School children mentioned in the article who threw rocks at four humvees as they drove by their school (photo: Cathy Breen)

By Cathy Breen
Amman, Jordan
Tursday, March 10, 2005

Dear Friends,

Last night I ran into two Iraqi men that I know. They had recently arrived from Baghdad. We were stunned to see each other after so many months. One of the men is a trusted and beloved young friend. I have been to his family home, know his widowed mother and several of his family members. He is like a son to me.

We sat and spoke for a long time. I want to relate some of our conversation. Sadly, I cannot use their names as it would put them at too great a risk.

How are people doing; how are they managing? I asked.

“It is getting worse day by day” was their response. The aunt of one of the men suffered broken legs and her husband was killed when a U.S. tank crushed their car. The other lost an innocent friend to U.S. bullets.

“After 7:00pm (at the latest 8:00pm) most of Baghdad is closed down and very dangerous…” My young friend related how he had lost track of time while in an internet cafe. When he left the cafe, he found the streets deserted. No taxis, no buses. “A horrible deep silence” he said. “If you would drop a needle, it would make a loud noise in your ears!” He was terrified and walked along the street close to the houses, thinking that if he were to be fired upon he would bang on the doors or try to leap over a wall.