The session has started. Join us with your questions.
Answer
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Name
Jasmin
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Profession
Question
To the Western aid workers who have been working for Iraq: Do you still love Iraq and the Iraqis, whom you have been helping, even after your friends/colleagues were kindapped in this country, possibly by its people?
Answer
Kathy Kelly: I believe that the US has held Iraq and many other countries hostage to our foreign policy so often based on greed and dominance. In spite of the horrible, long years of economic sanctions waged against Iraq, we were welcomed and treated with warmth and hospitality whenever we visited in Iraq. How could we forget or dismiss that history? Yes, we feel that the greatest hope for us lies in continuing to learn from the dignity, forgiveness and kindness that has been extended to us, as outsiders, in the past and which we believe remains very much a part of the culture within Iraq.
Jasmin, might I add that Voices in the Wilderness has had deepest respect for Bridges to Baghdad workers because they always took a brave stance opposing war making and violence under any circumstances. We ourselves (with Voices in the Wilderness) traveled to Iraq to defy the economic sanctions by breaking the US law codes. In all honesty, we carried only a pittance of relief supplies compared to the need. However, we watched with great admiration as Bridges to Baghdad worked with Iraqi colleague such as Raad Ali Abdulaziz to create “bridges” between cultures predicated on mutual respect and sharing.
Salam Talib: Iraq has 25 milion people and the kidnappers were just 15; if we think they are Iraqi, that dose not mean all Iraq must be bad.
Julia Guest: Jasmin, I am not an aid worker, I work to take the information about what is happening in Iraq back to people in the western world who have very little access to see what is really happening to people in Iraq. For me all the warmth and friendship I have received from the Iraqi people has given me a lasting bond with Iraq and her people, the way I feel cannot be changed by the action of a small group.
Jeff Leys: Of course I do. My belief is that we are all one family on this planet and we need to live in peace.
Name
mohamad zaki
- Malaysia
Profession
student
Question
What are those two Italian women doint that you consider them as friends? And so far, what kind of options you do to help them free?
Answer
Khalid Jarrar: As I have known these women for along time, I know the activities they were involved in: They were building schools and hospitals, providing water to remote villages, promoting humanitarian aid, medicine, and working on educational programs. They care about the Iraqi people. They have adopted the Iraqi case as if it was their case.
Kathy Kelly: I grew to know Simona Toretta while we shared living quarters at the Al-Fanar Hotel in Baghdad during the US-led coalition “Shock and Awe” campaign. Simona’s character and courage were very obvious throughout the terrible bombing attacks. She comforted people, including grandparents and children. She maintained calm which helped the teenagers and others. People readily loved Simona and appreciated the fact that she didn’t leave them when times were especially difficult. Immediately after the occupation began, Baghdad streets still weren’t safe. I was amazed by Simona’s dedication to he work. She was traveling with medics into Baghdad neighborhoods and areas on the outskirts of Baghdad to deliver needed meds and bring medical attention. I deeply admire Simona Toretta.
How can we help? This is a hard question. Truthfully, we feel very limited, almost useless, and yet we want to connect with others who long to see their release as a sign of good faith in our fundamental respect for the further invention of non-violent means to resolve disputes.
Today we concluded a ten-day fast. In the middle of this fast, which we'd undertaken in response to Palestinian hunger strikers demanding better prison conditions, we learned of the kidnapping. Each morning of our fast we gathered for a time of reflection. As you can imagine, our thoughts were very focused on the dire conditions in Iraq and Palestine as people endure occupation. We have been distributing a statement as widely as possible, seeking signatures.
Cynthia Banas: I know Simona Pari better than I know Simona P. I admire her for her courageous work in Iraq for more than 10 years in Baghdad. After the occupation, the two Simonas had to travel the long hard road to Amman about once or twice a month to confer with their Unicef colleagues since the UN had been pulled out of Iraq. They are both compassionate young women, only 29, and have spent their lives in putting that compassion into action.
