The desperation of defeat by US and British occupation authorities

Friday 16 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad.

Sayed Mugtada Al-Sader supporters are often portrayed as fanatical Shia Islamists having no respect for different views and bent on forming an Islamic autocracy in Iraq. This certainly has been one excuse the CPA been using for waging a ruthless war on the Shia slums of Baghdad and other areas of Iraq, that has largely failed. But standing at the gate of a ruined religious school in the old part of Baghdad next to the famous 'Mutanabi' books bazaar, we had open and frank discussions with three solid Sader supporters, who also happened to be cadres of the Al-Dawa/Iraq party. We discussed democracy, the need to recognise the diversity of religions and philosophies within Iraq and other issues. The first impression was that of total openness on these subjects. Certainly the whole atmosphere in the Mutanabi books bazaar is that of a lively mix of all of views, with publications distributed in the ancient 'Shabander' café by Islamist, Marxist and other trends, all around you in the streets you see hundreds of posters of Mugtada Al-Sader, his martyred father, Sistani and other religious leaders, and slogans condemning the US attack on Falluja.

The most striking impression from the discussions with the Sader supporters is their calm confidence in their movement, where they want to go, and what they have achieved so far. To them the greatest achievement has been the unity of the Iraqi people against occupation. Walking through the streets of Baghdad and talking to people, I can summarise the fundamental changes of the past two weeks as follows:

(1) Unity of large sections of Iraqi society and also within the Shia movement itself. You see convergence of the various Shia Islamist views towards clear anti-occupation stand. You also notice it from public announcements such as Sayed Mugtada Al-Sader putting himself under the disposal of the Shia highest authority in Najaf (Marja'ea), and Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani warning the US authorities that occupying Najaf or Karballa, or arresting Al-Sader will not be tolerated.

(2) The total loss of credibility of the CPA and its created Governing Council by various sections of the population. Both are seen as corrupt institutions mainly occupied with stealing as much as they can and as quickly as they can. Talking for example to people in higher education they will give you countless stories of promises by US officials that have never kept, and of the their total failure on reconstruction and achieving better security, the main demands by the Iraqi people (power cuts has started becoming worse again with the advent of the hot Iraqi summer).

(3) The failure to create state and security institutions that can back US control of Iraq. This was starkly demonstrated today when Arab and Kurdish officers of the newly created Iraqi Army, trained by the US in the last few months, came on the air to announce that their unit near Falluja has been surrounded by US forces for the last 3 days, and that all their members, Kurds and Arabs, refuse to turn their guns on the Iraqi people. Elsewhere in British-occupied Basra for example, the heads of the police and security have proclaimed openly that they have very good understanding with the offices of Al-Sader and that their duties do not extend to repressing their people or putting down peaceful demonstrations.

(4) The US forces are badly extended, resulting in them loosing control of many parts of Iraq and the main roads out of Baghdad, especially at night. The nature of the encounters have changed from hit and run to extensive engagements with US forces.

(5) The increased authority of the Sunni and Shia religious establishments, who for example organised large joint public meetings for unity and against occupation, worked to defuse the threat of large military conflicts, pressured for ceasefires in Falluja and Najaf against US army belligerence, and largely stopped the wave of kidnapping of foreigners.

As a result of all these development, the US has resorted to desperate measures to regain the initiative, such as the display of force around Najaf and Falluja, brutal repression, and extensive propaganda campaign that can fool some outside Iraq but not inside it.

While the CPA is doing this, especially the repression (see for example the Mustansaria incident story of two days ago), facts on the ground are establishing itself in favour of the Iraqi people, their political liveliness, gradually but surely recovering from 3 decades of Saddam Hussein's repression, are creating the foundation for a united front in Iraq for democracy and independence. Day by day you feel the increased political maturity and confidence of various strands of the Iraqi society.

Mustansariya University assaulted by US occupation troops

Tuesday 13 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

Continuing on from yesterday's story, Dr. Sawsan Al-Samer, informed me that while she and her colleagues were inspecting the damage of an assault by US troops yesterday in the presence a BBC team investigating the incident, staff hurried to inform her of new assault by yet more gun wielding US troops. Dr. Al-Samer went to investigate with the BBC cameraman behind her only to be faced with about 30 excited US troops pointing their guns and shouting 'Go Go Go!', and unable to respond to her questions, like, 'what are you doing here?'. Dr. Al-Samer pointedly asked the BBC team if they had filmed this thuggish behaviour. Hopefully the BBC did report this incident of 30 US troops aggressively attacking a lone woman university lecturer. To add to the farce, US troop carriers were circling the area around the university with loudspeakers announcing that terrorist students were hiding in the area.

