Region | Iraq
Gulf News Staff Writer Mayada Al Askari and her family have been intrinsically linked with the history of Iraq. Her paternal grandfather Jafar Pasha Al Askari commanded Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal, and her maternal grandfather Sati Al Husri is widely celebrated as the founder of modern Arab nationalism. With voting in parliamentary elections in progress on Sunday, follow the "daughter of Iraq" as she takes you through the day's highs and lows, the inside story, and moments of fear, suspicion and hope from what has been billed as a key test of Iraq's nascent democracy.
Archive
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Published 12:34 March 11, 2010
Here’s to Iraqracy
He stood there smiling in Al Yousiffiya, handing back a football to boys playing on the roadside; football instead of roadside bombs, his smile widened, for that is exactly what he wants for Iraqis. He repeated, time and again: "Shout, do not shoot."
People from humble houses around the rural area came out to greet the man. "Believe me, no one was clapping, no one was chanting blood sacrifice slogans, but people's smiles were stemming out of their hearts," an Iraqi friend who was present told me.
This man, who is no longer a stranger amongst us, has succeeded in calming souls with his calmness and brilliance, and Iraqis were able to conquer and declare victory over their demons when they decided to cease backing Al Qaida.
General David Petraeus left Iraq soon afterwards to assume his responsibilities as Commander of the US Central Command.
Read more...Posted by Mayada Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
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Published 16:30 March 10, 2010
Remembering Ayad
His mum was Lebanese and his step mother was British. The man known to be Tony Soprano's look alike was known to me as Zaina and Louay Allawi's older brother. Both siblings (from the British lady) are my friends, while Ayad Allawi and his brother Sabah were friends with my elder cousins, as both our families before us were friends. Read more...
Posted by Mayada Al Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
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Published 14:06 March 10, 2010
Of Baath party and elderly voters
A Lebanese friend asked me why so many elderly people voted in Iraq.
She said: I saw pictures of 70 year olds, 80, even 90 year olds, why?br>
A small mathematical procedure will tell us why. A 70 year old today was in his/her 40's or less, 39 years ago when the Baath regime assumed power in 1968..
The first few years were OK relatively, then matters started deteriorating, until they reached a dangerous peek in 1980, when our war started with Iran on that oh so unforgettable day in September. Iranian warplanes swooshed over Iraqi cities and dropped a few bombs, and in the evening, the war was officially announced. Read more...Posted by Mayada Al Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
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Published 14:12 March 10, 2010
Of Baath party and elderly voters (Part 2): The tale of Hadi
So why would a 70-plus old lady, burdened with all Iraq's hardship go and vote? I cannot explain the reason in words
Umm Kazim lives on my ex in-law's land in rural Hilla (Babylon), and after the elections, her son called my son on the telephone and described the voting process. I was nearby and from the conversation conducted between the two young men I understood that Umm Kazim had voted as well.
So why would a 70-plus old lady, burdened with all Iraq's hardship go and vote? I cannot explain the reason in words, so I will tell you a bit about the old lady... Read more...Posted by Mayada Al Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
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Published 8:21 March 10, 2010
Just shuffle the cards and wait
Do you know why I like Olympic gymnastics? It is because results are out in a matter of seconds. No such luck with election results. Read more...
Posted by Mayada Al Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
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Published 20:21 March 7, 2010
Casting their vote for a better tomorrow
In Wasit, I talked to Dr. Nassir Abdul Ameer, he is a physician who returned recently from South Korea after specialising in genetics. Nassir was equally pleased that a huge turnout took place in his southern governorate. Read more...
Posted by Mayada Al Askari, Staff Writer, Gulf News
