NEW ORLEANS: IRAQ COMES HOME

On an overcast night in March 2003, terror rained from the sky over Iraq. People were shaken from their sleeping beds, shocked, confused, and feeling the horror of pending death. Scrambling their families together, they made their way to shelters, some escaped to other family members' homes which were deemed to be stronger built, or perhaps, had a basement.

Buildings, on fire, lit the night sky, while smoke filled the air. The noise level from persistent exploding bombs only one can imagine. Surveying the damage in the light of day, and seeing the total destruction of the neighborhood they once knew, now a growing pile of rubble. To their horror, they also saw streets running with blood.

They discovered that their basic provisions, such as clean water, or electricity, or flowing sewers, items most people living in any industrialized nation, anywhere on the planet, take for granted, were no longer part of their world.

They told themselves that it was okay. The US had promised to take care of them. It was a large price tag to pay, but they were willing to trust the Coalition forces to do the right and moral thing. Surely the invading forces would work extra fast to return their basic services to them.

Following the trail of blood from family and friends, they would find themselves at the local hospital. They were not prepared to witness what they had never imagined they would ever see. People screaming. Doctors being refused admittance into the very work places that they called their second homes. Nurses and others, trying to administer care to dying and mangled children, women, men, without the necessary basics. They, too, no longer had running water or electricity. Ambulances were being turned away by the guarding troops. The stench of blood was everywhere. Chaos and fear reigned.

In one terrifying night, life was forever changed. Yet, that terror was repeated, day after day, night after night, and no where to turn for help. Local markets tried to keep their doors open, knowing that neighbors needed food and supplies. The assault from the sky closed many doors to Iraqis who were now refused their prideful work income, and thus, their unsafety and vunerabilities were mounting.

Banks closed their doors, essentially holding hostage the locals hard earned money. Families grew desperate for clean water and food. Older family members began dying. Infants screamed as Mothers' milk dried and her body began to protect her vital systems.

Days without water and power that they, as so many of us take for granted, turned into weeks, months, years. When the Army finally rolled into Baghdad, the Iraqis were desperate for drinking water, their sewers had long ago backed into the streets, their families were dying in their arms. They had survived the bombings, only to die anyway, because those responsible for the demise of their dictator, also were responsible for the destruction of their vital and critical life sustaining services. Poor planning by the architects of this 'liberation' failed to provide the critical care and help that millions of Iraqis required, AFTER the bombings. The US betrayed the Iraqi people.


10's of thousands of dislocated workers, including Saddams elite Republican Guard, began to form crowds, exercising their freedom to gather, protesting the conditions they found themselves in. Their liberators, not understanding the significance of their actions one fateful day, fired into the crowd, reportedly killing several unarmed protestors.

That day, after enduring endless days of thirst, hunger, frustration, fear, and anger, being fired upon when voicing their protest, turned into a commitment to avenge and defend their homeland and their lives. The 'Insurgency' was born.


Looting broke out. Soldiers, leaning against their vehicles, rifles in hand, watched. Relief stations not yet set up because convoys had broken down. The Iraqis were caught in chaos.

Now, 2 years later, electricity generation is still far below the normalcy prior to this invasion. Water supplies are intermittent and sporadic and Iraqis have learned how to structure their days around the timed water pressure increases.


Even those who explained the events as being part of the process that must be endured, as a price for eliminating Saddam Hussein, they began to question the reasoning. For the US Government had promised that they would be liberated and cared for in the removal of this dictator. Yet, no one ever warned them, that they, too, would be seen and treated as though they represented an enemy to the very people who were there to 'liberate' them.

The General Accountability Office makes no secret of the fact that the American taxpayer's money has been wasted by the US Government, in Iraq. Chaos, Disorganization, Systems' failures, and the gross negligence on the part of the US war planners and military authorities, has resulted in tremendous loss of life for all those involved, as well as total inefficiency in the economics of this exercise in spreading "Democracy and Freedom."

Whether or not Invading Iraq was 'right or wrong', the US failed to honor their commitment to the Iraqi people and thus to the world. They failed to honor the International rules regarding Occupation, ensuring and safeguarding the well being of the Iraqi people.

Just as the US failed to uphold their agreement with the Iraqi people, they also failed to honor their commitment to protect the Americans at home. New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina disaster is a neon sign of Federal Incompetence and Greed. The American people, individually, for the most part, reflect good hearts and positive values.

Therefore, as a population, the American people project those intentions and values onto the body in Washington, as they, too, must certainly always have the best interest of the American people in mind.?? Right? WRONG!! Learn this lesson, and learn it quickly.