New Iraq Tastes American
by Samir Haddad, IOL Correspondent
BAGHDAD (IslamOnline.net) – After less than one year and a half of occupation, the so-called “new” Iraq tastes American, even in its newly-minted laws and everyday lifestyle.
The most striking feature was the new National Safety Defense Law passed by the interim government of Iyad Allawi on July 7. http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-07/07/article03.shtml
Iraqi interim Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin, who also holds American nationality, compared the measure to the US “Patriot Act”, which was imposed after the 9/11 attacks and allows secret eavesdropping and unwarranted raids.
Iraqis were divided over the law, with some believing it was targeting the legitimate Iraqi resistance that launch almost daily attacks against the US-led occupation troops. http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/200407/09/article04.shtmlTitles
Titles
Noticeably, titles of senior Iraqi officials also indicated the turnabout since the US forces thrust into Baghdad in April last year.
A post of National Security Advisor, now occupied by Muafaq Al-Bubaie, was introduced for the first time in Iraq, and probably the entire Arab world.
Observers see the portfolio as nothing but the imitation of the American post held by Condoleezza Rice.
Iraqi ministers are also escorted by American-styled bodyguards.
Even the uniforms of US-trained Iraqi forces bear a great similarity to those of American soldiers, making it hard to distinguish between them.
Iraqi policemen wear on their arms American-styled patches with English acronyms carrying the names of their affiliated force.
Even the new Iraqi police cars are similar to the Americans, with doors painted in blue and the word “Police” largely written on them.
Women Soldiers
Women were also enlisted in the new Iraqi army, for the first time ever in the Arab country, after being trained outside Iraq.
The “Americanization”, to put it in the words of some analysts, has been also extended to sports.
The American baseball game was introduced to Iraqi clubs, although it has not been known before to Iraqis, mostly fascinated with football matches.
A number of clubs have competed in a baseball tournament organized after teams were formed.
American Trial
Observers also noticed that the trial of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein looked American with Saddam, the defendant, sitting in a courtroom with no dock.
In schools, students were handed out bags and notebooks carrying a picture of two hands shaking each other, the slogan of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Samir Haddad
IslamOnline http://www.islamonline.net
Please also see:
The interim Prime Minister of Iraq
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/07/292708.shtml
Iraqi PM - Allawi shot prisoners in cold blood: witnesses; http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6498.htm
Salem Al-Jalbi: Between the Pentagon and Alon Shvot http://s023.dyndns.org/kawther/K20040716A.html
Congresswoman Corrine Brown Censured by U.S. Congress:
Comments Stricken from Record
07/16/04: Representative Brown said, “I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat. We need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Over and over again after the election when you stole the election, you came back here and said get over it. No we're not going to get over it and we want verification from the world.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6505.htm
by Samir Haddad, IOL Correspondent
BAGHDAD (IslamOnline.net) – After less than one year and a half of occupation, the so-called “new” Iraq tastes American, even in its newly-minted laws and everyday lifestyle.
The most striking feature was the new National Safety Defense Law passed by the interim government of Iyad Allawi on July 7. http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-07/07/article03.shtml
Iraqi interim Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin, who also holds American nationality, compared the measure to the US “Patriot Act”, which was imposed after the 9/11 attacks and allows secret eavesdropping and unwarranted raids.
Iraqis were divided over the law, with some believing it was targeting the legitimate Iraqi resistance that launch almost daily attacks against the US-led occupation troops. http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/200407/09/article04.shtmlTitles
Titles
Noticeably, titles of senior Iraqi officials also indicated the turnabout since the US forces thrust into Baghdad in April last year.
A post of National Security Advisor, now occupied by Muafaq Al-Bubaie, was introduced for the first time in Iraq, and probably the entire Arab world.
Observers see the portfolio as nothing but the imitation of the American post held by Condoleezza Rice.
Iraqi ministers are also escorted by American-styled bodyguards.
Even the uniforms of US-trained Iraqi forces bear a great similarity to those of American soldiers, making it hard to distinguish between them.
Iraqi policemen wear on their arms American-styled patches with English acronyms carrying the names of their affiliated force.
Even the new Iraqi police cars are similar to the Americans, with doors painted in blue and the word “Police” largely written on them.
Women Soldiers
Women were also enlisted in the new Iraqi army, for the first time ever in the Arab country, after being trained outside Iraq.
The “Americanization”, to put it in the words of some analysts, has been also extended to sports.
The American baseball game was introduced to Iraqi clubs, although it has not been known before to Iraqis, mostly fascinated with football matches.
A number of clubs have competed in a baseball tournament organized after teams were formed.
American Trial
Observers also noticed that the trial of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein looked American with Saddam, the defendant, sitting in a courtroom with no dock.
In schools, students were handed out bags and notebooks carrying a picture of two hands shaking each other, the slogan of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Samir Haddad
IslamOnline http://www.islamonline.net
Please also see:
The interim Prime Minister of Iraq
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/07/292708.shtml
Iraqi PM - Allawi shot prisoners in cold blood: witnesses; http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6498.htm
Salem Al-Jalbi: Between the Pentagon and Alon Shvot http://s023.dyndns.org/kawther/K20040716A.html
Congresswoman Corrine Brown Censured by U.S. Congress:
Comments Stricken from Record
07/16/04: Representative Brown said, “I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat. We need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Over and over again after the election when you stole the election, you came back here and said get over it. No we're not going to get over it and we want verification from the world.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6505.htm