tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57796712009-06-22T14:29:10.073-05:00Iraqi PassportI am an Iraqi born, US raised filmmaker.
I started this blog to document my trip back to Iraq, with my Father, after being away for over 20 years.
Part of this project will be a documentary video that I will be producing with my wife.
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My wife and I both wrote in this blog during our Iraqi trip between January 29 and February 13th, 2004.
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++++Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-8063113976090291272009-01-03T15:08:00.002-06:002009-01-03T15:13:11.440-06:00Is there Such a Thing as 'Nice Bombs'? Shot in January 2004, just 10 months after the American-led invasion of Iraq, Chicago filmmaker Usama Alshaibi’s offbeat documentary “Nice Bombs” engages the viewer with an oddly casual tone. A Baghdad native, Alshaibi chronicles his return home with his wife and father to see his extended family for the first time in 24 years. It opens with Alshaibi Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-74085585496206242902008-03-16T12:48:00.004-05:002008-03-16T12:54:21.083-05:00Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-62709074676521740862008-03-16T12:41:00.003-05:002008-03-16T12:48:35.906-05:00From my email archive:(Feb 13 2004) U Alshaibi wrote:Sama, tell everyone we are fine. yes one of thebombings killed about 30 people and injured almost80...it was 4 miles from us. I'll write about it inmy blogger- thanks for checking up, we are in Amman and willhopefully be back in the usa by monday- love usama Sama wrote:Hi U, Making sure you are fine. There has been a lot ofmajor bombings onUsama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-65978975442282028232007-09-04T21:47:00.001-05:002009-04-08T20:04:04.361-05:00I know I have not posted in a long time. NICE BOMBS has been doing well. We got picked up by 7th Art Releasing thanks to our awesome producers Benzfilm Group. I want to to update you on some of the news and events in the past year.-We had our world premier at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in 2006 presented by the Playboy Foundation. Studs Terkel and Christie Hefner introduced the film. Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-71158930751970015242007-05-02T09:49:00.000-05:002007-12-03T21:30:35.540-06:00Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1144650789582244772006-04-10T01:29:00.000-05:002006-04-12T01:10:18.420-05:00NICE BOMBS IS FINALLY FINISHED!I know it has been over two years but with the help of the Benz, Kristie and the whole gang we are finally complete. Stay tuned for upcoming screenings. Please email me: ' usama (at) dancehabibi (dot) com ' to be placed on my email list (I recently lost all my email contact, so please send me your email even if you think I may have it).New website, poster and Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1119664202039031382005-06-24T20:49:00.001-05:002008-03-16T12:47:52.813-05:00 Baghdad 2004 So much has happened and so little has changed. The movie on Iraq, NICE BOMBS, has received a generous grant from the Creative Capital Arts Foundation and wins Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Documentary Feature - Sponsored by The Playboy Foundation. The award was presented by Rosie Perez and Chris Napolitano, Editorial Director of Playboy Magazine. The Benzfilm and Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1113093357957049332005-04-09T19:35:00.000-05:002005-04-09T19:38:16.380-05:00Happy Anniversary?Iraqi demonstrators stage a mock reenactment of Abu Ghraib Prison abuses during a rally in Baghdad, Saturday. (AP Photo)BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Tens of thousands of followers of a radical Shia cleric marched through Baghdad Saturday, demanding the end of the U.S.-led occupation on the second anniversary of Saddam Hussein's ouster.In the largest anti-American demonstration since the Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1104595067656772052005-01-01T09:55:00.000-06:002005-01-01T09:59:00.926-06:00Listen to my interview with Steve Edwards on Chicago Public Radio's 848 program
part 1 & part 2Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1097614030504720122004-10-12T15:36:00.000-05:002004-10-12T16:02:04.280-05:00I know it has been a long time since I last posted. I'm torn about returning to Iraq...I want to, but I'm not sure when. In the meantime I will be screening an excerpt from the doucmentary and other short videos from Iraq.
So come out on November 20, 2004 to the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago for a special show I created called: VIDEO BABYLON
Here is the description that Barbara Scharres, Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1093119591277030332004-08-21T15:18:00.000-05:002004-08-21T15:19:51.276-05:00I received this in the mail today- if you have any information please contact them:
Dear Iraqui blogger,
we are italian bloggers worried about the fate of the missing Italian
journalist Enzo Baldoni. Enzo wento to Najaf with a humanitarian convoj of
the Italian Red Cross carrying water and medicinals for the Najaf’s
population. His family and his frends wanted help to know if Enzo is alive
Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1091116652126285282004-07-29T10:56:00.000-05:002004-07-29T10:57:32.126-05:00email from my cousin in Baghdad, tw
hi usama
congratulations for samers wedding .. give him my regards
two days ago we were dining in the garden of the hunting club
about 10 pm with my wife and kids with some friends.
we heard the sound of a nice explosion..not near about 2km or 3
but you know we were in the garden and it sounded very clear and 3d stereo.
after that we heard hysterical Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1089097037261815002004-07-06T01:56:00.000-05:002004-07-12T22:39:28.116-05:00okay here is my 'trailer' from my Iraqi documentary.
enjoy.
Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1088548283515593152004-06-29T17:29:00.000-05:002004-06-30T10:15:11.140-05:00Long Live Iraq?
from my cousin:
Congratulation's for our Iraq independence day
I'm feeling optimistic our this first step
for political & social & economical in dependency
... you should be optimistic too
we have hopes for voting
we have chance to be really free
-tw
one day ago...
Iraq's US-led administration this morning transferred sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government in a Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1087417523403480162004-06-16T15:24:00.000-05:002004-07-13T02:38:39.466-05:00my memorial weekend terror story
I forgot to tell this story, about memorial day weekend, yes I must relay. I'm walking in downtown chicago and the weather is a mixture of dark clouds and blue skies competing for the spotlight. I have my digi-video cam and I'm shooting tall buildings and the dance of trains, cars and people. I walk towards the federal court building and pull out my camera and Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1086407350912829192004-06-04T22:48:00.000-05:002004-06-04T23:40:52.090-05:00an email from my cousin in Baghdad, today he wrote me:
hi usama
i'm sorry for waiting for a reply for so long
in 3/5/2004 i was at work in the company and a car boom exploded at the street very near by .
so i got hit with a nice boom at last.
i had 10 minor wounds in my chest , belly , arms and they are healing now
all the wounds came from windows glass
i came back in a hurry just to Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1086281406483081432004-06-03T11:46:00.000-05:002004-06-03T12:09:23.686-05:00Welcome to the USA
ARTISTS SUBPOENAED IN USA PATRIOT ACT CASE
Feds STILL unable to distinguish art from bioterrorism
Grand jury to convene June 15
Three artists have been served subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury that will consider bioterrorism charges against a university professor whose art involves the use of simple biology equipment.
Early morning of May 11, Steve Kurtz Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1085514334412762602004-05-25T14:45:00.000-05:002004-05-26T02:01:13.470-05:00wow I just heard on the radio that 52% of Americans think that Saddam is linked to the attacks on 9/11.
For the record I will repeat this: SADDAM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 9-11! We invaded Iraq under FALSE pretenses and the uneducated and naive public bought it, swallowed it and now we have to pay for it and eat our own shit.
Yes I'm glad they got rid of Saddam and when I asked Iraqis, what about Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1085072096831168742004-05-20T11:46:00.000-05:002004-05-20T11:57:22.350-05:00from my cousin tk from Baghdad,
Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 01:48:37 -0700 (PDT)
long long long time usama and no see
even your blogger is getting slower.
and the country is falling down with no reason !
and all the news is talking about is abu graib and US slodiers.
already said that these things happen .
in the middle of the US
in iran
in kuwait....every were
maybe car accedent kill more peopleUsama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1084427820784485362004-05-13T00:55:00.000-05:002004-05-13T00:57:00.783-05:00I watched it.
Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1084302531772605412004-05-11T14:08:00.000-05:002004-05-13T01:00:02.906-05:00This Abu Musab al-Zarqawi guy that claims to avenge the torture of Iraqis by beheading the American citizen is a scumbag. I repeat Al-Zarqwai has no claim or right to speak for Iraqis. He is a sham and using this US occupation to declare war on Shia's and anyone cooperating with the US. Whatever you may think of the Abu-Graib pictures do not applaud this fuckhead. He has killed so many Iraqis Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1083740372964842412004-05-05T01:55:00.000-05:002004-06-27T19:54:32.820-05:00When I was in Baghdad and discussing the Coalition, the US government and various members of the Coalition Provisional Authority my Uncle said: they are all looters, all of them...they are all thieves and liars.
yes they are. All of them.
Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1083611283016450332004-05-03T13:54:00.000-05:002004-05-05T02:16:35.340-05:00I've been disgusted and freaked out with the recent Abu Ghraib images of prison abuse at the hands of the US. Here in the USA it is getting much publicity and Bush has made some lame statement about how this is not representative of the USA. Yeah sure Mr.Bushie. Anyway this is a micro incident of many atrocities that go on in Iraq at the hands of coalition. But as my cousin has stated in the Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1082570971676908662004-04-21T13:09:00.000-05:002004-04-21T13:12:30.013-05:00bad news from the middle east
Iraqi officials say more than 60 people, including many children, were killed Wednesday, in a series of explosions in or near the southern city of Basra.
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A suicide car bomber destroyed a Saudi security forces building in the capital Wednesday, killing a senior officer and at least nine other people.
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Israeli troops killed seven Palestinians, the Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1080893801185450112004-04-02T02:16:00.000-06:002004-04-02T02:26:40.856-06:00the scene in the Sunni area of Fallujah is disgusting and hardly representative of the Iraqi sentiment. these Fallujah folks are the ones that have the deepest sympathies with Saddam and they hate the US with a passion. Anyway http://www.juancole.com/ makes a good point in relating this incident as a reaction to the illegal assassination of paraplegic Sheikh Yassin by US backed Israel.
agghh.Usama Alshaibihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.com