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Why Iraq?

Traveling to Iraq: Dec. 2001 Delegation

What about a humanitarian crisis?

Why should we care? The role of the US.

What can I do? What can we do?

The Church of the Brethren delegation journeyed from the United States to Jordan and Iraq December 9-27, 2001. The trip uniquely encompassed both the Ramadan and Christmas seasons, allowing us to witness the special features of these holidays as well as to participate in the essential humanitarian mission of our trip.

The delegation landed in Jordan for orientation together. Unknown to most Americans, Jordan is in fact inhabited by a majority of Palestinians and the country is deeply affected by the crises both in Iraq and Palestine/Israel. In fact, Jordan sits squarely between these two lands. After five days in Amman, Jordan, we had learned much about this troubled region and, visas in hand, finally entered Iraq. In a day-long caravan of US-made gas-guzzling SUVs, we traveled speedily overland to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The journey had begun!

Church of the Brethren delegation stops for a break 39 km (24 mi.) from the Iraqi border with their drivers. Members include left to right: Chris Fitz (seated), Nathan Musselman (third from left standing), David Radcliff, Stephanie Schaudel, Donald Parker (all standing).

Over the next eleven days we delivered Ramadan and Christmas greetings to Iraqi Muslims and Christians, met with officials of the UN, the Iraqi government and humanitarian organizations. We listened to doctors and patients in hospitals, talked with religious leaders and visited memorials. We attended worship with Iraqi Christians and prayed with Muslims in mosques. Above all, we spent valuable time with ordinary Iraqis, listening, talking, laughing, crying and taking pictures. Focused around the cities of Baghdad, Mosul and Karbala (see map), the group was able to "take a pulse" of the attitudes, health and economy of people in Iraq, especially in the context of many, far more authoritative UN reports.

The delegation was a diverse team from the Church of the Brethren including: David Radcliff, organizer and former director of General Board's Brethren Witness; Donald Parker, MD retired, and current General Board chair; Nathan Musselman, Arabic-speaking student studying in the region, Stephanie Schaudel, Brethren Volunteer Service worker and activist with Voices in the Wilderness and Christopher Fitz, outgoing National Young Adult Steering Committee Chair, on staff at the Education for Peace in Iraq Center. The complimentary experience, knowledge and perspectives of our group allowed us to dig deep into the complex maze of issues raised by the eleven years of embargo on the people of Iraq.

Some of the many adorable children who jockeyed to have their pictures taken by our delegation.

Our introduction to Iraq and its wonder-filled children came on a visit to Tusifor, an ancient Fourth Century palace and city built by the Romans. Before long, with the revelation of just one camera, children began to surround us - first two, then five, then sixteen. From age four to eighteen, the kids gathered around, asking for their picture, sometimes bringing their parents, uttering a giggly "hallo" or looking curiously from a few meters. If a child wasn't getting in the picture, they would often yell, "Ani! Ani..." to protest that it was their turn. "Me! On me! My turn!" It was a prophetic plea we would come to hear often in our two weeks.

Here are some more basic facts and misnomers about Iraq:

Geography of Iraq: 168,928 square miles, about the size of California with mostly dry lowlands and mountains in the Northwest. Iraq is also home to the fertile Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, considered by many to be one of the most ancient "cradles of civilization." It also contains the second largest known oil reserves of any country in the world.

Population of Iraq: 24 million people inhabit Iraq, including approximately 75% who speak Arabic and 20% who speak Kurdish as their primary language. About 5% have ethnic Turkish or Assyrian backgrounds. Of the total population, at least 60% identify as Shi'a Muslim and 35% as Sunni Muslim. Almost 4% of Iraqis identify as Christians with a small number of other religious communities scattered throughout the country.

Government of Iraq: The ruling Ba'ath Party (1968-present) maintains a secular socialist dictatorship in the country based on a historic doctrine of pan-Arab nationalism to support the common welfare of its people. Such policies combined with wealth from oil exports, have promoted excellent health care, increasing opportunities for women and high education standards until 1990. The regime has also allowed for religious pluralism, but has strictly quelled any political opposition.

When US and coalition armies launched massive air attacks to force Iraq's army to leave Kuwait in 1991, they dropped more explosives on Iraq than all the explosives unleashed in the entire Second World War. Among the targets were facilities central to the function of everyday civilian life - waste and water treatment plants, electrical generators, telecommunication facilities, bridges, roads, even dozens of schools. The vast majority of electricity and water systems were disabled: toilets would not flush; water did not run - or ran only muddy; hospitals ground to a standstill; soon food too came in desperately short supply. With total economic sanctions already in effect (since August 1990), ordinary Iraqis immediately began to bear the brunt of the war. In a matter of months, soon after the US command signed a case-fire with Iraq (March 1991), the public health crisis would usher in a new, extended era of devastation for the people of Iraq.