The Other Iraq

Shortly after the drinks arrive and the heat of day begins to fade, our trusty news correspondents issue their two minute summary of the endless violence, death, destruction and pain that is our picture of Iraq today. With a little luck, a native Iraqi stringer and photographer have captured a little violence or bloodshed to spice up the report.

These Green Zone residents have one primary job, provide proof that Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) was right when he claimed from the Senate floor "Mr. President, Your leading us off a cliff."

I don't want to minimize the violence, but I do want to tell you that the news reports on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and FOX are terribly misleading. They are horribly wrong. If you believe what you see and hear each night, you will be forced to agree with Senator Biden.

And that would be tragic.

You see, a short four hour drive from the violence in Bagdad will take you into Iraqi Kurdistan, where there is virtually no violence, where Americans are the heroes and welcome as visitors and as investors and even as crusaders hoping to actually change a country even more for the better.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, building is booming. Children (both boys and girls) are in school. The markets are bustling and free of violence. And, while life there today is good, there is promise it will get better.

Not that there isn't a lot of work to do. Enter Simone Allmen, a feminist activist, film maker, photographer and student of humanity.

Let me emphasize Simone is no friend of the Bush administration and no supporter of the invasion and occupation.

So, it's important that you read her blog, look at her pictures and see her video (some of which is posted on her MySpace website).

By many accounts, Iraqi Kurdistan is the one of the most liberal and liberated countries in the Middle East. Women have many rights and privileges. But even in Iraqi Kurdistan, they suffer under the burden of centuries of customs, religions and war.

The most important thing about Simone's work, is that she is able to o it at all. Her presence in Iraqi Kurdistan is a victory in the war on terror all by itself.

Here is a little of what Simone has to say. I have edited the format of her writing slightly, but never altered a word. The emphasis is mine. You simply must read her blog to get the real flavor of her efforts in Kurdistan.

as a gift to me, i was told that i would be going to the gravesites of where the anfal victims are buried. i got a little huffy saying i came here for women's rights. had a moment with my host and we got past it. 8000 people. nothing like stepping onto land knowing that this is what is underneath your feet. all the families praying, crying, singing. i of course shot beautiful painful footage. i played hide and seek with 2 gorgeous little girls and then was given cookies. i cry at the simplicity and the pain. again, i recognize that i am graced. blessed. and truly alive. the sky is big. the mountains are massive. the villages are small but many. there are shocks of color everywhere. i saw so many mountain dogs today. they look like lions. things here have changed. life is moving forward. america is loved and my picture is in many cell phones. i am not ready to leave. i am not sure if i am ready to commit. i was asked to give my opinion about the conference. there were looks that said, well, you'll come back and help build the shelter, won't you? wow. i knew this right? i mean i didn't come here thinking anything less did i?

i have been awake for hours needing to sleep. my body clock is a complete mess. the trip from kurdistan back to los angeles was one of the most excruciating, painful, exhausting trips of my life. thank god for kate, my 21 year old companion. i had someone to look at for support. i had a mirror image of myself. travel weary and delirious. it all became quite the joke after awhile. besides all that: a truly eye opening experience. these are some things i shall miss about kurdistan. sugar in my tea. that is: 1/2 sugar 1/2 tea. sounds awful, right? not so. quite the addiction. i will miss the openness of the land. the mountains full of snow and the valleys covered in green. the colors. little boys watching over their flock. bright shiny kurdish clothing. the looks on the faces as i pass. it's not every day that i am the one that draws curiosity. the smiles and laughter of the children. it is in their faces that i saw deep into a culture. our driver amel. beautiful boy/man. he enjoys that song 'glamorous' by fergie. we had a few dancing in the car moments. he is kind and takes such care. his story is one that breaks my heart. he does not come from a rich family but is working hard at making something of himself. he loves a girl. when asked by his family to see her, her family told them that she was unavailable. she was too busy. when they left, she was beaten. for love.?

Brilliant and beautiful. Simone in Iraq.

TECHNORATI TAGS: SIMONE ALLMEN IRAQI KURDISTAN IRAQ IRAQ STRATEGY WOMENS RIGHTS FEMINISM WAR ON TERROR JOE BIDEN AL QAEDA LT. GENERAL PETRAEUS

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