Seven Questions And Answers
With Dahr JamailBy Brian Dominick
24 June, 2004
The New StandardThe other night, I sent Dahr Jamail a batch of seven questions, culled from the first several dozen emails his readers sent in response to my recent appeal for letters. I sent the originals along as well. Dahr is reading them all and doing his best to reply to those which requested a response.
Here is the first set of questions and answers...
Q: It seems obvious that at least some of the "mujahideen" are causing as much damage to Iraq as they are to the occupiers; maybe more. I desperately want to be able to support some group or movement in Iraq. Am I missing something, or is no one -- including the resistance -- worth rooting for?
Referring to the mujahideen as one group is a misnomer. They are comprised of numerous factions, many of which loathe one another. Their bombs (IEDs) continue to kill Iraqi civilians on a regular basis... yet, overall, they are responsible for far fewer civilian deaths than the US military, which has killed at the very least 10,000, including the invasion and occupation.
If you want to support a group in Iraq, I suggest the Red Crescent Society or Doctors without Borders -- they both do very good work here for the Iraqi people. I suggest avoiding any group affiliated with the occupation (CPA). Any funding or supplies you donate will only be guaranteed to reach Iraqis directly and timely if you go through the aforementioned aid agencies. In addition, that way you would help keep the corruption here (which is rampant) to a minimum.
Q: Is there much bribery or black market trade in day-to-day life; and if so, how is it affecting people? Has it increased or decreased since Saddam Hussein left power?Bribery has decreased since Saddam has been removed because there is less paperwork and bureaucratic interference for people needing help, and needing paperwork for identification. However, this is on the rise again as the US has encouraged the Ministries to build effective walls inhibiting access to various officials.
As far the black market, it is alive and well. This has increased very much. And without it, people would suffer even more. For instance, many medications are only available on the black market. Oftentimes, patients at hospitals are asked by doctors to go get the medications/supplies they need from the black market in order to get proper care, for the hospitals are unable to obtain what they need from the Ministry of Health.
Also, if it weren't for black market fuel, those who can afford to purchase it would be forced to wait 4-6 hours in petrol lines.
Q: How are Iraqis reacting to the recent U.S. missile strike in Fallujah? Was there a noticable surge in anger, or has the violence become so constant that it's anger is jus always high, always at a peak?Most are enraged. There has been an extremely noticeable surge in anger, on top of the already high level of violence here. Most Iraqis do not believe that Zarqawi or his group are in Fallujah, and believe the strike was retribution for the people of Fallujah effectively ejecting the US military from the city in April/May. Most Iraqis I've spoken with about it believe it is yet another war crime committed by the occupiers.
Q: My question regards your ability to witness such suffering and death and yet maintain psychological balance. I am certain I would be unable to tolerate for 12 hours the conditions you witness and experiences for months on end. How do you manage?Honestly, I have allowed myself to become a workaholic. Intentionally not giving myself too much time to think about the atrocities and suffering, because any time I do I find myself getting very depressed, very fast. However, I do take time to read books, and laughing at the insanity of it all with other westerners at my hotel helps to decompress. It is inescapable here though... for even holing up in the hotel for a rest day I hear the bombs and gunfire, and friends call with bad news on a regular basis.
Q: Your work is a lifeline for many of us, but I cannot understand how someone comes to the conclusion that providing information to others is worth the risks it seems you take, which seem far greater than those being taken by most other journalists. Why are you willing to put your life on the line doing the reporting that you are doing?Thank you for the kudos. The risks I take are nothing more than those Iraqis face in going about their daily lives. I believe that witnessing and documenting the horrendous nature of this brutal occupation is necessary. I believe the reason the US and British governments are getting away with war crimes and the looting of Iraq is due to the lack of information being provided to people back in those countries. I believe if most people came here and witnessed what I have, they would do the same thing.
Q: I am desperate to believe that the Iraqis do not hate us, Americans, as people. Do the Iraqi people know that there is a huge percentage of Americans who oppose the war, and always did? Do they know that many of us work tirelessly to end the occupation and the ravaging of their country?Most Iraqis I speak with are quick to differentiate between the US government and the citizens of the US. I make it a point to tell Iraqis, those who do express anti-American sentiment, that there are millions of Americans who opposed the invasion, and oppose the occupation, and are working very hard to help this situation.
Most Iraqis blame the US government, not the people of the US. They are quick to point out that they remember the worldwide demonstrations against the invasion, as well as that they believe Mr. Bush was never elected president; thus, the idea of true democracy existing in the US has been usurped by a small group.
Q: To what extent is Iraq being "re-Baathified", so to speak? We see the managerial class, the civil service sector and police chiefs, army chiefs, former Mokhabarat (secret police) people in key positions. How is this affecting ordinary people's hopes for a new Iraq?It is being 're-Baathified' on many levels -- the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, Iraqi Police, army, government posts, and many positions in the ministries. Mixed feelings on this - the response depends on who I talk with. But overall, most Iraqis are so desperate for security and a return of some type of basic infrastructure that they are willing to allow this re-Baathification.
I must point out that most Iraqis were considered Baathists before the invasion, due to that fact that in order to obtain a decent job, you had to claim yourself as a member of the Baath Party. So many of these who are being allowed back into their posts were never 'active' Baath Party members to begin with.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dahr Jamail is Baghdad correspondent for The NewStandard. He is an Alaskan devoted to covering the untold stories from occupied Iraq. You can help Dahr continue his crucial work in Iraq by making donations. For more information or to donate to Dahr, visit The NewStandard.
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