Please have the courage to order the withdrawal of your troop from Iraq now before someone else makes that decision. It will save your legacy and will show you as a courageous leader.
I pray to God almighty to open your eyes to see the facts and give you the wisdom.
If it was America’s money then America is showing us how “Freedom and Democracy” works!!!. If it is Iraqi or Afghani money then they should compensate us for throwing our money down the drain.!!!
Afghanistan and Iraq with foreign arms, prompted by an allegation of fraud and questions about the competence of the main private supplier of ammunition to Afghanistan.>
shipping aged Chinese rifle cartridges and claiming they were Hungarian.>
<> His father, Michael, incorporated the company in 1999. In 2004, AEY listed Efraim Diveroli as an officer.>
January 2007, the company was awarded a contract, potentially worth $298 million, that made it the primary munitions supplier for Afghan security forces in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.>
The New York Times, first reported last month, found that the company had shipped to Afghanistan tens of millions of decades-old Chinese cartridges that had been repackaged in flimsy cardboard. >
NATO and the State Department havedetermined to be outdated and obsolete, and have spent millions of dollars to have destroyed.>
. He later conducted business with a shell company in Cyprus and two international arms dealers on the federal watch list. He was also recorded in a phone conversation that suggested corruption in arms purchases in Albania.>
Chinese rounds from Albanian depots and were made as long ago as 1960.>
Last week my friend Tony Femino of Radio Station KTAR sent me a message about 'Disneyland' comes to Baghdad with multi-million pound entertainment park. Here is my reaction to it. I am adding that there actually 2 existing amusement parks other than Al-Zawra park several kilometers away from the American Green Zone.
Maybe they are developing it for the Americans and those “Iraqis” living with them in the Green Zone. With few animals added they will call it the Green ZOO
Dear Tony
Thank you for sending the link to this important article. I am very grateful for the Americans for transforming Iraq into “Alice in the wonder land” country!!!
A bit of history of Al-Zawra park in Baghdad: It used to be an old Iraqi Military camp (built in the 40s) now right at the center of Baghdad. I served at that camp (during my military service 1969). The camp was converted into a park around 1970. The park had lakes, restaurants, playing fields, cafes, swimming pools … and Baghdad Zoo. It used to be (and still is) THE place for people of Baghdad to go out and enjoy life. The attached Satellite image of the park shows the Park as is before the intended American privatizing of the LUNG that the Baghdadis breath fresh air.
The park being just across the street from the green zone will serve as a natural extension to the green zone which will be bracketed by blast walls. Any talk about converting it to an Amusement park is bull-shit. The company will build hotels and probable will make room for “other” embassies that cannot find a single empty house in the already crowded green zone!!!
Last year I sent you the following message concerning the Al-Zawra and Baghdad Zoo. I am sending it again after marking the Sat image to show you the relation of the Zawra to the Green Zone.
While Saddam granted the people of Baghdad a FREE access to the park The Americans are giving OUR park to an American investor to charge US to go in and enjoy OUR park FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS!!!!! Privatization of Enjoyment!?!?
This could only happens in the magical kingdom of “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”!!!!
Regards
Ghazwan
PS: The American investor might be a Democrat this is why he accepted 50 years instead of the 100 years advocated by the Republican McCain
From: GhazwanAl-Mukhtar Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 4:00 AM To: Anthony Louis Cc: Subject: Achivments
ell me if the pool is half empty or half full??? THEY DID NOT TELL US if they fixed an existing (Saddam Era pool) or is it a new pool!!!!!!! Oh God since when fixing a thing was a great ACHIVMENT
I am sure that the people of Baghdad (in fact Iraq ) will be thrilled by such achievement and will swim FULLY clothed with BOOTS despite the cold weather just to celebrate with the whole world such HUGE achievement in “liberated Baghdad” !!!!
This is an image from Al-Zaora park in Baghdad (just next to our house) you can see the Saddam era swimming pools!!!
Thank you for send your question sent to VTA program. In response let me make the following points.
1- There are many factions of the Iraqi society that did NOT participate in the "political process" when it started few years ago. Those are independent Nationalist groups or parties that oppose the US occupation and opposed the cooperation with the occupiers right from the beginning. They compose of Sunnis, Shies , Kurds and Turkuman. They formed the bases for the Iraq opposition to the occupation since 2003.
2- On the other hand those who accepted to cooperate with the occupation entered into the "political process". Again it included Sunnis, Shies , Kurds, Turkuman and secular parties. They formed a sectarian government that could not function properly which led to troubles within the ruling coalition. The first to leave the government (ministries)were the Shie parties, the Saderist movement and al-fadela party followed then by the Sunni parties.
3- Over the last 2-3 years America had been trying to draw people from the "nationalist" group (that were out of the "political process") to join into the political process by talking about "reconciliation conference". The First conference held in Baghdad had ALL the political parties that participated in the government. The second conference (held few months ago) was boycotted by parties that were part of the political process. In effect it showed that instead of having MORE people joining the political process now they have LESS people in the political process. At best I do not think that any significant group were added. The conference was a JOCK!!!
4Now those who have left the government MIGHT consider rejoining the government does not change the fact that THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FIND IT APPROPRIARE join the corrupt political process. I read now that definitely Al-Sader movement will NOT join. If that is correct the we still FEWER people than we started 2005!!!! Even if they do go back then we are back to square ONE!!!!
5- Over the last few year more and more people have LOST trust in the failed political process advocated by American appointed government. This will led to some parties to leave the political process at the same time does not induce others to join.
Thank you, Nick, for your question. Please do not hesitate to write and tell me more even if it is BAD news.
Best regards
Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar
Name: Nick Thoennes
Message:SOME GOOD POLITICAL NEWS?
PERHAPS SOME OF THE DISASTER IS ENDING?
The return of the Sunnis
One of the clearest signs of victory in a counterinsurgency is when the insurgents lay down their arms to join the political process. Reuters reports that the Sunnis are formally getting set to rejoin the government.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Parties that walked out of Iraq\'s government last year have agreed to rejoin, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday, in what could amount to a long-awaited political breakthrough.
The main Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, said it intended to submit a list of candidates for cabinet positions within days and could be back in Maliki\'s government soon. Its return has been a major goal of the United States.
