Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Iraq

Help me understand war criminals!

hasna — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:21:27 -0800

Which books help me get into the psyche of war criminals, suicide bombers, etc? I am currently looking for books that reveal the offender's inner motives, perspective, or mindset about their crimes, and the context in which they committed them. Not ones that simply justify the crimes, but explore the human side of the offenders.

I'm specifically interested in books about events in the past century: Rwanda, Palestine, Iraq, the Holocaust... although any outstanding books dating further back in history are welcome, too. And I'd prefer if they weren't overly heavy with advanced psych vocabulary - those meant for the layperson are preferred.

I currently have "The Road to Martyr's Square" and "Machete Season: The Killers in Rwanda Speak", so any along those lines, either biography, autobiography, or historical fiction.

Thanks!

What are your favorite blogs/news sources/analysis on Iraq?

torietorie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:08:20 -0800

I'm heading to Iraq in several months and I'm looking for great sources of information on the country. This could include: - Political, cultural, etc blogs - Blogs from servicemen/civilians working in Iraq - News analysis - Iraqi blogs (they can be English or Arabic - I read both!) - Backgrounders or historical analysis Be creative! What do YOU read to find out about Iraq? I'd love to hear about it. Thanks for your input in advance!

Where can I find detailed information on the internet about specific Iraqi tribes?

torietorie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:12:17 -0800

Where can I find detailed information on the internet about specific Iraqi tribes? I'm doing a project where I have to do a briefing on an Iraqi tribe. It can be any tribe, but I need to be able to brief about their politics, religion, culture, social makeup, etc.

I've found plenty of listings of tribes, but I need somewhere I can get good, detailed information on an Iraqi tribe. Before you ask, it can't be from Wikipedia!

Does anyone know any resources for this type of information? I'd really appreciate your help, MeFi community!

Oil: More than Strategic and Corporate Interests

atmosphere — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:02:49 -0800

Please help me understand the role of oil in the motivations for the 2003 Iraq invasion. It's generally well known now that oil played some role in the US invasion of Iraq. I have been reading a lot on this subject, and when I get passed the superficial "the war was all about oil" type statements, I find the subject to be very complex, incorporating history, economics, regional politics, etc. I was reading an article titled Blood for Oil? linked in a comment on the blue, and I was trying to understand what the thesis of the article was when it said this:

American empire cannot forgo oil – its control is a geopolitical priority – but strategic and corporate oil interests cannot, in themselves, credibly account for an imperial mission of the sort we have witnessed over the last two years. Rather, what the Iraq adventure represents is less a war for oil than a radical, punitive restructuring of the conditions necessary for expanded profitability – it paves the way, in short, for new rounds of American-led dispossession and capital accumulation...It was intended as the prototype of a new form of military neo-liberalism

What, in laymans terms, is this saying? How did invading Iraq "restructure" the conditions necessary for "expanded profitability"? Who's making the profit? How does such a theory take into account the blowback from the invasion, such as the world getting pissed of at the percieved imperialistic aggression of America? Given that this was written 2005, has anything changed/been validated/disproved since then (oil contracts etc.)?

I know that is a lot of questions, but I guess overall I am just looking for help in understanding the complex role oil played. Additional or competing in depth analysis on the role of oil in the invasion (going past "strategic and corporate oil interests") would be much appreciated. Thank you hivemind.

Help a soon-to-graduate PhD find work in Iraq or Afghanistan

jchaw — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:01:02 -0800

Hi! I will soon graduate from a top computer science program with a PhD. I am interested to work in Iraq and Afghanistan for a year or two. Clearly, I prefer to work in the "green zone", but am willing to work alongside troops in the combat zone. I am quite versatile and can do alot of stuff, e.g., teaching, designing software, engineering work, testing, maintaining complex systems, etc. Does anyone know how I can go about this? I tried looking at KBR's and FLOUR's job postings for contractors. But they primarily list jobs that are in food service, transportation, warehousing, etc. I like to get a job that is intellectually fulfilling. Oh. One more thing. I am a foreign national from a country that is friendly to the US and the NATO countries. Thanks! :)

Most likely relocating to Iraqi Kurdistan. What do I need to know?

