tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57796712011-07-08T05:24:32.199-05:00Nice Bombsdjinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag: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 djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-74085585496206242902008-03-16T12:48:00.004-05:002008-03-16T12:54:21.083-05:00djinnisinhttp://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 ondjinnisinhttp://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. djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-71158930751970015242007-05-02T09:49:00.000-05:002007-12-03T21:30:35.540-06:00djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 2djinnisinhttp://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, djinnisinhttp://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
djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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.
djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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 peopledjinnisinhttp://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.
djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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.
djinnisinhttp://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 djinnisinhttp://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.
++++
A suicide car bomber destroyed a Saudi security forces building in the capital Wednesday, killing a senior officer and at least nine other people.
++++
Israeli troops killed seven Palestinians, the djinnisinhttp://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.djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1080614792999219972004-03-29T20:45:00.000-06:002004-03-29T20:49:08.043-06:00The documentary is in the infantile stage. I'm just dubbing the tapes and looking at footage. I've applied to one grant asking for more money to help me with post-production and a possible trip to Basrah. Soon my friend...
djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1079156898124186372004-03-12T23:21:00.000-06:002004-03-12T23:50:36.293-06:00
So I was re-reading a bunch of my older posts, and realizing that I was quite homesick and irritable at times. Part of it was being sick, and part of it was culture shock. I almost erased many of my entries out of embarrassment.
I just want to apologize. And I want to publically acknowledge that for any fault that I may have harped about regarding Iraq, I could find the very same fault, andKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1078255621540864812004-03-02T13:26:00.000-06:002004-03-02T14:20:58.420-06:00This is horrible. We were there, in Kadhimiya, at the spot where the blast occurred. This is where my Grandmother is buried and Kristie and I spent a day at the holy shrine. Our Family are the gate keepers for the Kadhimiya (spelled Kazimiyain this article) shrine. Now this...from the Gaurdian:
KARBALA, Iraq (AP) - Simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds of worshippers Tuesday at Shiite djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1078084147927877142004-02-29T13:46:00.000-06:002004-02-29T13:51:47.186-06:00Iraqi leaders trying to meet a U.S.-set deadline for finishing an interim constitution today faced disagreement on major issues, with several Shiites walking out of last-minute talks over the role of Islam on women's rights.
Members of the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council were trying to reach consensus on a charter that will serve as the basis of the legal system after the U.S.-led coalition djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1077310381561144502004-02-20T14:51:00.000-06:002007-12-03T21:52:54.128-06:00Click for photos of our trip.Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1077109337549951452004-02-20T11:43:00.000-06:002005-10-05T13:59:25.026-05:00Reflections on Baghdad...I am back and trying to fall into my routine and start working on this documentary. I have urges to compare and contrast what I have seen in Baghdad in comparison to living in America. But you get into murky territory when you begin to hold up 'Western' vs. 'Eastern' cultural differences. K has elaborated on some of these. And since she is 100% All-America born and djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1077135029923168232004-02-18T13:20:00.000-06:002004-02-18T14:12:25.296-06:00
Okay. So. Having flaunted my ignorance, and shamelessly exposed being stuck in my Western mindset, as well as venting my pet peeves about my trip to Baghdad, I thought it would be a good time to list the things I liked and saw as advanced, positive, amazing things about Iraq.
1.) Healthcare: when I was sick, doctors were friendly, knowlegable, and accessible (they even made housecalls). Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1077030072399842192004-02-17T07:31:00.000-06:002004-02-17T09:03:28.076-06:00
U. had an interesting conversation with his father on our last day in Amman. It was about Shari'a Islamic law. According to my father-in-law it is normal and acceptable for a man to see a prostitute if he's single, however if a woman lives with a man whom she is about to marry and has sex with him it is a punishable sin. She can be arrested. His wife agreed that this is normal and ok, and Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076987899829676892004-02-16T21:18:00.000-06:002004-02-16T22:42:33.310-06:00Yes we are back home in Chicago. I am discombobulated and exhausted. Part of me is scattered in Baghdad and near the border of Jordan. I'm not fully here yet.
Okay, now some tea would be a good idea.
