WHERE DATE PALMS GROW

A Message of Peace

2008-07-06T19:30:00.000+01:00

Indigo Daisy, Thank you....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2008-07-01T07:59:00.004+01:00

Today is a very Important day in the lives of Millions of Iraq.

It is simply their Birthday today, well.... Officially it is may be not quite the day they were born.

it started some decades ago when the Governments of Iraq started issuing Identity cards to Iraqis, but the problem is if you didn't have a birth certificate then the government official was advised to enter the 1st of July as the date of birth.

So the Chance of telling a middle aged Iraqi Happy Birthday today and him smiling back telling you thank you how did you guess? is very high.

Happy Birthday! wishing you all the best,

Zappy!

PalTalk or Studying Iraqi Mentality

2008-06-25T15:29:00.002+01:00

I have been introduced to PalTalk, which is like any other Chat hosting program but with loads of control by administrators, and of course it depends which room you enter. Some are pure rubbish and other are quite decent.
Browsing through the Iraqi rooms I stumbled against many that Insult people, some glorifying Saddam, Some Glorying Terrorism and other ideas and Ideologies and religious matters. However I did find a Room that I have stuck to Called IRAQ University IRAQI. (the spoken Language in this room is in Arabic and Other than Iraqi's are not allowed to give an openion during the Political hours of the Room between 19:00 and Zulu)The reason is the owner of this Chat room is a decent person who you could say is unbiased to any Idea that is presented, I also found out that its one of the oldest rooms in PalTalk that is being mostly visited by Iraqi’s from overseas and Mainly Iraqi’s who took refuge in the Rafha Camp in Saudi Arabia back in 1991, but then that’s another story.

If you just sit and just listen you shall understand many things about the Iraqi Individual’s personality, how some believe their Ideas are righteous and anyone who disagrees with these individuals should be ridiculized being called either a Ba’ath sympathiser or a terrorist among other things.
So it seems that people’s Natural behaviour has a greater emphasis on what you learn as an individual.

One individual is what I can honestly say is a butt Kisser who Idolizes the U.S. Republican Party and hates to the core his own fellow Iraqi, this individual has the capability of anoying even the most Cold Hearted person in his opinions and Ideas. he reminds me so much of Dr. Mowafaq Al-Rubaie.

7th of April

2008-04-07T16:21:00.004+01:00

Its seems so long since I started....

Happy Birthday to myself my Children My wife and Family, God has spared us for a reason

Salam

Zappy!

El-Basrah

2008-03-29T22:43:00.003Z

I don’t think I have mentioned that I was born and lived my early life in Basrah.

Basrah was a mistake, by that I mean the location of the current city, it was built in the early days of the Islamic conquest as a fort city, this location had seen many bad days since the Battle of the Camel (look it up) and the Revolution of the Zing, It has seen since 1978 continuous disruptions starting with the massacres against the Dawa Party members (up to 1982), the execution of any students of Basrah University called “abdul Zahra” in 1980 and of course eight years of war 1980-1988, this includes the continuous artillery shelling by the Iranians from Abadan between 1982 and 1988. this of course didn’t end there, Basrah also suffered from Saddams invasion of Kuwait 1989 and the uprisings of the people of Basrah against Saddam in 1990 & 1999.

The “Bu-sar-was” have suffered a lot, the major problem has always been and still is the lack of potable water, most people, who can afford to by RO water from the water tanker lorries suffer from lack of minerals and some people suffer from radiation from the depleted Uranium used by the coalition forces in 1990.

Looking back, I remember the nice things in Basrah, the Sinbad Island with its Summer Cafeterias and Restaurants under the Palm trees and the stepping stones on the small lakes.

The old Port Club which was located in Maqal near the old Maqal port, the lovely Cornesh looking over Shatt-al-Arab.

Basrah had dozens of night Clubs located in the Wattani Street, and a decent amusement park, Kuwaitis and Saudi Arabians used to come over during the summer holidays to enjoy Basrah and its facilities and of course meet their extended Families.

Basrah also has some strange neighborhood names like the slum of “khamsa meel” which translate to Five miles, and “Khamseen Hoowsh” which translates to fifty houses. Basrah also has a small village called “abu al khaseeb” which is mainly a large plantation of Date palms and theres a Old man there who sales the Original Halawat Nahar Khoz which is a lovely sesame type of sweet goo that you could get addicted to.

Basrah used to be one lovely City, the people are very polite and kind however nothing remains the same.

Five Years....

2008-03-11T17:12:00.003Z

Five long years.....

most of them in tears..

so many have left Home...

the lucky reside in Tombs..

at least some still live

though without a Soul..

I wonder how much more to go?

would I be buried at Home?

Raseef 28

2008-02-28T16:29:00.001Z

I assume I’m one of the few lucky people who have survived Iraq, looking back the years, though I truly try not to, I only remember the good things in my life, the gathering of Friends on “Rasseef 28” that’s what we used to call on of our friends front door because we used to gather there nearly each day when we were teens.

Cruising the streets of Al-Mansour and going to Al-Sa’a'ah Restaurant. Then when I really miss home I call some of my not so fortunate friends who have either never managed to get out of Baghdad or are (Visitors) of Syria, Egypt and (this you will not Believe) Darfur, Sudan and Ghana!!!

I then feel that my Heart has collapsed on itself. Or like its being squeezed inside some kind of a vice.

I’m meeting a friend of Mine from the gathering of “Raseef 28” at the Canary Wharf next week, I haven’t seen him since 1990, when he called me the other day saying he’s on a business trip to the U.K. and he managed to get my Number through another “Raseef 28” Mutual friend, I really had one hell of a flashback.

I miss home, I miss my friends but then we have all lost our Country, its very sad but its true, losing a country is something that can happen, it happened in Iraq, as it Happened decades ago in Poland and might happen again in another country..

Don’t ever let someone take your home away from you.

Invasion U.S.A.

2008-02-28T11:03:00.002Z

it seems that her Majesty's Government is about to take over the U.S., this statemet was anounced early this morning...

In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for President
of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of
the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her
Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all
states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not
fancy).

Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for
America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will
be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine
whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the
following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will
be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour'
and
'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without
skipping
half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -
ise.
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to
acceptable
levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises
such
as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form
of
communication. There is no such thing as US English. We will let
Microsoft
know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell- checker will be adjusted to
take
account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize. You
will
relearn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns,
lawyers,
or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists
shows
that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be
handled
by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without
suing
someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough
to
handle a gun.

6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything
more
dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish
to
carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for
your
own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we
mean.

8. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will
start
driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will
go
metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion
tables.
Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British
sense
of humour.

9. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have
been
calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French
Fries
are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips
are
properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat,
and
dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not
actually
beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to
as
beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be
referred
to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound
for
pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to
the
beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did
for
them.

12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as
good
guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to
play
English characters. Watching Andie McDowell attempt English dialogue
in
Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's
ears
removed with a cheese grater.

13. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind
of
proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will,
in
time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to
American
football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds
or
wearing full Kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try
rugby -
the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly
thrash
us.

14. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to
host
an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside
of
America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond
your
borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we
will
let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of
their
deliveries.

15. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

16. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her
Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all
monies
due (backdated to 1776).

17. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never
mugs,
with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in season.

God save the Queen.

Only He can.

More Suggestions for Iraqi Flags

2008-01-24T20:12:00.001Z

our Blood is Cheap

and another made for the Iraqi Parliament

Exodus and a Rag on a pole

2008-01-24T10:29:00.000Z

Iraqi’s never choose to leave their homes and families, they were forced to do so, people have been fleeing the country since the late forties, it began by oppression against the Iraqi Jewish community (with the help of the British, ask an Iraqi Jew if you don’t believe me), then by the nationalization of property belonging to the upper class Iraqis after the first Republic (ask Chalibi and Makiya if you don’t believe me) then by the Communists in the early sixties (ask any Nationalist & Baathist) then by the Ba’athist (Ask any Islamic, Communist or Kurd) then oppression of forced Military service during the War with Iran (ask any Iraqi) and today by all the above with the Help of Terrorism, the U.S. and Iran (ask any of the above).

This land has seen so much Blood, hatred and sorrow, I have lost hope…

And the fucking parliament is arguing about a fucking Flag.

The Flag (again)

2008-01-24T07:47:00.000Z

See the Flag on top? and the one on the right? This the flag I was raised under, and thats the only flag I know about.

