E-mail from the green zone

[Texasgal]

This is my friend who is kurdish working for the interim gov't in Iraq. I have edited the top and bottom of this e-mail ( personal chitchat )

Just thought you guys might find this of interest. I am very concerned about his safety....

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It has been raining all day today and the British guy were saying it remind them of home and it does look that way but at least it will all the dust from the air I hope and we have some clean air for a day or two if we are lucky since the quality of air here is extremely dreadful.. The mortar rounds are still hitting us and I kind missed it for a short period of time, the insurgent are getting bold and killing people, threatening or taking them as hostage for all sort of ransom, some people that work for government have been contemplating quitting and some have already quit due to the fear for their families. The security forces are not doing a sufficient job to protect innocent people and provide safe and secure environment for people to work and the economy to be flourished again. Some member of the security forces are members of those insurgent and the terrorist groups and they give them all the information they need.





Our group stays inside the what is called Green zone and we seldom go out for shopping or anything else so it does get boring being here since all we do is work and going home for some rest and start all over and can’t wait to get out of here to go up north.

[SoCalDem]

1. Your friend probably knows MY friend in the Green Zone..

Pretty much sucks there :(

[bemildred]

2. I recommend that he quit and go home while he can.

It's not going to get better.

[SoCalDem]

3. My friend CAN'T quit..

He's a Baghdad-born Iraqi (a US citizen) and a high ranking US Army officer.. He has sold everything he owned (LOTS..EVERYTHING) here, and plans to stay in Iraq for the duration.. I am very afraid for his safety..:(

[bemildred]

4. I'm sorry for him then.

I was talking about the Kurd.
I don't know what you do if you are native to Baghdad and working
for the US. I suppose some will get a free ride out like in
VietNam, but not enough. If Kerry gets an international force in
there to do real elections and the US military leaves there might
be some hope.

[Texasgal]

5. He's like to quit...

But part if him tells him to stay, he wants to secure a peaceful resolution for the Kurds, perhaps gaining back Kurdistan! He is an American citizen who went home just for this reason, to help his countrymen. ( He is also fluent in 6 languages ) which helps alot. he works as a translator more than anything else. I am very afraid for him, but I truly respect what he is doing, I just hope he doesn't have to die for it!

[bemildred]

6. I understand.

No blame attaches. Since he's a US citizen, he will be OK unless
the violence catches up with him, and the odds are good there, I
think. I'll bet the stress is driving him him nuts though.