Iraqis becoming numb to continuing violence

By ABEER MOHAMMED

BAGHDAD — Maybe it should come as no surprise that after more than six years of war, many residents of the Iraqi capital are numb to the violence that surrounds them.

Certainly, the number of bombings and attacks has declined dramatically in recent months. Yet the sounds of explosions and ambulances rushing to the latest scene of carnage continue in the capital, if more sporadically.

One day, it is 34 people killed by a bombing in the Shula district; the next, 12 killed in the Dora neighborhood.

Few believe that the capital is reverting to the days of sectarian war of two or three years ago. However, most now accept that the violence will in some form continue to plague the city for years to come.

Some have never known anything but violence in the capital.

Toy gun

In the Ghadeer district of eastern Baghdad, Abdul Khaliq al-Shammeri watched his 4-year-old grandson play with a toy gun.

“He was not born at the time of the invasion, but he has grown up during the years of sectarian strife,” he said. “All his favorite toys are weapons.” Shammeri, a former Iraqi army officer, said he felt pain at the thought of the past and anxiety about the future. “It is too early to be confident about what lies ahead,” he said.

Under an agreement struck with the United States last year, the bulk of the foreign troops are expected to leave Iraq by the middle of 2010.

But doubts remain over the ability of domestic security forces to take over, and Iraqis disagree whether the American presence should be prolonged.

In the sprawling slum of Sadr City, for example, residents blame the continued presence of U.S. forces for the recent surge in violence, arguing that Washington is merely looking for an excuse to extend its occupation.

Abu Mahdi, a cigarette vendor in the area, said, “America is behind all the destruction in Iraq. We have to kick them out. The sectarian war will never end while the Americans remain. They will kill people in Sunni neighborhoods and bomb Shia boroughs and then make each side blame the other,” he said.

Elsewhere in Baghdad, however, many feel the U.S. forces should not leave until security improves.

“My friends and I agree that the Americans should stay for longer,” said Esraa Alaa, a college student in the Zayuna district.

Alaa said car bombings and violent attacks would be a part of her life for years to come.

“I always expect a car bomb, but that does not mean I will stay at home and surrender to my fear,” she said.

That’s a view shared by many young people in Baghdad.

Safaa Sahib, a law student, said, “We will have bombs from time to time — and who knows, one day I may become the victim of a bombing.”

A young man in line at a recently opened alcohol store in the commercial Karrada district, who asked that his name not be used, agreed. “Violence will never leave us,” he said. He pointed to his nearby car that had one of its windows smashed. “A guard from one of the (military) convoys broke the window there, but I still drive the car. You see, life goes on,” he said.

He said he was indifferent to whether American troops stay or go. “With or without them, Iraq is Iraq.”

Back in Ghadeer district, Shammeri said Iraqis were not yet ready to take charge: “We need more time to see if we can look after ourselves.” As he spoke, his grandson took aim at a car number plate and missed, hitting its window with a stone instead.

“You see, we all need more time and practice,” Shammeri said.

X Abeer Mohammed is a reporter in Baghdad who writes for The Institute for War & Peace Reporting, a nonprofit organization that trains journalists in areas of conflict. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune.