Date: 2004-11-08 11:50 Subject: Hospitals, the Geneva Convention, and Fallujah Security: Public Tags: hassan, insurgency, iraq, najaf

insomnia recently posted about the US/Iraqi attacks on hospitals in Falluja.  This is an edited form of my response to him.

In June this year, I met with a US Contractor who was rotating home.  He had been working at the CPA Najaf complex during Mar-Apr-May 2004, when Al-Mehdi Army laid siege to their area.  I tried to get an engineer in to the site to fix a satellite problem, but it was proving difficult.  At the main entrance to the complex, there were crowds of masked, armed men at all times.  There was a line in the road.  If anyone crossed it - anyone, regardless of appearance, armament, or anything - US snipers would shoot him dead.  The rooftop of the building was covered in sandbags thick enough to stop 80mm mortars, and had M249 machine gun emplacements for crowd control.

Basically, the situation was out of hand.  My friend was doing IT work for them, but the situation got so bad he took turns on guard duty.  As a civilian IT guy, he left Iraq with 7 confirmed kills.

In our meeting in June, we set down to lunch and he told me stories.    Hospitals are almost always the tallest buildings in any city in Iraq.  This is the case in Najaf as well, and there was one within half a kilometer of the CPA building.  It had overview of the roof and its defenses.  This hospital became their #1 threat - every few days a sniper would set up shop in it and wait for a major battle to start.  As the human-wave attacks began, the sniper would selectively target the man on the M249.  Each time someone would step up to replace the wounded gunner, he would be taken out.  In one battle, this sniper wounded 3 gunners.  Their vests saved them.

Their only recourse was to attack the hospital, but they weren't allowed to leave the compound to counter-attack, and they weren't allowed to rocket it or respond in force.  A long-term battle of attacks of opportunity between snipers on both sides ensued.  Eventually US snipers eliminated the threat, but engaging the snipers in the hospital when they could see them.  But a lot of men got hurt, and if the CPA forces had been allowed to occupy the hospital it couldn't have been used this way.

The Geneva Conventions state that it is unlawful for any side in a conflict to use a protected area (such as a hospital) as a base of offensive operations.  If such an area is being used for this purpose, it is no longer protected.

This same contractor said that a lot of men he spoke to told him similar tales from all over Iraq.  These are terrorists - guerilla fighters working from concealment.  They do not play by the articles of war, or the Geneva Conventions, or anything else.  They cannot, if they want to win, and it is a damned fool that expects them to.

Despite earlier bitching on my part, I do not support the destruction of a civilian population center or its critical life-support systems.  But I do not believe the assault on Falluja hospitals was done without provocation.  Nor do I believe that innocent patients or doctors were intentionally left in that hospital before it was razed.  I suspect this was a case of removing the human shield once and for all.

Incidentally, the engineer I was trying to get in to this site was Hassan (مرحوم).  And he did - talking his way past insurgents, using his local knowledge and Shia background, then sneaking in the back entrance by arrangement with the IT guy I mention above.  And he did it all unarmed.  Now you know just how brave he was.

Date: 2004-11-01 13:41 Subject: Hassan's story Security: Public Tags: bombing, death, hassan, marwan

This is the story of what happened the day of the explosion.  Marwan, one of my closest Iraqi friends and the Operations Manager for the company, emailed this to me.  I have edited it for readability and spelling/grammar where necessary.  See the lj-cut at the bottom of this message for the text of his original message, unedited.

Notes: Hiba is Hassan’s sister, and works at the company as well.  The rest of the people named here are all employees – engineers, technicians, drivers, and sales staff.


Hello Tyler,

First of all I am very sad to what happened to Hassan.  He is my friend from the days of college and here is the story about what happened there.

I was sitting on my desk when Hassan show up, so I welcome him because he was in Basra and he ask me later that he need this day off because he has (FATHA). It’s the ceremony to dead people, like some one friend or relative dies. Any was I told him to go and take another day with it and I will tell TheBoss about this. So he went to his sister and he told her that he got 2 days off and he is heading home.

Then in 3:15 PM we heard explosion, very big one even some of our windows broken (not so bad). And I thought it’s in the main road just like the other explosion. Then the news came and they said it’s in Al Arabia channel. At that moment Hind jump and said that she saw Hassan there when she was collecting money from them this afternoon. So we all panic and immediately Emad and Abu Gheith and Ammar and Ziad went there. And since the explosion I am trying to call Hassan’s mobile and its shut down so I kept calling Ammar and Emad.

Then Emad went to the Hospital to check there. They said that most of the people are there. Any way they did not let him in and then he talked to a doctor and he said to him that there is no Hassan. After, he went and talk to the people from the channel (wounded). So I don’t know why but I have some kind of feeling that he is dead.

