Bye-Bye Baghdad

I have been living and working in Baghdad for the past 16 months and will be leaving next week for good. I am one of those overpaid Department of Defense contractors, or, as some would call me, a “war profiteer.” Yes, I have profited. I am out of debt and have money saved. But it has cost me. I am a changed man. I have become hardened. I almost feel like a zombie.

Although I work in Baghdad, I have no idea what Baghdad looks like. I have been told by soldiers that it is “like one of those Mexican border towns.” I don’t live in the “heavily fortified” Green Zone, which, although heavily fortified, has been getting hit with mortars on a daily basis. No, I live on an Army base. I live in a trailer with four other men. We each have our own space and I am lucky to have quiet roommates. There is a common latrine and shower.

I have had a lot of experiences over these 16 months, and the situation has not changed one bit. I feel like I am leaving a sinking ship. The only thing that has changed is that more trailers have had to be added for the “surge” of troops that have come in. Oh, and our laundry now takes 72 hours to get done.

The majority of my co-workers are Iraqi, and every single one has been deeply affected by the war. Everyone knows someone who has been killed or kidnapped, whether a family member or a friend. It’s a daily occurrence, and they feel helpless, frustrated and, of course, very sad. Those that had the means have gone to either Jordan or Syria. The others are trapped. No country wants them.

........


We have made a mess of Iraq, and the Iraqis, who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, are the ones that are paying the price.

Our troops are losing morale. They know they are fighting a war that will never end, and I feel sorry for them. I feel that the ship will eventually sink and we will have caused the most terrible suffering for a people that just want a day when they can leave their house without the fear of being kidnapped or killed. For the Iraqis, freedom certainly isn’t free: They are paying a heavy price for it.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070817_bye_bye_baghdad/

you are a far braver man than I. I once thought it might be feasible to work in Iraq, helping to rebuild infrastructure, like networks and phone lines, but the quagmire is unbelievable.

I have met those displaced by the war, and my shame is almost unbearable at times. they are good, decent people who only want to live, and provide for their families. We both have in common, that we want to go back to our home countries, which is not possible - them for war, me for a feeling of exile and the crap condition of the economy. We both have similar complaints about our new, adopted country, and we both hate * with all that is human.

I have much in common with the Iraqi's that come to Holland, and the EU for refuge from the war. But even though htey reassure me it's *, not me responsible, I still feel responsible. If only I had worked harder on teh 2000 campaign as opposed ot desperately trying to make a living... if only...

I reassure them that no, * is in fact just as hated back home, but because his cronies own everything it's easy to fool the people. They understand that. Saddam controlled everything. Either with fear and terror, or just government control. But... they would say, "at least it was safer, than now. I had work then now... I am here."

God help us all when Saddam was better than *.

Indeed. It is a shame on the American republic that it has come to this, and it is a shame on the American ruling class that they have decayed so far as to allow it. God help us all.

for all of this-this war has cracked the dark psyche of America wide open, we are now the Nazi's of WW2 to the world - countless death and destruction.