Wadha Abdullah Hussein
Accountant
Wadha Abdullah Hussein (38) works as an accountant in a transport firm. He was forced out of university under Saddam Hussein’s regime before he had finished a degree in microbiology and had trouble finding work. He welcomed the war.
”I believe there was a desperate need for America and Britain to overthrow this fascist and dictatorial regime,” he said. ”I believe most Iraqis appreciate what the Americans and British have done in Iraq. Now we will go through a critical stage until the government and the elections are settled and I think that after elections the situation will improve.
”There must be a cost for freedom and democracy. In the French revolution there were casualties, in the Russian revolutions there were casualties. Now we need to unite to make Iraq a good country.”
He has joined the National Democratic party, one of many small political parties that emerged in the past year. ”There is a new political life coming and we are on the way to building a democracy with decent and free elections.
”Personally, I hope I can go back and finish my studies now.”
Majid Hamid
Photographer
For 30 years Majid Hamid (74) worked for Iraqi state television, until he was forced out more than a decade ago. Since then he has worked as a photographer.
”I hope we can have a decent government that will work for the sake of the people and to have them elected as a democratic government as in western countries,” he said. ”Then Iraqis will be free to speak their minds. What I don’t like is that there are so many different political parties in Iraq, each working for themselves. I hope there will be a big coalition of parties which can agree and discuss issues.
”Iraqi people have got tired and they mistrust governments. They need time.”
He hopes to return one day to his job at state television. ”I didn’t have my chance to give everything that I have, to work creatively. I want that chance again.”
Mayada Anam
Shop worker
Mayada Anam (26) works in a stationery shop at Mustansiriya University. Since the war last year she has become much more cautious about her own security.
”No matter what bad things people said about the previous regime at least we had security. It was a firm ground you could stand on.
”Now I have to be escorted to work by someone from my family, before the war I would come on my own. The latest time we go out in the day is 3pm or 4pm. Any later than that and we are worried about kidnapping, harassment, carjacking, all kinds of things. Even in the mornings we are not safe.”
She is dismissive of the new government, arguing that since there were no elections the new ministers have little legitimacy.
”The new government has no role in our country, it is just a screen for the Americans.”
Mohammad Asadi
University worker
Mohammad Asadi (26) who works at Mustansiriya University, is sceptical about the new government. He is so worried about the crime rate in Baghdad that he thinks the feared security forces that once operated under Saddam should return to work.
”Security is the main issue. Maybe we should bring back the special security and intelligence forces. They should be controlled by a real government, not some puppet regime,” he said.
”Wages are getting better but people are misunderstanding freedom and what it means. I am a strong guy but sometimes I take my pistol with me when I go out to protect myself.
”The Americans are the cause of all our problems but if they leave it will be chaos. That’s our dilemma. When they first came I was telling everyone the Americans are my friends and my relatives. Now they have let me down.”
Marwan Issam
Computer games seller
Marwan Issam (26) the owner of a computer games shop, lives in a Sunni suburb of Baghdad that has been a hotbed of resistance to the American occupation. Although he is glad Saddam has gone, he is strongly critical of the US occupation that followed.
”I was in the army when the Americans invaded Iraq. Everyone is motivated to defend their own country, despite the fact we didn’t have enough power or equipment. In the end we were all happy that Saddam was removed from power but we didn’t want it done in this violent way that has brought such distortion to Iraq.
”We have things now we didn’t have before, like the internet, mobile phones and satellite television but the quality is not as good as we expected. And we still don’t have enough electricity.
”I believe we are going to end up like the Gulf states: we won’t be under occupation but we won’t have real sovereignty either. The government will be controlled from behind the scenes.”
Saad Hamadi Mostafa
Policeman
Traffic policeman Inspector Saad Hamadi Mostafa (47) is hopeful about the future and shrugs off the great danger that now faces policemen like him across Iraq. ”Our job is to protect the Iraqi people no matter which regime is in charge but of course I am happy that Saddam has gone.
”Now there is a new stage and things will move from bad to a better situation. There are bombings but we are not scared of these terrorists. These people are cowards who are damaging our country.”
Since the war, his wages have risen dramatically. ”I have been in the police force for 29 years. I used to earn 16 000 dinars (R67) a month and we lived in a miserable situation. Now I earn 330 000 dinars and my family is doing better. I hope in the future we will all live in a better situation, with more security.”
Fuad Jassem
Businessman
Fuad Jassem (36) spent three years in Abu Ghraib prison after being denounced by a neighbour for a reason which was never made clear to him. He hated the Saddam regime and says he cannot remember anything good from it.
Now running a small family business, he believes things will improve soon. ”When there is a government, life will improve. [Prime minister Ayad] Allawi is excellent.”
He thinks foreigners are responsible for half the violence, and the rest is caused by Iraqis who did well under the previous regime and now feel resentment. He wants the Americans to stay until things settle down. ”After that happens, there’s no reason for them to remain”.
Neriman al Sahlihe
Student
Married for one month, Neriman al Sahlihe (31) is coming to the end of a two-year banking course at Baghdad University. She expects more violence in the coming days. It is mostly caused by foreign terrorists, she thinks.
She wants the new government to take a firm line. ”I’ve heard that when the police arrest people, the Americans soon release them. I believe they should go in hard. It will be better when the Iraqi government is in full control.”
She hopes foreign companies invest in Iraq. ”Iraqi banks are already starting to cooperate with international ones”.
She has a mixed view of the Americans and wants them to go soon. ”They are human. You get good ones, and bad ones. They’ve made mistakes, like bombing that wedding party. Once they’ve secured stability, they should get out of Iraq. It’s an occupation. If it goes on, we might be like occupied Palestine.”
Hassan Sadoun al Neamy
Print worker
Hassan Sadoun (37) a father of four, is employed in a small print shop. He sees no chance that handing sovereignty to an Iraqi government will reduce the violence immediately.
”In the next few days the violence will increase. But if Iraqi parties come together and unite, and the government secures its authority, things will improve. I’m an optimist. When Iraqis get their sovereignty, they will do better.”
He also has some hope that the economy will start reviving after the January elections. He blames the violence on foreigners, who have an interest in preventing stability and progress in Iraq.
”Most of our problems are caused by the Americans. The violence started with them. I hope the Americans leave as soon as possible. No one likes to see their country under occupation.”
Mustafa Ghassan al Hashemi
Journalism student
Mustafa Ghassan al Hashemi (23) is ending a four-year journalism course at Baghdad University, and has a part-time job in an internet cafe.
”I expect the violence to get worse. Foreigners from the neighbouring countries are coming in to do this stuff — from Iran, and maybe Israel. We expect the new government to be good. The new President, Ghazi al-Yawer, is a tribal leader and well respected throughout Iraq. Allawi is a doctor and an educated man.
”US forces are not doing a good job. Handing sovereignty over and applying martial law will improve things perhaps.”
Ala’a Hussein Jabberi
Shoe-shine man
Lightly wounded in the war with Iran, Ala’a Hussein Jabberi (36) retired from the army in 1996 after a decade of service. ”The new government is good. It’s much better than Saddam Hussein who stole Iraq’s oil money and didn’t pay decent wages and pensions.” His business had improved 80% since the regime collapsed.
”It’s better for Iraq if US forces stay here at least five years. Our security forces are not as strong as they used to be. They are training and getting better but it will take time.” – Guardian Unlimited Â