And after two hours Emad came back so I went with him and Kareem, Samir and Omar came with us so we stops there at the American check point. We parked the car and then we meet Ammar and Ziad, so we split into two teams because there is two ways to Arabia. Ammar and Omar and Samir team and me, Kareem, Ziad in team. So I head to the check point and asked the solders very politely (begging) and he said to me that this man he is the responsible here so if you can convince him he will let you in. So I talked to him and he said ok just you and I said ok. So they search me and then let me in.

The first thing when I was walking I heard the people cleaning the broking glass from their homes, and then I reach the place. And it was a disaster. 31 cars are damaged some of them you can’t tell what is this car from the first look. So I stopped near the ambulance and start to ask the people there, then they found 4 bodies and they asked for help. So this my chance to check, so I went with them and carry 4 dead people. The first one I am 100% that this man is not Hassan. He is burn badly but you can tell from the big body that this man is not Hassan. So I called the people, saying that the first one is not Hassan. Then we went to the second one and he has his face, so it’s not Hassan too. Then the other one show up and he is burn so badly that you can’t know what is he or she. And then anther one but I did not recognize him he was in a bag so the ambulance carry on and I start checking the cars.

So I suspect only one. It looks like his car but I can’t tell, so one of the IP’s told me that this car was for two women. So that’s mean no car here for Hassan then one of the IP’s told me that there is car inside this house. The car thrown from the explosion inside the house (the garden). so I tried to check it but I could not find it. Then I notice that there is piece of metal inside the garden. it not look like car and it almost dark so I walked to that piece of metal. then it was a car but packed, like the height of the car was 40 cm and the length was 2 m, and I could not tell what is that thing just from the wells and it look like for small car.

I could not stay there for long time because the Americans and the IP’s and the ING was there and they might suspect any one. So the American army thought that I am some kind of man with normal wear working with the IP’s with good English language, and the IP’s thought that I am interpreter with the American. So I was moving with both and discuss the accident with the people there and through question about Hassan. So then so I asked every body, even the American solders, if they see this kind of car.

Any way I tired from jumping between the cars and carrying dead bodies and the smell was so stinky, so I lost all the hope of finding him. And I have one body (the burned badly one) and the one in the bag and the car inside the house. Then they confirm to me some how that this one the burned one is one of the guards, but I am not sure - it could be some one else. So I return back (by the way the phone did not stop ringing when I was inside, like every body knows that I am inside so I explain 100 times every thing I am doing and what I found and what the body look like).

Any way I reach the check point again and I saw the guys there waiting for me, so I explain everything with details to them and I told them about the suspect car and the suspect two bodies. Then Ammar want to check himself so he ask the solder and he said ok go with him. So we went again and the ambulance was left the site so he could not see anything, just small pieces of meat in the ground here and there. So we return back after he convinced that he will not find any thing useful.

Then the American preparing for leaving the site, so now any one can go in. After half hour the American left the site, so we went again but this time all of us searching and now no one will tell you where are you going. So we saw Hassan’s brothers there, and I just direct them to the suspect car. Everybody try his best to see if this is Hassan’s car, then one of his brothers and Samir said to me that probably this is the one from the wells but still not convinced 100% or trying to convince my self that this not the car.

Then the ING kicked us out, so we went to the company because most of the guys are fasting so they eat I tried to eat but I could not (I just can’t - they are eating chicken and it just look like one of the burning parts of one body that I carry so I smoke instead of eating).

Then we decide to go to the police station hoping that they arrested him (when any explosion happen anyone in that area will be suspect so they take them to the police station for questioning). So we went there and Ali, Kareem entered the station to check. Then after 15 minutes Kareem return back and he was crying and he just collapse and we did not understand a word from him. Then he calm down and start talking. He describe what Hassan was wearing - blue shirt and jeans - so he told him that he saw his body and the IP mention to Kareem that there was ring in his left hand and you can find him in the hospital (the refrigerator).
So we went to the hospital and then after little tour inside the hospital we went to the fridge to check. Ali and Emad stay outside, me and Omar and Samir and Kareem went inside. Then they stay at the door and I went inside (this is the first time to me to enter fridge for dead people so I thought I will see one just like the one in the movies). Anyway, there were 7 bodies in the ground. I recognize 4 of them and I check them all again, then I went out saying to them that no one of them are Hassan. Then anther two families come and start screaming this is him, this is him, any way we just stand for 5 min to let them see, and then Omar and me went inside again but without finding any thing.

