[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Re: Iraq, report from NGO workers there

[Alfred Kagan]

FYI
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>Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 12:25 AM
>Subject: Re: Iraq, report from NGO workers there
>
>In a message dated 9/22/2004 9:41:28 AM Central 
>Standard Time, 
><mailto:toubabou at mwt.net>toubabou at mwt.net writes:
>
>Here are some words on the Iraq situation from a 
>man with whom I served in the Peace Corps. He is 
>still working in development, over the years 
>working in such places as Bosnia, Afghanistan, 
>Darfur, Cambodia, among other tourist spots:
>
><Dear Family & Friends:
>
>
>
>I just returned from a week in Amman, Jordan 
>where I ran a workshop for UNHCR for Iraqi 
>government and NGO representatives on the 
>management of displacement emergencies - i.e. 
>the Iraqi people charged with responding to the 
>emergency needs of the refugees, internally 
>displaced, war-affected and others uprooted by 
>the years of conflict in that country. 
>
>
>
>Through discussions in the workshop, over meals, 
>after hours, I tried to understand their take on 
>the present occupation, to understand their 
>thoughts on what the international community - 
>especially the "multi-national" force, as they 
>politely referred to it - should be doing in or 
>for that war-torn place.  I found the Iraqi 
>participants to be a very hospitable, warm 
>people, and they displayed a very traditional, 
>deep respect for anyone who is viewed as "their 
>teacher" (completely undeserved on my part of 
>course!)  They were, as a result of that 
>respect, however, at first reticent to offer 
>words to me that might be construed in any way 
>as confrontational.  In time, however, as we 
>became close, it was clear.  They told me over 
>lunch:  "Thank you (for removing Saddam)Šbut now 
>it is time for the US to leave." 
>
>
>
>When I cited the argument that politicians on 
>the right and left have offered - that if the US 
>were to pull out now, there would be chaos - 
>they looked at me incredulouslyŠlike I had just 
>arrived from another planet.   They said: 
>"We've had nothing but chaos for a year and a 
>half nowŠbecause of the occupation.  Leave, and 
>we will have one or two or three months of 
>problems that we will take care of.  But what is 
>important is that we will take care of them.  It 
>is time for the US to leave."
>
>
>
>These were not radicals seeking a way to 
>reinstitute Saddam or find a room in the palace 
>for Al-Qaeda.  These were sensitive, sensible, 
>humanitarian workers inside the current 
>government or from internationally-funded NGOs 
>who are trying to find a path through the chaos. 
>I have no doubt someone can find Iraqis who will 
>offer other advice.  But this is what my 
>workshop participants expressed.  
>
>
>
>I just thought some of you might be interested 
>in a perspective that we don't hear too often 
>here in the StatesŠ.
>
>
>
>Best regards to all,
>
>
>
>Jeff
>
>
>
>Partner
>
>InterWorks, LLC
>
>116 North Few Street
>
>Madison, WI  53703
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>tel:  608-251-9440
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>fax:  608-251-9150
>
>www.interworksmadison.com
>
>


-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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