I called my sister S and tried to explain the intrict details of the situation in Iraq. She said I should write all this down.
I'll try.
Dear Iraq, thank you for your warmth, your morning djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-107696777830206692004-02-16T15:06:00.000-06:002004-02-16T15:44:51.246-06:00
Ah HOME! Superhighfastspeed internet access, and damn I forgot how nice our place is! How "us" it is with all the art on the walls and the clean and best of all - RATS! Yes I got to snuggle buggle my little rattie pets as soon as I got in!
Let's see. I've been sick. For a day and a half I suffered from vomitosis. Everything that went in - even water - came right back out. It was vile. IKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076763469160461402004-02-14T06:57:00.000-06:002004-02-17T17:19:43.810-06:00We are in Amman, Jordan. K is trying to recover from some nasty Baghdaddy virus that has kept her in bed and nasally dripping for the past two days.
But let me back track a bit while we were in Baghdad.
First, there was the area , Al-Mahmodia town, that we drove to on our way from Babel to Baghdad. The place where K was a star. Near it there is another town called Iskandariya. The day afterdjinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076331346421941342004-02-09T06:50:00.000-06:002004-02-17T14:40:22.436-06:00BAGHDAD:
It's in me. Iraq is in me and all the memories of my past, my childhood the things I've wanted to return to are once again swarming in my blood. So the cycle, to be cheezy for a second, is complete. Salam says why not go hang out in Beirut first or spend more time in Jordan? And he is correct. I have not returned to the Middle East in 24 years and I come back to Baghdad today? Yesdjinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076331262130369242004-02-09T06:26:00.000-06:002004-02-09T07:00:48.450-06:00
Good afternoon. Just for the record, I got my mom to forward me the very first e-mail I sent her from Baghdad. Here it is:
30 Jan 2004, 04:32:32 AM
Subject: Greetings from Baghdad
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello! So I am here is busy bustling Baghdad. We are staying in U's Uncle K's house, which is very large and nice, in an upperKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076329771861736292004-02-09T06:12:00.000-06:002004-02-17T14:41:03.250-06:00(Baghdad)
K and I have finally met Salam Pax! We hung out in my Uncle's yard with my cousin and I interviewed him on camera for a couple of hours. We had a good time and it was just really refreshing to meet a fellow Iraqi that has the whole East/West hybrid thing going. Do you know what I mean? We understand one another. Anyway I showed him my American version of his book and he signed it djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076259838792384342004-02-08T10:08:00.000-06:002004-02-08T11:06:17.593-06:00Okay, so the fact that Iraqi's are so damn sweet and nice and hospitible offsets any pet peeves I may have. Sometimes I'm a little too hard on this place.
I hit my breaking point when I was told I could not go somewhere because it was "all men." The "Theives' Market" they call it - lots of blackmarket bargains, and one place I thirst to experience. I blew up. In front of family I screamed "Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1076256000334631152004-02-08T09:47:00.000-06:002004-02-17T14:42:11.123-06:00Baghdad, Iraq
Sunday
Feb 7, 2004, ...I think. I'm a little out of it. It's almost 7pm.
There were American tanks right here on Al-Mansoor street where we are staying. In fact it was right in front of the internet cafe. Something about a car bomb in this area. I saw a tank moving slowly with soldiers surrounding it. They were searching every car. I pulled out my camera when everyone in my djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075971664204883282004-02-05T02:18:00.002-06:002004-02-21T21:33:04.280-06:00Today is Feb 5, 2004, Baghdad.
11:30 am
Last night we had some Heineken beer, yum. Anyway I was talking about Pacha during the Eid dinner. Pacha is tongue, eyes, brain, feet, intestine, and basically the whole sheep head. At one point I was given the tip of a sheep tongue on my plate and instead of contemplating whether I should eat it or not I just stuck it in my mouth and chewed. Really djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075971132755233032004-02-05T02:18:00.000-06:002004-02-05T02:57:48.390-06:00A little homesick today. Last night I spoke to D.,who was born here, but spent a lot of time in Sweden. As a woman she's not very happy here. She misses the freedom she had in Europe, and feels there is little here for her beyond her husband. Also, Aunt S. criticized me a bit to Usama. She had the impression that I think that I am better than her, since I don't speak often, and I haven't Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075885471105478162004-02-04T03:00:00.000-06:002004-02-04T03:06:11.936-06:00Live from Baghdad-
today is Feb. 4, Wed. 2004
The time on these Blogs are from Chicago so ignore that. It's almost 12:00 pm here in Baghdad.
