WORTH A MILLION WORDS
...Above the article was the photo at the top of this piece. When my friend saw that, he was aghast. For the next 10 minutes he raved. "Do you understand what that means?" he kept asking. "This will enrage any Iraqi," he added. I knew the crossed swords monument was built to commemorate the veterans of the Iran-Iraq War, but I did not know of what else that area of Baghdad represented. My friend said that it was a park that commemorated peace and the bravery of Iraqi soldiers as well as the unity of Iraq. He equated this area to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Washington Monument in the U.S. Now I realized why he was so agitated (...)Even during the Nazi occupation of France, the Germans never took away areas of French pride. The Arc de Triomphe was not considered out of bounds. The U.S. has entered into new territory in denying Iraqis yet another part of their culture. This is another attempt to humiliate the Iraqis. The U.S. has forbidden them to see one of their most treasured areas, yet they still have not broken the Iraqi will or pride...
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WORTH A MILLION WORDS
Malcom Lagauche
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U.S. soldiers test drive Humvees at Crossed Swords monument
Tuesday/Wednesday, July 5-6, 2005
Yesterday, an Iraqi-American friend stopped by to chat. I showed him the Automotive section of the San Diego Union-Tribune in which there was an article called "War Utility Vehicle" that concerned Humvees. It was written by Jerry Garrett who also writes for Car and Driver magazine.
I was quite disturbed by a photo of a Humvee knocking a car driven by an Iraqi off the road under the "crash first and ask questions later" driving technique used by the U.S. in Iraq. The article spoke of how the newer generation of Humvees will be able to knock Iraqi cars off the road and not suffer any dents or damages themselves.
Above the article was the photo at the top of this piece. When my friend saw that, he was aghast. For the next 10 minutes he raved. "Do you understand what that means?" he kept asking. "This will enrage any Iraqi," he added.
I knew the crossed swords monument was built to commemorate the veterans of the Iran-Iraq War, but I did not know of what else that area of Baghdad represented. My friend said that it was a park that commemorated peace and the bravery of Iraqi soldiers as well as the unity of Iraq. He equated this area to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Washington Monument in the U.S. Now I realized why he was so agitated.
The piece in the newspaper was basically a technical look at the vehicle. The picture of the two Humvees under the arches was taken prior to testing the vehicles in a 0-60 acceleration test right on the area where no vehicles went prior to the illegal March 2003 invasion. Now, I was beginning to become irate at the cavalier attitude taken by the writer.
Later, I discovered that no Iraqi civilian can even approach this area today. It is off limits. And, I found out that it was a mainstay with the people of Baghdad for walking and enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the beautiful area. Occasionally, on certain patriotic days, public celebrations were held there. Now, it’s all gone. Just a place to test drive Humvees, the vehicle of choice of the occupiers.
Even during the Nazi occupation of France, the Germans never took away areas of French pride. The Arc de Triomphe was not considered out of bounds. The U.S. has entered into new territory in denying Iraqis yet another part of their culture.
This is another attempt to humiliate the Iraqis. The U.S. has forbidden them to see one of their most treasured areas, yet they still have not broken the Iraqi will or pride. Each time that the U.S. attempts a stunt like this, it only enhances the Iraqi stance of resisting the occupation.
I wrote to my retired Iraqi Colonel friend in Baghdad and asked for his views on the photo. He reiterated everything my local friend had said and added his emotional description as well.
There is an old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, my friends in San Diego and Baghdad exceeded this total many times. This picture is worth a million words.
Dear Malcom:
Thank you very much for sending me this picture, which reminds me of the cruel acts American soldiers have done. It is very sad for me to see those pictures. Let me tell you the story of this place where they put their Humvees.
During the war between Iraq and Iran, to heighten the morale of the Iraqi soldiers who achieved so many victories against the evil soul which tried to implement itself in Iraq after the revolution in Iran, the government found they should find a way to let the families have fun and at the same time raise the morale of the soldiers, so they founded this place which is very near a presidential palace.
They made it a very big park (amusement park). It was a road of 100 metres width surrounded with a grassy park and fountain with children’s places to play. The swords where the Humvees stand represent the victory we achieved against the Iranian army, which was great (more than three million soldiers).
This was a symbol of success against the yellow ideas they tried to send to the Iraqi people. This could not be achieved without morals, unity among Iraqis who love their country, and good organized work, good planning, good use of ammunition and trained soldiers. We were in Mohamara city across the Shatt al Arab in the south of Iraq on the first week of the war, yet we did not lose an inch of Iraqi land at the end of the war. This is not easy to achieve unless the belief in the land, nationality, and unity of the land. The vast majority of our army consisted of Shia and the rest either Sunni or Christian. We used to believe that Iraq is our country and it should not be spread from our hands. Sovereignty and independence is what we achieved and no one could depart that from us.
The place which was a symbol of independence is now changed into a place where the invaders stop their Humvees with no excuse or reason, as if they are trying to smash even our dreams of independence, proudness, and feeling of victory. Yet this place is now unavailable for any Iraqi civilian to access. It is inside the "green zone" which is guarded with tanks of the American troops which are under the protection of Iraqi soldiers so that any attacks that come will results in Iraqi casualties, not American.
They are very proud to stand in this area which is far from their homes without asking why they are there or whose land they are on. Do they have the right to be here or not? How much has it cost them to be here? How long will they be here? Did the Iraqis welcome them, or is it like a bad nightmare for them?
They are proud of their Humvees, which we never say until invasion. We used to use military vehicles with no fortifications, yet we were welcomed by our citizens. We used to go daily 100 kilometres between districts with no guards, yet we survived and were welcomed and well-respected by all Iraqis.
Even during and after the 1991 war against the U.S., we did not need to have fortifications around any palace or government offices. We used to have the respect of our government and we used to live peacefully all the time. We did not know fear or terror. We did not know al Qaeda until the troops of America invaded our country.
This so-called government is humiliating every aspect of decency and human beliefs.
No water, no electricity, no human rights, no decent schools, no decent roads, no decent laws.
Despite economic hardships during the embargo, we did not miss any of the appliances necessary needed. Yes, we did not have the brand names of the equipment, yet we used Iraqi equipment to invent them in our way, but we never missed them.
OK Malcom,
Let them be proud of killing so many Iraqis.
Let them be proud of collapsing every single good thing.
Let them have the honor of showing their muscles to the poor people of Iraq.
Let them be happy by invading the country and using those Humvees from which their faces can not be seen because they are afraid.
Let them have the honor to stand in place where the Iraqis used to play all the time with no fortifications.
Yet, the sword will face them one day. It will get them out of this yard they are standing in. And their helmets will be standing in the tents at the bottom of the swords like those of the Iranians.
We Iraqis will never forget.
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:: Article nr. 13382 sent on 05-jul-2005 03:45 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=13382
Link: www.malcomlagauche.com/id1.html
:: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website.
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