NEWS: Uppity Iraqi Women DonÂ’t Want Acid Thrown in Their Faces

POLITICS: Uppity Iraqi Women Don’t Want Acid Thrown in Their Faces

Life is getting more and more dangerous for the women of Iraq. They are longing for the good old days - of Saddam Hussein. How fucked up does life have to be if it was better under Saddam, the torturer, murderer, tyrant guy?

Acid? Fucking acid? It seems during SaddamÂ’s reign women werenÂ’t as terrified of daily living but with the total disintegration of security, itÂ’s a whole new world.

And womenÂ’s unemployment has shot up, now twice as high of that for men. No surprise, womenÂ’s poverty is also higher. And their husbands being killed does not help the situation. Women now complain there of frequent denials of womenÂ’s rights, especially in matters related to divorce. They are seldom entrusted with senior government positions, while their contribution to political debate is rarely taken seriously.

The words of Mrs. Mahmoud are especially poignant.

For the life of me, i cannot understand why the average joe on the street would actually want fundamentalism. Why should the average person give two shits if another person is working or doing whatever that doesn't affect them?

I've always put it down to idealism mixed with a kind of ruthless narcissism - the result of 'world visions' turned nasty.

I've met a lot of Iraqis who have moved to the UK from their native country - all extremely nice and well-adjusted people who just couldn't continue their lives in Iraq anymore. Meanwhile, all the fundamentalist nutcases who have a point to prove are staying, as are the poor who cannot escape. Of course this kind of abuse would be the result.

Edited because I can't spell to save my life.

[Edited on Apr 26, 2006 by Flinty]

Bring back Saddam!

Bring back a semblance of law and order. ThatÂ’s not too much to ask.

I think it may be more accurate to say that reports of rape, murder and assault against women are now more widespread.

Those who suffered this under Saddam would probably have had their whole families raped, murdered or assaulted if they had kicked up a fuss. Probably by a member of Saddam's family.
Statistics tend to go up in democracies (or messes mascarading as democracies) due to the increase in reports rather than crimes.

Also, the fact is that a lot of people in this world don't want democracy. Its something the West often finds hard to understand.

Having said that, itis a fucking mess, isn't it?

[Edited on Apr 26, 2006 4:50PM]

I think Nokturn has the right of it.

Lot's of sensastionalism and not a lot of fact. Plenty of stuff to react to on an emotional level.

Here in Amerika we only know what we are told and the slant of the writer be it in the US or some source like the BBC ~ so, jumping on any emotional bandwagon (the plight of the woman on the bus) is isolated as an example and fruitless at best.

cheers!

I think the basic problem is that under Saddam people had an out. Largely, they wouldn’t tortured, kidnapped, raped or murdered – if they didn’t kick up a fuss. Yes, that is a horrible situation to live under. But it was stable. Now, any of that horrible stuff could happen if they just go outside.

Out forces have not been providing adequate safety and security. This is the most basic function of government. We are not fulfilling it. ItÂ’s understandable to think why the Iraqis might want someone who does. Some Iraqis think Saddam provided it. If that is the case, why wouldnÂ’t they think he was preferable?

It is a mess isn't it?

Is there anything the US gets into that it doesn't fuck up? Things were "better" with Saddam, but they didn't like his face so they went and bombed the country. US = fail.

I agree. I have lots of friends and family who has fled from other war-torn, formerly tyrannical countries who say the same thing. Given the choice between the tyranny of militant order or the tyranny of the chaotic masses they'd prefer the former. Which just shows you how dire these people's lives are.

I take articles that are critical of the Iraq war far more seriously than the gooey tripe espoused by our respective governments about how it was such a well thought out and effective operation. Such propaganda disturbs me more, when they refuse to even discuss the possibility that people are suffering as a result of our actions (or non-actions, as the case may be among our forces now).

This is what happens when you allow wahabist gangs to cross the border from neighbouring countries ( hint hint saudia arabia). You still haven't see the extension of hezbollah into the peri-iranian territories. Thats when honur killing begin and cheiftan trails take over from the court of law.

Have you actually seen the mass graves that Saddam produced? I think that it is a little rediculous to say that if I'm a kurd and my best friends entire family is wiped out that I should just quiet down so I don't get killed too. Where is your freedom from oppresion spirit? Have you been to the palestinian neighborhoods south of Sadr? Who used to fear death squads (provided by the government) and now only worry about the sewage backup in their main market area. I'm currently in Baghdad, east side of the Nahr Dishal(tigris). I've spent five months on the ground(including the elections. You should have seen how people were so proud of their blue thumbs) including over one hundred and fifty missions in the Mullhalahs, I see your opinion(you are intitled to it) as misguided and lacking first hand expierience.

Example: If you ask someone from the U.S. who is in the middle-upper class and higher about the current adiminstration, I'm sure that most would think everything there in the U.S is absolutely fine too. Which I'm sure we are able to say that major social change needs to happen.

The point is this, yes security can be better. Yes there are lots of people coming in from neighboring countries who like to see the government turn fundamentalist. But people are not dying in droves. Mass murder is not occuring. Iraqi forces are doing more and more patroling without the help of the U.S.

Also, under Saddam's government most girls went to school until they were twelve. Boys until they were sixteen. I was just by Baghdad University a couple days ago and I saw plenty of females students in western attire.

Fuck that is depressing

that's the the point

encouraging and heart warming news from Iraq is not reported

no mileage

I knew someone would pull out the Al Jazeera card, so I found an article from very conservative paper as a counter balance. And it being a year old isn't good news as the situation has only become worse in Iraq. Al Jazeera is a legitimate news source, just not one that gives the opinions the west wants to hear. Which, I think, would be a good thing.

He pulled the Moonie Times card, not the Al Jazeera card.

Actually, he pulled both.

These articles are from sources a lot more reliable.

Fair enough. From now on I will only use unbiased news sources. Like the New York Times. Solid, trustworthy, respected news sources.

The post directly above you gives some good sources.

No need to get snarky.

as if that's worse?????

I'm tired. I've been working all night. Sorry.

Democracy cannot come but for those who wish it for themselves and choose it. It is not something that can be forced onto a people.

Nor can good behavior - unless you start shooting on sight to make your point, but then we'd be right back where we started anyways.



[Edited on Apr 26, 2006 2:59PM]