[Baghdad Journal] Day Five (March 18)

[Wade Hudson]

Day Five (March 18)

by Wade Hudson

Knowing that the impending storm may cut off communications with the
outside world any day now, our Andalus Hotel affinity group meets for
breakfast and proceeds with preparing for the crisis ahead.

One group member comments that we should avoid reinforcing negative
attitudes by talking about .when. the war will begin, but rather say
.if,.  since the war still may not happen. I respond by saying that I
try to program myself with positive thinking by reminding myself, "For
every loss, there is a gain." In this case, I believe that an invasion
of Iraq will provoke a massive, global reaction that could raise the
global democracy movement to a new level of effectiveness. Zehira
responds by telling us that in Canada, they have a similar expression,
namely, "Every time a door closes, a window opens." Someone injects
another positive note with another quote, "We hope for that which we
do not see."

After our meeting, Lisa and I go gather provisions for our crash kits from
the basement at the El Fanar. Then Robert and I go shopping for items that
we still need. We’re told to go to a “supermarket” a short distance away.
But what the locals here call a “supermarket” is no larger than a corner
grocery in San Francisco, so Robert and I walk right by the store the
first time we pass it. Eventually, however, we get most of what we need,
though we have to substitute Kleenex for toilet paper.

The streets of Baghdad clearly reflect the punishing effects of twelve
years of military and economic warfare. Most of the cars are old and beat
up. The sidewalks are in a horrible state of disrepair. Garbage strewn
about is common. Many storefronts are closed. There are very few signs of
new construction. I’m told that Baghdad was once a beautiful city, but now
it strikes me as old, dirty, and falling apart.

At our evening meeting, Martin reports that when he went shopping for
excavation tools, he shared a copy of the “magic sheet” in one store, and
the next thing that he knew, the store owner was sending “runners” to
nearby stores to get items that he needed, such as a crowbar, a safety
helmet, pliers, and a utility knife, free of charge. All in all, he was
overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and generosity of the people that he
encountered.

A major item of discussion concerned a meeting that morning with Wadaa
from the Foreign Ministry.s office. He once again suggested that we
reduce our numbers. Kathy and the others once again argued strongly
against it.  Kathy gave him a list of peace activists in other
countries who.ve come to Baghdad with IPT, or who otherwise have close
ties with Voices. She argued that in these ways, Voices and IPT have
contributed greatly to the anti-war movement, and will continue to be
able to do so if allowed to stay in the country.

Cliff also reported that Wadaa said that a tent encampment with the
ability to move to the hospital as well as to the water treatment
plant might be possible. Though this plan would not provide folks with
as much mobility as they desire, it still is a possibility that they
are giving serious consideration.

After some discussion, we decide to call our Human Rights Monitoring
Team the War Crimes Monitoring Team and select Zehira, Stewart, and
myself as coordinators of that team.

I go to bed early and sleep soundly.