Budge, this might be a good thread to post a couple of excerpts from one of those Iraqi blogs.
Sarmad Faraj
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 One year old One year later on the war. It seems like yesterday, Can we list together what was good and bad in this decision? I mean the decision of war,
No one likes wars, and no one suffered as we did, from wars, I will speak the part which is related with Iraq as an Iraqi, and you can speak on behalf of yourself,
Let me start with me, one year ago: an Iraqi person. Life :(yes, I am a life:) a body walking. Don't think. Don't feel. Don't see. Don't hear. Just living. Live until my expiration day,
Who am I? Where am I? Why me? Many questions, but no answers, The same dark tone,
Then, "48 hours"--- the time offered for saddam and his two sons to leave Iraq. This was the first shock to our live bodies and dead minds, but it wasn't enough to bring us life, The whole world hoped that saddam will take the right decision, That's what the world hoped, but who knows? This man knows how much he loves war and fighting. It was his favorite hobby.
The operation starts, Can this operation bring us life? This war was the fastest war in history. Also the cleanest war: 21 days, and the marines are in Baghdad.
Now, one believes. Look at how all these armies just collapsed.
We look about us, and think "Where did they go? Where is the nightmare which we used to see all the time? Where are our jailers? Where are our life-stealers?"
It's the 9th of April, It's a historical moment when we see the statue of saddam falling down: the statue of fear and anger, and punishment, is falling down! I am alive now! I can feel! I cried when I saw those historical moments, I can see, I see all that fear collapsing, I can hear, I hear the voice of joy and happiness, I am back to life!
One year has passed, What did this war offer to us? For the first time, war offered something good. This war, which is, to me, as to many Iraqis (and not all) is a liberation. It's a victory of good over evil.
Read the whole thing here.