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November 11, 2005, 8:22 a.m. I Never Knew His Name The true face of Muslim martyrdom. By Chaplain Carlos C. Huerta Mosul, Iraq — It is October 11 as I write this, the day before Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is supposed to be a day of fast, reflection, and prayer for the Jews: a time when I reflect on my own actions and intentions from the previous year. But the images I carry into my fast are sad ones, of someone else’s child, a Muslim child. There is blood spattered on my uniform despite the fact that I...

Let justice be served. While Baghdad’s streets were nearly empty, most Iraqis were glued to the TV and I bet many Arabs were as well. Our place was full of full of friends today as we decided we would watch the trial together just like we lived what led to this day together; the first thing we noticed was that electricity was much better today and I don’t know if that was an exceptions made to allow more people to watch the awaited show but anyway we already prepared for outages and stored enough fuel for the generator. We all...

The information in the story below was collected from the popular Iraqi web blog, IraqTheModel. This Iraqi blog creator, Omar, met and interviewed in December of 2003 one of the survivors personally affected by Sadddam’s crime against the people of Al-Dijail. Omar writes in his most recent October 18th, 2005 blog that he hopes this story will help you the reader understand this town and its' story; and turns back the clock to the early days of his blog when he interviewed a survivor who as a child lived in Al-Dijaile. Omar's entitled his blog report: "War and Peace" and...

Al-Jazeera's reporter in Spain, Tayseer Alluni has just been sentenced to seven years in jail after a Madrid court found him guilty of joining a terror cell and facilitating money laundry. This is bad news for Al-jazeera who's been defending and campaigning to protect their reporter and they obviously failed in eluding justice but the question that we must think about is; was Alluni working on his own using his media credentials as a cover or could it be that Al-jazeera itself is involved? It seems that twisting facts, biased coverage and supporting the terrorists morally aren't giving some media...

One of the major reasons for our efforts in Iraq was to change the dynamics of the Arab world by introducing democracy in one of its most significant states, Iraq. Even though Katrina is on everyone’s minds, it is hard to understand why the Washington Post would bury this story on page 24. The new surge in registrations deals a terrific defeat to the Zarqawi terror network, which has repeatedly warned of their intent to target anyone who participates in democracy. Even if the Sunnis manage to vote down the new Iraqi constitution and force a delay in the whole...

Mohammed over at iraqthemodel.blogspot.com seems claifies a very important point that the AP missed in their "Anti-sadr and Pro-sadr forces clash in Najaf" story. That the "anti-Sadr" forces were the citizens of Najaf who remembered 'last time' and didn't want him coming back. (bonus for more examples of 'militants' using holy sites to 'hide' in) ------------------------------------------ Wednesday, August 24, 2005 Muqtada's office in Najaf is on fire. Right now there are bloody clashes in Najaf between the supporters of Muqtada Al-Sadr and the residents of the city. The clashes started after Al-Sadr men tried to reopen their office which has...

I realize how tragic your loss is and I know how much pain there is crushing your heart and I know the darkness that suddenly came to wrap your life and wipe away your dreams and I do feel the heat of your tears that won't dry until you find the answers to your question; why you lost your loved one? I have heard your story and I understand that you have the full right to ask people to stand by your side and support your cause. At the beginning I told myself, this is yet another woman who lost...

A message to Cindy Sheehan I realize how tragic your loss is and I know how much pain there is crushing your heart and I know the darkness that suddenly came to wrap your life and wipe away your dreams and I do feel the heat of your tears that won't dry until you find the answers to your question; why you lost your loved one? I have heard your story and I understand that you have the full right to ask people to stand by your side and support your cause. At the beginning I told myself, this is...

IRAQ THE MODEL Friday, August 12, 2005 A message to Cindy Sheehan I realize how tragic your loss is and I know how much pain there is crushing your heart and I know the darkness that suddenly came to wrap your life and wipe away your dreams and I do feel the heat of your tears that won't dry until you find the answers to your question; why you lost your loved one? I have heard your story and I understand that you have the full right to ask people to stand by your side and support your cause. At...

I realize how tragic your loss is and I know how much pain there is crushing your heart and I know the darkness that suddenly came to wrap your life and wipe away your dreams and I do feel the heat of your tears that won't dry until you find the answers to your question; why you lost your loved one? I have heard your story and I understand that you have the full right to ask people to stand by your side and support your cause. At the beginning I told myself, this is yet another woman who lost...