Dr. Al-Samer was eventually taken, along with the vice chancellor of the university, surrounded by troops still pointing their guns at them, to the US general who lead the attack. In response to Dr. Al-Samer's strong objection to their actions, the general said that he was merely obeying orders. Dr. Al-Samer responded that 'this was a bad order' and demanded that they explain the reasons for their assault, apologise to the university, and immediately pay for the severe damage they had caused to doors, furniture and computers. The US general explained that they had found pamphlets supporting the fighters of Falluja, pamphlets supporting Muqtada Al-Sadr, a student putting up a poster of Muqtada Al-Sadr on the university clock, and guns (they turned out to belong to the university's security guards for which licences had already been applied for). When Dr. Al-Samer asked the general what had happened to democracy and the right of people to express their opinions, the US general's response was that 'some opinions are bad'.

Elsewhere, Baghdad started to bustle with life, returning to some semblance normality. But after the unprovoked arrest of an aide to Muqtada Al-Sadr, Sayed Hazem al-Aaraji, at a public meeting, tensions quickly rose through Baghdad once more and the streets emptied out. The aide was later released following questioning. Tensions are rising again now that US troops are breaking the shaky ceasefire in Falluja and with US military movement around Najaf. Some suspect that the real target for US troops round Najaf is not Mugtada Al-Sader but Grand Ayotallah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani who has been the main force opposing having a puppet unrepresentative government, with his calls for direct elections in Iraq.

A Baghdad beautiful garden

Monday 12 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

While we were sitting in the beautiful garden of Dr. Sawsan Al-Samir, head of the Department of English at the Mustansariya University of Baghdad, and daughter of the late and well-respected historian Faisal Al-Samer, she received a telephone call from one of her lecturers to inform her that US troops and tanks had surrounded the university. It turned out that US troops near the gate of the university saw one of the students pull apart one of the pro-occupation newspapers in protest and moved to beat him up, which sparked a peaceful protest by fellow students. This ended in the usual US show of military might and arrest of students on the pretext of supporting Al-Sadr. The incident was somehow not considered important enough to be mentioned by the news agencies. This incident, in addition to other incidents today and in the last few days, of unprovoked shooting of civilians without even the slightest attempt to explain them, shows the meaning of the kind of democracy that the US occupation is promising Iraq. The military campaigns against the people of Falluja and Sadr city are seen by many in Iraq as only a pretext for a much wider campaign where all those that question the illegal occupation of Iraq are considered as terrorists and trouble makers that have to be dealt with.

In the holy city of Najaf, every attempt to cool down the situation (the latest deal this evening, brokered by Sayed Sistani's office, was to allow Iraqi police to do their normal policing duties with Sayed Muqtada Al-Sadr followers withdrawing from police stations) is met by more threats by the US to capture or kill Sayed Muqtada Al-Sadr, further inflaming the situation and in total violation of any local or international laws. This was met by a fatwa from Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani tonight stating that any US military moves against Karbala or Najaf will be resisted by its people.

More than 600 Iraqis have been killed in the fighting in Fallujah in the past week, the head of the city's hospital said today

Sunday 11 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

The director of Fallujah's hospital, Rafie al-Issawi, said that the statistics for the dead bodies were gathered from four main clinics around the city that had taken in casualties from Fallujah General Hospital. He also said that he received reports of an unspecified number of dead that were simply being buried in people's homes without ever coming to the clinics.

The general strike continued in Baghdad today. This made our drive through Baghdad's normally heavily congested streets much easier. Talking to taxi drivers from among the 3 million-population of Sader city, you get a sense of a great determination to achieve victory over the occupation, and a feeling that the best achievement of the Iraqi people this past week has been the reassertion of unity across the country. There have been several stories telling of how fighters and supplies were exchanged between Sader City and Fallujah.

Popular opinion holds that it is this unity combined wih the tremendous resistance that has been shown, that has forced the US authorities to seek a truce - for the time being - on both the Fallujah and Sader fronts. Another factor is perhaps the deteriorating military situation of US forces in the Abu Ghraib area, west of Baghdad, that has resulted today, amongst other things, in the downing of an Apache helicopter, the killing of two of its pilots and the capture of a third US soldier. Meanwhile, Sader City's populace have insisted that 10 US soldiers have also been captured there and are the subject of negotiations.

