Baghdad Update
It's been super busy. Many important decisions are being made about the future Iraq while I'm immersed in my everyday work struggles. It's been super busy here as always. The CPA is getting ready to leave and since we're not part of the CPA we are not feeling its effects directly. however we see the outcome indirectly. The farewell party was yesterday. Mr. Bremer spoke to us by the Saddam pool. They showed a taped message from President Bush. I've said goodbye to some folks. New fresh and energetic folks are showing up. I remember how energetic I was when I got here.
I remain desensitized from / in denial about any fear of escalating terrorism. I'm still hopeful about the new Iraq. There's still lots of international interest in here. I hope the people of Iraq realize that Iraq is the place to be (in some wierd way).
Talk of departing folks plans to bum around a beach all Summer long is creating feelings of envy inside me. Maybe I need to dedicate more time to re-energizing :)
I was at the palace today when the IGC President was assassinated at the edge of the green zone. This event is very significant. The irony is that I didn't even hear the explosion. About 45 minutes after the incident happened I was running out of our office to refill my coffee cup and I saw the headline on Al-Jazeera (always at the right place at the right time). Al-Iraqiya TV plans to dedicate its programming to him. They re-ran IGC conferences until now.
I can't believe I've been in Baghdad for a week almost. Time has flown by while I've been super busy at work. Finally saw the Nick Berg video. The day after I returned, it was announced in our morning meeting that "Nick the Tower Guy" - an American contractor that fixed the Iraqi Media Network towers had been killed. That same night, I was working late and some of the media folks asked for help in finding the website for "Muntada Ansaar Al-Islam" because it was showing an american being killed. They needed my help in doing an arabic internet search. We found the site, but not the video that was at that point being aired on CNN and all the other stations. The following day it was announced in our morning meeting that Nick the Tower Guy and the guy in the video were the same guy. I didn't know him, but the management team that I work with did ... ! I finally saw the video with horror. A few co-workers and I saw it together. At the end, I said the first thing that came to my head "They killed him just like they kill a sheep ... just like people killing an animal in these parts." An LBC guy said "That looks like animals killing a human being to me ... !"
I've returned to Baghdad. It's good to be back. Travelling internationally is an adventure in itself especially when the trip involves military aircrafts and bases and swirling sudden aircraft descents, but even civilian travel has its own procedures that I'm still learning. It was nice to see friends and family. So nice. I cannot wait until my next visit. It was strange to see the difference between the conveniences in the US and Kuwait versus Iraq. In Iraq, it's as if nothing's available in products, services and entertainment. My baggage was lost by the airline (and later found). It didn't hit me right away until it was time to leave and I had other luggage issues, but I think that both events were lessons on material possessions. To make a long story short, I just want to say that I really value the time we spent together or talked in. Lots of love.
hello all. looking forward to being back in chicago later today. i'm at heathrow now. it's strange not being super busy all the time. it's nice of course. i got caught up on lotsa sleep :-) i can't wait to get caught up on shopping and US culture. Look forward to meeting up with you. Love.
After being in Baghdad for less than 2 months, I have left. I took a military aircraft into Kuwait. I have not returned to civilian civilized life as of yet. I look forward to being in Chicago on Monday, but I also look forward to returning to Baghdad at the end of this trip. Be Safe. Miss you.