Let me describe the typical Baghdadee breakfast we eat every morning. There is always tea brewing and warm Samoon (Iraqi bread). There is cheese, some oranges that we pluck from my Uncles yard. Some dates and of course there is always Libna (yogurt djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075884478496356292004-02-04T01:19:00.000-06:002004-02-05T02:19:15.670-06:00So much sugar! Allah! I cannot eat another kleche without being sick. hehe...
I'm posting an e-mail that I wrote to my family and friends (edited for anonymity). I have others I wanted to post, but my webmail is acting funky:
02 Feb 2004, 05:21:54 AM
Subject: Still doing well...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello again. Salam Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075718025071587942004-02-02T03:39:00.000-06:002004-02-05T01:51:39.700-06:00I don't have much time to write...
You never forget you are living in a war zone in Iraq. The other night there were two large explosions not too far from my Uncle's house. K was in the bedroom getting ready to go to bed when it happened. My cousin Tareef and I were discussing politics when it happened. Two large booms that made the whole ground shake. My cousin did not even flinch. K 's djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075456867239164602004-01-30T03:29:00.000-06:002004-01-30T04:02:43.153-06:00We are in Baghdad! Actaully we are in the Al-Mansoor neighborhood and K and I are at Sky Net, an internet station type place. We arrive in Baghdad yesterday afternoon. The trip from Amman to Baghdad was really long and exhausting. Some drama on the way when one of the suitcases on top of the GMC truck fell off and we did not know until we were at this open market at 4 a.m. Another GMC had djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075298774145519162004-01-28T07:44:00.000-06:002004-01-28T08:09:00.200-06:00We are in Amman, Jordan. It took us almost two days to get here with a pleasant layover in Amsterdam.
I'm very tired. I can't seem to sleep at all. My head is flooded with so much excitment and anticipation. Last night we got in late to Amman and my father made us chicken kabobs and told me the story of the day he met Saddam (it's in the movie and I will relay this later). Anyway we drove djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075054593519382912004-01-25T12:10:00.000-06:002004-01-26T02:02:51.030-06:00Dream...driving through Iraq at night we stop at a very western gas station but with no pumps. It is the only place open, there is darkness everywhere. There are some Arab men giving us strange looks. Inside there is a little store. We exchange some words and we are off. We continue driving on the road, the only light was from our headlights, illuminating the palm trees as we passed them. djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1075007448361724242004-01-24T23:12:00.000-06:002004-01-25T12:10:03.996-06:00My Dad needs more stuff:
;Please buy me a bottle of Vitamine A(around 100 pills) and also 25 or 50 Blood Glucose test stripsTest StripMust Be( PRESTIGE) Brand Callbration code coul be any number.Let me know please,Waiting!love Dad
I better call my Mom before I leave. I don't really feel like I need to say goodbye to anyone else. I just want to sleep for a few days and wake up in Baghdad.
djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074992973197679832004-01-24T20:50:00.000-06:002004-01-24T20:52:05.060-06:00We are leaving in a few days. I'm feeling slightly removed from the whole experience as if it was not really happening. As if I had already shot the movie and now I was just going back in rewind.
I'm not really sure what I'm talking about. I honestly have no idea what my experience and mood will be in Iraq. djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074721718265012712004-01-21T15:20:00.000-06:002004-01-24T19:11:40.390-06:00I watched GW Bush give his State of (comm)Union address. A self-congratulatory pep rally for America and the willing. According to Bush, God seems to spend a lot of time blessing the USA. The highlight was watching Dr. Adnan Pachachi stand up while everyone clapped. Mrs. Bush was next to him. I wonder if they held hands? I was hoping Bush would do something Hollywood-like and wheel out Bin djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074471694692163152004-01-18T17:26:00.000-06:002004-01-18T18:24:41.280-06:00
Went to my hometown to visit my family. I, of course, had to finally tell them about the trip to Iraq. It's only a week away.