Salam Talib: I can tell that we, as Iraqis, now resent what the Iraqi Army is doing; they kill our friends in Najaf and in Fallujah. When I go to Fallujah to help rebuild hospitals, people offer me any thing I need and treat me as a friend. To be for some country dose not mean you like what your government is doing. If you just think that they are living in Iraq while even the Iraqis want a chance to leave and they went to Fallujah and to Najaf to rebuild hospitals or schools, you will know why we consider them friends. I think that is enough to say they are friends. Or what more do I need from a friend?
Julia Guest: Everytime I saw both Simona Pari and Simona Torreta, they were engaged in an act of building a link with communities and giving help where they could. They sustained that work with good humor and are always pleased to see friends.
Bridges to Baghdad and Intersos have supplied tons of aid, given directly to the Iraqi people during some of the heaviest of the recent fighting. I traveled on a coach into Fallujah during the siege, carrying some of the medical aid they sent in. It was saving lives... in the darkest hour
I don't know what options we have to help free them, or even who is holding them and why.
Name
Tommy
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Profession
Question
Assalam alaykum,
Seeing continuous killing by Americans to my brothers in Iraq, can I do the same to Americans in the US while I am there ?
Wassalam alaykum
Answer
Khalid Jarrar: Of course as Muslims, the Quran teaches us that whoever kills an innocent soul, it’s like he killed every soul on earth, so please don’t. Besides, we have nothing, as Muslims and Arabs against the American people. We are facing problems and we oppose the American government only.
Name
Noureddine
- Belgium
Profession
helpdesk
Question
Dear people,
I feel for you and the family members of the ladies. But I would like to shed light on the fact that sending an Italian politician to negociate in favor of the victims gives a very bad impression. Italian politicians are not welcome at the premisses of respected scholars. So I think that you better send somebody which has a moral influence .
Second, I wanted to know why the aid organization was targeted few days ago.
Answer
Kathy Kelly: As a guiding principle, I think that people who develop, store, sell and use weapons should not be the ones sent to negotiating tables because they often have a vested interest in continuing to rely on weapons. I think Noureddine is right in suggesting that many politicians simply wouldn’t be appropriate negotiators.
Julia Guest: How the Italian politicians have chosen to act over the kidnapping has been their decision; I am not aware if it was one sought by Bridges to Baghdad. It is very hard to know why anyone would target these aid agencies. This action is preventing their work and distracting the attention of people who are also working to highlight the real tragedies happening all over Iraq.
Name
Ali
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Profession
Question
What do you know about the two Iraqis kindapped? What kind of relationship did you have with them?
Answer
Khalid Jarrar: The first is Dr. Raad, a civil engineer in his early fourties who holds a PhD. He is a very gentle and humble person and a hard worker. He was doing the civil work for UPP (Bridge to Iraq) – the rehabilitation of schools etc. Raad is married and he has one child.
Mahnoaz, the Iraqi girl, is in her early twenties. She worked as public relations officer and a translator. She is a very nice girl. We had a good relationship. She is originally Kurdish.
Kathy Kelly: Hello, Ali. I've known Raad Ali Abdulaziz since 2000. I had visited Iraq many times as part of Voices in the Wilderness delegations. Each time we visited Iraq, we tried to meet with Bridges to Baghdad workers because we relied on them for advice and insights about the effects of economic sanctions on ordinary Iraqi families. The first time I met Raad, he asked me if I knew anything about Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture in the US. Raad knew volumes more than me regarding architecture, art and numerous other subjects, and yet he was always the most gracious of teachers. We relied on him to maintain hope. Here is one story. Before the Shock and Awe campaign began, Raad had assigned his students a project in which they were to construct bridges made of paper clips, string and cardboard – the projects were due April 25th. After the occupation began, Raad went to his students’ neighborhoods and tried to make a radio broadcast to say that their projects were still due! He felt that the students needed to feel the accomplishment of completing work that helped reinforce attentiveness to detail and innovation ... more than ever, their skills of rebuilding and imagination would be needed.