So we have only one that I told you about - the one in the bag - so I ask Samir and Kareem what is his clothes look like. They told me that he was wearing blue shirt so I open it and I found piece of shirt that look like Hassan shirt, so I scream on them to confirm that this is Hassan’s shirt. So they look at the shirt and they said yes this is it so I open it all and try looking again and I found a piece of his jeans and it was horrible view. You are seeing your friend with out leg and with one hand and no head, most of it gone and his leg just laying. Every bone was broken, you could not know him, just [know him] from his clothes. Anyway I try to find any ID or anything inside his clothes, and that mean that I have to carry some of his part to get his clothes and that was the hard part. Any I search his only left pocket and I found lighter and the mark of the jeans was Boss still there.

So we go out and try to see what they think, so we decided to go to the company but we need to be sure because TheBoss is waiting for answer and his sister Hiba was too. So this time Kareem and me went inside and he search him again and we did not find anything, so we decided to go to the company and inform TheBoss anyway. He called Hassan’s brothers to tell them that we found him. They come and they went to the hospital directly, and this is the last thing that I heard. I went to the house and my head is killing me and that’s it.

Marwan

( Click here to see the original text of Marwan's letter. )

Date: 2004-10-31 09:39 Subject: Waiting for Hassan, part 2 Security: Public Tags: bombing, death, hassan, iraq

I want to say thank you to everyone who responded to my first post about Hassan.

For those looking for more info about the bombing itself, the most complete report now available can be found here.  Thanks to jedipussytricks for the link.

We are now 99% sure that Hassan is dead.  The staff found a body at the hospital.  It was missing its head, arms, and a leg, but was not burned.  Someone described it as "a bunch of meat and bones".  And it was wearing Hassan's clothes, right down to his favorite brands.  Boss khaki-colored jeans, blue collared shirt - exactly what he was seen wearing earlier that day.  TheBoss says it looks he caught the brunt of the impact.  He was leaving the Al Arabia office when the bomb hit.  His body was dismembered by the blast and thrown as far as the neighbor's house.

It's not likely that we'll ever be sure.  What will happen now is we will wait.  And Hassan will not suddenly reappear, and we'll all give up hope that this isn't his body.

The staff is numb - the search for him gave everyone time to let the idea settle in.  They will grieve, and the family will probably hold a funeral soon, and it is possible they may ask for fassel from the company.  I am sure we will pay it.

I wish I was there, with my friends.  Sometimes I feel like as much of an honorary Iraqi as one can be.  And sometimes I feel like I'm standing on the sidelines, watching them live their lives.  It is at the worst of times that I want to be there the most.

There is always hope that we're wrong, but I'm going to do this anyway.

Hassan was 30 years old.  He had worked for the company for one year.  He was a Shia Muslim, light-skinned, wore glasses, and was very quiet.  He went to some of the most difficult and dangerous places in Iraq for us, and never complained.  He was originally from the south, and because of this often traveled there for us.  He was in Najaf in May, sneaking in to the CPA while US Army snipers traded rounds with Al-Mehdi snipers on top of the hospital.  When Jayme and I married, he decorated his car as the traditional Iraqi wedding carriage and drove us home from the church.  He was brave, intelligent, reliable, and kind.  He was married three weeks ago.

( R.I.P. Hassan Alwain Hussein Al Dehlegi, 1975-2004. )

Date: 2004-10-30 16:02 Subject: Waiting for Hassan Security: Public Tags: bombing, death, hassan, iraq

A massive explosion shook the company's Baghdad office 30 minutes ago.  Apparently there was a bomb at the Al Arabia TV office on the other side of Al- Rahman Mosque, on Hunting Club Road.  This is less than a kilometer from the office, on a major road that we travel frequently.

News reports on Al Arabiya say it was a carbomb, and that the car pulled up and then detonated immediately.  We're still trying to make sense of this, as that area is extremely secure and normally blocks all vehicular traffic from getting close enough to do a lot of damage.

No one at my office was hurt, although a window was blown out.  However, one my engineers, Hassan, was at the Arabiya office when it happened.  They are a customer.  We are awaiting word.  Ammar and Imad are there now, trying to get in or find out more.

And so again, we wait.

Update: reports say the bomb was small.  There are no deaths reported, and the wounded went to the hospital still able to walk.  That means mostly shrapnel and glass wounds, al hamdu lillah.

Update, 2004.10.30 14:35 GMT: There are now 7 reported dead. Two are positively identified as women, the other five are unknown. Still no word on Hassan.

Update, 2004.10.30 15:30 GMT: It seems my earlier report was dead wrong - this was a big bomb. 31 cars are now known to be destroyed in the immediate area, and the number of dead is expected to be very high. Marwan is there now, and says there are "bodies all over". He cannot get past the US soldiers, and no one is providing more information. The dead and wounded are being taken to Yarmuk hospital, and we'll most probably send someone there next.