Mahathir in ICU

Oh dear!

Hope he gets well soon.

Andres Vasquez goal of the day.

Here’s a youtube video for you football freaks out there. Sorry, it’s in Swedish though.

Can you do it?

Letters from Iraq and thoughts

I had initially wanted to post something else, but these few blog stories from Iraqi bloggers was simply to important to be left to another time. I got these links from GlobalVoices.

How do you feel about Iraq? I opinions in Malaysia generally concentrate on the wrong thing. Do we talk alot about the Americans and their timetable for withdrawal? Do we shake our heads in pity and blame it on the ‘those uncivilized people’ ?

These feel excerpts (click on the para’s to get the full post) should give us a better idea of what and how the Iraqi people feel about their country.

I know I am taking this war way to personally, but aren’t all wars personal in one way or another?
Another dear friend of mine was murdered a week ago. He was in his mid sixties and he worked with me for a few months. One may contradict here and say that a couple of months do not exactly qualify him as a “dear friend”. Well in reply I would say that sometimes people with whom you have spent years can hardly be called friends or even acquaintances without reservations. While a conversation with someone you have met for the first time can sometimes change the course of your life.

I was particularly touched by this story about getting a cab in Baghdad.

I was blessed with the last car. The nice old driver did not in the least wince at the mention of my neighbourhood, he even dropped me at my doorstep and helped shoo stepdad’s dogs for me. So I was back home in one piece with two things to celebrate; a successful errand ticked on a long list of risky missions and the Ninja Turtle I have promised my nephew.

If you were wondering about the significance of ‘neighbourhood’, read the post.

But what about politics? What are the Iraqi’s themselves saying about the sectarian war, al-Qaeda, Maliki’s government and the Americans?

There are no doubts that the USA until now failed in Iraq after the 2003 war. The continuation of the existed situation in Iraq will lead to something even worse than Vietnam for America.

Before you even prejudge the content of this post, read it. I think he speaks for the situation when he says,

Indeed when Saddam Hussein toppled, Iraq ended with thousands of Saddam Husseins which divided the people according to their interests.

Finally, even the Iraqi’s themselves are resolute and optimistic. Read this: It’s a rough time but I wouldn’t panic.

I think one way of helping Iraq is to be INFORMED in our opinions of the country-instead of relying on the (Malaysian) government to dictate what we should think and feel about this country though the media. Sometimes we spout mindless vitriol against America without even understanding what they are trying to achieve there (point in case, Mahathir).

I’m definitely going to follow what is happening in Iraq closely and pray for the restoration of this country.