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:15:53 -0800

Most likely relocating to Iraqi Kurdistan. What do I need to know? First off, I think it's important to note that I fully realize that Iraqi Kurdistan is a whole different ballgame from Iraq Proper. Please don't assume I'm having visions of Baghdad or anything... :)

That being said, here is a bit about me and the situation:
I'm a Canadian in my mid 20's, female, single. If I decide to accept the job, I will be teaching English at a private language school in Erbil. I understand that a lot of the logistics of this will be arranged though the school (housing assistance, visas, etc) but I'm looking for some other perspectives on life there. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of resources on the net about this, even in spheres like Lightstalkers, and comebackalive. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree has quite a bit about traveling there, but not as much about living long-term. I am currently living elsewhere in the Middle East, and have traveled quite a bit (including some potentially sketchy places), so I don't think the transition will come as a shock.

1. Kurmanji vs. Sorani? I already speak one minority language of the region, which I've heard will be helpful, and I've studied a bit of Arabic (enough to be vaguely familiar with the script, and a touch of vocab), but I will need to learn one of the local dialects. Both are spoken throughout Kurdistan, but I'm wondering which might be more useful outside the country. (assuming I'll continue living/working within the M.E. for at least the next decade or two). Also, which is easier to learn? (Latin and Arabic scripts aside, though I know that might be the tipping point). Would it be at all feasible to just ditch Kurdish altogether, keep studying Arabic, and use that and my other minority language?

2. What is expat life like? I live abroad to fully experience the culture, but sometimes a good laugh over beers, and English conversation about the latest "Office" episode, or issue of Foreign Policy is needed. Are there many younger (under 45) expatriates living there? I would assume they are almost all aid workers or journalists. What do local expats do for "fun"?

3. What can I not purchase there? I'm familiar with a number of items not typically available in the developing world and/or M.E, but any things specific to Kurdistan?

4. I have an Israeli passport stamp, and my passport will expire 11 months after my arrival. What problems might this cause? Is it possible to get a new passport once I'm there? Or should I try to get a new one before I leave. (Though I cannot return to Canada before I go.)

5. Where can I find information about housing, rent, shopping malls/grocery stores etc? Will any of this be available before I leave, or will I just have to figure it all out once I arrive?

Also potentially relevant information: I take medication daily. I'll be traveling with a Mac. I'm also a freelance photographer and will be bringing a bit of camera gear. I'm a messianic jew who would like to attempt to practice (NOT proselytize) my faith there (through either a local synagogue or church). I'm highly interested in aid work and would like to get my foot in the door through volunteering at local NGOs... I think that's about all the info you need for now!

Also, any personal anecdotes, links, or book suggestions (either on the history/culture of the area, or language-learning books) would be immensely helpful!

Thanks in advance, mefites!

(anonymous because I don't necessarily feel like attaching my name to all this personal information)

Should I take a job in Baghdad?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:47:50 -0800

Should I take a job in Baghdad? I'm a 27-year-old software developer who's fortunate to be choosing between two attractive and very different job opportunities in the middle of the worst economy of my lifetime.

The first option is my current job, which I started this week. I'm working for a small division of a large company, writing software for the intelligence community in Ruby (no, not Rails... plain Ruby). This job is awesome- my boss and coworkers are all the nicest and smartest I've ever worked with, the work is interesting, it pays about 110K/year (with decent benefits... I'm still a W-2 employee), and I work around 45-48 hours a week. The biggest downside is that because I found it through a recruiting company, I'm not technically working for the company itself- it's one of those arrangements where I work for the recruiter, who in turn contracts with the company. I don't have any problem with this financially- I'm happy with my compensation- but it means that I have a little less job security over the near term... the company has said that if they like my work (and I think they will) they'll hire me directly after the contract ends (they aren't lying, and the recruiting company won't stand in the way of this), but until that point, probably about a year from now, it's pretty painless for them to fire me or simply let me leave when the contract ends. I also am not completely a member of the team, for reasons that are no one's fault... I don't get to go to company team building events and the like, and can't be given quite the same level of trust.

The other job is one that I haven't actually been offered yet, but expect I will be in the few days (they've told me repeatedly that they intend to make me an offer, it's just a long process). It's a position doing web dev in Java in Baghdad (another position that requires a high level security clearance). I'd be working a bare minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no days off ever, other than a brief break around the 6 month mark, nor would I ever be allowed to leave the base. I'd live in a trailer, and eat military food. I'd make at least 250K/year (they know that's the minimum I'd accept, and it's definitely within their range), with free housing, food, and some tax breaks for living overseas. It would also be a fascinating, unforgettable experience, and it could open the door for me to do other gigs like this with the same company in other locations. The idea of working my butt off for a year (that's how long I'd intend to go) also appeals to me in a way. The position, if I took it, would start in November.

