Iraqis worry that as Fallujah goes, so goes the U.S. occupation

[leftchick]

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04112004/nation_w/156081.asp

<snip>
In this one week, Fallujah has come to symbolize for Iraqis everything that is wrong with the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
"When the four Americans were murdered, almost all Iraqis were horrified, and understood that the reaction must be strong," said Iraqi journalist Dhrgam Mohammed Ali, referring to the killing March 31 of four private security guards whose bodies were then mutilated, dragged through Fallujah and hung from a bridge. "But now, we see women and children dying, trying to escape and not being allowed to, and many stop remembering the dead Americans. Instead, they wonder why four dead Americans are worth so much, while hundreds of dead Iraqis are worth so little."
<snip>
.
"Those people who dragged the Americans' bodies through the streets, they certainly had had a brother or a father killed by the Americans; they had burnt hearts," said resident Umm Samir.
There is no official toll of dead and wounded Iraqis in Fallujah since the U.S. Marines began trying to take control of the town four days ago, but U.S. officials acknowledge many of the dead were civilians. Casualty estimates range as high as 450 deaths and more than 1,000 wounded.

[tlcandie]

1. Highway to hell: The road to Falluja

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FE78FACB-0A6D-4F88-A6C1-B434857135A6.htm


US marines hunt for Iraqi rebels on the outskirts of Falluja

<snip>
The images prove too much for Ahmad; he drops his face into his hands and breaks down. As he walks away, I call an Aljazeera cameraman in Falluja to check on his safety.

My colleague's voice is panic-stricken as he describes the scene, echoing the pictures that have shocked Ahmad. “There are images we can’t show because it’s just too gruesome. I have never seen anything like this before,” he says.
<snip>


Falluja's hospitals are overflowing with dead and wounded

<snip>
“There are bodies everywhere, and people can’t go out to retrieve them because they’re too afraid of being blown away themselves.

“I can’t believe the number of children here, we were at the hospital and it’s full of dead and wounded kids.

“The ones that aren’t dead have lost limbs and are wailing in pain, begging for their parents. What parents?” he screams. “I don’t have the heart to tell them that their parents are in pieces.

“Back at our office the Americans are shooting at us. I walk out of the bathroom and a laser is pointed at my chest,” he says, referring to US sharpshooters in the area.

“We'd just bought cigarettes from a store across the street; no more than ten minutes later it was bombed.”
<snip>


Deadly fate: An insurgent lies dead in the battle-ravaged town

This story is about hopelessness which IMO is why this is happening... the Iraqi people have lost all hope of the US leaving and some semblence of normal returning to their lives without bombing, occupation, foreigners, etc. Truly heartbreaking read... :cry:

[TahitiNut]

2. "...hundreds of dead Iraqis are worth so little."

That's how the commodity of human lives are measured by this corporatist cabal. :puke:

[0007]

3. `Yeah, maybe Ahmed Chalabi and his group of thugs

might be upset when they see the whole Iraqi population coming after them with that Arab hatred.

Pack your bag Mr. Chalabi.

[JoFerret]

4. Let's hope he's quaking

in his loafers

[leftchick]

5. It really amazes me that that thug believes...

he will live to see his dream of ruling Iraq. He is a dead man walking.....