My brother was driving me somewhere and he said something like, "seems like everyone's dead set against you going." He and my dad were the most supportive. They just told me to "be careful," send pictures, and call when I get home so they know I'm okay, etc. They Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074410817185767322004-01-18T12:58:00.000-06:002004-01-19T21:38:27.700-06:00My mother calls me sounding frantic and stern. I knew what was coming next. Are you watching the news?!
I had been watching the news about the bomb in Baghdad, but I did not feel like discussing this issue anymore. I knew what she was going to say. So I told her that I had watched some of the news and now I was sitting at my computer. Which was the truth, err, sort of. I did not want to djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074407560950355662004-01-18T00:30:00.000-06:002004-01-18T00:45:53.436-06:00Strong explosion near coalition headquarters in Baghdad; Witnesses say many casualties
it's not stopping...
djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074380590798601542004-01-17T17:00:00.000-06:002004-01-17T17:06:22.640-06:00Mafqud means disappeared in Arabic. Mafqud.org is the first site devoted entirely to the disappeared in Iraq, and the first fully bilingual (Arabic/English) site dealing with human rights in Iraq. The state of human rights in Iraq is among the worst in the world. To date, no one has an exact count of the Iraqi disappeared, but it certainly exceeds 100,000. Thus, enforced disappearances are amongdjinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074378394343735842004-01-17T16:24:00.000-06:002004-01-17T17:12:50.810-06:00Today on CBS television, Paul Bremer boasted, "In the last three or four weeks we've seen a rather dramatic reduction in the number of attacks on the coalition. They are down by about 50 percent,"
I read this quote to my friend Hamoudi here in Baghdad. He raises his eyebrows and says,
"But attacks on helicopters has been up 100%. The resistance is finding it easier to attack the helicopters djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074329941704850262004-01-17T02:58:00.000-06:002004-01-17T11:23:16.090-06:00anybody catch salam pax on NIGHTLINE?
It was a great show. I do hope to meet him.
I called my Mom and she is VERY UPSET that I am going back to Iraq. She said she feels like all her hard work to bring me here (to the USA) is now being flushed down the toilet.
djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074306771748385042004-01-16T20:20:00.000-06:002004-01-17T11:14:02.340-06:00Everyday someone donates a little money to help us with our trip and project. I do thank you all for your generous contributions.
I've been going through some of my links and reading the various bloggers coming out of Iraq. Things still sound rough over there but there seems to be a faith in better things to come. I really like reading Omar, who is a Civil Affairs Sergeant in the US Army, djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074231176559802832004-01-15T23:29:00.000-06:002004-01-15T23:46:13.593-06:00It's foolish on all practical levels for me to make this ambitious trip to Iraq. Not only am I returning to a place I have not seen for 24 years...I'm also attempting to make a movie about the experience and about Iraq today. But that in itself is complex. My personal encounters and perspective will set some of the tone, but I do hope to get as many people as I can to talk about their lives, djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1074112832953478292004-01-14T14:40:00.000-06:002004-01-15T23:30:26.106-06:00It's official. K and I purchased our tickets today. We hope to arrive in Amman, Jordan by Jan.27 and after spending some time with my father and my step-mother we will head out to Baghdad. I'm leaving the transportation up to my father and I hope all will go well. I just don't want to draw too much attention with our video and photo equipment.
But K and I are excited. At first when the djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073713191460176032004-01-10T16:30:00.000-06:002004-01-11T16:32:01.670-06:00I believe the only way that Iraq can survive is for the whole country to stay unified. This ethnic clashing and the bombings of mosques is really awful. How can someone bomb a mosque?
So K and I decided that we are both going together. Even though it is going to make it tougher on our pockets. Money is a problem, as usual...
It's snowing so hard and thick righ now. The whole city is djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073632296274462912004-01-09T01:00:00.000-06:002004-01-09T01:18:22.733-06:00
I've been a sack of hacky, tossed back and forth regarding going, not going. Money. That's what it's comes down to.
