Dheyaa Alwakeel
Diaa Al-Wakil / Advisor and former spokesman of the Armed Forces (25 April 2015)… We’re getting occupied and distracted with the catastrophic events going on in our nation so much that we’re unable see the small things in our daily life that may seem simple and trivial but can actually inflect significant harm to the collective spirit of the inner front which we rely on in supplying the warfronts with fighting spirits and support, and constructive cooperation with the security agency. We’re not bringing up anything new when we state that the inner front is the vital depth of the military front, and its strength and unity are what empower the resilience of the fighters and their steadfastness in the face of aggression… Everyone understands the reasons behind the security procedures in the capital and cooperates with them, but over doing it reflects badly and causes psychological harms for the citizens, as it is unreasonable to close a large square like Al-Hassanin square, the two-storey Bridge, and the streets leading to them from the university, Al-Karrada, and the green area for unknown reasons with huge notable presence of military vehicles and security forces gathering in front of the gate of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq which was understood by many as it was placed there by the Council’s security… And this procedure was implemented during a rush hour at the end of the workday which caused overcrowding and car traffic for long miles, so bad that citizens had to ditch their vehicles and walk on foot for long distances. And we are not speaking here about the ill, disabled, and elderly not to mention the blocked ambulance lines. And after an hour and half the road was opened in one way only towards passing Al-Hassanin Bridge only… Security is the responsibility of everyone and the security agencies carry the largest burden… Closing the roads is the easiest way in securing events but it’s also the most harmful to the life of the people and their responsibilities which should always come first…
Baghdad-rush-hour
I am certain – as are others – that His Eminence Mr. Ammar al-Hakim has no knowledge of this procedure that was implemented past three of the afternoon of Monday the 20th of this April, and we are certain that His Eminence will issue an order to the security to lighten the procedures pressuring the citizens in a way that secures their interests, and handle the situation with a merciful grace to the ill and elderly, and respect their rights… with every security procedure with all due respect and appreciation…