(Also, in my preemptive defense, I'm the farthest thing from a money grubbing profiteer- I traveled to NYC to protest the 2004 GOP convention and the invasion, vote straight ticket Democrat, and have lately been collecting signatures for Obama's heathcare reform. I've told people many times that I'd never work on weapons programs, and it's true; I believe that my work, done well, helps to prevent violence a tiny bit.)

As for why I'm negotiating with the second company when I just started a great job with the first- I pursued both of them at the same time while preparing to leave my last job, and the second company indicated that they probably wouldn't need me for at least 6 months, so I figured I could work for the first company during that time, and then leave (that's not nice, but because it's theoretically only a temporary position anyway, it's not as big of a faux pas as that would normally be). The second company just suddenly informed me that their schedule has accelerated.

The only other big catch here is my long term career plans. I'm not sure I want to be a programmer for the rest of my life; at a minimum, I want to get a master's within the next few years, and I also think a great deal about law school. Money could help with that. Other relevant details: I have little social life, and haven't been on a date in years (although I'd like to get out more and take better advantage of the DC area, where I live, I don't plan to get into any romantic relationships in the near future regardless of which job I pick). I also am a big open-source geek, and think that being able to do Ruby at work is awesome (my last job was Python and Javascript)... Java, not so much.

I realize this is a pretty complex, personal decision, and don't expect strangers on the internet to be able to provide a definitive answer, but I've been wrestling with it for awhile and am interested in whatever perspectives the MeFi community can provide. Thanks!

Refugees in US suspicious of everyone

aheckler — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:07:58 -0800

My girlfriend works for a non-profit that helps refugees adjust to living in the U.S. On Monday, she has to show an Iraqi mother and her son how to use D.C. public transportation. The problem: since arriving in the U.S., they have been extremely suspicious of everyone and everything. For example, their first couple nights here, they refused to drink water, eat food, or even open the window because they feared they would be poisoned. Apparently, the mother is also prone to screaming, hysterical outbursts, where she has claimed that people follow them on the street, or that their main case worker (at the non-profit) is lying to them about everything.

Not to be an armchair psychologist, but from what I've heard, everyone else in their family was killed in Iraq, so their behavior could be resulting from PTSD or the like.

How can my GF deal with this? How can she get these people to trust her, or at least not freak out, when she has to show them the Metro and bus routes?

Is it acceptable to write a piece of fiction based on the war in Iraq?

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:29:49 -0800

Would it be seen as (and is it really) exceptionally tasteless to write a fictional novel about a soldiers' experiences in Iraq? I just wrote out a lengthy explanation, but it was all sorts of moddled and there were a thousand thoughts scattered throughout.

I'm curious to know whether it would be widely considered tasteless or offensive to write a novel set mostly in Iraq about a soldiers experiences in the war there. Of course a "war novel" can go a million different directions, so suffice to say that this would be an extremely informed endeavor, with no shortage of consultancy (I've many friends and a few relatives who have fought - really fought - in the war). It would not be a rollicking action-packed adventure or anything of the sort, but it would be very, very raw.

I suppose I don't particularly care what people would think about this, as there is such a fog about what really goes on over there, and I know many, many people who have been immensely intrigued by soldiers who have blogged about their experiences.

My only qualm is that my writing style tends to be a bit cynic, perhaps almost perverted at times (I have, as an example, received a number of comparisons to Bret Easton Ellis). There would be no amount of exploitation involved, of course, but to write from about the day to day life and thoughts of a 20-something in a warzone could certainly be offensive on the grounds of those thoughts alone, even outside the the context of the war.

What are your thoughts?

When all the time is tyranny time

milagu — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:10:42 -0800

Are Iraqi wrist watches with Saddam Hussein's face on them valuable? My friend who was living in Iran is now in Damascus and keeps finding Saddam Hussein wrist watches in the market there. The shop-keepers say that they were hocked by refugees who had been guards or military officers and received them as gifts, and generally quote a price around $100 apiece. I have google searched and ebay searched for anything about their value, but all I have found is a photo book and a few scattered listings on ebay - no real indications as to what the market is, or whther there is any market. Any hints as to where I might look?

(She also found some great stamps from Yemen with pictures of JFK and I am similarly having a hard time finding value, but that is because there are too many links rather than too few.)

Photographing the Sandbox

toomuchpete — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:17:19 -0800

What point-and-shoot type cameras would be good for a deployed Marine in Iraq? My little brother was recently deployed to Iraq and has been asking what sort of camera he should buy. He's looking for a point-and-shoot digital camera.

