My trip to the USA Treasure of Baghdad’s Diary

December, 12

Waking up at 7 o’clock wasn’t that bothering as it used to be in Baghdad. I was supposed to meet Joel Simon at Henry Street at 8:30. I left early and waited there for 10 minutes till he came. I crossed the street and had my daily regular coffee. It was cold, really cold.

Joel and his two cute daughters arrived at the corner where I was waiting. Then we walked with his daughters to take them to their school as their mother who is a journalist is assigned for reporting in another state. The school was so beautiful. It’s a church school that looks like the school where my mother used to teach. She used to teach in a Nun’s school, one of the best primary schools in Baghdad, called Dijlah [Tigris]. Because this school is located in the most dangerous street in Baghdad, Sadoun Street, my mother had to leave it and move to another school in my neighborhood. She decided to move after a massive car bomb took place at the main gate of the school where 22 Iraqi civilians were killed, most of them were pupils, school buses drivers and parents of pupils. I remember how my mother was scared when I called her that day. She was crying and crying and saying things like the kids are killed, it’s like hell and something like that. My heart sank at that moment. What does it mean when someone is trying to kill westerners in front of a primary school? Two westerners and 22 Iraqis were killed.

Looking at the kids in Joel’s daughters’ school, I remembered how cute children are in Baghdad when they walk with their parents happily going to school. I love the innocence of the children. Smile never deserted their faces despite their parents’ daily suffering and struggle to keep them alive and happy or at least satisfied.

The design of the school is just like the design of my mother’s previous school. It was built by Christians in Baghdad in 1923, just like the Jesuit school I attended.

On the way to the subway, Joel pulled out his New York Times newspaper and showed me an interesting article, “Boys of Baghdad College Vie for Prime Minister”. I was surprised. Oh my God! The most powerful leaders in Iraq now had studied in the same school I attended.

I bought a copy of the paper and read the whole article in the subway on the way to the office. I was surprised to see many people in the train were reading the same article. It was really good. When I arrived the office, some of the researchers and coordinators were talking about it.

While I was reading some newspapers in the lunch room, Alex, Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator at the CPJ, entered. We had a long a long conversation about what do people feel under stress of war and assassinations in Iraq. he talked about his experience as he covered war in Yugoslavia and how people were suffering at that time. It was almost like what is happening in Iraq.

I finished my work and then Ivan and I had dinner in a nearby bar and grill. Then I returned back to the hotel. One the way back, I bought few things I really missed for along time, Pistachios, and Pumpkin seeds. After that I returned back, took a shower, and started reading articles and stories on the web. The Washington Post reported “Abuse Cited In 2nd Jail Operated by Iraqi Ministry”. For God’s sake! When is this going to end? Even if these people are criminals, who gave the interior ministry the right to do that? What is the benefit then from getting rid of Saddam then? The same is happening but previously was public and now it’s secret.

December 13

Today nothing really big happened except that O called me and I called him back. We were talking about how I am spending my time in the US and he was talking about the office in this period.

While I was reading the news, I was really thinking of the coming period in the Iraqi history. I am really worried about what is going to happen but the only thing I can do is to be optimistic. Maybe one day, I will have a normal day and maybe the children will have brighter future.

I really want to say that Iraqis are brave. They suffered and still suffering but they are still strong. Soldiers, police, and electoral commission employees are really doing their best to bring safety to this country. They are sacrificing their souls for a great goal, Iraq's full freedom. They know very well that their jobs are dangerous but they work, really work hard. I want to tell them I am so proud of them and I am proud to be Iraqi.

An Iraqi policeman escorts an election committee official carring a ballot box in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005. Iraqis living abroad began voting Tuesday in the country's parliamentary elections, and election officials expressed satisfaction that early polling by soldiers, patients and prisoners was carried out without a hitch.(AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)

An Iraqi soldier checks a car in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday Dec.13, 2005. More than 1,000 Sunni clerics on Tuesday issued a religious edict, or fatwa, urging members of the minority to vote in this week's elections. The call came as violence marred the last day of campaigning, with one candidate killed and another narrowly missing an assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hato)

An election committee official places signs on ballot boxes as he prepares a polling station in Al-Sadr city, east of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005. Iraqis living abroad began voting Tuesday and election officials expressed satisfaction that early polling by soldiers, patients and prisoners was carried out around the country without a hitch. Political parties began a final round of rallies in Baghdad Tuesday, one day before campaigning was to stop around the country to give Iraqis time to reflect ahead of Thursday's Dec. 15 parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

A soldier checks the identification card of an Iraqi driver at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005. More than 1,000 Sunni clerics on Tuesday issued a religious edict, or fatwa, urging members of the minority to vote in this week's elections. The call came as violence marred the last day of campaigning, with one candidate killed and another narrowly missing an assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hato)