The Poppy Conflict

2007-11-02T10:00:00.000Z

S, my eldest Daughter, has been going to School here in the U.K. starting this semester, She proudly answers the Children with “I’m form Iraq” whenever they ask her where she comes from.

I and my Wife have always tried to Shield the Girls from any information regarding what’s happening in Iraq, though the have some vague Idea the American Army is in Iraq and they used to hear the shootings in the streets, explosions…etc. we cocooned them into a different World, a World of Home tutoring (After it became to dangerous for the girls to go to there school) and the Disney Channel. Once there was heavy fighting nearby and S asked why are there Shooting, my Wife explained that there are some bad people that the Police are chasing. End of Subject.

That was about it, they knew that there were American Soldiers, and they knew that there are explosions that bad people did, but that was it.

That was about two years ago.

Yesterday morning when S & here sister went to school and during the School daily Assembly the Head teacher brought out a Large blank map of the World with two green countries coloured in Green. Iraq and Afghanistan, my Daughter was delighted that the Word Iraq was mentioned, however when the head teacher started explaining about the Royal British Legion Appeal, which is held each year and how people should help out by contributing some money because British troops have lost lives and limbs in these two countries, things changed.

To cut the story short.

I now have a confused young girl, who’s ashamed of her nationality and never knew that there were British Troops fighting in Iraq.

I won’t comment on this subject any further.

I don’t blame the Teacher.

Cheap Blood

2007-10-10T11:35:00.000+01:00

This may sound Naive, but the matter is that the situation is boiling in Iraq and it seems that nobody is taking much attention.

People are fed up with the contracted Iraqi Government official, the Contracted Foreign presence in the Country and the Contracted Militia’s.

For people still present in Iraq, the pressure is getting overwhelming. Yesterday’s incident of killing in cold blood of a child and a women is just another Coal in the Boiler, and the thing is its getting worse.

The country has turned into an empty shell, one small crack and everything shall collapse.

The ill treatment of innocent people in the figure of disregard of human Blood and respect by the Government, the Private Security Details, the U.S. army has reached to its brink.

The ill treatment of Iraqi Refugees at the Jordanian Boarders and Amman Airport by Jordanian Customs (I don’t blame the Jordanian Individuals ) has turned to a very unbearable status, specially when the Iraqi Government is Still kissing the Asses of the Jordanians by selling them Oil at $20 a Barrel.

The ill treatment by the Syrian Customs and Government by throwing out Iraqis from the country after three months has also reached unbearable heights.

The neglect of the United Nations and the International Organization of Migration, Oxfam and other Humanitarian Organizations of this matter is so shameful, shame on you! You send Angelina Jolie for the publicity stunt and then leave these people stranded without enough help.

But then who is Really responsible for all this Chaos? For the lack of respect for the Iraqi Citizen?

Is it the Iraqi Government? The U.S. decision Makers? Saddam? Do we actually care who?

Or do we need a plan to clean the mess up and stop blaming entities?

Oh and another thing, when are we going to start ?

Eight Months Later….

2007-10-01T08:05:00.001+01:00

Well its been Eight Months for me and three for My Wife and Kids since we Arrived to the U.K. and many things have changed as life goes on.

Since I was a child I was always thought the Alfred Newman’s “Me?..Worry?” should have been my golden rule thou I never managed to do that.

Until recently.

Paying nearly 30% of a salary in Taxes is a bit irritating especially when you see all the bills you have to pay..etc., worrying about how the Girls are doing in school ..etc.

Last week we had a small gathering for Iftar (Breaking our Fast), myself and two friends of mine from Iraq, we were remembering the (Good Old Days) and how we had nothing to lose and the daily difficulties Car bomb, IED’s and VIP convoy avoiding.

See.. when you miss home you don’t remember all the nasty things you’ve been through you always remember the Date palms in your garden, the Bulbul’s when the start to hatch from there eggs in April, the sky your family, the nice people and friends you had, gatherings in the evenings in the Garden.

I have fourteen months to go, after that I am required to return home.

But then fourteen months is a long time to think about in the time being.. me ? worry?

Clogs of Corruption

2007-09-26T12:19:00.000+01:00

Did I ever Mention that back in December I was sitting Beside Radhi Al Radhi?, well we were on a Chartered Plane from Baghdad to Amman Jordan, we had a Chat about Corruption in the Iraqi Ministries and how many "people" just hate him because he keeps annoying them when they are trying to Steal.

