By Dahr Jamail

AMMAN, Jordan, Jan 11 (IPS) - It has been nearly two years since Fernando Suarez del Solar’s son Jesus, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marines, died during the invasion of Iraq.

The father’s grief is still fierce, but rather than succumbing to feelings of vengeance, he has chosen instead to bring medical aid to Iraqi children and speak out against what he believes is an unjust and ill-advised war.

Suarez has every right to be angry. He was initially told that his son, one of the first U.S. casualties, was killed by a gunshot to the head on Mar. 27, 2003. Later, Suarez was informed that his 20-year-old son was killed by a landmine.

Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail

AMMAN, Jan 7 (IPS) - Families of some U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq plan a strong protest to mark the second anniversary of the invasion. The group ‘Military Families Speak Out’ will hold a demonstration in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the United States March 19.

As of now 1,340 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq.

“We’ll be working with our allies in the peace movement all around the world to send a clear message that the whole world says we reject this war and the illegal and unjust occupation of Iraq,” a member of the delegation told IPS on its recent visit to Amman.

The delegation included members of three families of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq. But members claim the support of many more families who have lost their kin.

Hattim and his family. (Dahr Jamail)

The dump is a dusty wasteland. Heaps of Baghdad’s rotting wastes are strewn about several square miles of the battered capital city. Engaged in their futile battle to remove the endless amounts of garbage from streets, blue garbage trucks rumble through the stinky dump, adding their loads of filth.

32 year-old Hattim lives in this wasteland with his family.

Dahr Jamail

11 Dec.
“My list is now 32,” says Salam as he arrives at the hotel, “Now 32 of my friends have been killed.”

He still has tears in his eyes, even though he’s being stoic. Another of his friends has been shot and killed.

“You know I feel like shit every time I add someone to my list. Sometimes it feels like it is every day,” he says.

Welcome to Iraq. Where the news gets better with each passing day.

By Dahr Jamail

Two weeks ago someone was allowed into Fallujah by the military to help bury bodies. They were allowed to take photographs of 75 bodies, in order to show pictures to relatives so that they might be identified before they were buried.

These pictures are from a book of photos. They are being circulated publicly around small villages near Fallujah where many refugees are staying.

The man who took them was only allowed to take photos and bury bodies in one small area of Fallujah. He was not allowed to visit anywhere else. Keep in mind there are at least 1,925 other bodies that were not allowed to be seen.

Warning: The following photos are extremely graphic