-- Every square meter of Iraq is bombed and burned every ten minutes, fatwas, RPGs, IEDs are being issued, shot and detonated everywhere you turn in Iraq, the US Army is shooting willy nilly, 'anything moves kill it', bombers criss crossing the iraqi airspace, bombing day and night, smart bombs, JDAMS, predator drones, hellfires.
The mighty insurgents are driving the Marines, the Special Forces, SEALS and SAS troops from pillar to post in their struggle against the oppression. Somalia was paradise compared to this.
Why didn't we listen to the left, Paul Mcgeogh and John Pilger, free Saddam, Chirac save us, Human Shields, UN, pass a resolution, send some white flags and armoured escourts, post haste.
Admist all the carnage and burning and.... that the MSM brings us, some good news coming out of Iraq.
SAAD , 32, BASRA, SOUND ENGINEER
Let me describe our situation before the fall of the previous regime. We were like a sick, weak prisoner under the thumb of a cruel jailer. Then, suddenly and without warning, the gates of our prison were flung open. We were told: "Come on, you are free!"
Then the moment of salvation came. Perhaps I shouldn't use the phrase "moment of salvation", for to do so implies we were expecting such a moment when in truth we were feeling hopeless. Call it what you will, it happened and it was a magnificent thing. Iraqis are feeling better. They are breathing the air of freedom. They read, watch and say what they want.
The negative side, which is transient, is that some here are trying to force others to accept their way and even using force to achieve that. As for terrorism, we are now beginning to unite against it and to defeat it. I say to you: Wait two or three years and you will be pleasantly surprised.
NOURA, 32, BAGHDAD, COMPUTER ENGINEER
As an Iraqi, I see lack of security as the most important problem at the moment. As a Christian Iraqi, I can say that there is a general feeling of anxiety amongst Iraqi Christians. Many of them are considering whether to leave. However, I can assure you that many Iraqis, regardless of their faith, are thinking of leaving as well.
Personally, I feel completely accepted and supported. I have no problem in practicing my religion, although I have heard of some extremist groups harassing Christians. While we lost security after Saddam's fall, we gained our freedom and a chance to build a new society.
NADA, 32, MOSUL, GOVERNMENT WORKER
We never imagined that the Turkmen community would have a political party representing them in Iraq, but this is happening now. We have our own flag, too, in addition to the Iraqi flag.
This was impossible during Saddam's era. Had we dared to do any of these things then we would have ended up buried in a mass grave. We are very happy now. But despite these improvements, we still fear terrorism and violence.
KABAN, 31, BAGHDAD, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
There have been many changes since the fall of Saddam's regime, but the most important change was that we feel free. Many people predicted a civil and ethnic war between Iraqis would erupt, but the Iraqis were the first to sense the danger and ensured that it would never happen. The only thing that worries us is the security situation. However, those who say that security was better in the past are completely wrong. It is true we did not have suicide car bombings in Saddam's era, but our homes did not feel safe from the intrusion of Saddam's security men, who came in the middle of the night to kidnap, kill or rape.
Our insecurity then was also not highlighted on the Arab satellite television channels as it is now. Things are now complicated but we, as Iraqis, understand that in the end everything will be OK for future generations.
Some comments from readers:
I noticed their are no interviews with anyone from the slums of Sadr City or from the destroyed city of Falluja, nor with anyone who was related to any of the 100,000 civilians that have died, or anyone who was tortured or knows someone who was tortured in Abu Ghraib.
Kristina Gronquist, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The people you interviewed were all educated. I'm not surprised that they are happy to seem Saddam gone. But are they representative?
Philip Gough, Austin, Texas, USA
Like most of the people in the new Iraq, we have hope for the future. Although things are still bad, we never had hope under Saddam. Whether we like to admit it or not, it's all down to President Bush. If it was not for him, we would not be looking to the future.
Ali, Surrey, British Iraqi
More from BBC News
May I also add that all Nations are eternally grateful to the soldiers that made this happen. They are the ones who bring us freedom.
The mighty insurgents are driving the Marines, the Special Forces, SEALS and SAS troops from pillar to post in their struggle against the oppression. Somalia was paradise compared to this.
Why didn't we listen to the left, Paul Mcgeogh and John Pilger, free Saddam, Chirac save us, Human Shields, UN, pass a resolution, send some white flags and armoured escourts, post haste.
Admist all the carnage and burning and.... that the MSM brings us, some good news coming out of Iraq.
SAAD , 32, BASRA, SOUND ENGINEER
Let me describe our situation before the fall of the previous regime. We were like a sick, weak prisoner under the thumb of a cruel jailer. Then, suddenly and without warning, the gates of our prison were flung open. We were told: "Come on, you are free!"
Then the moment of salvation came. Perhaps I shouldn't use the phrase "moment of salvation", for to do so implies we were expecting such a moment when in truth we were feeling hopeless. Call it what you will, it happened and it was a magnificent thing. Iraqis are feeling better. They are breathing the air of freedom. They read, watch and say what they want.
The negative side, which is transient, is that some here are trying to force others to accept their way and even using force to achieve that. As for terrorism, we are now beginning to unite against it and to defeat it. I say to you: Wait two or three years and you will be pleasantly surprised.
NOURA, 32, BAGHDAD, COMPUTER ENGINEER
As an Iraqi, I see lack of security as the most important problem at the moment. As a Christian Iraqi, I can say that there is a general feeling of anxiety amongst Iraqi Christians. Many of them are considering whether to leave. However, I can assure you that many Iraqis, regardless of their faith, are thinking of leaving as well.
Personally, I feel completely accepted and supported. I have no problem in practicing my religion, although I have heard of some extremist groups harassing Christians. While we lost security after Saddam's fall, we gained our freedom and a chance to build a new society.
NADA, 32, MOSUL, GOVERNMENT WORKER
We never imagined that the Turkmen community would have a political party representing them in Iraq, but this is happening now. We have our own flag, too, in addition to the Iraqi flag.
This was impossible during Saddam's era. Had we dared to do any of these things then we would have ended up buried in a mass grave. We are very happy now. But despite these improvements, we still fear terrorism and violence.
KABAN, 31, BAGHDAD, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
There have been many changes since the fall of Saddam's regime, but the most important change was that we feel free. Many people predicted a civil and ethnic war between Iraqis would erupt, but the Iraqis were the first to sense the danger and ensured that it would never happen. The only thing that worries us is the security situation. However, those who say that security was better in the past are completely wrong. It is true we did not have suicide car bombings in Saddam's era, but our homes did not feel safe from the intrusion of Saddam's security men, who came in the middle of the night to kidnap, kill or rape.
Our insecurity then was also not highlighted on the Arab satellite television channels as it is now. Things are now complicated but we, as Iraqis, understand that in the end everything will be OK for future generations.
Some comments from readers:
I noticed their are no interviews with anyone from the slums of Sadr City or from the destroyed city of Falluja, nor with anyone who was related to any of the 100,000 civilians that have died, or anyone who was tortured or knows someone who was tortured in Abu Ghraib.
Kristina Gronquist, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The people you interviewed were all educated. I'm not surprised that they are happy to seem Saddam gone. But are they representative?
Philip Gough, Austin, Texas, USA
Like most of the people in the new Iraq, we have hope for the future. Although things are still bad, we never had hope under Saddam. Whether we like to admit it or not, it's all down to President Bush. If it was not for him, we would not be looking to the future.
Ali, Surrey, British Iraqi
More from BBC News
May I also add that all Nations are eternally grateful to the soldiers that made this happen. They are the ones who bring us freedom.
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