The Diary of Amal Salman

Sunday, March 23, 2003

. . . At 5:30, I saw a plane near my home. It fired three missiles, and the explosions were very strong. Then at 6:25, we watched on television the American dead. Fatima was crying because they were dead, and others were prisoners from Texas. Why? What's the fault of those soldiers who were killed? What's the fault of the families of the dead, or their mothers, who must be crying over their sons? Why is this war happening? . . .

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

. . . At 7:50, the wind was very strong. The main door of the building is closing and opening with big noise because of the wind. At 9:10, there was an air raid siren and the wind is still blowing very strong. Now at 10:10, another siren to mark the end of the raid. But is it really the end of the raid? Or what? At 10:55, another one. Why didn't they give us time to rest? Only 45 minutes? . . .

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

. . . At 3:05, it is raining heavily. Then there was a loud explosion, followed by other explosions. The bombing is still going on, as I write these words. At 7:15, we heard the air raid siren, but we don't know if it is signaling the beginning or the end. Before that, we had gone up to the roof to see the weather, but found the sky dusty, and no one could see anything because of the heavy dust. The air raid siren was sounded when were up on the roof, so we came down fast -- Duaa, Hibba and me. At 12:00, we cleaned up the house, finished up at 12:30, turned on the television, but found no station broadcasting, and then turned on the radio and listened to a report saying that 100 Iraqis were dead in Um Qasr-Basra. . . .

Saturday, March 29, 2003

Today is the ninth day of America's war on Iraq. At 6:00 in the morning, we woke up to very heavy bombing. . . . The Americans started bombing at 1:20. The children were playing outside, but when the bombing began, they ran inside, calling my mother's name, with fear in their eyes. Mother said, "Don't be afraid," then they quieted down and gathered in one room. Hibba, Duaa and Mahmoud pleaded to God that there would be no war. Then we went to the roof -- me, Zainab and their friend Emad -- to wash the carpet. We saw three planes, the skies covered by black smoke, and we got scared again. Then it became quiet at around 3:30, but we didn't know what this calm would bring us. At 6:32, America began bombing Baghdad again and it went on until 7:40 when the bombing intensified and came closer to the building. At 10:30, the air raid siren sounded. Oh God, let it be safe and peaceful for Baghdad. We are scared of this raid, but the bombing went on, getting closer to Karrada, then quieted down. At 11:30, there was a very strong bombing, and at 11:40, two missile explosions. At home, there were Um Saif and Abu Saif. We were talking, then we heard the explosions, and went out of the house terrorized. Oh God, let it be safe and peaceful. We sat in the corridor talking. After about a half-hour, the bombing went down, and we went back to the apartment. Then again, there was bombing, and all night long America was striking Iraq.

Monday, March 31, 2003

. . . At 6:45, coinciding with the dusk prayer, there was very, very heavy bombing. I repeat the word "very, very," so that others will know the extent of fear terrorizing the children. Then the storm clamed down, but not for long. At 10:30, there was very heavy bombing that shook the building so violently, very, very strong. The families came out of the apartment running scared. At 10:33, the electricity went out, then there was fear, panic, and children crying. Mahmoud is crying loud. He is saying, "Mom, I am scared." Um Saif, Abu Saif, Saif, Abu Mohammed and Um Mohammed are saying, "Oh, God." Abu Saif was asleep but because the bombing was so severe he woke up terrified and said, "Go, go out of the apartment," and we did. We went to the main gate of the building scared, while the bombing was going on and on, without any concern for the little children who were crying from panic, their eyes bloodshot by the tears falling down their white cheeks. They are merciless. Mercy, mercy, where is mercy? Have you no mercy? The heavy bombing continues without stopping. We then went up to the apartment with fear at 11:00. Now it is 11:20. We put mattresses in the corridor and sat there saying, "God, God, why is this? Where is mercy?" We and the Saif family are crying. The bombing is going on and we implore God to stop the war on Iraq. . . .

The bombing went on, coming closer to the neighborhood of Karrada. Oh God, protect us. We then sat in the corridor till 12:30, then we and the family of Abu Saif went back to the apartment, as well as Abu Mohammed and Um Mohammed.