Also, just days before the kidnapping, Ra'ad wrote to say that three missiles hit the hospital next door to their office and shattered the windows of their office - he sent us pictures.
Cynthia Banas: Raad is passionate in the belief that Iraqis need to rebuild Iraq, and he inspires his engineering students at the Baghdad University to do this. He had assigned his students to build a model bridge out of scraps as one of his assignments before the bombing. When the bombing and destruction at the University took place and class lists got destroyed, etc., Raad spent time trying to locate his students to tell them the assignment was still due and was successful in a couple of cases. Raad has hope and he also is a devout believer; and his efforts to explain Islam to non-Muslims is an important part of his life. Raad is also working on the idea of connecting, the idea that religion can be explained also on the ideas of design and work based upon the laws of science, such as balance, equilibrium, stress etc. They are far beyond my intellectual capacity to understand. I hope you can understand what I am trying to say. I used to bring books to Iraq as I am a librarian and Raad is as constant reader and learner. Raad is an exceptional fine, compassionate human being and I am honored to be a friend of Raad’s. Again I want to emphasize that Raad believes that Iraqis should rebuild Iraq. We know that Iraqis are builders with their 10,000 years history of building
Jeff Leys: Yes, very good question. Over here we struggle with the focus that the media in the US always place on deaths of US citizens and others from outside Iraq. But US media almost always ignore the deaths and injuries caused to Iraqis, regardless of the party causing the suffering. At Voices in the Wilderness, we've had a good strong relationship with Raad. But we are trying to learn more of the other Iraqi citizen who was abducted. Any information that others could share about her would be very much appreciated here at the Voices office. We want to work for the safe release of all those doing good work in Iraq.
Name
Someone who hates his enemies like the hell
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Profession
Question
I don´t feel sorry for anyone who is kidnapped. You (the western countries, America, Italia, Great Britain, etc..) wanted to kill us, you wanted to destroy Islam and Muslims, you hate us, you want us to be your slaves. But for sure not, we will never be your slaves, we will fight until the last Muslim, we will fight until we win for the honor of Islam, until we get our land and rights back, until we liberate every Muslim from your barbaric society (in the prisons of Guantanamo, Abu Ghuraib, etc...) and until we reach this we will torture you (enemies) like you torture us. But if you let us live in peace we will let you live in peace, but until this moment you will not even dream of peace or safety.
If you are courageous so comment on my comment!
Answer
Kathy Kelly: I believe in the words of someone whose name is registered in US history books as a patriot but whose words, I think, should belong to all: “My country is the world. My religion is to do good.” Here where I was born, in the US, we live lives of inordinate luxury, relative to others in the world. We have not learned how to share our resources or how to live simply. We’ve poured resources, talent and energy into learning how to develop, store, sell and use terrible weapons. This has jeopardized the lives of people and species throughout the planet. Also, our consumption and waste, so much a part of our lifestyles, has been terrible for the whole world’s environment. We have become a warlike people. I deeply hope that others will not imitate us. I try not to give any financial assistance to the US government – that is to say, I haven't paid taxes to the US government since 1980, because I don’t want to pay for or encourage war. But I will never encourage any person anywhere else in the world to use weapons, threat and force to attain goals.
Khalid Jarrar: My brother, as all humans value freedom and honor struggle for it, and support our rights to struggle for it too, we shouldn’t forget in the middle of the injustice we face that we are Muslims, and that Islam teaches us that even when we are attacked, we shouldn’t respond with a reaction that is bigger than the action, because that would not be fair. In this case, not only didn’t these kidnapped people attack us, but they left their houses and families to do the best to help us, because they opposed the policy of their countries, and because they supported our case by all means. Don’t you think that it would be so unfair to include them among those considered enemies? Isn’t this like when some Westerners consider all Muslims terrorists? That is so not fair! Generalization in judgment is not fair at all, and justice is all what Islam is about; justice is all what humanity is about; justice is what God chose to have, and to treat us with; can’t we learn that and obey Him?