Well I just found this today, its a Unclassified Document that has leaked out of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Well eventually the Gentleman had to Resign because of all the pressure and lack of support from the Iraqi Government and the wonderful Parliament.

As they say, you can't straiten a Dogs Tail.

Blackwater II

2007-09-19T14:46:00.000+01:00

I always assumed that Shoes, Boots and Socks come in Pairs. seems that I am Wrong

Blackwater

2007-09-18T14:10:00.000+01:00

VISION

To support security, peace, freedom, and democracy everywhere.

MISSION

To support national and international security policies that protect those who are defenseless and provide a free voice for all with a dedication to providing ethical, efficient, and effective turnkey solutions that positively impact the lives of those still caught in desperate times.

Blackwater is one of many private Armies working in Iraq, these people have "Gods Authority" by order number 17 of the Viceroy of Iraq Paul Bremer.
These people have a full security clearance and are allowed armed loaded weapons even inside the U.S. Ambassadors presence.

I remember a story back in December when a Drunk Blackwater guy went through several checkpoints drunk toward Maliki’s residence and nobody dared to stop him until one of Maliki’s guards asked him politely to back off. The black water guy started threatening the Bodyguard with a pistol and when the bodyguard didn’t allow him through he Drunk Blackwater guy just shot the bodyguard dead.

Of course by this time the U.S. Authorities made the “right” decision they quietly and swiftly got the Drunk on a plane and back to the U.S., tut tut... Naughty boy

Its such a terrible joke.

Blackwater has done more damage in Iraq than Al Qaeda would ever dream of an American company would do.

Good Job Blackwater! Continue your Vision (above) your doiln a hell'ava Job! keep sprinkiling Democracy! over Iraq!

Help Youssif

2007-09-05T12:12:00.001+01:00

CNN Reported two weeks ago this story, A 5 Year old boy was drowned with Benzene and set to fire, the masked dogs were taknig revenge from his father by burning this little boy!

Please Help this Kid

update: Funds have been raised, thank you, but there are other children who also need such
help, such causes deserve help

Your our only Hope

2007-08-30T14:13:00.000+01:00

I apologizes for not posting anything in a while, I have no reason at all other than being lazy, I have learned that a person cannot differentiate between day and night without a T.V. set.

Back on Iraq,

Al Khazalee , the spokes thing of the Sadr Block announced yesterday the Mahdi Army is Being restructured and asked the Mehdi Army to “Stop fighting the U.S. Army and other parties”

Now I wonder who the other parties are?

On the same matter Mr. Maliki has left Baghdad and is sitting in Karbala to clean things up, he fired the main brass who was responsible of keeping the peace in Karbala and is governing the place himself.

Seems that has getting bored from being a prime minister and fed up with his bad luck in Baghdad.

Looking through the Iraqi news websites all you hear from the honourable Iraqi officials is Purified Bull Shit, the President says he had a chat with an Iranian delegation and they promise him that the Iranian army will stop Artillery shelling “Zerbatya” in the near future.

What?

To be totally honest (and selfish) I have lost all hope in things getting better, neither Obe wan Kanobie or Luke skywalker can help us now.

To the point, the only people who can help Iraq are the Iraq people themselves, we have made a gross mistake by electing the parliament we were offered, we had no choice these are the people who were presented to us, most of them we don’t know who they are, some of them are honest people who love there country, but they love themselves more, so what is the answer to this dilemma? How can we gather ourselves back into a nation? Frankly I ask myself this question, are we really one nation? Do we believe that Iraq should be our country, or is it better to have it turned into little pieces?
Iraq prior to 1920 was not a country, it was part of the Ottoman Empire, consisting of three cities Basra, Baghdad and Mosul, however after the British Empire invaded us we were given some type of sovereignty and since then people had one country, they never thought of it as anything else, also helping in this matter was the different dictatorships that controlled the country and the lack of a clear constitution, the Kurds never wanted to be part of Iraq for there own reasons that I am fed up with and not willing to discuss.
The Typical “Baghdadie” has always been snobbish about himself and tries to degrade people living in other cities, The people of Mosul in the North are edgy about the Kurds and are semi self contained.

I Vision Iraq as a large pit of Blood and death.

If the Average Iraq is not willing to give to his brother as much as he takes, and shares, and is willing to sacrifice of what he believes is his sole rights, and If the Iraqi person always feels that he is not part of the community and part of the government, and he respects authority, and authority and government respects him, then all you will get is Refugees, destruction and death.

