On the Street in Baghdad with G.

G. in Baghdad - Blogspot.com ^ | 8/2/03 | G.

[LakeLady]

Saturday, August 02, 2003

Hidden behind hundreds of meters of barbed wire coils, under the black skies of the electricity free city, lies the compounds of the Iraq Forum previously known as the Convention Palace, next to it - part of the same compound-you have al-Rashid hotel the most prestigious of Baghdad’s hotels and the official residence of all the foreign guests and media during the old days. but one has to confess, it had an amazing catering service all the waiters and the staff were chosen from among the highest security apparatuses in Iraq, the best of the mukhabarat, the national security and special security apparatus people were working there as everything from laundry to management. most of the Iraqi new weds would prefer spending there first night in a public zoo than one of the rooms in the Rashid - its better to have couple of drunks and a hippopotamus watching you than to half of the security apparatuses analyzing the vocal patterns and suspicious and weird sounds you’re emitting during your first f**k. So with such high quality services, people had to accept some inconveniences; like don’t point, don’t look, don’t ask, don’t don’t don’t don’t. and this was also the place where you could enjoy the good company of the sons of the vice president or the sons of the minister of defense, or you could even enjoy the wonderful sight of late Mr. Uday and Mr. Qussay. Anyhow all these are just memories everything is over now, things are changing everywhere in Iraq statues falling and others being build, murals washed and others painted, military caps are falling and turbans being wrapped. Things are changing, instead of the [Conventions Palace] we have the [Iraq Forum], and instead of the [Presidential Palace] we have the [CPA offices].

But we still have al-Rashid Glamorous, Immaculate, Evil. There it is, still standing with smiles on every window as if it is the center of universe; all the buildings around this hotel are war zone gutted structures. Tanks, barbed wires, concrete blocks, army helmets, m16s assault rifles, beggars, people queuing in long lines to get jobs…………… and a swimming pool. What? Yes a swimming pool, bars, night club, drinks, nice Americans in sleeveless shirts. The same Americans who millions of my compatriots look at as the last hope for a better life and future. Walking in the hallways and corridors which are guarded by dirty tired looking American soldiers, they even have UDAY’s, a real 80s night club with big mirror disco ball that one day used to send its shining reflection on the bellies of udays girlfriends, today the disco ball shines on the bellies of electricity, sewage and humanitarian assistance officials God I m a real sick person shouldn’t they have a glimpse of good life, what’s wrong with beer and eminem at night and ayatollahs, hunger no electricity and RPGs in the morning.

[LakeLady]

This is slow reading because it is written by an Iraqi for whom English is a second language. I thought it better to not edit it, except for the one profanity. Several Freepers have shown an interest in a "person on the street" viewpoint. Here is one if you're willing to take the time.

[LakeLady]

You expressed interest yesterday in a native Iraqi's ideas.
I thought you might like to see this.
LakeLady