The US is running various computer training projects in Iraq
Posted on 06/24/2004 4:57:36 AM PDT by MadIvan
A group of Iraqi computer enthusiasts are advocating the use of the operating system Linux to rebuild their country.
The US is running various computer training projects in Iraq |
Like many 20-somethings, Hasson and Nawfal grew up nurturing passions for computers and for programming.
Both of them are firm believers in open source software. Unlike expensive proprietary software, open-source software can be freely distributed and modified, as long as the modifications are shared with other users.
They are particularly fans of Linux operating system.
These two Linux enthusiasts, though, did not even know one another before the ousting of Saddam Hussein.
But soon after Saddam fell, they found each other online, in a Linux forum hosted by Iraqi expatriates and started thinking about they could do.
"Every country has a Linux users group except Iraq, so I thought, maybe Iraq deserves to have a Linux users group," said Ashraf Hasson.
"We started sending e-mails, and trying to figure out how to help Iraqi people here to know about Linux, educate them, spread the word. And so we did."
Cost savings
The Iraqi Linux User Group has now been up and running for a little more than a year.
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There is a shortage in power and water supplies, and sewage systems, so the last thing Iraq needs is spending billions of dollars on very expensive and overpriced products, especially software products Nabil Suleiman, Iraqi Linux User Group |
The Iraqi Linux User Group website lists more than 200 members, most of whom are Iraqi expatriates.
They are united in their belief that open-source software like Linux could help their nation.
Its chief advantage is that Linux code is free to use and modify.
To Nabil Suleiman, a member of the Iraqi Linux User Group living in Canada, Linux could mean significant cost savings.
"There is a shortage in power and water supplies, and sewage systems, so the last thing Iraq needs is spending billions of dollars on very expensive and overpriced products, especially software products," he said.
"We believe that Linux can save us lots of money in this field."
Illegal software
But it is about more than just cost for the Iraqi Linux User Group.
The open source enthusiasts believe it could allow Iraqis to build their own home-grown technologies.
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Proprietary software companies are using these illegal copies as a free sample program, and a marketing tool, as they have in other countries Don Marti, Linux Journal |
"That might help establish a solid base for Iraqi technology, and help not constrain the country with proprietary software and prevent monopolisation over Iraq by such major companies."
But getting Iraqis to think about Linux is an uphill battle. Most have never touched a computer, let alone thought about what operating system they want to use.
Computer software is now more widely available in Iraq, but little of it open-source.
"Currently, most software in use in Iraq is illegal copies of proprietary software," explained Don Marti editor of the US-based Linux Journal.
Software giants like Microsoft, he said, are happy to hook Iraqis on their software.
"Proprietary software companies are using these illegal copies as a free sample program, and a marketing tool, as they have in other countries."
"When the crackdown comes, and the people in Iraq start having to comply with the licenses for this software, then they're going to be in trouble."
It means Iraqis are going to have to start paying companies like Microsoft, who declined to be interviewed.
Obstacles in the way
Ashraf Hasson of the Iraqi Linux User Group said he would actually welcome tech giants like Microsoft coming into the Iraqi market.
 Iraq has a computerised system at the Iranian border |
But he is pushing small and medium-sized businesses, and the Iraqi government, to consider running open-source software on their servers.
He is also leading Linux seminars at a couple of Iraq's larger universities.
And Nabil Suleiman in Canada says that some expatriate members of the user group want to open a Linux training centre in Baghdad.
"But it all depends on how the political issues and all the other issues are resolved there," he said.
"I think it will take between two years and five years to stabilise the whole system, and then we can start building on a more stable foundation."
Inside the country, the Iraqi Linux User Group is thinking big. Their ambitious goal is to see every server in the country running Linux a year from now.
Getting there, they face numerous obstacles.
"Security, electricity shortage, poor communications, blurred view of the future, money, bad response from government, lack of resources," explained Hasanen Nawfal, "too many to mention."
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
This is a good thing. With access to the outside, the people can be much more informed.
Ping!
$710.96.. The price of freedom.
God Bless 'em!
I'd like to see the Iraqi situation improve, but Linux was originally a foreign copy of America's Unix product and profits from it often don't exist or don't have to come back to America. I realize many are just fine with that, but the problem arrises as foreign governments and/or companies are allowed to make completely free and identical copies of American Linux products like Red Hat, rename them to whatever they want ("Red Flag" in the case of China), then resell them with no return revenue to the US. Again, many are just fine with this, the "what is mine is also yours for free" mentality, but I'm simply not based on the fact it could ultimately destroy the long standing US dominance of for-sale software products, all kinds across the board. Here's a recent thread of ~1,000 posts where the problem is discussed in detail, including new developments in France and Thailand and Malaysia where products that very well may have originally built in the US but were ultimately given away for free under a different name, or sold at a price we couldn't match as we had R&D expenses in developing the product.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1154643/posts
I'm not going to respond to the normal Linux crowd on this thread, the link above is where plenty of that has already transpired, if others I'm unfamiliar with have questions, I'll try to be available. Thanks and happy reading.
Is that a Dell computer I see in that bottom pic? Why yes, I think it is.
Wow, talk about your perfect storm of FR flame wars! All we need is a Catholic v. Protestant aspect to the story and you'll have the Trifecta!
What? What the hell good was this war if American companies aren't going to get contracts in Iraq?
I can see the BSA coming down on Iraq trying to ensure Linux is never used there, just like the RIAA came down trying to make sure their copyright terms get extended to the rediculous lengths ours are (Iraq had a short copyright term much like our founding fathers envisioned, although it wasn't exactly safe to write much under Saddam).
The software industry should have worked to get more pull with Bush, then maybe they could have had Linux outlawed.
I'm using Linux right now. I figure in another 3 or 4 years it will be pretty good for desktop use. It's not bad for free though.
Color me dubious, but how is a pirated copy of a Windows product, for example, a "marketing tool"? Don's tinfoil beanie needs adjusting.
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