2008 Woodie Awards
R-N Student Returns to War-Torn Country of Birth: Iraq
Lev D. Zilbermints
Issue date: 12/12/05 Section: News
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Aladdin also remembers driving by the "really huge" Abu Ghraib prison, where Saddam Hussein once tortured his citizens and where American soldiers infamously photographed Iraqi prisoners in humiliating and torturing positions.
According to Aladdin, Abu Gharib is "packed" with prisoners. The U.S. and Iraq governments are now building additions to the prison.
"The problem is that there is so many prisons you never hear about. Saddam had many prisons - and they were taken over by the Americans," he said.
Aladdin explained that when Saddam's regime fell, all the prisons were opened and the prisoners released. There was "difficulty in distinguishing [between political and criminal] prisoners."
According to Aladdin, the insurgency includes more than just Sunnis - the sect of Islam that is a minority in Iraq but which held power under Hussein. "The insurgency is made of Iraqis in general. There are groups of Shia and Kurds that are fed up with coalition troops."
Lack of unity between the Iraqis is the main problem in Iraq. But Baghdad and a few other places are more integrated than the rest of the country, said Aladdin.
"There was a lot of unity in Baghdad. The Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds have been living in Iraq for hundreds of years. We never had these problems before. Baghdad is more integrated. I could not tell the difference between Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurds," he said.
Aladdin's uncle lives next to Christian and Shia families. Aladdin says that the families are so close that his uncle keeps duplicates of his neighbors' keys at home in case of an emergency.
Asked about how Iraqis feel about the war, Aladdin said that there were different opinions.
"Iraqis are fed up with both sides. Some people are for the insurgency. Some are for the Americans, and everything in between," he says.
Many abductions or kidnappings in Iraq are done against those who work for the Americans, said Aladdin. In Iraq, such people are looked upon as "informants and traitors to the country." However, some abductions are done by criminals only seeking ransom money.
Although the U.S.-led coalition says it's trying to help the country transition, many Iraqis still cannot depend on utilities such as water and electricity.
"Americans control the power grid and water grid. Here is how it works. When Iraqis 'behave' Americans allow them to have a bit more electricity. When they 'misbehave' Americans cut off power," he says.
"It is almost as if the Americans treat Iraqis as little kids. It is a slap in the face."
According to Aladdin, Abu Gharib is "packed" with prisoners. The U.S. and Iraq governments are now building additions to the prison.
"The problem is that there is so many prisons you never hear about. Saddam had many prisons - and they were taken over by the Americans," he said.
Aladdin explained that when Saddam's regime fell, all the prisons were opened and the prisoners released. There was "difficulty in distinguishing [between political and criminal] prisoners."
According to Aladdin, the insurgency includes more than just Sunnis - the sect of Islam that is a minority in Iraq but which held power under Hussein. "The insurgency is made of Iraqis in general. There are groups of Shia and Kurds that are fed up with coalition troops."
Lack of unity between the Iraqis is the main problem in Iraq. But Baghdad and a few other places are more integrated than the rest of the country, said Aladdin.
"There was a lot of unity in Baghdad. The Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds have been living in Iraq for hundreds of years. We never had these problems before. Baghdad is more integrated. I could not tell the difference between Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurds," he said.
Aladdin's uncle lives next to Christian and Shia families. Aladdin says that the families are so close that his uncle keeps duplicates of his neighbors' keys at home in case of an emergency.
Asked about how Iraqis feel about the war, Aladdin said that there were different opinions.
"Iraqis are fed up with both sides. Some people are for the insurgency. Some are for the Americans, and everything in between," he says.
Many abductions or kidnappings in Iraq are done against those who work for the Americans, said Aladdin. In Iraq, such people are looked upon as "informants and traitors to the country." However, some abductions are done by criminals only seeking ransom money.
Although the U.S.-led coalition says it's trying to help the country transition, many Iraqis still cannot depend on utilities such as water and electricity.
"Americans control the power grid and water grid. Here is how it works. When Iraqis 'behave' Americans allow them to have a bit more electricity. When they 'misbehave' Americans cut off power," he says.
"It is almost as if the Americans treat Iraqis as little kids. It is a slap in the face."