The
gates of hell
By Jamal Mudhafar
Azzaman, August 7, 2005
The headline
of this article is not a title of a science fiction film. It truthfully
translates what is currently taking place in Iraq.
The gates of hell are now wide open – thanks to
There is no electricity, no water, no fuel, no food rations, no
security, no sewage …
There is terror everywhere and there is fear of everything – fear of the
present and of what lies ahead in the future.
All indications tell that our future is bleak as there is nothing left
in this country that makes you feel secure about your own future and that of
your children.
What is happening is not a war, rebellion or insurgency. It is mass
killing and annihilation coupled with torture and brutal and barbaric
dismembering of innocent people.
Bombing and shelling of towns goes ahead and no one gives a damn for the
lives lost and property damaged.
Politicians have not honored any of the promises they made during
elections. There is a dangerous decline in the public services and government
performance.
The shock we have received since
Fear and terror have gripped the nation. Wherever you are at any time of
the day you are liable to be killed by a stray bullet.
Stray bullets are no longer the prerogative of
Almost everyone in
If the bodyguards of a senior official want to reach a destination on
time and are delayed by traffic jam, they fire in the air to scare other
drivers to give way.
If someone is injured or killed as a result it is his or her problem.
Killing by mistake is now perhaps one of the main causes of death in
Trust between the people and the government has collapsed. And now we
are at the mercy of the stars because neither