On the political front, discussions today by our correspondents with the editors of the progressive Arab nationalist Al-Arab newspaper, Dr. Wameth Nadmi, and the editor of the progressive left Al-Ghad Newspaper, Dr. Ibrahim Allawi, both stressed that these events have demostrated the failure of US plans to install an undemocratic and repressive puppet regime following the 'handover' of power in June. Both editors called for a broad united front able to fight for direct democratic elections under international supervision, and for an end to the occupation. The two newspapers are becoming the leading progressive opposition newspapers in Iraq, and IDAO will be publishing lengthy interviews with their editors in the coming few days.

Resistance grows more determined with escalation of US aggression

Saturday 10 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

General strike-The General Strike that was organised to take place across Iraq went ahead with around 80% participation. All universities were closed in Baghdad and the streets were remarkably empty.

Random shootings of Shiite pilgrims -One eyewitness gave us his disturbing account of the unprovoked shooting of an entire family by U.S. soldiers as they walked along the Dora highway on their way to Karbala this afternoon. Many Shiites walk on foot to Karbala for the religious ceremony of Arba’in, which is the 40th day mourning period after the anniversary of the martyrdom of the prophet's grandson, Hussein. The eyewitness was amongst those who had been driving along this same route and who were suddenly ordered to a halt by U.S. soldiers. From his car, he saw the soldiers turn their guns on the family before beginning to shoot at the men, women and young children alike in what can only be described as an act of cold, bloody murder. Many similar incidents are reported to have taken place today with U.S. soldiers shooting to kill innocent, unarmed, pilgrims with the very kind of impunity and nonchalance perfected by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian occupied territory.

Negotiations in Falluja - Negotiations have been underway in Falluja to bring about an end to the fighting. The Americans demanded that the people of Falluja handover those who had been responsible for the killing of four American security men last week. In return, the people of Falluja demanded that the U.S. military handover those pilots responsible for the devastating air bombardment of Falluja for their part in the mass killing of innocents. This week’s siege has killed 450 Iraqis and wounded 1,000. They also asked that they hand over those soldiers responsible for mutilating the dead bodies of those killed in the fighting.

Outrage at the Falluja genocide by US forces

Friday 9 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

At least 450 Iraqis were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in US bombing of Falluja this week, the director of the main hospital said. A general strike was announced today for the next 3 days, while resistance spread to west Baghdad in an attempt to cut supplies to US forces attacking Falluja.

The public outrage at the atrocities by US forces in Falluja has even forced one member of the US appointed Governing Council, Adnan Al-Pachachi, to call it 'illegal and totally unacceptable'. Another member of the Governing Council, Abdul Karim Mahood, suspended his membership after meeting Sayed Muktada Al-Sader in Najaf, while the minister of Human Rights, Abdul Baset Turki, announced his resignation in protest.

One significant development today is the attack on a US fuel convey by resistance fighters in Abu Ghraib on the outskirts of Baghdad where 9 people including few US soldiers where killed. Hundreds of fighters were apparently moving freely in the area and threatening to cut US army supplies to the forces surrounding Falluja. Attacks on US forces in Mousel, Bagouba and other cities and town across Iraq has meant that US forces are facing for the first time since the occupation one year ago the combined problems of political isolation, increased unity within Iraq and widespread armed resistance. For the Iraqi people, one year from occupation, what they see are more atrocities (one person called it the same as Saddam's mass graves but only more public), insecurity and near collapse of infrastructure.

Another development today has been the public support to the resistance by Iran's influential politician, Mr. Rafsanjani.

As we sleep tonight, we hear many more loud bombings in Baghdad, and anticipate the mass protests of the next 3 days. The Iraqi people need more than ever the support of the people of the world in their struggle for independence, democracy and security.

Increased isolution of US occupation forces in Iraq

Thursday 8 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

The political talk in Iraq is increasingly that of popular uprising rather than just resistance to the occupation, with US forces feeling ever more isolated and more prone to open fire on the population at will.

Nothing more symbolised this than overhearing today, at US military checkpoint on the road to the airport, a US soldier telling his mates that all mosques must be attacked and destroyed... the occupation forces increasingly see all Iraqi's as their enemies. On the other hand many Iraqi's are switching to supporting the uprising, putting increasing pressure on political forces sitting on the fence. Reports from Falloja, Najaf and elsewhere indicate a large increase in the number of armed people joining the resistance forces and of broad popular support for the resistance. At this stage it seems unlikely that US forces will be able to quell such widespread popular resistance. One report today is of the people of Sader City taking 10 US soldiers prisoners the previous day, and of negotiations to exchange them for Iraqi prisoners.

