Under the Ashes of the Stormy War

Alauldeen Al-Mudarres

Description

Today, Monday, April14, 2003, is the day in which I
preferred to start writing and recording certain painful memories
about the days of the American aggression and its destructive
war against my country, Iraq. The Americans came under an
illegal, unethical and uncultural pretext: freedom and
democracy; and disarming the Iraqi regime of the massdestructive weapons. That autocratic regime led by Saddam and
his party for more than 30 years has led the country to its
present condition. It had no pluralism, no institutions and no
constitution. However, such a condition does not give a reason
or a legitimate cover for the invasion and destruction which we
witnessed during the past three weeks.

Sujets

• IRAQ HISTORY

Informations

• Publié par: Dar Al-Mamoun for Publishing & Distribution
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9796500043487
• Langue: English

Extrait

UNDER THE ASHES OF THE STORMY WAR SECRETS OF THE IRAQI WAR Fifty trustworthy eyewitnesses’accounts of the aggressive war against Iraq within 43 days th st from 20 March to 1 May, 2003 Hot memories and eyewitness account of the age’s crime: The horrors Baghdad and its surroundings witnessed during the American invasion of Iraq By ALAULDEEN AlMUDARRES Translated by Dr. Sawsan Saleh Dar ArRaqeem for publish., distrib./Baghdad First edition, 1424 AH, 2003 AD

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All rights reserved for the author. First edition, 1424 AH, 2003 AD

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2011 ﺔﻨﺴﻟ 1697 داﺪﻐﺒﺑ ﻖﺋﺎﺛﻮﻟاو ﺐﺘﻜﻟا راد ﰲ عاﺪﻳﻻا ﻢﻗر

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In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent Introduction

Today, Monday, April14, 2003, is the day in which I preferred to start writing and recording certain painful memories about the days of the American aggression and its destructive war against my country, Iraq. The Americans came under an illegal, unethical and uncultural pretext: freedom and democracy; and disarming the Iraqi regime of the mass destructive weapons. That autocratic regime led by Saddam and his party for more than 30 years has led the country to its present condition. It had no pluralism, no institutions and no constitution. However, such a condition does not give a reason or a legitimate cover for the invasion and destruction which we witnessed during the past three weeks.

Now we are on the verge of the end of this war, which I suppose to be tomorrow for the last castle of the Ba’thi regime, Tikreet, has fallen today, Monday, April 14, in the hands of the AngloAmerican Coalition. Six days after the fall of Saddam’s regime last Wednesday, now could be the suitable time for recording certain memories, ideas, analyses and eyewitnesses

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accounts of what happened during the war. These could be live, sensible and, probably, accurate accounts of what we saw, here in Baghdad: aggressive military operations, air bombing and shelling that did not differentiate between civilians and militants, destruction of the infrastructure and the essential services of the country. Such acts, which all humans will be ashamed of, were all done but to bring forth the announced American aims: to loot Iraqi crude oil and treasures, to give Israel peace of mind after destroying the strongest Arab power and the greatest opposing culture to the Israeli future plan for the region and, finally, to open the gate for military and economic globalization to terrorize countries all over the world.

The strategy practised by America in its propaganda and military operations during this dirty war could be considered the most dangerous and harmful one in hiding the truth of the Iraqi heroic resistance and viability against the aggression. Irrespective of their stands with regard to the ruling regime, all Iraqi nationalities, races and religions took part in that resistance. Thus, writing about this subject is vital from the informative, recording and historic aspects. The public opinion will be informed of the lies and jugglery of these aggressors

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whose approach was to take hold of the world’s resources and to terrorize it so that money, mass media and power be theirs and their henchmen will also be clear.

I hope, therefore, that this effort will gain its due informative importance and effect from the Arab and international public opinion. I shall depend solely on memory, eyewitnesses and field inspection without reference to written literature, mass media or journalists who have started to wander about the country after overthrowing the previous regime and its party. Mainly, it is a fieldwork, and therefore, the accuracy of the information and events mentioned here is high from a fieldwork and verbal communication perspective. Mistakes in the timing of the events and wars are, yet, possible because they depend on my near memory and on the eyewitnesses of most of the wars that took place on the Iraqi field. God knows that I write these memories under bad conditions using an oil lamp because of the cut electricity. I go round Baghdad and its suburbs which have been shelled and witnessed great wars such as Doura, Sayyidiya, Amiriyya, Mansour, Baladiyyat, Taji, Sha’ab, Rashidiyya and Adhamiyya. I talked with tens of

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trustworthy civilians and militant eyewitnesses from these areas in addition to other Iraqis.

The scenes and events which have been recorded and told

represent, in fact, the Iraqi laymen viewpoints of the war. These are taken from what the eyewitnesses, who have been selected from all the groups and places, told. Thus, they express the feelings, grieves and analyses of the stories and events which are passing from mouth to mouth in all the cities and towns which have suffered from the aggression. They also reflect the unconscious and spontaneous reflections of a person who lived the days of the war minute by minute and who tried to give an image of his impressions and opinions of a foreign tyrannical power which tried to invade his country under any pretext. An image that represents the viewpoints and beliefs of people around him who shared the same event. These accounts reveal also the deep effects and hard memories which are left in the minds as a result of the invasion that has come to exchange the darkness of injustice with the darkness of subjection and colonisation.

Although I am sure that this is the first book of its type about the subject of the war in Iraq, other books written by other

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authors will be published to deal with this topic from different aspects and they will enrich the Arabic library with every detail of this unjust and stormy war. At the same time, I shall be grateful to the noble reader if he provides me with his notes, comments and information about the events that took place during the war and which serve the purpose of the book. One of the prominent purposes of this book is to enhance the trust in the abilities of this great people and its withstanding against the injustice of the abominable occupation. It also aims at restoring the Iraqi awareness and letting Iraqis think the mistakes and faults over to find out the truth. Thus, they may learn and gain wisdom from these events to be able to overcome the obstacles and avoid repeating the same mistakes, which resulted mainly from ignorance and injustice. I am waiting for more pictures and events that can be added to this work so that the forthcoming editions will be more perfect than the present one. May God grant me accomplishment.

ALAULDEEN SH. ALMUDARRES Rabee’Al‘Awwal 12, 1424 AH May 13, 2003 AD

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Contents Introduction Preface Launching the War against Iraq Um Qasr Battle Sand Storm Days Battles of Basra, Nasiriyya, Najaf and Ramadi Failure of the First Shock and Horror Plan Saddam’s Preparations to Prolong the War Battles of Doura, Saydiyya and Zu’faraniyya The Airport Battle Baghdad’s Battle and the Heroic Fighting of the Iraqi People Settlement of Baghdad’s Battle The Most Important Prohibited and MassDestructive Weapons Used against Iraq Horrifying the Ba,eth Party & Army: Their Downfall Adhamiyya Battle Alternative Shock and Horror Plan Saddam’s Regime and Its Repressive Systems Insecurity and Looting Saddam’s Destiny after the Regime’s Downfall  The American Soldier in Baghdad

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