Iraqi Government Reopens Landmark Street

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Iraqi Government Reopens Landmark Street

Saturday November 24, 2007 8:46 PM

By BUSHRA JUHI

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) - The smell of grilled fish and the
sound of children's laughter provided moments of joy
for many Iraqis Saturday as the government reopened
Abu Nawas Street, a famous riverside promenade that
has been largely barricaded from the public since
the U.S.-led invasion.

The Iraqi government hailed the renovation of the
street - named for a ninth century poet and once
known for its art galleries - as a sign of improved
security. But the presence of U.S. troops and armed
private security guards underscored the fragility of
the new signs of calm.

Lt. Gen. Abboud Qanbar, the Iraqi commander for
Baghdad, recalled the concrete barriers that once
lined the street before a U.S.-Iraqi security operation
began in mid-February to quell spiraling violence.

“The reconstruction of Abu Nawas is considered one
of the bright results,” he said during the opening
ceremonies. But he warned the fight was not over,
saying “we realize that the enemy will not lay down
his weapons as easily as some would think, but we
are determined to defeat them.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7100996,00.html

[Fool_Me_Once]

1. The smell of grilled fish and the sound of children's laughter...

as Mortars hit the Green Zone, and as children watched their loved ones killed on the streets by car bomb explosions.. They laughed and laughed and laughed!
:sarcasm:

[balantz]

2. Yeah!

What the fuck kind of story is that?

[ohio2007]

3. The Guardian puts up a "false sense of security" story or

the people are just sick and tired of having the street closed and demanded barricades off.

[humbled_opinion]

4. The story is by:

BUSHRA JUHI


Sound like a Bush Crony to me... LOL...

but seriously stand by for much, much more of this great news from Iraq...

Soon Iraq will be a bastion of freedom in the Middle East beconing for all muslims to come and live in peace as brothers and sell their oil cheaply to their great friend who free'd them the Good Ol USA.

Bush Blvd, Rumsefeld Ave, Rice road....

Its inevitable Bush will be on Rushmore by 2010....

Ewwww I just threw up a little bit in my mouth writing that crap...


NEVER LET THE POLITICIANS REVISE TRUTH AND HISTORY.

[struggle4progress]

5. Maliki takes a stroll to show it's safe!

Iraq PM goes walkabout in Baghdad
Maliki says life in Iraq returning to normal, claims security re-established in country.

... The premier, dressed in a suit, was surrounded by bodyguards and the area around Abu Nuwas was sealed off during the tour, a security official said ... http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/23742

[struggle4progress]

6. What quick work! We only announced the project recently!

Bringing Back a Dying Baghdad Street
In Effort to Restore Normalcy, U.S. Army Attempts to Rebuild a Once-Thriving Area
By Jackie Spinner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 23, 2004; Page A11

... Soon after the occupation authority transferred power to an interim Iraqi government on June 28, the mayor of Baghdad, Alaa Mahmood Tamimi, decided that if he were going to heal his city, he would first have to heal Abu Nawas.

At Tamimi's request, members of the U.S. Army's 1st Calvary Division have undertaken an ambitious $1 million project to renovate a two-mile stretch of street and park, creating a pedestrian mall with large grassy meadows, lively restaurants and fountains. Every day for the past month, soldiers have worked alongside Iraqi laborers hired for $5 a day, shoveling dirt, clearing trash and removing an outdated irrigation system ...

"Oh my God, it's like hell," said Muhsin, sweat dripping off the end of his nose as he lamented the current state of Abu Nawas Street. "Everything in Iraq is a piece of hell."

"I feel sorry when you look at it now," he said "It's dirty. There's trash. And you can see the blocked concrete everywhere." ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A24821-2004Aug22?language=printer

[struggle4progress]

7. Everyone will love wonderful and relaxing ambience!

Iraqi Government Reopens Landmark Street

... The street still has not regained a full sense of normalcy.

Before the reopening, several dozen families who lived along the avenue were screened for links to Sunni insurgents, al-Qaida in Iraq or Shiite militiamen. Side streets have been blocked by concrete barriers.

No parking will be allowed and access will be controlled by checkpoints. A platoon of U.S. soldiers will patrol the street around the clock and additional security will be provided by Iraqi policemen and private security guards ...

http://realtime.com/realtime_news/rt_world_news/rt_middle_east/17404437_iraqi_government_reopens_landmark_street____.html?pageid=nandu.category-middle&pageregion=A5