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In Iraq’s Mayhem, Iraqis Find their Voices on the Web

By Gina Chon

The U.S. military has long cautioned that despite the recent downward trend in violence, al Qaeda in Iraq is still a threat. And the group still has the capability of launching high-profile attacks that result in many casualties.

The military is right. Yesterday, 90 people were injured when a car bomb exploded near a café in Mosul in northern Iraq. And three U.S. soldiers, along with an interpreter, were killed late Tuesday night when a roadside bomb went off in Ninevah province, where Mosul is.

The Iraqi military operation to take out al Qaeda in Iraq in Mosul, where many insurgents had fled to when they were squeezed out of Anbar province, has been relatively quiet. But while there haven’t been major pitched battles, there are daily reports of kidnappings and murders in Mosul, Iraq’s third largest city.

Since 2004, I have followed what is happening in Mosul largely through the blogs of two sisters who live there, Najma (http://astarfrommosul.blogspot.com) and HNK (http://iraqigirl.blogspot.com), as they are known in their blogs. Since the beginning of the war in 2003, many average Iraqis have started blogs to take advantage of the open access to the Internet to talk about what was happening in their country.

The two Mosul sisters started writing about their daily lives when they were in high school, and now they both attend university. In many ways, they are typical young adults and typical sisters, arguing with each other and helping each other out. But they have also lived through dramatic and scary times in Mosul, which has gone back and forth from being safe to unsafe over the last five years.

Najma is usually the sarcastic and funny one. From a recent posting: “Possible results of the curfew are (unless I killed myself before its end): gaining some weight, getting back to my natural skin color and I think I am going to be a claustrophobic.”

Her younger sister seems more sensitive and often writes poetry as blog entries. From a recent post: “I confess that I just ran from the living room where my family are hearing news now. I confess that sometimes, it’s better for you not knowing about things, even if that’s things that are related to you. Sometimes it’s better for you not to know what is going on, because what is going on is still going on.”

Even though I have never met Najma and HNK, I feel like I know them. When something happens in Mosul, I check their blogs to see if they have posted anything recently. They have made me laugh and cry. And some day, I hope I’ll be able to meet them in person. But for now, I’ll have to be satisfied with knowing them only in the virtual world.

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    • I just hope in the near future your people will be able to walk alone without worrying about killing and your land will be wonderful as it has been in history. Iraq and its history is important to the world because people forget the great history Iraq has given all of us. I hope one day all Iraq will have nothing but festive days with music and laughter and your people will sit in parks and talk about their wonderful grand children. No bombs in the back ground, no children scared, and parents will watch their children skip to school as they walk next to them. Many in America take for granted the society our founders created for us. The Iraqi people could teach Americans alot about the atmosphere we take for granted. Maybe one day all of us will hold hands and not guns. Iraq will make it out of the ugly darkness they have lived with to long. It will be the jewel of the middle east again.
      Rich in California

    • Report

      24th June 2008

      Dear Companions

      I am readdressing with humble concern the report on the subject of the heaviest issue.
      There is a necessity of immediate attention, accuracy, consideration and examinations of the conditions heretofore exposed.

      On the fifty-fifth session, 7th September 2001, 11th plenary meeting, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution 55/282.
      The General Assembly proclaimed the 21st of September of each year as the International Day of Peace.
      The General Assembly also addressed the subsequent statement embodied in paragraph 3 of the aforementioned Resolution;

      3. Invites all Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the International Day of Peace, including through education and public awareness to co-operate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.

      Considering the Provision of the UN Charter and taking into account the role of the above mentioned relevant resolution adopted by the competent organs of the United Nations, each State has the duty to comply in full and in good faith with its international obligations under the principles of International Law.
      Non-violence, non-proliferation and global disarmament are of primary importance and essential conditions to ensure order and education within the International Community.

      Bearing in mind the paramount importance that the faithful observance of international law subsume and considering in consequence that the prosperity and peace of the International Community are to a remarkable extent endangered, each State has the duty to co-operate with one another, irrespective of their differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various spheres of international relations, in order to maintain international peace and security and to promote international stability and progress, the welfare of nations and international co-operation free from discrimination based on such differences.

