Cynthia Banas
Voices in The Wilderness
From the Occupied City of Baghdad
October 13, 2003

From October 2002-2003 I lived in Iraq: during the build-up to the war, during the war, the bombardment , the invasion, the “liberation”, and the occupation. Returning to the States, I accepted many invitations to speak about my experiences in Iraq, and was gratified that so many people were eager for information about Iraq; especially from a perspective different from the USA official view.

12 days ago I returned to Baghdad to rejoin members of the Voices in the Wilderness Team. We are here to renew acquaintances with friends, to listen to their stories; to be present to them; to communicate these stories to people back in the U.S.A.. A strong bond was formed between people who remained with the ordinary Iraqis during the terribly anxious time of the build-up to war, the reality of war and all its terror, the bombardment, the looting, the very short “liberation” which turned into an inept, unbelievably cruel occupation in which the Iraqis are once again the victims. And the American soldiers are also victims. They are victims of fear caused by many factors, among them, irresponsibility and failure of the people who planned this war. The number of suicides of American soldiers here is increasing and 478 soldiers were sent home for mental-health reasons. (USA TODAY-Gregory Zoroya)

During my first days here I continually recalled the great classic Italian films of post World War II; Open City and Two Women. The scourge and stench of the Plague of War envelops this once beautiful city and its people. I am overcome with sadness.

All the physical deprivations of which you have read: no or little electricity, water, food shortages, poor medical system, breakdown of the school and university systems and the social security pension plan bring untold suffering to people. And the desperation of people seeking work is epidemic. During the depth of the Great Depression in the U.S.A. 23% of workers were unemployed. In Iraq 60% of workers are unemployed and seeking work. Can one even imagine the agony and suffering of these people who are skilled and willing workers. Powerful and corrupt International Corporations who are ripping off billions in the “reconstruction” of Iraq (We had to destroy the village to save it -Vietnam War Tactic) bring into Iraq laborers from Bangladesh and India and other poor countries to work at slave wages while Iraqis go jobless. Can one imagine such hard-heartedness and disregard for human feeling? As Gandhi says “It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow human beings.”

In addition to all the physical deprivations, is the long list of societal and cultural disintegration.There is scant security (which is the Occupier’s responsibility, i.e. the United States) Drugs have now infiltrated the country. The invaders and occupiers have little sensitivity to the history, and the religious and cultural conditions in Iraq. People are afraid to leave their homes. Young women are kidnapped and raped. Crime is rampant. The occupiers’ new police force is made up of released criminals and former soldiers and trained by members of the New York City Police Force notorious for its brutality.

Perhaps most humiliating and cruelest of all is that now the Iraqis are captives in their own land. First under Saddam and now under United States Americans. We accompanied Iraqi friends to the U.S.Consul to obtain a U.S. visa. The information officer told us that Iraqis must travel to a bordering country to apply for a visa from the U.S. Embassy in that country. However, when most Iraqis reach the Jordanian border, they are not allowed to enter Jordan.

All for now from Baghdad, a city of fear, walls and razor wire.

Cynthia Banas