Three Years On

It's three years since I wrote the attached piece.
The British Press would not accept it in any form.
Fine . It would be comforting to think that their literary standards were such that my humble efforts fell far short of the criteria ............But ..................
Considering the state of the tabloids and the blinkered patriotism which seeks at all cost to present "the other side " as different , barbaric , and any thing but human , I didnt have much in the way of expectations .
For the record ...The Guardian ( that Blair production ) informed me that I was arrogant.
Actually this was accepted as a compliment . It meant I was not bowing to the 'Our Boys 'sing song '.
So why put this on my blog now ? Several reasons
1) The invasion which was done in the name of Democracy ( yes we all know the truth )is still going on . We were not wanted..We are not wanted..We should leave now .....
2) In just 3 years ,numerous Iraquis have died and daily internet figures make for depressing reading . Messrs Bush and Blair refuse to give a fiugure . I wonder why ?
3) The invading troops have been found guilty of torture ,humilation and have ignored the Geneva convention .Imagine if any other land did such with British or American civilians .
4)The bungling has opened Iraq's borders to any number of outside influences .
5) Can any one please tell me what is the difference between the underground / resistance movement of WW2 and the Insurgents of today ? ( another question of what's in a name )
Mr Blair has stated UK troops will be there until 2010 .Why ?
Is it not enough the illegal sanctions stopped a nation helping itself .
The bloodshed to date is too much and our governments can no longer tell us lies .
To all British and Americans I ask one thing .
Consider how you would feel if your streets buildings and daily lives were controlled by a very insensitive occupying force .Then each and every one of you get writing to your politician.
Just for the record ... you may well benefit . Those high oil prices paid each day are kept artificially so as long as this illegal occupation continues and we all know by whom .

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Impressions from Iraq. February 2003


Seeing is believing . How true these words are .
On 17th February 2003 I arrived in Baghdad with a German delegation.
Exhausted after a long journey I skipped the meeting with an architect and went instead for a stroll around the city .
Happening across a theatre I was eager to view this aspect of Iraqi life.
At the box office my delegation badge was spotted , the entry fee waved and I was escorted to my seat.
Arabic is not my language but it did not matter . What I saw was superb slapstick comedy with “Monty Python “ sketches involving drag and much light hearted sexual innuendo . I laughed until I cried .
The people in the audience were interesting. All ages, there were singles, couples and entire families out for an evenings fun . Clearly humour played a an important part in their lives .
For how long would such theatres function under a Shia government ? A likely scenario after any American intervention. Not too long I fear and what a loss that would be .
Considering the ever looming likelihood of war these people were not downcast and this brought to mind the part played by theatre in Britain in similar times .
On meeting the cast ,photos were taken and we drank tea. It was a truly memorable evening.
Later in the week an invitation was received to attend an art exhibition given by the Iraqi Women’s Federation.
Here I met women of all ages ,faiths and backgrounds.Dress was varied, colourful, smart and chic
Many of the women could grace the front cover of Vogue . Knowledge of English was excellent
On meeting a twenty six year old with a degree in English Literature we had a discussion on the Victorian poets .Also the works of Jane Austin . It seems that Pride and Prejudice is a favourite in Iraq. Mr Darcy knows no limits .
On Friday 21st our delegation flew to Basra to visit a mother and baby clinic .
As we stepped from the bus, the air raid sirens warned of an approaching British attack . A typical event in this 'no fly zone'.
Such strikes are regular events and have claimed lives .
This clinic was to reveal many horrors but what remains forever in my mind is a picture of the unnecessary deaths of children from Kala-Azar.( I witnessed three within ten minutes)
This previously eradicated mosquito transmitted disease is now back due to bombed water and sewage plants plus sanctions on pesticides.
The disease is one hundred percent treatable with the drug Pentostam .
Due to some manipulation by the US and UK , the firm Glaxo UK were led to believe that this was dual purpose and therefore sanctioned
The result has been loss of numerous lives ,since ,minus the medication death comes in two months .
Glaxo UK, at last know the truth .They are to resume trading.
Leukaemia, now treated with high success rates is a death sentence for an Iraqi child .
Most of the drugs are forbidden by sanctions .
How could these ever have been seen as lawful ?
Back to Baghdad where the order founded by Mother Teresa (Missionaries of Charity ) has a home.
Four sisters care for twenty one severely handicapped children.
They are helped in their work by local Iraqi people who give food, love and much of their time.
During my stay I made regular visits to be with the children and the sisters .
As a lay sister one is always welcome and an extra pair of hands . Plus it is rather like belonging to a very large family .Sisters at the Berlin mission had sent lots of goodies and long letters. I was to carry many lovely things back to Berlin. News , photos , Iraqi sweetmeats.
The building was given to Mother Teresa many years ago by Saddam Hussein .A document was drawn up stipulating that it be theirs for as long as they wanted to work in Iraq.
These Sisters will remain . They may be bombed ,they may survive but one thing is for sure:-
They will continue in their mission.
Finally I remember the hospitality wherever we went .
On our final evening we were invited to a party .
The food was wonderful and all the neighbours had contributed mouth watering dishes .Musicians were there so dancing was a must .The beer and spirits were plentiful. It was some party .In Iraq I witnessed a truly human and secular society . A welcoming society where people give rather than take .
Is it so vital that we rush into war for the sake of oil ? The destruction such action would bring could be long lasting and open the way for those who seek extreme measures .
The society I witnessed was one Bin laden would loathe .
Secular , fun loving and conscious of women’s rights it is not his idea of an Islamic state.
Any invasion by the West will serve only to enable him and his followers to infiltrate and destroy .
The Iraqi people I met were not greedy . They deserve our respect , it is long overdue.

Conclusion.
Saddam Hussein is a dictator . In this he is not alone .
The USA has blood on its hands . Does anyone remember Vietnam ?
Tito , held Yugoslavia together in peace with an iron grip .
Since his death it is chaos and the religious hatred is tragic.
Do we really want to witness an ethnic and religious blood bath in the Middle East ?
For any doubters I refer to the following.
1) Where is the much promised Marshal plan in Afghanistan ?
2) Why other than Kabul is this country in ruins and chaos ?
3) Why are women in Afghanistan still leading subhuman lives ?
Because America has got what it wanted . An oil pipe deal. Their new Ambassador is a former oilman.






Helena Mikas
Berlin March 2003