Julia Guest: I have no fight with the Iraqi people, I have a real fight with my own government and their policies. I have opposed this war in everyway I can and have been witness to much of it. I dispute the right of my country to act in the way it has, as did a majority of people in Britain. The fight we have is in our own country, to be in control of our politicians. It is also a media war; in this age of technology, all our opinions can be heard. I do not believe ordinary people in any country would choose to be at war. It is always those in power who take that path. I take my share of responsibility in trying to seek justice for the Iraqi people, as I have been witness to much of their suffering.
There are many wrongs in this world and we should be seeking ways to move forward together for a better future for all of us. "Another world is possible"
Name
Muslim from Canada
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Profession
Question
Dear,
As a Muslim person and also human I found that killing or kidnapping any human without any right is wrong, as we learn in Quran. But also we have to agree that some of the NGOs are not angels and in some way used by their countries as front desk for different goals. So, for countries in war with Iraq, do you think it's right to send any NGOs to Iraq and try in any way to support people there even if we can find lot of red lines under that support and goals for that support by some NGOs not purely for the benefit of the Iraqi people? Also, Bridge to Baghdad existed before while there was no war between Iraq and Italy but the fact now is that there is war between Iraq and Italy; won’t that be like accepting people from Israel to come to help Palestinians while the Israeli government keeps helping the Palestinians so hard?
Answer
Kathy Kelly: Dear Muslim from Canada, assalam alaykum. It's a sad and tragic reality that intelligence operatives from various governments have a long history of infiltrating humanitarian organizations. To give up on person-to-person contact between peoples, or on efforts to share resources and build cross-cultural understanding would hand a very easy victory to people who want to disregard the human rights and potential for friendship that next generations so desperately need. I think it's better to be vigilant and try every step of the way to prevent infiltration, but not to give up on humanitarian efforts.
Bridges to Baghdad has a fine record for working on behalf of ordinary people in Iraq and doing their best not to become lackeys of Saddam Hussein's government and not to become supporters of the coalition forces.
Salam Talib: Dear brother, I think the difficult idea for you is not about what happened but about the fact that you do not think that there is a non-governmental organization, and it is true for most Arab countries and it was that same difficult idea for me during Saddam’s reign because everything was connected to the government in some way. But if you can read more, you will find that many Israeli soliders refuse to kill the Palestinian people, and many Iraqi army members refuse to kill Iraqis in this time. And I think the Italian government does not need spies to work in Iraq, because they live in the middle of Baghdad and they can get any information for free without sending NGOs.
Julia Guest: My knowledge of the NGOs that have remained in Iraq is that they have done their very best to keep their work separate from the policies of their government. And most of all from the US policy. I have seen such a breakdown in supplies to hospitals and clinics – since the war it has been difficult to know how they would have continued without the most basic supplies from the aid agencies.
In the case of agencies like Intersos, I believe almost all their staff are local people. Bridges to Baghdad is an NGO all about building community links and understanding.
I believe there is currently an urgent need to get an oxygen factory to serve Baghdad's major hospitals. It will probably fall on the NGOs to supply this. I don't think anyone will wish for it to be known who supplies it – just that it is done.
Name
rossella
- Italy
Profession
teacher, italian muslim
Question
Dear friends, thank you for being with us and God bless your effort.
I have a doubt which is much more than a doubt: who will benefit from the kidnapping of french journalists (considered that France has not partecipate to the aggression of Iraq) and of italian aid workers (who long opposed war and occupation)? My answer is: but Allawi puppet government, which is in great difficult, at the moment. I know lots of people think the same, expecially pacifists and (not embedded) journalists. My answer is: why don't they talk clearly about the matter?
