Dahr Jamail

One of the least reported aspects of the U.S. occupation of Iraq is the oftentimes indiscriminate use of air power by the American military. The Western mainstream media has generally failed to attend to the F-16 warplanes dropping their payloads of 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound bombs on Iraqi cities – or to the results of … Continue reading “Living Under the Bombs”

He writhes in pain, moaning with every other breath. The Iraqi police colonel’s chest is covered in bandages, his legs from the knees down nearly completely hidden from view due to thick bandages holding what is left of his shins together. "We gave him first aid and requested a transfer because we don’t have any … Continue reading “Casualties of Polling”

BAGHDAD – Voting in Baghdad was linked with receipt of food rations, several voters said after the Sunday poll. Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote. "I went to the voting center and gave … Continue reading “Will Vote for Food?”

Despite a continuing increase in the already draconian security measures imposed across Iraq, the bombs keep coming. Today in the al-Dora district of Baghdad a primary school which had been a designated polling station was struck by a car bomb. Four Iraqi Police (IP) were killed. A GMC packed with explosives rammed a checkpoint at … Continue reading “On Pins and Needles in Baghdad”

My friend from Baquba visited me yesterday. He brought the usual giant lunch of home-cooked food he always brings when he comes to see me. I’m still eating it, actually. I had it again for dinner tonight. Ah, the typical Iraqi meal. He owns four large tents, and rents them to people in his city … Continue reading “‘Fallujah Is Fine, Now Go Back to Sleep’”

BAGHDAD – U.S.-appointed interim Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi recently handed out $100 bills to journalists at a press conference. He then gave teachers an unexpected $100 bonus. Allawi seems to be on his way to winning the election in Iraq, such as it is. Wa’il Issam, an unemployed translator, has his views about this … Continue reading “The Dollar Campaigns for Allawi”

Kidnapping has become the crime of choice among Iraqi criminal gangs. With 70 percent unemployment in "liberated" Iraq, crime is running rampant, with organized crime enjoying a free hand amid the terrible security situation. The families of the kidnapped are at times forced to pay up to several million dollars ransom – unless they want … Continue reading “Iraqi Women Paying the Price for Their ‘Liberation’”

Last night, I peered out my hotel room window into the vast darkness of Baghdad. Aside from random lights powered by generators, the blackened capital city seemed to lie dormant under high winds and a cold, driving rain. This morning as we’re driving under clear, crisp skies on the harrowing streets, Abu Talat tells me, … Continue reading “Low Fuel, High Violence”

BAGHDAD – The elections due Jan. 30 appear to have brought more chaos and division amongst Iraqis than unity and hope. And they have brought greater security fears. U.S.-appointed prime minister Iyad Allawi acknowledged last week that full security will be impossible. This despite the rather draconian measures his interim government will have in place. … Continue reading “Iraq Elections Heighten Division, Fear”

The thundering blast rocks me awake at 7:05 a.m. The first thing my eyes see are the curtains of my room flowing in, as if a strong wind is blowing into my room. "Holy sh*t, they hit the embassy," I think to myself, the blast was so close. I leave my windows cracked and curtains … Continue reading “Another Car Bomb … This Must Be Democracy”