June 07, 2003

Salam Pax

My boyfriend has been trying to bring this blog to my attention and I finally visited. I am in love.

Every person in this country who believes that what we did in Iraq was a perfectly good thing needs to visit this site and see it from the perspective of someone who lives there.

It astounds me that anyone could get on his blog and say something to him like "It seems your writing is dedicated to proving two points, first, minimizing the American contribution to removing Saddam and then, proving what terrible things the US did to get rid of Saddam, so as to paint a picture that it wasn't worth it.”

Beautifully, he responds with "As to the first. There is no way to “minimize” the contribution of the USA in removing saddam. The USA waged a friggin’ war, how could you “minimize” a war. I have said this before: if it weren’t for the intervention of the US, Iraq would have seen saddam followed by his sons until the end of time. But excuse me if I didn’t go out and throw flowers at the incoming missiles. As for the second point, I don’t think anyone has the right to throw cluster bombs in civilian areas and then refuse to clean up the mess afterwards.
Anyway.
I don’t really understand why among the 26 million Iraqis I have to explain everything clearly, are you watching the news? can't you see the spectrum of reactions people have to the American presence in Iraq?"
...
"Iraq is not the black hole it used to be and there are a bazillion journalists here doing better than I can ever do, they have a press ID and they know how to deal with stuff.
As to the question “why are you not documenting saddam’s crimes?” Don’t you see that this is not the sort of thing that should be discussed lightly in a blog like this one. And what’s with “documenting”, me tiny helpless salam documenting things that were going on for 30 years? Sorry to blow your bubble, but all I can do is tell you what is going on in the streets and if you think journalists are doing a better job of that then maybe you should go read them. One day, like in Afghanistan, those journalists will get bored and go write about Syria or Iran; Iraq will be off your media radar. Out of sight, out of mind. Lucky you, you have that option. I have to live it."

Definitely check out Salam. He is exceptional.

Posted by Maria at June 7, 2003 04:09 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Maria-forgive me for changing the subject but just came back from Boycott Hollywood site...they want to ban Radiohead now...I think my days there may be numbered...this band I would use in the soundtrack of my life...I'm too wishy washy for political debate..can't take it anymore..
Oh and I went to the aboved mentioned blog..interesting however I still back what the US did...

Posted by: sandy at June 8, 2003 05:17 PM

Glad to see this guy made it, if he's legit. Still some speculation on his authenticity, I understand...if he's for real, there are many American film/book companies that would LOVE to get the rights to his story...:)

Posted by: evilmike at June 14, 2003 04:53 PM

Salam Pax is real. I'm convinced. Read this article by a man who knows him.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2083847

Posted by: Maria at June 15, 2003 09:18 PM

Cool beans.

The Guardian...erg....*twitches*

Posted by: evilmike at June 16, 2003 08:14 PM

I think a lot of hardcore Bush supporters can't deal with the fact that Salam Pax is real because that would burst their perfect little bubble about what is going on in Iraq.

Posted by: Maria at June 17, 2003 02:12 PM

Just remember that Pax lives in Baghdad. To live in Baghdad, you have (had) to have at least nominally supported Hussein and the Baath Party. Even if only with your lips. There were 8 'loyalty levels', and depending on what level the Iraq security service gave you determined what area in Baghdad you were allowed to live.

The situation outside Baghdad was far, far worse.

Pax is biased, just like everybody else. What his blog IS good for is a view of what's happening on the street, as it happens.

One thing that is happening right now is that the oh-so 'objective' and 'professional' reporters from AP/Reuters are intentionally ignoring Iraqi's that refuse to bash the US, and only interviewing those that DO. This has been documented by many folks currently in Iraq right now.

Many Iraqi's are afraid to openly come out against the Baathists (Nazi's), since they expect the US to leave, just like the first time.

As someone who watched the Basra Purge happen, I understand the sentiment.

But if you gave the rest of the Iraqi's outside Baghdad the same resources as Mr. Pax, you would be 'hearing' a very different story. And some pretty horrifying ones, too.

As for his 'complaints' about getting shot at....my only response is that some people would bitch if you hanged them with a golden rope.

Posted by: evilmike at June 17, 2003 08:06 PM