This is the rest of Qasem’s first day under arrest.
“ok, ok …it is clear that you got a good education
because you have a good relationship with the Baath paright ??” he asked
me ..and I was starting to be upset because of those silly bad questions
Well ….I noticed he is playing the game of Sherlock Holmes ….and he was
smiling while speaking his silly questions………he found himself smart …..but
the fact he missed is the fact he proved to me, that Americans were fooled
by the 2003 Propaganda made to make the war seem to be just.
One of the soldiers handed the officer a very old photo of Saddam…he
found it in my grandmother’s room.
“Hey …do you know who is this ?? ” the officer asked me with angry face
while he showing the photo of Saddam.
“Yes sure …he is Saddam …you can find these old photos everywhere in
Iraq ….it is not a big deal that you found one in my house ” I told him
…..
“What is better to you … Iraq during Saddam’s control or Iraq after
Saddam gone?? ” he asked me this question and he seemed like he found good
point to ask about.
“For me Iraq before the war was much better!!” I answered ….some other
marines were interested by this silly conversation
“Oh …yeah …it is sure that you are very grateful to Saddam …he gave you
a good education and a good style of life. You lost it when he was gone ”
he said that while looking around at his friends …giving the sense that he
proved some thing important about me!!
“Wait a minute, sure Iraq now is worse than before the war …and sure my
life became worse after the war …I have no rights at all …even if I am
killed by you now …nobody will notice, there are no rules …” I said, upset.
At this moment …the officer got a call (by walkie talkie) …then he
said,
“Do you use your computer to tell others about what is going in your
area, in Ramadi?”
“Yes …I write a diary ..and blogs…..and I use my pc with internet
connection to tell this to the world ” I answered him …
“Well …..I think we have to arrest you …and any other adult males here
….you and your Brother will come with us …stop talking now…turn to the
wall and raise your hands ….tell your brother to do so …..NOW ” he said
that …then 2 marines came behind us and searched us …then bound our hands
behind our back …
My mother was shocked when she saw them bind our hands …..she said this
words to the officer (in Iraqi)
“Please …leave one of them for me …I can’t see both of them leave my
life now…. I am losing my family …please leave one of them for me” she
said while crying …and tears covered her eyes.
I stopped her, asking her to stop crying ….
“Mom …please do not beg them ….I can’t see you do this …..we did
nothing bad to arrest us …you know your sons very well …..just pray for us
….do not ask them ….ask God ………..we will be ok Mom …”
then my mom …keep crying but she stop sying any thing …she was looking
to me …to my eyes …..she deeply was looking at me and my brother ….I can
feel her …she feel that this is her last look at me and my brother ……..I
smiled for her …and asked my brother to do the same ….we have to smile for
her ….to remember us with smiled faces.
The officer said “CONTROL NOW” it was his order to the marines
….control means …stop them talking and blindfold eyes and no movement
without their orders …..
The marines shouted on me “Tell your brother that ..from now no talking
…no movement ….and look at the ground.”
They blindfolded our eyes ..and started pulling us through the other
room of the house ……
Held us, then uncovered our blindfolded eyes ….they took photos for me
and my brother with the computer …..
Then take us out the house ….to the garden
They pulling us just like pulling cow ….one marine catches my right
shoulder …and pulls me strongly ….it is very difficult to walk with this
way …my eyes are blindfolded ..I can’t see anything …I can’t trust my
steps …..
They were waiting for the tanks to come and pick us up to somewhere.
Notice : later we knew that the houses that surrounded my home were
occupied by snipers …and the families were kept inside for 10 hours in one
small dark room.
The Marines got orders to take us to their closer base by walking …..we
pulled and walked for more than 700 meters ………oh …they took us to occupied
house …I can imagine our steps map …..directions …..the house was just
beside the Mosque ….they put us inside dark hot room ….and 2 marines stay
guarding .
it is about 3:30 am …I was sitting on the ground ….and hearing sound of
big generator …..very noisy
One marine talked to me
“You speak English …right ??’”
“Yes” I said ….after he made me notice that he talking with me by
putting his finger on my head
” I like to talk with you …it is the first time for me to meet a
prisoner who can speak English” he said ……I kept silent.
“Why are your people killing Americans …we came here to make Iraq a
good civilized country? ” he said.
