Iraq's Fallujah, Samarra in deep waters two years after war

[leftchick]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/21/content_2722092.htm

Sad, Sad, Sad.....
:(


Only a small number of some 200,000 citizens that fled Fallujah ahead of a US massive assault have returned to the war-battered city, residing in partially opened neighborhoods and leaving otherparts occupied by the American troops.

In thousands of refugee camps outside the town, people are still living off aids and make-shift tents have become children's classrooms.

"Writers depict the hardships of Fallujans and reporters coverour misfortunes, but nobody can feel the pain the kids are suffering except themselves," lamented Suad Mohamed Mustafa,headmistress of the Wathba high school for girls.

"Students are not supposed to miss their lessons despite thetragic events. Thus, we rented tents for them," Mustafa told Xinhuain a shabby tent used as her dean office.

But the children's schooling are accompanied with coldness,darkness and even diseases.

"When it rains, the tents could turn into a mess and diseasesspread quickly," said Mustafa, "but no teacher gives a damn despite the hardship."

[_TJ_]

1. You can hardly blame them

If I'd been through what they experienced I probably would be too
scared to ever go back.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Why do they hate us? n/t

[bemildred]

3. More catastrophic success.

Soon the whole middle east will be living in concentration refugee camps.

[NNN0LHI]

4. But yet Kofi Annan is still screaming for Syria to get out of Lebanon...

...before the elections there? That little scumbag needs to hit the road ASAP. He is a nothing but a phony prick.

Don

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, Kofi is a hack.

You can see why they shuffled him in there instead of Boutros
Boutros Ghali. That one had a spine and a mouth on him.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. I am sick and tired of enablers

like Kofi Annan.

Doesn't anyone in power have a conscience?

[Judi Lynn]

5. Related article......

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 21 March 2005 0655 hrs

45 dead in Iraq unrest on second anniversary of US-led invasion

MOSUL, Iraq : At least 45 people died in violence in Iraq, including a US soldier, as Washington defended its decision to lead an invasion exactly two years ago amid protests around the world.

With talks on a new governing coalition still dragging on seven weeks since landmark January elections, Iraq was plunged into a diplomatic crisis with neighbouring Jordan as the two countries recalled their respective envoys following accusations of a Jordanian's involvement in a deadly suicide bombing.

Insurgents struck around Iraq hitting the fledgling security forces hard at a time when the US government is channelling all its resources into training and equipping them to pave the way for the exit of US-led troops.

In the main northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber with a fake badge slipped into a building housing the provincial anti-corruption department and blew himself up inside the office of its chief, General Walid Kachmoula, killing him and two of his guards.
(snip/...)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/138412/1/.html

[bemildred]

7. You can just feel the democracy flowering. nt

[NNN0LHI]

9. kick

[leftchick]

10. wtf is wrong with these people? They VOTED! They are FREE.....

:puke:


<snip>

"I have difficulties in taking lessons with more than 25 students inside a tent originally designed for 10," said 12-year-old Azhar Khalil.

"It's like hell, but what you gonna do? To idle away a whole year is no option," said the child.

"I have asthma and the tent would not protect us from cold. Isuffocate continuously due to the bad ventilation," complained Nuha Mahmood, who is 14.

She recalled that her classmate Mays Hassan was sitting near the blackboard in the front row one day when a storm came and the falling board hit right on her head. She was transferred to hospital unconscious.

Situations are no better in Samarra, another once rebel-controlled city that had been stormed by US and Iraqi forces last summer.

The city, 110 km north of Baghdad, boasted a golden-domedmosque, home to a Muslim holy shrine, and the spiral minaret, a trademark historic structure in Iraq.

Since the bloodshed, the once busy industrial city has become one of the deprived areas in Iraq, as business has come into a virtual stalemate and citizens can hardly find enough necessities in local market.