Al Asad, Iraq (May 14, 2004) -- Ammar Aloba Idi of Jooba, and Sevan Lousinian, Department of Defense Arabic translator, presented the pilot edition of The Voice of the Euphrates, the first independent newspaper for the local region, to Maj. Gen. James F. Amos, commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, here May 13.
"For 35 years, Saddam teach people, in school and television, to deal with United States as enemy," said Aloba Idi. "This will take a lot of time - to change people's mind.
"For 35 years, Saddam teach people, in school and television, to deal with United States as enemy," said Aloba Idi. "This will take a lot of time - to change people's mind.
"There is no censorship of the paper...This is history in the making."
Currently, the primary source.. is the Al Jazeera network and word of mouth, according to Lousinian.
Currently, the primary source.. is the Al Jazeera network and word of mouth, according to Lousinian.
Aloba Idi was not completely prepared for the reception of the paper. The 3,000 copies of the first edition...was distributed in days, and still people requested more.
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