“I did not see any civilized thing happened in Iraq made by Americans
…..tell me why you came to Iraq …sure you have a reason to fight in Iraq
and risk your life and use your guns??” I asked him.
“Your people started the killing …when they helped the terrorists to
attack the twin towers in New York on 9 /11 …..many civilian Americans
were killed because of that ….we were scared ..so that we have to stop
those bad terrorists before they do it again ” he answered.
“But Iraq had no relation with this at all ” I said
“No ..you’re wrong …Iraqis helped the terrorists ….we know this ..so
then we came here”
“Sorry ..I have to say that you’re wrong ……your Congress made sure that
you have wrong information ..and Iraq has no bonds with Terrorists crimes
…..” I said
“Well ….my job is a soldier ..I am not a politician …my job is killing
and arresting terrorists that are hiding in your town” he said
“Do you think I am terrorist ??” I asked him
“Well …military intelligence will make sure ….I do not know …” he said
“Why Americans wasting Billions in Iraq to make enemies ….they can use
them to make friends and peace ??” I asked him
“No … we have friends in Iraq ….our friends are giving us the needed
information that help to arrest the bad people such as you” he said
“Me ??!! ….You just said now that you are not sure if I bad or not …but
you seems sure now ” I said with surprise
“I am sure that you are here for a real reason ” he said
“I will tell the main reason ….it is because marines found a computer
in my house and because I write blogs in english for peaceful Americans ”
I said
“So ..you have ability to make websites for terrorists …that makes you
more suspected ” he said
“What is your job?? ” he asked me
” I was engineer …now I am jobless ” I said
“Wow ….what kind of engineering work ?? ” he asked
“Basically I am a mechanical engineer ” I answered
“That means you can make bombs and improve guns for terrorists …yes ..sure
you did so” he said
“Hey hey …wait….you judge me because I am mechanical engineer ?? what
you will think if you knew that I worked in construction field ..and I
have good experience in civil engineering and buildings ??” I said
“That’s more worse ….you can make maps of the streets and the places
and give it to the terrorists ” he said
“So engineer is very suspected person for marines ?? ” I asked him
“Mostly yes ….they can do many things that help terrorists ” he said
“Ok …I have friend whom arrested few months ago ……he is doctor…..do
suspect doctors too ” I asked him
“For sure….terrorists could be injured during fighting us ..and sure
there are doctors who take care of them and provide them with medical
help” he said
“Let me tell you this …..you suspect educated people ….and arrest them
because they are doctors or engineers …so, shall I believe that you will
help Iraq to be civilized country ???!! ” I said
“You should believe this …..in your city there are terrorists ….and we
are here to kill them …..yesterday, my friend was injured when we got
mortar attacks here in this house ….and he lost his hand …..for sure there
is a fucking Iraqi engineer drawing a map for terrorists and help them to
attack us and cut my friend’s hand ……” he said ..he seems getting upset
“Now stop talking …..” he said to me ….
Then another soldier came ….he gave us water bottles …I can’t drink …my
hands still bound behind me and my eyes blindfolded …a marine soldier
helped me to drink …just like baby, and help me to eat 3 pieces of
biscuits, just like bird, I ate from his hand. I have no choice and I have
to eat for the next unknown day, it is Ramadan and fasting will start next
few minutes …and will keep for all the next day.
At 8: 20 am …..the sounds of a tank came to the house…..then two
soldiers pulled me and my brother to get out the house and pushed us to
get in the tank ….noisy tank !!!!
Any tanks have rear gate …..the marines put us on the parallel to the
rear gate …..it is the most dangerous seat inside any tank ….because the
weak point of the tank is the rear door ….
The tank moved ..and I was very careful to feel the directions …turning
to left and right …and kept going on ……and there was sand sprayed inside
……yes I know the way now….we are on the way to the Agriculture College
building that belong to Anbar university ……it is occupied by US troops for
the last 2 years
When we reached there at 8:20am …marines pulled us out of the tank …and
gave us a chance to sit on long seat …wooden seat …..then another two
soldiers came and took us to a small room that was for medical checkup ……medical
checkup is not to make sure that we are ok or not ..but basically to make
sure if we are wanted (wanted list) by eye stamp and finger stamp ….and
find out if there is old injures caused by fighting or guns
They found that me and my brother are clean …it means not wanted
They made sure about this after make the checkup …that we take off all
our clothes during it ….NAKED
By the way…the most question that I used to hear it was “how you
learned English ??” and the marines medical team asked me this too
After medical checkup we felt that the situation because less painful
……yes because our hands released and no blindfolded eyes here …it is jail
now…Unit jail…
Can you imagine…how much it is painful when your hands are bound with
sharp plastic tags…..and blindfolded eyes with Kaffiyah (Arabic cloth use
for head cover for men) tightly along 7 hours in hot summer …..???
