Three years ago, I felt hope. Hope that soon I would be free to act and talk as I pleased, without being stopped by the security services. Hope that one day I would be able to travel without asking permission from the government, Hope that my country would be stable and my people happy.
But today, I could see the freedom and Democracy I dreamed of is being a mirage.
Before the war, I was at least able to leave my family alone in the house for at least tow weeks when I had to guide a tourists across Iraq without having fear for my family being kidnapped or killed by militias or Gangs. But now I have to be at the house by the sunset time otherwise they will be panicked.
In the past, under the dictatorship rules, I was so proud to tell people that I work as an English Translator, especially when I was working with Media groups, But nowadays I can not talk in English in front of my four and half years old Daughter when the correspondent rings me on my mobile because she might honestly tells the neighbors and that would cause Death.
I cannot remember that I had dangerous experience before the war. At that time I was able to drive safely around Baghdad at night time and I could fill my car up in maximum five minutes, But Nowadays and according to the chaotic situation and chronic fuel shortage we have since the fall of the Regime, I have to line up for at least three hours to get a high priced and bad quality fuel.
Since the establishment of the governing council and according to the stupid policy they adopted at that time, prices have gone up.
Before the war, one litter of gasoline was cost 25 Iraqi Dinars and nowadays it cost 250 Iraqi Dinars.
I dreamed of a stable, free and democratic Iraq and I dreamed of a very open-minded and trustworthy Iraqis, but unfortunately I could see the elite of Iraqis like doctors engineers and professors are fleeing the country sine they became the target for the unknown armed groups.
My hope were up, when the Americans stormed the country and overthrow the dictator.
I thought all my Dreams would comes true, but now there is little room for modaret, middle ground in Iraq anymore. In this time when mistrust, concipracy and summary justice are the rule, no one is seen as a man in the middle between Iraq and the west.
Here People think that all foreigners are spies and Iraqis who work with them are traitors.
After the Blanket rule of Saddam Hussein, Iraq is now polarized into three camps of ocuupation, militias and insuergency, and we are helpless and smothered once again.
Ahmad Ali
Baghdad.