Thank you and let's hope for the best
Answer
Khalid Jarrar: I agree that whether those who kidnapped the French and Italian people are working for the occupation or not, they sure help the occupation and serve the puppet government’s interests. We all know that nothing would make the American administration happy more than dragging the rest of the world into this so-called “war on terrorism, “ and what way is better than involving the countries that opposed the war on Iraq in the “war on terror” by kidnapping their people? It is the easiest way; the same thing happened when the churches were bombed; a lot of people also said that this event only served the Us interests, as an attempt to drag the European union to get involved in Iraq to protect its Christians.
Kathy Kelly: Dear Rosella, we especially recommend reading a book by Milan Rai called _Regime Unchanged_ which develops the thesis that the US wanted to remove the head of the former regime but yet maintain the control and intelligence gathering capacity of the former regime. "Saddam without the moustache" is a phrase sometimes used now.
Julia Guest: Rosella, you have raised a very important issue. The current actions of kidnappings of journalists and NGO workers is only supporting the efforts of the current government to prevent information reaching ordinary people at a very crucial time in Iraq and in the US. Elections are due to happen in both countries and the reality of what is happening is being very effectively silenced with the banning of Al Jazeera and the intimidation of independent journalists. If people can only receive the news from the corporate media outlets then they will only ever get one point of view. There is a desperate need for truely independent media in Iraq that can reach the rest of the world. The Internet is the best medium for that now; it is, sadly, underused.
Kidnapping NGO workers like Bridge to Baghdad who often helped the work of journalists creates a silence that we cannot fill from hearing reports from corporate media.
Name
Sylvia
- Kenya
Profession
teacher
Question
Hello, Kathy. It is wonderful that you are on this session. I am extremely worried about Mehnaz and Raad and the two Simonas, all of whom I know. As you already know, I have just returned from a one-month stay in Baghdad. It has been a life-changing experience for me. I love deeply the Iraqi people and their country and pray hard that this horrible occupation will end. Please do all you can to seek the release of these four wonderful people. I was on the phone with Iraq last night, and was told that there was no news. I was also told that not much attention was being given to the fate of Mehnaz and Raad - only two weeks ago, I had the privilege of being with them. They are all wonderful.
Answer
Kathy Kelly: Sylvia has been, to me, someone who exemplifies empathy and action. When she learned about potential to assist with children's education in Iraq, particularly in aiming to help them overcome post-traumatic stress, Sylvia, a teacher in Kenya, worked hard to realize her dream of being directly connected to such efforts. She corresponded with me while I was in prison and really has been a light to many, many people when dark times seem overwhelming.
Name
Rafael Miranda
- United States
Profession
Question
AsSalaamu'Aalaykum.
I haven't really a question, per se, but a congratulations and thank you.
It is the truth that combatants and innocents will remain the unfortunate victims of those whos "power plays" are their [setting in motion] actions that use people as pawns in their political, humanity-objectifying, vying for power. To find it within one's self to consider the possibility of being murdered in the midst of a war... to consider the possibility that even your murder may have its story twisted (or snuffed entirely) to serve for political gain... to weigh in these facts (and others in similitude) and still reach in with the intention of helping those who are victimized in the crossfire as you would wish to be helped if you were in the same situation... this is truly humanitarian... this is realization of the humanity within mankind.
Although it (all that is being done to help) may be found satisfactory to one's self... being Muslim, I truly believe that your reward is from God... insh'allah, our intentions in our actions are well known to Him. Alhamdulillah.
Thanks again for all your efforts and I pray for the well being of yourselves, your friends, et alum.
Salaam.
Answer
Khalid Jarrar: Dear Rafeel, thank you for your words. It is sad enough but true that every soul lost in the war, from both sides, is the fault of those in power, the fat cats, as we call them, while the names, lives, and faces of the killed people are worthless in their eyes. Pray with us, that God enlighten the hearts of those in power, and put mercy in their hearts to lead their peopleand other people to the good of humanity. Thank you again. My God, give us the honor of having the greatest intentions, and help us achieve them.