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/ And the protests for a civil constitution continue... This was the headline in the announcement that called for today's women protest in Baghdad. In spite of the heat and the dust that's covering Baghdad for the 2nd day, more than a hundred Iraqi women representing NGOs and active groups gathered to declare their demands in equality and a civil family and personal affairs law. The women set a large tent in Al-Firdows square which witnessed the fall of Saddam in April 2003. Under this icon of freedom the women held their signs and demands high....

One of my favorite reporters called late last week, saying he had learned that Coalition forces in Iraq had captured an Iranian vehicle entering Iraq with large quantities of shaped explosives, obviously headed for the terrorists. "So what?" was my reply. It happens most every day. But he was baffled. Why would the Iranians be supporting terrorist actions against Shiites? After all, didn't they want the Shiites to prevail in Iraq, so that there could be an Islamic republic there? His question — and he's a good reporter — shows once again how totally false stereotypes distort our ability to...

Did Syria and Iran win in their indirect war on Iraq? This question has been occupying my thoughts in the last few days and to reach an answer, we should first know the goals of the US in the region and whether these goals have been failed or they're merely witnessing slow progress? And are we going to see some determination on reaching these goals or are we going to see strategic changes from offense to defense in the plans? I think the changes in the Middle East do not originally represent an American desire but they're more like a...

Okay, I think that "Lightning" updates have become a regular item on this blog, so here's today's-rather short-briefing of what's been happening as to this operation and other activities of security forces in Iraq in the last 24 hours: Since the Operation Lightning started 1215 were arrested and 49 weapons caches were found, 303 searches and inspections and 67 raids were performed. Also the number of checkpoints placed reached a total of 1519 and 4340 patrols roamed the streets of Baghdad; an Iraqi government official said yesterday. As to the operations of yesterday; government officials said that 91 terrorists and...

Humam Hammodi, Chairman of the constitution drafting committee told Al-Sabah that the branch teams of the committee have succeeded so far in completing 80% of the constitution's draft. Hammodi added that his colleagues at the committee branch-teams are willing to fulfill the task by the previously set deadline of August 15th 2005. "The final draft will come out with an Iraqi spirit and there are actually little differences to debate" said Hammodi.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 Constitution fever! Public conferences and sessions in Baghdad and other provinces seem to be endless nowadays; municipalities, NGOs and forums are all very excited about Iraq's top topic which is writing the Iraqi constitution and they obviously don't want to miss the chance to take part in the historic event. Such activities play a good role in educating the population and activating the concept of public involvement in the state's decisive steps through organizing sending the people's suggestions and thoughts to the authorities and making sure they're being considered. During the past week, we were able...

During the latest 24 hours of operation lightening in Baghdad, 128 suspects and wanted criminals were arrested and amounts of different weapons and ammunitions were discovered: The 2nd brigade of the interior ministry has arrested 16 terrorists in "Street 60" in Al-Doura area and other 7 suspects in Al-Sha'ab district. Also in Al-Doura but this time forces of the 3rd regiment arrested 5 terrorists among whom was an "Amir", i.e. a terror cell leader. 10 other suspects were arrested in another area in Baghdad and some weapons were confiscated in the arrest. In Al-Mansour area, 3 criminals who were trying...

From Iraqthemodel.blogspot.com: Al-Witwity reports about the confiscation of many Iraqi Sumerian artifacts in Diwaniya after arresting a Syrian mukhabarat officer who was trying to smuggle these priceless artifacts out to Syria in cooperation with some local thugs. Experts estimate the total price of these artistic historic pieces to be around 35 million dollars.Click here for pictures of the retreived artifacts.

He's the Beckham of Bloggers. Amidst the vast realms and recesses of the Millions Strong Blogosphere crisscrossing the Great Planet, very few Bloggers are Identified - Widely Known by One Name. Omar from Iraq The Model is the exception. Omar! Omar! Omar! Omar Fadhil is an Iraqi Blogging Superstar, Dentist, Ardent Supporter of Freedom and Democracy in Iraq, and co-developer of a tool that allows millions of voices that were previously excluded from the Internet to finally be heard. And in: The In T View: Iraq The Model's Omar - Blogging's Modest Superstar, we explore Omar's thoughts on Iraq, Islam,...

Sunday, March 06, 2005 Al Iraqiya TV exposes terror cells again. Last night, Al Iraqiya TV broadcasted another round of confessions and interrogations with some of the recently captured terrorists. I have heard a lot about this program and we even posted links to some information and quotes from it but this was the 1st time for me to watch it in person and it's really difficult to describe the feelings I had while watching those vampires voicing their confessions and looking weak and helpless while describing how they carried out their bloody operations that terrified the civilians for a...