The Day my Daughter was not “Allowed” to go to School anymore was the day I divorced Iraq.

I love Iraq so much but it seems that Iraq has stopped loving its Children.

Our only hope is the people to unite and stop looking for a Hero to Save them.

KFC & Toys R Us Milking Iraq's Economy

2007-08-06T14:40:00.000+01:00

I was looking in the Net for a Bicycle for my Daughters and I hit a strange article in the Guardian about how Toys R Us and KFC, Nestle and Pepsi Cola have charged iraq for "Loss in Profits" !!

I can tell you this!

I'm boycotting these people starting now.

CBBC

2007-07-20T17:33:00.001+01:00

I encourage my two daughers to watch CBBC so they could get their english better, so I was wondirng what the CBBC website looked like, anf guess what! I found, This!, you wouldn't find such details in any other News website in the World except the BBC (CBBC).

FORCED MIGRATION REVIEW

2007-07-19T13:07:00.000+01:00

I Stumbled upon this website and had a read of there lattest June Issue about Iraqs Migration, it gives you some astonishing Figures liek one in Six Iraq is Displaced, two million are in Exile etc.

If your intrested in this matter please Read it.

Some People Still Care

2007-07-17T08:47:00.000+01:00

This was todays fron page on the Independent.

Refuge

2007-07-16T12:02:00.001+01:00

Hundreds if not Thousands of Iraqi's are seeking Temporary Refuge anywhere in the World, It doesn’t matter where as long as they can keep alive.

I received an Email this morning from a colleague of mine who managed to get her family away from Baghdad to the UAE, however, Herself and her husband being both petrochemical Engineers have had Hell over there, competition is very high even between Iraqi’s and you could get sacked very easy, specially if its one of the small competitive companies there.

Iraqi’s are also unwelcome in other Arab countries unless you’re a young prostitute with references from Sheikhs and pimps and you can see that in Dubai Airport.

An Iraqi cannot get a Visa to North Africa including Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, the Gulf States (on rare occasions only UAE, Qatar).

In Qatar the State police have distributed a pamphlet to the Iraqi community telling them what they can discuss in public and on telephones and what they can discuss or mention.

In Saudi one main field on the Saudi Application form is you have to declair your Religion and what Sect you follow.

What we have here is a very awkward situation, the U.S., Britain, Australia and other countries of the coalition have declared that they have come to Iraq to free, liberate etc. including (Rebuild), but things have taken a different way and we have deaths death threats unemployment etc.

Now, how about giving these people a chance?

Like when an intelligent Iraqi is awarded a Fulbright Scholarship why not let his family join him?

Like all these thousands of Masters, Ph.D. and Bachelor degree Holders are not given a chance to seek temporary refugee in the U.S. Britain and Australia.

What do you have against them? Why leave them to die and live in undignified circumstances.

You did the same to the South Africans during the end days of Apartheid when they tried to make a decent life in U.K.

my conclusion is this.

Although I do not believe in conspiracy theories but what I see the following facts that everyone with a clear conscious would also notice, A country that has its economy, Military capabilities and its society destroyed.

Targeting the Technical and highly skilled personnel by guaranteeing there death, by imposing every trick in the book to keep them in this battlefield.

Give people a chance to live, they offer there expertise.

Do you know how many Iraq scientists have been embraced to live and work in Syria and Iran?

What’s wrong with you!

دعاء تموز وآب اللهاب

2007-07-14T23:12:00.000+01:00

عن إبن فراش الدوشكي.. في كتابه مضاجع الاولين

كنا ننام في صيف بغداد دون كهرباء بعد أن نردد عشر مرات

يا مقسم الكهرباء..

والساكن في المنطقة الخضراء..

إجعل لنا منها حصة..

ولا تجعل في قلوبنا غصة..

ونور ليالينا بالأمبير ..

وإلا سيصيبك العذاب والسعير

قال إبن الشرشفي.. دعيت بها عشرة أيام متتالية.. .. فأستلمت هدية من المهافيف اليدوية.. .. لا تقدر بثمن..

أرسلها إلى عشرة عوائل يشتركون بعشر امبيرات.. وسترى المبردة تشتغل من دون واتر بامب ولا كهرباء