I felt my hands were dead when they released them …
I remember that I read about Jill Carol ( American journalist hostage )
…for me my case is more painful ……
Two marines took us to our new jail room ….we were walking and the 2
soldiers walking with us pointing there guns to us……it was clear that
there guns were different ..it was sniping guns!!!! …later I noticed that
this unit is a sniper unit.
They put us in the room ..the room was divided to 2 parts by wooden
grill and gun wires from the prisoners room part …and it was very cold…no
windows …one door….and 2 air conditioners sets ….very old air-conditioners
…I think they belong to the Anbar university …..
The room was about 8 meters in length, 5 meter in width ….. and there
is more than 15 military beds …made from Aluminum ….it was very cold room
….I am freezing
When me and my brother got in …..the guard soldier told us to take 2
blankets ..and sleep on beds …and NO talking at all …there was 3 other
Iraqi detainees …young men from Sofyiah area in Ramadi
I am really sleepy…..it was a hard night …and I am exhausted almost …..my
clothes became very dirty …full with sand …because most of the time we
forced to sit-down on the ground .
Ah …by the way …after medical checkup ….the soldiers installed small
paper on my shirt …from the left shoulder side ….my brother same …this
paper include this English writing:
Serial number of detainee : 4814403
Unit of capturing : c/1-60N
Location of capturing : m 27
Time and date of capturing : 9:00 am 27 September 2006
Name of detainee : qasem ……….
After period of deep sleeping …a soldier woke me up ….sure behind the
wooden grill wall and gun wires …..he shouted “Hey you …english man …wake
up ,wake up ..”
He asked me to wake up my brother …the officer wants him …
I woke up my brother …..and I used this chance to talk with him with
short words. I told him …that he should not be afraid at all ….we are
innocent ..do not let them scare U with their silly questions …ok??
He said ok ..I understand
A soldier took my brother out the room ( jail ) ….
After one hour he came back …..I can’t talk with him …so I did not know
what questions he got
“Hey …now it is your turn …come here ” a soldier said to me ….pointing
me to come to him ….
He took me to the next room …it was empty …there is only old Iraqi
rusty metal bed and small piece of dirty sponge on the ground ……well it
was my seat as the soldier show me to sit down and wait with out talking
….
I sat down …and wait …..after few minutes …and Marines young officer
got in and Iraqi interpreter with him
The rusty metal bed was in the center of the room …it was the American
seat that it is in front of me …face to face….but I am sitting on the
ground ….he sitting on the bed
He start his questions…..about fighters …names and locations ….what
they planning now …..and many specific questions concerned the fighters
I explained for him that I have no relation with anybody carrying
weapon ….
He tried to scare me when he said that my his soldiers found CDs and
videos that represent propaganda for terrorists …and he said that my
computer full with writtens that threat US troops !!!!
For me his way is very cheap …he making lies about my computer …it
means that he have nothing real against me as evidences…he just want to
scare me ….
After spending one hour with in this room with many silly questions
…the officer said…..
“ok ..now you will go to your room ( Jail ) and think deeply about your
future…in case you did not help us you might miss the chance to go home
again ” he said that ….then he get out the room …and the interpreter took
me with 2 marines soldiers back to the jail room.
In the room …..as I told you before there is 3 other detainees from
Sufyia ….as they told me their arresting operation was too scary …there
house attacked with SONIC hand bombs after midnight …and they did not know
why they arrested yet !!!!
Talking was not allowed sure..but sometimes we have the chance to
exchange few words during eating …and during the 2 marines (guards)
talking with their friends in the unit …..
I noticed that this marines unit included many snipers ….I noticed there
machine guns …..it sniping guns.
Every 6 hours the 2 guards exchange position with 2 other soldiers ..
For my first day I couldn’t talk with any of them …..they did not give
me the chance …..in addition I spent most of my first day by sleeping
deeply ….it was cold room and quiet and I were very tired …so the best
choice is sleeping….
Alive in Baghdad
