4/10/07

Dear, America! (I'm not Bernie Mac) :))
I'm delighted to find this interesting site in order that we (Iraqi
fellas) can communicate directly with you. Lemme introduce myself to you; My name is Ali, an Iraqi male with 23 years old. I used to live in Baghdad but I was born in Rome in 1984. I'm a student in the University and I study Computer Engineering. I had to leave Iraq and head to liive in Syria due to the dismal situtaion there in Iraq, hence, I decided to postpone my studies. What urged me to leave Iraq is the death of four of my friends. They died tragically in a blast in Baghdad in June 2006. I just wanna tell you all that I was looking forward to speak to you since I was kid. Unfortunately, that was not possible during the era of Saddam. No Internet, no mobilephones networks, no sat. channels. They all were banned. Anyway, the radio was my sole resort to keep up with you. I used listen to VOA alot. Thanks god they were showing Hollywood-made movies there on Shabab TV which was under Uday Hussien's control. Anyway, when the US invaded Iraq and kicked Saddam regime's ass, I hope alot beyond that. I hoped that Iraq would get back well soon. I mean Iraq has the giant resources and great possibilties to pay big companies for the reconstruction process. But I was disappointed to the way that the US has dealed with. Four Years have passed and Iraq is going from bad to worse. The elecric power is in its worst forms, The fuel crisis is rising up, the other services are very bad-shaped. This if we excluded the daily high killings-rates in Iraq. And now what? You call for an immediate withdrawl of the US troops outta Iraq? I don't know how can the withdrawal of the US troops bring the peace on Iraq and take its people to a safe shore? I think the coalition, including the Americans, should leave when the Iraqi security forces are capable of doing the job on their own. It's ironic that the so-called insurgents' policy of murdering members of Iraq's police force is probably the major factor is keeping foreign troops in Iraq. US troops should stay as long as it takes. Leaving early will cause a civil war and leave Iraq in total ruin. The Bush admiinistration is going to have to cave in and supply more troops or else implement more heavy handed tactics by its current forces in Iraq and by the Iraqi troops. Neither option is politically "correct" so the lesser of two evils must be chosen. Leaving Iraq early will serve to encourage terrorism on a global scale to a degree that is almost too horrible to imagine. Unfortunately, it's impossible to set an exact timetable, too many variables. First, Iraq's own military and police force must be rebuilt before any withdrawal can be contemplated. US withdrawal before accomplishing this would be grossly irresponsible. I would not make too much of the recent opinion poll showing Americans believe the war is a mistake. I believe this to be true but I do not think it changes the fact that America must finish what they started there.Some people might think that it should be replaced by UN troops in order to restore the stability in Iraq. Well, I think the problem is not with the USA. In fact, if we rewind our memories back to the earliest days of Saddam's regime fall, the first bombing attack in Iraq was done by Al-Qaeda targeting the UN building in Baghdad.Believe me, friends! I don't support the occupation. But if the US armed forces have to leave Iraq in these critical moments, the situation will be more chaotic in Iraq. As soon as the US army leaves; Iran will hurry to support the Shiite and try to export thier Islamic revolution to Iraq, hence, KSA and other arab countries will intervene to help and support the Sunnis there in Iraq. In result, the civil war will become a bigger war and soon the whole middle east will be on fire! I want them to leave but not now! Not before establishing a strong united goverment, The US should stay until the Iraqi army is strong enough to defend itself against the inflowing streams of incoming dangers.There's an arabic famous proverb which says إن بعض الشر أهون which means,Some evil can be milder...

by Ali from Baghdad