Jazaki Allah kheir (May Allah reward you).
Name
Muslim from Canada
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Profession
Question
Dear,
I agree that the people in Iraq have a lot of need for everything, either medical requirements or life requiremnts, but who and how will provide that for them? Also I think it's right for Iraqis, "the majortiy of Iraq," not just the government or the poeple who only returned to Iraq after the invasion, to decie whom they accept or not?
And my last question: I understand that the two kidnapped Italian ladies were workung in the same buliding with a lot of other NGOs; from your opinion, why were they especially choosen? Is that a personal issue for the ladies or by mistake or what?
Answer
Kathy Kelly: I believe that uring the years when the US used the UN to wage economic warfare against Iraq (economic sanctions), there was a clear effort to reduce Iraq to a welfare state dependent on handouts. Iraqi people whom we've met are hard workers who want to take care of their families themselves. The decisions about reconstruction should be entrusted to Iraqi organizations and experts, with input from the people who will be most affected by those decisions. But I think it is appropriate for those who wreaked devastation and havoc in Iraq, by destroying infrastructure through repeated bombing and through maintenance of brutal and lethally punitive sanctions, to pay resitution. The US people should be required, I believe, to help rebuild Iraq. I also believe that Iraqis can develop self-governance suitable for themselves, without any further manipulation by occupying forces.
Cynthia Banas: Muslim from Canada, It is my understanding that Bridges was not working in the same building with many other NGOs. My last visit to their office was a few days before Christmas, 2003 and they, if I remember correctly, had a building of their own. Simona and Simona have an apartment upstairs and the office is on the first floor.
Julia Guest: All the time I have worked in Iraq, I have not known anyone to worry about the source of medical assistance, just that there is some. Of course there should be Iraqi control of this, and with local people working as implementors. It would be far better if the ministry of health was fully in control of its resources and able to supply what is needed and where.
The kidnapping seemed to be carefully planned and the people taken were their targets.
Name
Hossain
- Bangladesh
Profession
Civil Engineer
Question
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful.
I have very much respect for the Italian people in regard to their anti-war movements. I am sure that the genuine Iraqi people also appreciate the supports of the Italian people (except as the occupation army)they have given since the onset of Gulf War 1. In this respect, I don't believe that the Iraqi Mujahideen have kidnapped those friendly people. I think they are kidnapped by the supporters of the Iraqi collaborators who are commanded by the USA + the Zionists whose purposes are to discredit the Iraqi resistance / muslims and create enemity between the Italian people and the muslim people in general. Otherwise, it is very simple that Iraqi resistance has nothing to gain from this. And the Iraqi resistance are cleaver enough to understand this. What do you think?
In any case, I hope those people are freed and can unite with their loved ones soon. And please remember that Islam and muslims are not your enemy. Rather, the people who have
created the gross injustice in Iraq at the first place are our common enemy.
Regards
Answer
Jeff Leys: Having journeyed to Iraq prior to the invasion and during the occupation, I will always remember the warmth and hospitality with which I was received by the people of Iraq. I remember being warmly received into the household of Iraqis who lost three men only eight days before in a raid by the US military. So I will always treasure and know in my heart that Iraqis and Mulims are not my enemies. I will also always remember the Imams with whom I visited who emphasized the absolute need for respect of all people of faith, regardless of the religion, and so I know that Islam is not my enemy.
