© Zoriah/www.zoriah.com : blog use permitted : use credit : link to zoriah.com : permalink to this post
The above image is of a confiscated weapons cache housed inside of a US/Iraqi army base in Sadr City. Notice that there are no magazines in these weapons. As I was taking these photos, U.S. soldiers filled their pockets with loaded magazines, intending to distribute them to local militias.
I am lying in my cot in a dank, concrete room in Joint Security Station Sadr City when one of the Army commanders who bunks next to me walks though the door, obviously frustrated an annoyed. He is stationed upstairs in the Tactical Operations Center, which is basically a command center for all the troops in the area and a relay point between them and other commands around the area.
"What's wrong man? You look pissed," I say, as he throws his bag down on his bunk.
"Everyone upstairs is all fucking pissed off because the fucking New York Times just broke a story about how the U.S. is arming and funding all of these neighborhood militias and gangs all around Iraq," he says.
I mention to him that I happen to know for a fact that this is true because not more than two days ago I saw it with my own eyes.
He responds, "Yeah, I know its true too, we are taking guns out of one guys hand and putting them into the hands of another guy. I'm not pissed about the article, I just have to work with a bunch of idiots who are pissed about the article. That is what makes my life miserable."
I have decided to post what I wrote a few days ago, now that I am sure that hunch was correct.
© Zoriah/www.zoriah.com : blog use permitted : use credit : link to zoriah.com : permalink to this post
I am a photojournalist. It is my job to be a visual story teller, showing people what other's lives and struggles are like, when they would otherwise have no way of visualizing these lives. I don't consider myself to very an expert in politics, warfare or the situation in Iraq. It puts me in the unique position of seeing and experiencing without pre-conceived notions or ideas. Since my job is based on truly "seeing", I am at ease with learning things along my path.
I am noticing a disturbing trend in Iraq right now, one that I feel pretty sure will prove to be a major mistake in this war and cause a fair amount of grief to the Iraqi people and most likely beyond. The U.S. Military is arming and funding militias and civil military groups across the country. After a discussion with a soldier about the Sons of Iraq, what is now called a "neighborhood guard" by the US military, the soldier said, "We are basically paying these guys off with money and weapons to not kill us."
© Zoriah/www.zoriah.com : blog use permitted : use credit : link to zoriah.com : permalink to this post
The streets of Iraq are now filled with various militias and private security forces. Think of these militias as Blackwater without background checks, rules or any kind of oversight whatsoever (ok, so just think of it like Blackwater!) . Often, they are composed mainly of children not old enough to drive and carrying AK-47 assault rifles nearly as big as themselves.
© Zoriah/www.zoriah.com : blog use permitted : use credit : link to zoriah.com : permalink to this post
Another soldier explains to me that most of the members from the militant groups and death squads a year or two ago, are now either wearing the uniforms of the Iraqi National Police Force, or in one of the hundreds, if not thousands of militias. As I said before, I no expert on such things, but in my humble opinion this appears to be a disaster waiting to happen.
The important events and issues I cover aren't always the subjects that sell to corporate media. These human stories need your support and funding to be told. The cost of travel, food, accommodations, and equipment is substantial. Please consider a subscription of $25 per month to help me tell these stories to the world. -- Thank you -- Zoriah
Thanks for this piece of info. We in the other parts of the world have a very different about the US involvement here in IRAQ.
But this modas operandi has been used from ages by numerous conquerer... sometimes it is effective but most of the time... this backfired... as far as my info goes the same tactics used by US in vietnam but there it was a matter of time when it backfired and we all know what happened after that !!
Posted by: Kuntal Saha | June 26, 2008 at 08:41
a friend of mine sat next to a soldiers on a train home on leave who was on his way back to base, he told her so many of the militia members were children.
Posted by: annie | July 04, 2008 at 06:26
This is absolutely correct. For short term traction, the United States are funding and arming and training the guerrilla force that will ultimately throw them out of the country. These groups will metastasize throughout the middle east and will contribute to instability in the region for decades to come.
Posted by: worg | July 09, 2008 at 19:23
"The above image is of a confiscated weapons cache housed inside of a US/Iraqi army base in Sadr City. Notice that there are no magazines in these weapons. As I was taking these photos, U.S. soldiers filled their pockets with loaded magazines, intending to distribute them to local militias."
Hmmm, or could it be that you don't store weapons loaded, or looking like they could be loaded (Mags in) for SAFETY reasons. For safe storage, they'd have to remove the mags, and lock the bolts back. Also, the troops would have to have VERY large pockets to have moved all those magazines. Wouldn't it be easier to get a cart or something? What, were they going to distribute them to local militias on foot? You'd think in 100 degree temps, they'd use a humvee.
After your disingenuousness about the TWO releases you had to sign as an embed (as opposed to the one you showed everyone), I'm having a hard time believing this post too.
Posted by: douglas | July 10, 2008 at 08:15
Well the guy above me obviously has no clue what is going on over there. I have read several major news articles stating that the US, is in fact simply paying off the people that were killing the troops before the so called "surge". Right now the game is to keep Iraq out of the US headlines until the election - make it appear as if the "surge" has actually been successful. The reason for this is to keep the US there indefinitely. If the surge is working then we must stay because there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If the surge is failing then the US must stay because Iraq will be chaos if the US leaves. It's a catch 22, and the US is portraying things in this light so that the US citizens won't make too much of a fuss.
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This was an amazing insigt into the life of a photojournalist. It is my dream to do the same thing you do, to simply detach and observe how terrible some parts of the world are, and inform others of these situations. Any suggestions of how I can simply get into it?
sim
Posted by: Sim Dhillon | January 16, 2009 at 05:26
These photographs are amazing. I am a senior at my local high school and I am doing a project on how Photographers have influenced culture and technology. I have decided to focus this on photographers who are photographing the Iraq war and how these pictures are showing America the war. I would love to ask you some questions about your experiences. Please respond back.
Posted by: Brittany Newton | March 06, 2009 at 17:33
Good day from sunny South-Africa i like the work that you are doing you say it like it is i have also been following the war in Iraq it is all the same wether you in africa or in Iraq we need people to tell the storys as it should be told.
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