I know a good bit about digital cameras and photography, but I know nothing about what sort of camera would be a decent one to have in desert conditions.

I suspect that the answer is going to be something like: buy the same camera you otherwise would because nothing is going to keep that sand out of it, but before I recommend a camera, I thought I would see if any of y'all have any first, second, or third-hand experience here... either with respect to features that are good/bad or specific makes or models that have held up well in similar situations.

This is the model he is currently looking at.

When were the first protest songs about Iraq?

Hildago — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:20:41 -0800

How long did it take artists (especially musicians) to begin producing new protest or anti-war songs about the invasion of Iraq in 2003? I'm trying to figure out the "lead time" for anti-war music in my generation.

How long between the beginning of the Iraq mess (whenever you consider that starting, be it March, 2003 or somewhat before) and the production of new music that puts the artist on record as strongly opposing that particular war. I'm looking for music that has the following characteristics:

Unambiguously condemns the war in Iraq, or pointedly condemns war in general in such a way as to make it timely (e.g. Masters of War, clearly about both war in general and Vietnam in particular)

Committed to a widely released album (i.e. not a concert bootleg, and not an album recorded by an unknown band with no following before or after). Bonus points for original material rather than covers.

Many thanks.

Need THE book on the Iraq War

eralclare — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:28:50 -0800

Do you know of a well-written book that covers the Iraq war? I'm asking for a friend, who is looking for a "comprehensive, top-notch book about the Iraq war." We've both searched and there are a ton, but which are the good ones? Have you read a ton of these and noticed that one stood above the rest?

Saddam in Mauritius?

Skeptic — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:25:54 -0800

This summer, I was vacationing in Mauritius when I got lost, near the town of Pamplemousses, North of the capital Port Louis. Trying to find my way among the sugar plantations I drove past an isolated house that was festooned with old-style Iraqi flags. The entrance was guarded by two guys in "Republican Guard"-style military fatigues, black berets and all. I prudently decided against stopping, never mind taking pictures, but the question has been bothering me ever since: WTF was that about?! A cult and/or weird political grouping? Or is maybe Saddam alive and well in a tropical paradise (one would think he'd be a bit more discreet about it)? Despite my Google-Fu, I haven't been able to find an answer, so I turn to you, dear MetaFilter friends: Does anybody know what that was about?

Help me better understand the Taliban, etc.

Camofrog — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:55:58 -0800

What are good (non-Alex Jonesy, please) documentaries, websites, and other resources that explore and explain al Qaeda, the Taliban, and all related matters? Before I get flagged as a terrorist wannabe, let me assure you that I despise the Taliban to my very core. (I also hate that I even feel like I have to say that.) I just want to understand better what drives these movements and how they operate. I've watched PBS's Frontline episodes on the subject, and they are great, but I'm looking for more.

What happened to Roy?

marsha56 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:05:46 -0800

Need help with the end of Bill Moyers Journal program last night. He had a segment last night on National Guard troops sent to Iraq. At the end of the segment, there was a still picture of one of the soldiers in the story and some white text overlaying his picture. I don't have cable and PBS broadcast picture comes in REALLY poorly on my set. I get audio okay, but picture is really bad and I couldn't read any of the text at all.

Does anyone know what the text said?

This was the blond guy with the kid who couldn't handle his father's leaving again. I found a transcript online, but it was just a transcript of what was spoken, didn't contain this text. From the transcript, I think the guy's name was Roy Parks. Googled, and I don't think he was killed, but I couldn't really find out anything else.

Did anyone catch this and know what the rest of his story is?

Accounts of the Iraq War from soldier's perspective?

PostIronyIsNotaMyth — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:42 -0800

What are some of the most compelling articles you've read about fighting in the Iraq War? Working on a script set in Iraq, trying to gain a feel for the kind of struggles soldiers deal with on a daily basis: road blocks, IEDs, house to house searches... Anything you've read from the POV of these guys that sticks with you and refuses to let go?

Where is the Iraq benchmarks report?

zainsubani — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:53:54 -0800

Where can I find the recent government report that claims that Iraq has achieved 15 of 18 benchmarks set for its political development? Recent news stories have reported that the White House sent a report to Congress claiming that 15 of 18 Congressional benchmarks for Iraq have been met. I have seen a few stories that attribute the report to the Pentagon, or to the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Regardless of the source, I am unable to find the actual administration report to read it for myself. Can anyone point me to this elusive document, please?

