The U.S. Invasion, March - April 2003
Friday, September 2, 2005
5:30 PM
Amal Salman is an Iraqi girl living in Baghdad who turned 14 during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Washington Post staff writer Anthony Shadid first visited the Salman family in March 2003. During the war and the ensuing conflict, Amal recorded her family's experiences in her diary. She shared copies of her journal with Shadid. These are translated excerpts of Amal's diary.
Monday, March 17, 2003In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate.
My name is Amal. I have a happy family made up of nine persons: three brothers, who are Ali, a soldier in Mosul; Mohammed, an engraver; and Mahmoud, a student. There are five sisters: Fatima, who helps my mother at home; Zainab; Amal; and my twin sisters, Duaa and Hibba. I am very proud of my mother because she is a great person, who works to bring us food because my father died when we were young, back in Ramadan in 1996 in a car accident. We moved to an apartment on Feb. 1, 2003. We feel very sad having had to move from our house, which we loved, and in which we were raised and spent some beautiful years. Now we are in a nice apartment. . . . We do not want war in Iraq, the land of civilization and prophets. War will be torture. You can see sadness in the eyes of children, and fear. My mother is crying, afraid for us. War separates people, the people we love, and we are worried about the war and the destruction that comes with it. We are supplying ourselves with water and scared that water and electric power will be cut off. Duaa and Hibba are praying to God all the time, to avert war. Fatima feels hopeful that war will not occur. At 8:30, my mom baked a lot of bread for us, so that we will not be short during the war because bakeries will be closed. We keep asking why is there war in the world? Why? . . . Praise to God for everything, but I wish there wouldn't be a war.
Tuesday, March 18, 2003At 7:00, I went to school with my sister Zainab but found there were only a few girls in attendance, not more than 10. Families are scared, and no one seems to know where to go. My sisters, Duaa and Hibba, went to the elementary school at noon, because their school doubles with another school in using the same building. They came back at 12:30, said there was no one at school. We sat to have lunch, then heard the news that at 5 p.m., there will be demonstrations rejecting the aggression on Iraq. Mother said to me she prays to God that Bush will not start the war because we are afraid of war. War has no mercy toward children, nor to the old, nor even to animals; it kills everything in its way. What is their fault, to die in war? What did the women or the elderly do wrong? We pray everyday that there will be no war. . . . Some people say war will happen at 2 a.m. at night. We are afraid. Please God, let it not happen! We went to visit my mom's friend to find if there is any final news on the war and came back at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003We woke up at 7:00 in the morning, cleaned the house and had breakfast at 9:00. Then we sat talking about war. At 2:30, reports said that Bush will soon start the war on Baghdad. We are scared and don't know what to do. Duaa and Hibba, the twins, are imploring God, reading the holy Koran for the sake of peace. My mother is crying and asks what we will do if war breaks out. . . . This state of fear, anxiety and tension is terrorizing the children of Iraq. . . . It is now 6:15, we are scared, waiting for war to start, the strike on the Iraqi capital Baghdad, in which we were brought up. We pray to God that there will be no war. They say at 4:00 in the morning, Bush will start the strike on us. People seem very sad, almost crying, because of the war. Not only that, but there will also be hunger. Already the price of one egg is 200 dinars, bread is expensive, as is almost everything else. Eyes are crying for everything precious. I feel sad for the children. . . . At 10:30 at night, if you go out to the street, you would think it is 3:00 in the morning, because there is not one person in the street. Shops are all closed.
In the early morning, Bush started his strikes on Iraq and the capital Baghdad. We were asleep. Mom woke up and started shouting, "Fatima! Fatima! Wake up! The war has started!" My brother Mahmoud woke up and he seemed scared, so were little Duaa and Hibba, who were crying, and hoping that by daybreak there will be peace. . . .
At 6:00, Um Saif and Um Noor came over. They were very scared, with tears running down their eyes. The military headquarters of the president was hit. After about five minutes, we all gathered at the house -- Um Haider, Um Mohammed, Um Noor, Um Saif and us. Children were scared by the sound of bombing. What have the innocent Iraqis done? Um Mohammed is always following the news, while we are praying to God: "Please God, protect us from the enemy. Oh God, we are in the month of Muharram." In this month, years ago, a big battle took place, in which Imam Hussein was killed, peace be upon him. The night was quiet then Bush struck again after a half-hour.