I do not know who may have carried out the kidnapping. It may have been carried out by a faction of the Iraqi resistance workers. It may have been carried out by a faction from outside of Iraq with their own agenda, an agenda which does not necessarily respect the earnest desires for peace and justice held by those Iraqi people I've come to know. What I do know is that this kidnapping violates the basic underpinnings of our common humanity and of the teachings of the world's religions. What I do know is that we need to work together to secure the safe release of those kidnapped and to strive for justice in Iraq. That means, in my own country of the US, that we use all non-violent means available to us to end the occupation and to get our government to pay resitution to the people of Iraq so that the people of Iraq have the economic means available to rebuild their country on their terms in their way - that is simply repay to the people of Iraq that which the US essentially stole from the people of Iraq through the devastation caused by the 14 years of economic and military warfare waged by the US against Iraq.
Name
Dion
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Profession
Question
Selam! First my prayers and those of my family are with the people being held hostage in Iraq, may God the Almighty Save them and deliver them safly home. I have the thought as the previous poster, wich is those who are doing this barbaric acts in Iraq are Iraqi Operatives with the help of Secret Services arround the world, Belive me, Im a converted muslim, but i have studied a lot of Islamic History and no such things have been part of our history in all this one and half millenia, what I mean is No muslim woud dare to face God after having threaten woman with death and kidnap them. I have no direct question, but all I and my family want to say to you is : May the Allmighty God Bless You, and Help those who are in need amongst you.
Selam.
Answer
Jeff Leys: I can fully understand the questioning about who may be involved in the kidnapping of the four humanitarian aid workers. Regrettably my country (the US) has a long history of covert actions in the Middle East designed to destabilize the region and place puppet governments in place. The sordid history of the US overthrow of the democratically elected president Mosadegh in Iran in 1954 is among the most notable examples. Questions about who is responsible for what is happening in Iraq should continue to be asked. However, at this time we truly need to focus our energies and efforts on securing the safe release of the four hostages. Then, once they are safely released, let us work together to sort out who is reponsible for the kidnapping and work together to end those conditions which give rise to kidnappings (i.e., end the occupation and work for true self-determination for Iraqi people).
Julia Guest: Dion, the hope they are safe is sustaining us all. I extend it to all the innocent victims I have seen in this terrible conflict and the many Iraqi kidnap victims who are hardly ever mentioned. I have also lost a few Iraqi and Palestinian friends in this conflict, all who were just trying to bring good things to peoples lives.
Name
Connie
- United States
Profession
Question
This isn't a question...just a comment. Ms. Kelly you stated that the US should be required to help rebuild Iraq. We ARE being "required to help rebuild Iraq" by our tax dollars...the ones you aren't paying.
Answer
Kathy Kelly:
Dear Connie,
Under the new Transitional Administrative Law, Iraq's interim constitution, Iraqis have not been given preference in reconstruction projects. Rather, foreign entrepreneurs have been allowed 100 per cent ownership of enterprises and full and tax-free remittances of profits. A UN board supervising control of Iraq's oil revenues has endorsed deals worth about 11.3 billion formerly approved by the now defunct CPA for dunding from the 20.2 billion of the Development Fund of Iraq (Iraq's oil revenues). 8.8 billion of money from that fund has already gone missing (again, this is Iraqi oil revenue money). Three US senators are already asking Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to account for this missing money.The US General Acctg. Office is also asking how the CPA - in one year - could barely manage to spend 3 billion of the 24 billion allocated for Iraq from American money, and spend most of that on building US bases in Iraq, but yet managed to spend 8.3 billion out of 21 billion of the Iraqi oil revenues? The US taxpayer is spending 437 billion on "defense spending" - leaving the "defense" in the hands of decision makers who may very well be creating "terrorists" faster than they can kill them.
Khalid Jarrar: Connie, your vote puts a president in the office. Your voice wasn’t loud enough in opposing the policy of President Bush. The majority of the American people left the external affairs for the government to handle and depended on what the media told them. This war is partially the responsibility of the American people, so I guess it’s their responsibility to rebuild what the American government, and the American Army ruined and bombed - the entire infrastructure and entire cities.
