Seattle's Dave Ross: Freedom has become a tough sell in Iraq...

A popular radio talk-show host here in Seattle reports from a downtown hotel in Baghdad, Iraq...
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Freedom has become a tough sell in Iraq

By Dave Ross
Special to The Times

FROM: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001902418_daveross14.html
AL MANSOUR HOTEL BALCONY, Baghdad — The birds and the palm trees are enjoying today's hazy heat, the Tigris is only a little rippled by the latest explosion, the car horns sound like a football victory and my balcony has but one bullet divot in the plaster. Life can be good for an American in Baghdad when the TV is off, your hotel is thoroughly guarded and you have a paid, confirmed return flight in your pocket.

The news this past week cratered the arguments for occupation like the mortars that fall every day into the Green Zone, a Hollywood back lot of pristine and ruined palaces with blue and white signs at the intersections reading, "What have you done today for the Iraqi people?"

What the signs don't mention — because it's obvious — is that those Iraqi people aren't allowed into the Green Zone unless they work there. They inhabit the Red Zone, which is probably safer for them anyway. It is one of the many ironies of this benevolent occupation that the Green Zone is the most check-pointed, flak-jacketed and bunkered place in Baghdad. Ambassador Paul Bremer has an escort (which I witnessed but will not describe in deference to national security) that would impress Saddam Hussein himself.

Even Freedom Radio, the coalition's all-hit FM station, boasts that it's "... broadcasting from an 'undisclosed location.' "

As I write this, I can look south into the zone and see black smoke drifting north — the likely result of that dull rumble a few minutes ago. It has happened every day this past week. The coalition never announces what got hit, so these attacks never make the news unless they hit near the reporters' hotels outside the zone. The explosion behind the Sheraton on the April 9 anniversary of the fall of Baghdad — which warranted breaking news banners on all the cable networks — is just another form of precipitation in the Green Zone.

<SNIP>

TO READ THE REST GO HERE:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001902418_daveross14.html



sig:
"The Truth knows no master" - AmyStrange said to me in a dream

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Dave (AmyStrange.com) Ayotte
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p.s. Dave Ross should be national. He's awesome.

it is excellent and you're right, Dave should be national. Air America should check him out,

d

(edited: Air National to Air America)

My brother is serving in Iraq and I miss him greatly. He has sent many emails and spoken to me a couple of times in the last year. Not a day goes by that he is not greeted by Iraqi citizens and thanked. The turmoil these people went through should make us sick in America. He has personally spoken to Iraqis that have lost daughters to Saddam's rape squads. Iraqi children have told him of being dragged out of school and beaten for being falsely accused of even speaking negatively regarding Saddam. Most Iraqis he speaks to cannot wait to be able to 'privately' vote for their president and many don't even understand what it means to be able to choose a president. The people fighting the American soldiers are not from Iraq - there is plenty of proof about that which is not being revealed.

The road to Iraqi freedom has not been a hard road to date compared to other country's fight for freedom. All you have to do is read the book I read two months ago - it is called the American Revolution. Regardless of who the President is we must support our troops and take the fight to the terrorists overseas - otherwise it will be fought on our soil.....

God Bless.

when they can attack our sons and daughters and loved ones in Iraq.

Terrorist attacks the world have increased since we invaded Iraq in Spain, Casablanca, Phillipines, Saudia Arabia etc. etc.

600+ US soldiers dead in Iraq and over 8,000 Iraqis dead so far (since Mar 19th of 2003)with 600+ dead (mostly women and children) in Fallujah alone in the last few days. 800+ in Iraq since April 4th. Woman and children are still being raped and beaten daily.

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/bodycount.htm

Not to mention continued lawlessness in Afghanistan in rural areas which isn't even reported by the American Press anymore.

How have things been better since we invaded Iraq and how will they get better after we (theoretically) turn over control on June 30th?

d

from an original that has been proven to be a fake e-mail. I'm not saying your e-mail is fake, but I've seen this e-mail (with the exact same message almost word for word) atleast a couple hundred times all over the internet sent by just as many different people - female and male soldiers alike.

Interesting how so many different soldiers over there in Iraq are writing back home the exact same thing almost word for word. It's almost as though someone is telling them what to write...

d

(edited: "e-mail loks like" to "e-mail looks like")

not a chance

and if you think my brother would lie to me b/c 'someone' is telling him what to write you would be mistaken again.

Why is it so difficult to believe the troops can go to Iraq and do a good job? Why wouldn't Iraqi citizens want to be out from under Saddam? Why do people actually think he deserved to stay in poewr? I am sure no one reading this would want to live under Saddam's rule.

As far as 600+ soldiers dying in Iraq - we are at war and have been so for a year. That number could/should be much greater if Iraqis did actually want to fight for Saddam.

All 'original' thoughts........

almost word for word?

The 600+ are the deaths. The injured and maimed and those whom lost a limb are 10 to 20 times that amount - most of those aren't reported by the military or press.

By the way, what do you expect people to tell soldiers with guns, "We hate you. go home"?

I never said Saddam deserved to stay in power? Where do you get that idea from? And if you recall, back on March 17th, 2003, Bush said if Saddam stopped lying about WMDs and prove he didn't have them, he wouldn't invade and Saddam had 48 hours. If he had told Bush what he wanted to hear and be able to prove it (which he couldn't, because he didn't have any as we are now finding out), Bush wouldn't have invaded or so he promised. So, freeing the Iraqis was not our intent. It just gives the families of dead and maimed soldiers something to feel nice and warm about.

What do you think is going to happen when we (theoretically) turn power over to the interim government in June 30th? Do you think everyone is going to lay down their guns and be nicey nice hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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d

(edited my hahahas)

i remember the day the statute fell. popped some corn and thought i was in for a big day watching them knocked that thing down with a sledge hammer. about 20 minutes later....

there are bad guys , but there should be a whole lot more iraqis standing up for their country....oh! wait a minute there are.

i forgot to add for newer democrats..wage peace -----it's cheaper.

...did they mention that the revolution was fomented by the people and not by "benevolent" occupiers ( as I recall the people rose up against the occupying force,yes?).


on edit: Did it also mention that the French were pretty helpful?

My point was that Iraqis did want to be rid of Saddam - the people fighting in the so-called 'uprising' are not Iraqis. They are fanaticals that hate America mostly from Iran (my opinion). Sometimes the little guy needs people to stand up for him - but only time will tell if the Iraqis truly wanted to be a free country. Maybe they don't, but you can't think it was a good thing for Saddam to stay...

But you are correct, without the French we may not have succeeded in our Revolution. Again, sometimes the little guy needs someone to stand up for him....

You said:
"...the people fighting in the so-called 'uprising' are not Iraqis."


our government says so? How do they know? Are they getting this info from the same folks who said Saddam had WMDs? Oh yes, those folks have tons of credibility
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d

(edited my hahahas)