Thursday, March 20, 2003... At 9:00 at night, there was an air raid siren, and American planes entered Iraq, and electricity was cut off. Emad and I had gone to the house of my mother's friend, Um Jalal. We were scared and we ran as fast as we could until we reached home, frightened, and imploring God. Please God, save us, our hearts are full of fright and terror. At 9:15, a strong explosion rocked our neighborhood, near our home. . . . Now I am sitting in the corridor in front of the apartment, beside my mother, Um Haider and Um Saif, imploring God to bestow peace on us. Now at 9:25, as we are sitting, explosions are becoming stronger and stronger, and in the eyes of Iraqi families, you can see terror and fright. After a few minutes, the situation quieted but we don't know when Bush's storm will rise again. At 9:40, Um Mohammed and Abu Mohammed who live in the house across the street came over. Abu Mohammed sat with Abu Saif talking about war, asking when the bombing would stop. . . . We -- Um Saif, Abu Saif, Um Haider and Haider -- sat to drink tea, then we had supper at 10:10, and at 10:15, the siren went off again signaling the end of the raid. . . . It is 11:35. You listen to the radio, but they don't tell the full truth. Will we become like Palestine or remain as we are now? Fatima thinks that whether we are dead or alive, we are still the same. How long will we be like this?
Friday, March 21, 2003We woke up at 8:00, had breakfast at 10:00, then cleaned the house and sat listening to the news. We heard that America yesterday bombed a palace on Abu Nawas street in Karrada. . . . News said that America occupied Basra, and other areas such as Zubair and Um Qasr. Yesterday, too, Mosul was occupied, and soon Baghdad will be in turn. . . . At 8:10, an air raid siren sounded and we -- Um Saif, Abu Saif, Saif, Mahmoud, Duaa and Hibba -- went to the corridor of the building, and sat talking about war. While we were there talking, a missile passed above the building, at 8:30. At 9:00, bombing became so intense that Duaa, Hibba, Fatima, Zainab, myself, Um Saif and Abu Saif, Saif and Mahmoud were crying from fear. The building was shaking, then we went out of the building scared and entered the house next to the building. We found Um Saif, Abu Saif and Saif crying out in the street. Omar and Emad went to bring them back inside because they were out in the street, but they refused because they were so scared and terrorized. As I am writing, the house next to the building is shaking. Omar and Emad came back and said that Abu Saif was across from the house, scared and cowering from the bombing. My mother is crying, imploring God to stop the war. The house is shaking from the intense bombing, but the planes keep bombing without thinking of the children. . . .
We heard next that the headquarters of General Security in Baladiyat was bombed. . . . Then we and Um Mohammed went to the building's roof, saw smoke coming out of the palaces, and we felt tense. Then at 10:30, they bombed again, very intense bombing, close to the building. I felt sacred, while Duaa and Hiba cried. I kept saying, "Please God, give us peace and safety." Um Marwa came out of their apartment and went to the shelter, scared and crying. From the beginning of this day, I felt scared and worried. Tears were coming down my eyes, and I kept saying, "Why the children, the women and the elderly?" . . . I turned on the radio. Reports said America bombed two main palaces on the Tigris at 10:50. I sat in the corridor of the apartment with Um Haider and Um Saif, and we talked about the war. Then at 11:10, the raid ended and my mother said, "Thank God." Um Haider said, "Only 10 minutes and they will come to bomb us again." At 11:45, the air raid siren went off again. . . .
Saturday, March 22, 2003. . . Today at 3:40, Emad, Um Mohammed and I went to the roof and saw smoke rising from many places in Baghdad. Um Mohammed said they had bombed Rashid Camp. At 7:25, there was heavy bombing, while children and parents panicked. Oh God, we are very scared. The bombing is coming closer and closer to our home. At 9:30, heavy bombing. Saif was crying and Abu Saif, Um Saif, and he then went to the house of a friend. Um Mohammed, Abu Mohammed, Fatima and Emad said the war was coming closer to our home, may God save us. Then Um Saif, Saif, Um Mohammed, mother, Fatima, Zainab, Duaa and I went to the roof. We saw the street empty, without anyone. Now it is 11:07 p.m., and we are tense. . . .
We are waiting for the end of the raid. Oh God, protect me. At 1:30 electricity went out and we heard heavy bombing. Saif is scared of bombing, and Mahmoud is panicky. The bombing is coming closer to the building, and I'm afraid it might come to the building itself. . . . After about a half-hour electricity was back. Thank God! At 2:15, we were asleep, then heard heavy bombing close to our home. We were awaken with a panic and we were afraid. At 4:00, again heavy bombing. God, why this torture?