Jeff Leys: Connie, unfortunately prescious little of the funds which were allocated by the US government in October 2003 for rebuilding in Iraq has been spent. Indeed, what little is being spent is being diverted to other uses which serve the purpose of the US government. For example, in late April the US diverted $184 million that was allocated for drinking water projects from its intended use to pay for the building of the US embassy. Quite recently, John Negroponte, the US ambassador to Iraq, began to divert money from reconstruction projects to so-called "security" projects. As of the end of July, less than $3 billion of the $18 billion allocated last fall had been spent by the US for reconstruction in Iraq. The bulk of the funds being spent on reconstruction are being spent on reconstruction are funds which were diverted by the US from Iraq's own oil development fund. The best way for the US to help Iraqis rebuild their country is to respect their right to self-determination and provide funds which Iraqis can determine how to use to rebuild water treatment plants, power plants, hospitals, schools, health care systems, etc. - i.e., repair the damage our country did to Iraq since 1991. As an aside, until recently I was employed at a job in which I paid taxes to the US government - funds that need to be used to assist Iraqis in rebuilding their country and not continued occupation.
Cynhia Banas: Hello Connie, I am a person who pays taxes. As taxpayers we need to have a say as to how our money is spent. Trillons of our dollars go for destructive purposes to enforce US foreign policy which has no regard for the common good of the people of our home planet, but only regard for the US to be able to afford our luxurious quality of life. As a librarian, I would recommend a book called Rogue State by William Blum , a former State Dept. employee. It explains our foreign policy since 1946. All these years, money has been spent to capture the resources wherever they be. Our foreign policy since 1946 has caused the death of millions of people around the world. And at the same time, our country needs to be rebuilt, and the quality of life for the poor has deteriorated and needs to be rebuilt. Imagine no national health care plan for example. We have plenty of money but it is spent for destructive purposes, not constructive ones. We taxpayers need to have a a big say in how our money is spent.
Name
Arabian
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Profession
Question
Alsalm Alekom,
I believe Islam never ever accepts the kidnapping of civilians. But also I know that some NGOs are actually not NGOs but are covers for the security departments of their countries’ governments or for church duties – of course not all of them but some of them.
How can we know whether an organization is good or bad? If you remember, the UN inspectors went to Iraq and some of these inspectors were spies for the US and England. Some churches in Euorpe and the US published online that they used aid as a back door to enter Iraq and deal with poor and uneducated people. We would like to know also how the NGO “Bridge to Baghdad” got funds and money to support all that aid for hospitals, schools etc.
Maybe that clarifies the situation and makes some worried people here or there feel more comfortable.
Especially during wars it’s easy to trust while your people, friends and neighbors are killed in front of you.
Answer
Kathy Kelly: Aleikum wasallam. I think it would be very helpful to direct your question to the Bridges to Baghdad offices. I'm guessing that they would be willing to divulge information about how they raised funds and who their donors are. My guess is that they've been supported by many "grassroots" activists and donors who admired their work. I can understand how important it is to raise many questions about foreigners who come into a country, particularly when the governments from which the foreigners come have declared war on the country. And yet, again, I hold out the plea to make room for person-to-person contact between people so that those who want to put an end to war-making can bring back to their own people an awareness of who suffers because of the wars. For instance, through their work, Bridges to Baghdad could credibly help millions of people understand that the economic sanctions didn't cause Saddam Hussein to miss a single meal, but they caused horrid misery amongst many families, especially those who had no economic buffer - the poorest of the poor.
Salam Talib: I want to say - regarding the comment on Iraqis’ rebuilding of their own country - that the situation in Iraq is very bad and it is really difficult to find a job. If we work for Iraqi NGOs they will be shut because we will be considered to be working for the Iraqi government. If we work with foreign NGOs, we are considered to be spies. The only solution is to go and find all the groups and ask for a letter that proves you hold a permission to work, and when someone comes to shoot you, you have to ask him which group he belongs to and show him the letter that you got. I think you will need more then a hundred letters.