Emotionally I sway from an angry "You can't possibly go without me, this is my project too!" to a resigned "Of course you have to go, even if I can't go. It must be done." I've been overly emotional about it all. Lashing out in a strange child-like manner. Snipping, Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073625945264693382004-01-08T23:25:00.000-06:002004-01-14T14:25:30.513-06:00I spoke to my father today. He says that his wife's brother just came from Baghdad. The news is good and bad regarding the state of Iraq. We talked about our trip and he reassured me that everything would be fine and encouraged me to bring K along. We spoke about the last time he was in Iraq, I believe he it was 1980. He still has a letter from the Iraqi govt telling him that he is prohibited djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073199280507647792004-01-07T21:49:00.000-06:002004-01-09T11:19:25.343-06:00I've been listening the American controlled radio Sawa. Spreading the goodwill of USA through really bad American pop songs and some okay Arab pop. The Arabic music is not so bad... but some of the Western pop makes me want to vomit.
I wish I could pick up some Iraqi radio through the internet.
My wife says I've been a little obsessed with Iraqi lately. She's right. I can't stop thinking djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073531579209856552004-01-06T21:43:00.000-06:002004-01-08T22:00:21.123-06:00I still have my hopes high to return to Baghdad at the end of January but my father has not gotten back to me. sigh.
I've been manic over this whole Iraqi trip. I'm hyper to go but also weary of my poor planning. That mixed with my father's erratic and sometimes risky adventures will definitely make it a memorable trip. But I suspect I will be surprised either way.
Watching N.American news djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073456220418544792004-01-06T21:42:00.000-06:002004-01-08T22:00:41.606-06:00I am trying to stay optimistic but even salampax says things are not looking good when I asked of the current climate in Baghdad. My father can be a risk taker and I'm willing to go. Of course I am swayed by the symbolic gesture of the two of us entering together after so many years being away. My return will probably be a bit more abstract then his...well in a sense. Of course I will see djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-107326997028707902004-01-04T20:25:00.000-06:002004-01-07T00:45:09.153-06:00Iraqis know all too well what occupation looks and feels like. I believe, that Iraqis are appreciative but they are also hesitant to embrace the USA since they have not really delivered much. Yes there are many great improvements but it's moving too slow.
The US needs to understand that it cannot trick the Iraqis. If it's going to sell them 'freedom' then it better be for real or there will djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073266837176652032004-01-04T18:42:00.000-06:002004-01-06T23:37:45.543-06:00
So, Iraq. I was just saying to U that four or five years ago I would have never imagined myself preparing for a trip to the Near East. It's not that I had anything against it, it's just that I knew very little about it, aside form the images of the Gulf War a ways back (I was pregnant at the time, and cried at the thought of war, every time I saw the images on the news). I had studied ancientKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073185213370355662004-01-03T20:53:00.000-06:002004-01-06T23:53:03.530-06:00I want my wife K to start posting in here in blogland. We'll set it up so you can tell who is who with some color code or something.
We are slowly but surely raising funds for our trip. People from all over are announcing it and sending out mass emails. So far we have raised almost $1700!
I do thank you, all of you that have been donating.
I'm still a little nervous about going. But you djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1073023614729953972004-01-02T00:05:00.000-06:002004-01-02T03:03:20.670-06:00It's been a little frustrating speaking to some of my relatives here in the US about returning to Iraq. When my Aunt called me to wish me a happy new year I told her about my plans to return to Iraq and she proceeded to become very upset, exclaiming: no no!
The conversation with my mother was also difficult. But I don't blame her for not wanting me to return. She said: how could you even djinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779671.post-1072938770294700762004-01-01T23:39:00.000-06:002004-01-18T22:46:28.263-06:00will it be a happy 2004?
Inhsallah it will be. This journal is inspired by many great bloggers- especially salampax and riverbend. I am sure I will discover more. I'm reading and getting some ideas of what it may be like in Baghdad right now.
I'm nervous and excited about returning. I relish any imagery and pictures from Baghdad that I can find on the internet or from the news. But they aredjinnisinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502256786427530499noreply@blogger.com