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To: All
That looks like a convoy of journalists' vehicles.

While Achmed repeats... "hallo? hallo?"

"I don't know!!! I told you..."
643 posted on 04/10/2003 2:59:12 AM PDT by BagCamAddict
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To: All
On the street cam interview with Iraqis by a US translator:

First guy: Looting. If there could be order AND peace, that would be great. Wish for a US-sponsored Government to restore order and peace. Not just for now, but for the future too.

Second guy: (Asked how he feels today vs. yesterday) It's a fundamental change. Before, I couldn't speak to you. Now, I can speak to you, or anyone I want. But what about the Government? What is going to happen to the Gov't? Wants to know where all these Gov't leaders have been all this time (not sure who he is referring to here... Bush/Blair or INC)... We don't want them, where have they been? We have qualified people here. We want our people who have been here, not people who have been sitting at desks for 40 years. Also mentioned water, electricity, etc. needing to be restored.

Third guy: First thing I would ask of Bush is to restore the order and water/electricity, etc. As far as Gov't, we want people from INSIDE Iraq, not people from outside the Gov't. We want help from the US first, maybe even a military police, to keep the order, while we get things going ourselves. We need to stop the burning of the Iraqi Gov't buildings... these buildings belong to the Iraqi people and we need these buildings.

Fourth guy: Thanks God, we are very happy we are tasting freedom for the first time. But there are people who are taking advantage of the situation by stealing. They are not stealing from Saddam Hussein, they are stealing from us, the Iraqi people. He's seen some of the buildings being protected (from looting) and some are not. Asking if the US troops can go on patrol because some of the Regime loyalists have been firing on them, but it is not being seen, so asking if the US troops can protect all the neighborhoods. He saw this with his own eyes, and he helped them, he held the injured. These mortars were coming down and falling near our own homes and our own children were injured. Asks Bush and Blair to improve the Hospital situation, first aid facilities, get the water turned back on. It seems that the American soldiers are afraid of the Iraqis, but they should know that we have nothing to hurt them with, we are not part of the Regime, so they shouldn't be so nervous about us. Asking for Coalition troops to go around and round up weapons, that there are too many weapons in too many people's hands, and they could be picked up by people who don't know how to use them and accidents could happen, so they should be collected. They need to have electricity so they can know what is going on. He walked 20 Kilometers today just to get here so he could find out what was going on... they need electricity so people can listen to the radio so they are not in the dark, so they know what is going on. He felt like a blind person w/no information. I'm 35 years old and I've never seen freedom, I've never had a chance to see democracy and freedom. I've read about it, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. I am ready to work, but there is no work for me. I'm not married, and there is no fufuture for me. Iraq could be the richest country, we have many wonderful things, we have oil, we have history... We need security, we'd love for the Coalition to protect every neighborhood like they've protected the Palestine hotel, we need water, and we need to fix the hospital situation because there are many children who are in hospitals.

Fifth guy: He is from Doha, and he has seen much fighting and there are still many Fedayeen. He is afraid to put up a white flag because the Fedayeen might shoot me. Right now, we have no protection, we have no sponsorship. We are stuck in the middle. You are afraid to go to the coalition because you will be shot in the back by the Fedayeen; you can't stay with the Fedayeen because you will be shot by the Coalition. We have many family and friends in other countries and we can't talk to them, they are worried about us, but I have to come here and talk to you to hope they see this to know we are OK. (there was something else, but I missed it)

And then the feed went black, and it went back to the CBS BagCam.

Wow, that was utterly amazing. And these guys weren't afraid to give their NAMES on CAMERA !! This is freakin' amazing!! (And so heartwarming!!)
653 posted on 04/10/2003 3:30:14 AM PDT by BagCamAddict
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