      Desiring to draw diligence and respect to the aforesaid objective and therefore to adopt and maintain collective effective measures for the prevention and removal of breaches and threats to the peace and to bring adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations, I have humbly requested the attention of national and international institutions or bodies disclosed into the present report, addressing the necessity to comply with the requirements that the resolution referred to above entails.

      The institutions or bodies I do now raise objections to are heretofore reported.

      o UN Security Council;
      o UN General Assembly;
      o UN Peace Building Commission;
      o UN Non-Proliferation and Disarmament departments;
      o UN Secretary General;
      o UN Security Council Presidents;
      o UN 193 Permanent Mission Representatives to the United Nations;
      o The Vatican City in Rome;
      o UN Spiritual Foundation;
      o International Court of Justice;
      o Court of Justice of the European Communities;
      o The Council of the European Union;
      o European Court of Human Rights;
      o European Commission;
      o Eurojust;
      o Inter Parliamentary Union;
      o Association of Secretary General of Parliaments;
      o National Parliaments;
      o World Embassies;
      o Amnesty International Worldwide;
      o Fundamental Rights Agency;
      o NHS Mental Health Departments Worldwide;
      o The White House, the President of the United States of America;
      o The President of the United Kingdom;
      o The President of the European Commission;
      o The President of Zimbabwe;
      o Russian Politician, Founder and Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
      o Committee of the Regions of the European Union;
      o European Social Committee;
      o Office for Official Publication of the European Communities;
      o The World Council of Religious Leaders;
      o European Ombudsman;
      o United Kingdom Ombudsman;
      o His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales;
      o Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth the ii;
      o UK Royal Court of Justice, 16 Judges informed;
      o UK Inspectorate of Court Administration;
      o UK House of Lords;
      o UK House of Common;
      o UK Ministry of Justice;
      o UK Ministry of Defence;
      o UK Her Majesty Stationery Office;
      o UK Government Offices;
      o UK London Government Communication Headquarters;
      o UK London Local Government Association;
      o UK Greater London Authority;
      o UK London Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
      o UK London Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;
      o UK London Improvement and Development Agency;
      o UK London Cabinet Office;
      o UK Security Service MI5;
      o UK London Secret Intelligence Service;
      o UK London Government Human Rights Unit;
      o UK London Metropolitan Police Forces, Working for a Safer London;
      o BBC News;
      o First Minister and Deputy First Minister, UK, Belfast;
      o Youth Justice board for England and Wales;

      It is discernible that the institutions or bodies reported have neglected to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of national and international law can be maintained.

      The cessation of violence and of any other form of abuse, corruption, maladministration and the eradication of conflict within the International Community are relevant factors consequently unattended.
      Notwithstanding the fact that concrete and heavy situations are pressing upon the people of all States, political and religious conditions remain unchanged.

      I do object contemporary arrangements.

      A war of aggression constitutes a crime against the peace, for which there is responsibility under international law.
      States shall settle their international disputes by non-violent means in such a manner that international peace, security and justice are not endangered.
      All States shall pursue in good faith negotiations for the conclusion of a universal treaty on general and complete disarmament and strive to adopt appropriate measures to reduce and eradicate tensions and strengthen confidence among States.
      The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breaches of the peace or act of aggression and shall make recommendation to maintain or restore international peace and security.

      Notwithstanding the fact that the situations resulting from a violation of international law, also situations in which co-operation in the economic, political, social, cultural, educational and health fields is deprived of at the national and international scale, the disregard and contempt for human rights and fundamental freedoms and malfunction of the promotion and maintenance of the essential development of friendly relations between nations all do imply a violation of moral obligations, the establishment of the global ceasefire is to date by States neglected.

      I do raise objections to States armaments.

      To my Sons and Daughters: RISE UP, BE STRONG AND STAND IN PATIENT ENDURANCE!

      Your Brother

      Giuseppe Biundo

    • Hi Najma and HNK,
      Good to hear from you and to know that you are alive and caring about your lives and the opportunities provided even in the midst of the horrors enduring. You must be very brave; and being thoughtful, both of you, you must find the uncertainties and injustices of the suicide bombings and other savageries unbearable at times, especially given your youth.
      I hope you grow strongly, get a good education and visit America that gave so much of its people, treasury and soul to help your country move toward the freedoms that are just over your horizon.
      Mary B.