'He's just sleeping, I kept telling myself' (Haifa Street, Baghdad)

[floda]

On Sunday, 13 Iraqis were killed and dozens injured in Baghdad when US helicopters fired on a crowd of unarmed civilians. G2 columnist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, who was injured in the attack, describes the scene of carnage - and reveals just how lucky he was to walk away

Tuesday September 14, 2004
The Guardian


It started with a phone call early on Sunday morning: "Big pile of smoke over Haifa Street." Still half asleep I put on my jeans, cursing those insurgents who do their stuff in the early morning. What if I just go back to bed, I thought - by the time I will be there it will be over. In the car park it struck me that I didn't have my flak jacket in the car, but figured it was most probably just an IED (improvised explosive device) under a Humvee and I would be back soon.
On the way to Haifa Street I was half praying that everything would be over or that the Americans would seal off the area. I haven't recovered from Najaf yet.

Haifa Street was built by Saddam in the early 80s, part of a scheme that was supposed to give Baghdad a modern look. A long, wide boulevard with huge Soviet high-rise buildings on both sides, it acts like a curtain, screening off the network of impoverished alleyways that are inhabited by Baghdad's poorest and toughest people, many of whom are from the heart of the Sunni triangle.

When I arrived there I saw hundreds of kids and young men heading towards the smoke. "Run fast, it's been burning for a long time!" someone shouted as I grabbed my cameras and started to run.

much more...,heartbreaking....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1303807,00.html

[radwriter0555]

1. The extermination of the poorest & "least desirable" starts now, eh?

HEIL BUSH!

The US occupation of iraq continues as expected!

[drdtroit]

2. Liberating their souls

from those cumbersome bodies. :cry:

[qanda]

3. MY GOD...

That story is horrifying. I'm so ashamed.

[mediaman007]

4. Assassinated in their own neighborhood by a indifferent culture half

a World away.

While I played with my grandchildren, I was kept safe from the these people and their madness. Thanks to our modern military technology, those Iraqis will not joining their families again.

Please don't be doing this in my name. I'm ashamed.

[Matilda]

5. A brilliant piece of journalism.

It made me cry, and I've seen and read a lot over the last 18
months.

But - what the hell was the point of it all? Mindless, pointless,
futile - if this is the battle plan, they've lost the plot entirely.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. "show the world the American democracy"

I'm afraid there isn't much to show.

[AbbeyRoad]

7. Incredible first hand account

truly poignant

[Bo]

8. Hail Hail the Gangs all here!!!!

WTF are we doing?

[Matilda]

9. Kick!

[UpInArms]

10. kick

because I have no words

:cry:

[aneerkoinos]

11. At least three passes!

Did you notice the most worrying thing: the helo's made at least three passes firing at the people on the ground again and again, including people trying to help those wounded in the previous hits.

There is little doubt in my mind that this was revenge, pure and simple act in red blooded rage.

May there be justice in this life and mercy for the souls of these murderers who were blinded by their anger.

[Matilda]

12. And the people they hit were probably innocent.

It's not a good situation when the officer in charge reacts with
anger when he above all should have a cool head. It makes this
particularly ugly.