On the way to a public meeting in the Zayona district of Baghdad today we passed many Red Cross and other cars filled with medical and food supplies to help the people of Falloja, later on stopped and shot at by US forces encircling the city. You also see thousands of people walking on foot to Kerballa to commemorate the Arba'enia of Imam Hussein martyrdom. More than 2 million Shia pilgrims are expected to be in Kerballa by Sunday, some were shot at today, mistaken by US forces for Sayed Muktada Sadder supporters, others were forced to sit on the street, virtual prisoners, unaware or uncaring of the huge anger that this creates in the consciousness of religious people prevented from continuing their two day march.

Today's Zayona public meeting, see picture, was organised by the 'Free officers and civilians organisation' mostly made of ex-officers opposed to the previous regime. The discussions on the causes of the present crisis and how to deal with it where heated, but there was a clear majority of the 100 people attending for condemning the US attacks on Falojja and Sader City, and calls for stiffer resistance to US occupation, while some argued for patience.

Tomorrow it is expected that most people in Baghdad will observe a national strike.

US suppression in Iraq was planned weeks ago

Wednesday 7 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

'From Najaf to Falluja we will not give Iraq away!' This was the slogan chanted by students demonstrating in Baghdad University today. Elsewhere in Baghdad, people were donating blood for the victims of a U.S. bombing, symbolising the tremendous wave of unity and opposition to the occupation that is now sweeping across Iraq.

In Baghdad, most universities and schools, which closed today at 4 pm this afternoon, as well as mosques, all called for demonstrations both in solidarity with the people of Falluja, Najaf and other cities resisting the occupation, and as an expression of their anger at US forces who opened fire on peaceful demonstrators at Fardous square yesterday. There is no doubt that Baghdad is closer than ever to an uprising, made even more possible by the renewed sense of unity among its people.

In other developments this afternoon, fighters from 'Al-Shu’la City' district of Baghdad advanced north-west to take over the Ghazalia Bridge so that they could make contact with the people of Falluja currently under siege by U.S. forces. As our readers may have heard from the news, the people of Falluja have been bombed from the air by cluster bombs and are in dire need of medical supplies, US forces stopped a Red Cross Ambulance from reaching the town.

Elsewhere in Iraq, resistance fighters in the south took control of Nasiriya and Kut, and are making gains in Amara.

There are many indications that these latest confrontations were planned well ahead by US authorities in an attempt to suppress any opposition to its plans to have a phoney government in Baghdad after June that guarantees a long term US occupation of Iraq and control of its oil. Indeed, in a confidential memo circulated to foreign companies operating in Iraq more than 6 weeks ago, the CPA has warned these companies of possible deterioration in the security situation and assured them of a place within the well-protected 'Green zone' in the event of disturbances. The targets of U.S. suppression will not only be the people of Falluja or followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, but they will also include all democratic forces who dare question the illegal U.S. presence in Iraq. These tactics seem to be a direct copy of those employed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, but the CPA, through its unsurpassed incompetence and arrogance, has miscalculated the strength of opposition to its plans and the unity of the Iraqi people.

US occupation forces seems set to loose control of large parts of Iraq

Tuesday 6 April, from IDAO's correspondent in Baghdad

Entering Iraq from Jordan we encountered the first signs of occupation, few US soldiers at the cross point and several nervous armed body guards in the street leading from the cross point with machine guans at the ready, looking menacingly at all cars crossing their positions, and anxiously waiting for something to arrive. It turned out that they were waiting for dozen or so oil tankers loaded with fuel destined for US forces down the highway, perhaps those surrounding the town of Falloja. As we drove nearly 350 kilometres on the road from the Iraqi-Jordanian border to Baghdad and stopped at several places we encountered not a single US soldier or policemen, as if these parts of Iraq where already self governed. People we spoke to were telling us news of the uprisings in Sader city in Baghdad and in Flloja and Azamia, and they were clearly all hostile to the occupation.

Passing Ramadi, where few USA tanks were on its outskirts, the highway was blocked by US soldiers surrounding Falloja, our car and another three in our convoy were ordered to leave the highway, and we choose to drive to Baghdad via Al-Tajee. Again USA presence in the countryside seemed to evaporate, to be replaced few miles down the road by a roadblock with armed people from the resistance, freely mingling with the supportive local population and apparently in full control of the town centre. This open defiance of the occupation, coupled with the stories we heard today of the occupation by Sayed Sadder followers of town centres in the south of Iraq and in the Shuala district of Baghdad, point to a new phase in the resistance to the occupation, part in the increased unity of people from different parts of Iraq, and part the inability of occupying USA and British forces to keep pace with the widespread resistance.