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, 2003Today 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, 2003Today 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, 2003Today 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, 2003Today 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, 2003The 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. . . .
Sunday, April 6, 2003. . . Um Mohammed came and said the Americans are landing in Baghdad, and the sound of gunfire is very loud. We are scared. At 4:23, the sound of airplanes, and Um Mohammed said no one should go to the roof because the Americans are landing in Baghdad. We were scared at this news. . . .
Today Abu Saif is sick because of the fear, terror and worry. We are tense. Abu Sahib said they bombed a boys' secondary school, which was occupied by Saddam Fedayeen, the school is Dar al-Salam High School. It was then quiet, but at 10:55, there was heavy bombing again, then a lull. After 10 minutes, at 11:05, it was on again.
Monday, April 7, 2003. . . We heard on London Radio in Arabic that the Iraqis blew up the Suspended Bridge in Baghdad, to block American troops' drive into central Baghdad. At 3:05, we heard gunfire, and at 3:15, planes flew over our building. Each time, we repeated, God is greatest, God is greatest. At 3:17, there was a loud blast that shook the building violently. At 3:23, we heard exchanges of fire between American and Iraqi forces. We are scared and very terrified. At 3:27, there was heavy shooting and at 3:40, heavy bombing. By 3:59, the bombing was still going on. Oh God, have mercy on us. At 4:00, there was very heavy bombing. We heard on the news that the Americans have occupied the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. At 4:05, there was the sound of airplanes flying over Baghdad. At 4:07, we heard the sound of a huge explosion, but we don't know where, although it sounded close by. Another big explosion at 4:08 that shook the building. At 5:22, a series of missile explosions shook the building. What's going to happen now? We don't know. We feel scared and tense. It is dark, smoke filling the skies, and rising up. At 6:30, there was a very big explosion, then it was quiet until 7:25 when another big explosion struck. Everyone is scared and crying over the wide destruction and the agony. Oh God! Why this torture? Why Iraq? Why us? Who can answer this question? God protect us. . . .
At 8:30, we heard the sound of an airplane passing, and at 8:45, there was a loud explosion, and again at 9:10, and then at 9:20. . . . At 9:40 we heard sounds of bombing on Baghdad, then quiet. It is very dark now, and darkness covers all of Baghdad. It was quiet, and we felt relived, but then suddenly, America fired missiles, and we heard very loud explosions. At 10:25, the bombing began, and again at 10:45, there was an explosion, and later at 10:57 and 11:10, 11:35 and 11:40. At 11:50, there was one big bang but at 12:00 there was some quiet. But we don't know what's coming next. Then at 1:30 bombing began again, and went on. . . .
Tuesday, April 8, 2003. . . At 10:05, bombing restarted then about five minutes later it was quiet again. We don't know what's going on. Maybe it's a big catastrophe. At 11:30, the building was shaking and it almost collapsed. You can't imagine the fear and panic. We thought these were our last moments alive, that we were about to die. But God saved us. We implore him every day. Praise and thanks to God. At 12:00, many airplanes passed overhead, then we went to the roof and saw two helicopters. . . .
Every time there is quiet, I feel more afraid. After the quiet ends, we don't know what will happen. . . . Abu Saif said he had gone to the Suspended Bridge and saw dead bodies in the street. Oh God, why all this? Why? Why? God protect us all! . . .
At 10:15, we went up to the roof of the building. There were us, the family of Um Saif, my brother Mohammed, Um Mohammed, Abu Mohammed, Abu Sahib, Um Sahib, Um Aya. We were looking up into the sky when I saw a streak of light glowing in the dark. I asked what this is and Um Mohammed said, "This is a field light the Americans use to light the targets they want to attack." Then there were five other lights in the sky. At 10:45, it started to rain, but stopped suddenly, and we stayed there sitting. . . .
At 12:20, I went to sleep because I was so tired.
Wednesday, April 9, 2003. . . We awoke to the news broadcast through the radio of our neighbor, Um Mohammed. It was hot, and we heard the sound of airplanes in the sky, and then again, and again. I heard the roaring of the tanks passing through a street across from us. The tanks were passing through Karrada. And so, Baghdad has fallen. . . .