Iraq + yellowcake = ?

Vindaloo — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:26:23 -0800

Canada just received a huge shipment of uranium from Iraq, wtf? The Port of Montreal just received a shipment of yellowcake from Iraq.

I am very confused by this; I've read quite a bit about Iraq and WMDs, and the way I understood it was like this:
Saddam was rumoured to have purchased yellowcake uranium from Africa (Niger specifically), and Joseph Wilson was sent to investigate. He found no evidence that Saddam had actually obtained any, and in return for his non-cooperation in the search for WMDs his wife, Valerie Plame, was outed as a CIA spy.

Now, how does this all fit with this huge shipment (550 tonnes), and the fact that we all know there were no WMDs in Iraq?

Can anyone remember this video from my horrible description?

rfbjames — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:15:04 -0800

I'm looking for an online video that I've seen within the last couple of years of a one man show by a British comedian that covered the reasons why America invaded Iraq and the history leading up to it. My memory of this video is very fuzzy, but I remember that he talked about the history of Iraq and western involvement in the country leading down to the present times. He then ultimately made the connection of Iraq getting rid of using the dollar for its oil sales as the reason for the invasion. For some reason I remember him looking very old Vaudeville in hat and tie. He possibly showed up on a bicycle at the start of the video and did the show on a wooden stage with red drapes behind him. He also at one point did a routine of where Bush was beating up Saddam and China showed up looking all tough and wondering what was going on around here? Sorry that yes, my memory is really that vague about this video, but a recent discussion about the Iraq war with a coworker jarred this show from my memory...and it has been killing me to try and track it down to watch again ever since.

What Would History Have Done?

greytape — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:51:27 -0800

What lessons should the US have taken from history in planning the invasion of Iraq? Nowadays the idea that the invasion of Iraq was doomed from the start is fairly prevalent, suggesting that attempts by great powers to impose their wills on foreign populations are simply a flawed idea (the US in Vietnam, the USSR in Afghanistan etc.)

Time was though, that great powers seemed to be able to impose their will on foreign populations without too much bother (e.g. France and Britain in the 19th century.) So what, if anything, has changed?

To this end I'm looking for historical examples of attempted regime change, successful or unsuccessful, that the US might have learnt from in planning the invasion of Iraq.

(More broadly, I'm thinking about whether certain features of the modern world (democracy, kalashnikovs, new media technologies, nationalism etc.) have put an end to the age of empires, or whether great power dominance is just having a bad run of form of late.)

Thanks for any help.

Alternate views of Arab culture?

ntk — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:45:22 -0800

A friend at the State Department is going out to Iraq. He's receiving a bunch of cultural and language training from the department, but I'd like to give him a book about the culture there from another view (not necessarily political - he'll get enough briefing on that). Any suggestions?

If I Had a Rocket Launcher

kirkaracha — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:59:03 -0800

Did insurgents really fire Katyusha rockets into Baghdad's Green Zone? I've seen several news reports of insurgents firing Katyusha rockets in Iraq, and I'm not sure how that could be true after five years of occupation and total US control of Iraqi airspace. Are the insurgents really driving truck-mounted multiple-tube rocket launchers around, or are journalists being loosey-goosey with their military terminology? Do they mean RPGs?

David Kelly and Dad

pcameron — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:22:12 -0800

My late father was a reporter who witnessed the testimony of Dr. David Kelly at the Hutton Inquiry. I'm trying to find a photo of Mr. Kelly's testimony that shows the audience in the background, to see if I can spot my father. In the article my father wrote, he states he was sitting about ten feet away from Kelly. The only photos I can find of Kelly's testimony are very close shots of his face. If anyone can tell me where to find a wider shot, I'd be grateful. Thank you!

What makes Fridays different in Iraq?

thrako — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:54:33 -0800

How would a typical Iraqi's activities on Friday differ from their activities on other days of the week? I understand that mosque attendance will be higher on Fridays, but would trips to markets, restaurants, or other places be more or less common on Friday? Are there major differences between Sunnis and Shiites in this regard? Background: I am studying the Iraq Body Count data, and it looks like there are fewer attacks against civilians on Fridays. This could be because people don't want to carry out attacks on Fridays, or it could be that attacks on Fridays don't make it into the data because the Saturday newspaper is smaller. I am wondering if there is something else that could make attacks on Fridays less likely, such as people staying home with their families after going to the mosque. The trip to the mosque could make Friday a better time for attackers, but if people stay home the rest of the day it might counteract the effect