Tuesday, April 1, 2003

Today began a new month. March ended, and April began. We don't know what's going to happen during this new month. Oh God, make this a month of goodness for Iraqis. We sat in the morning listening to news on the television. At 1:15 p.m., electricity went out, and we don't know when it will be back. At 3:10 the electric power came back. Praise to God for everything. God, please protect Iraqis from every evil. . . . At 6:01, the Americans began bombing Baghdad again, but we don't know where. The bombing went on till 6:31. At 7:20, electric power was back, and at 7:25, I saw on TV the injured in the south. I saw dead children, one without a hand, it was cut off. They were five or six years old, and the young men were aged 16 or 17, injured in their legs. How were they at fault? Why is there fighting? Oh God, have mercy on our dead. . . . At 11:30, on al-Alam [a station run by Iran and broadcast locally] I saw a very sad picture, extremely sad, that of a dead infant. How are the infants at fault, and the women who died? . . .

Thursday, April 3, 2003

Today it is the 15th day of the war on Iraq. At 10:10, I saw on the television that American solders were entering homes to search them. I saw them capturing and tying the hands of young men, women and children in Basra, in the districts of Abu al-Khasib. The family of our neighbor Amin came from Amara. He lives in Dora, in Baghdad. They said Dora is demolished by the Americans' bombing. At 3:00 we went over to their house to greet them. At 7:25, there was a very violent strike. They fired five missiles but at 8:00, electricity went out. They say America hit the electricity. We are in darkness, the lights are out, and we can't see anything, not even the stairs outside the door. No one can see because of the darkness. Oh God, light Iraq with your magnificent light.

At 8:10, again very heavy bombing, and this continued, and we feel scared. Some say the Americans have entered Baghdad. We feel scared and worried. God, why this torture? Please God, save us from it! . . . I looked through the window but found no one there. The skies are dark, dark, and we don't know what's going to happen to us. As I write, tears are running from my eyes. I am scared and terrified that the Americans might enter Baghdad. What will happen to us? At 11:00, there was violent bombing that shook the building and went on during the night. Mother didn't have any sleep because of the explosions, and electricity didn't come back during the night, and the bombing is on, and now it's four in the morning, and I haven't gone to bed.

Friday, April 4, 2003

Today we woke up at 9:00 and found that electricity was not back yet. Our neighbor, Abu Saif, heard on the radio that the electricity was bombed by the Americans. Oh God, have mercy on us. . . . Water was cut off at 2:45, and we don't know what to do, either to die from thirst or from the deadly missiles. We went looking for water and found all the taps were dry. Oh God, why this torture? Mother went to make some bread at 3:30, and said, "God, even the water is off. What do they want? That we die from thirst and hunger?" At 4:05, our neighbor came and said they have entered Baghdad, taken the Baghdad International Airport and Rashid Camp and will enter Karrada today. The bombing is still going on. Oh God, where is peace? At 5:50, there was heavy bombing, and we feel scared about the Americans entering Karrada. . . .

Um Mohammed was very worried about Abu Mohammed because he was late coming from work. At 9:30, Abu Mohammed arrived, which made Um Mohammed happy. She said, "Thank God!" Um Sahib and her sister-in-law are scared because they have small children. The bombing is continuing and some say the Americans will drop by parachutes on Baghdad. The anti-aircraft fire will try to repulse them but to no avail. We are scared, terrified and worried. Oh God, protect us. What will we do?

Saturday, April 5, 2003

The days are passing, filled with torment, worry, tension and fear, which is always with us, never parting, not even for a moment. What do we do? Oh God, save us! There is no water and no electricity. We bring water up to the second floor and keep saying, "Oh God, let there be electricity." We are scared and terrified. What's this pain and torture? At 5:15, there was bombing far away, then quiet. We don't know why. At 9:35, there was bombing, but not very heavy. At 9:40, there was a loud explosion, and at 9:45, electricity came back to the building across the street. At 10:00, we heard heavy bombing, very near, and at 10:30, we heard the sound of planes flying over the building. At 11:15, we heard very loud explosions. Abu Saif said these were cluster bombs. We didn't know what that meant. At 11:40, we heard the sound of airplanes and every time, we felt scared because of the heavy bombing. Oh God! At 12:15, again heavy bombing, which shook the building, and went on, but at 12:45 it was quiet again. At 12:50, there was very heavy bombing, that went on, then at 12:54, the bombing was heavy and high, and at 12:55, very heavy again. We are scared. At 12:57, the bombing is coming closer. God have mercy on us. It is becoming very heavy. Then at 12:58, it was quiet, but at 1:20, there was very loud, high explosions. We don't know what to do. Oh God, protect us, and let there be peace. At 1:30, again heavy bombing, then airplanes flew over the building. At 1:58, another loud explosion. I was sitting and the explosion's bang froze me in my seat. The bombing continued on but far away. During the day, we can't sleep and at night, we can't sleep because we are scared. . . .