Ghaith Abdul-Ahad's Killing Fields

August 18, 2008 1:53 PM

An Iraqi national with a fascinating background, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad has been documenting the situation in Iraq. His video report is in three parts on YouTube (1, 2, 3). Of particular note is the cemetery on the outskirts of Sadr City (at 2:13 of segment 2), which is disturbing beyond words.
posted by dbiedny (14 comments total)

Link 3 no longer available... alternate?
posted by Meatbomb at 2:09 PM on August 18, 2008

Link 2 is unutterably sad.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 2:13 PM on August 18, 2008

The second video is indeed sad, but the youtube comments are even sadder. I am disgusted more at the lack of humanity and empathy expressed by the vitriolic commenters than I am the actual content on which they are commenting.
posted by jlowen at 2:44 PM on August 18, 2008

link 3 ok for me (both 3rd video and 3rd link=1st video); try again.
posted by not sure this is a good idea at 2:45 PM on August 18, 2008

I've noticed a lot of "Iraqis with fascinating backgrounds..." It just occurred to me that at this point most Iraqis must have fascinating backgrounds by our standards.
posted by cmoj at 3:42 PM on August 18, 2008

Thanks for the reminder. I wish there was some way to grab everyone in our country by the head, turn them to face these videos, and say "Look! See what we have done! See what we are still doing! Remember when we let ourselves be led by our fear!"

The horror fades from our memory so quickly. The feeling of powerlessness to stop these things makes us shrug our shoulders. Seeing that cemetery and those kids reminded me of just how angry I should feel.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 5:57 PM on August 18, 2008

Every time I see Bush's oblivious smirk I realize that empathy is sadly a very relative thing, and as time goes on it feels like it is in shorter and shorter supply.
posted by palidor at 6:14 PM on August 18, 2008

Every time I see Bush's oblivious smirk I realize that empathy is sadly a very relative thing, indeed.
posted by elpapacito at 6:40 PM on August 18, 2008

I don't even have words.
posted by maus at 12:28 PM on August 19, 2008

i can't believe that second segment. why don't we know more about places like this? i guess cos very few journalists can go there but... my god.
posted by trulyscrumptious at 2:05 PM on August 19, 2008

I was very interested in these. I started watching yesterday but stopped b/c I wasn't focused.. Although they are all alarming I think the children were the most. He states it perfectly at the end saying~~ these young children are growing up hasting America, wait until they can do something.
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