Den Gröna zonen i Bagdad

Intressanta fakta om den Gröna Zonen i Bagdad från www.globalsecurity.org
Om och när den Gröna Zonen försvinner så kan Irak också bli fritt, men inte tidigare.


The headquarters of Paul Bremer and those working on reconstructing Iraq is surrounded by a wall of reinforced and blast-proof concrete, and guarded by tanks and helicopters. The Green Zone -- also called "The Bubble" - is the hub of the vision for the New Iraq. It is almost self-sufficient, and staff working there can be treated in the compound's hospital or run safely in its grounds. When they go out, it is by armored car with an armed military escort.

The Convention Center is where the United States has set up headquarters, and the coalition press office is at the Baghdad Convention Center. The state-of-the-art hall is in the same Green Zone as the Republican Palace. It was once used by the fallen regime for conferences, is home to a highly visible collection of troops, some of whom live in an office that has been converted to barracks.

The Iraqi Governing Council is headquartered in the handsome marble building that once was the Military Industry Ministry run by Saddam's son-in-law, Hussein Kamel. The new Iraqi Ministry of Justice has decided to use the Adnan Buildingg, which is within the Green Zone, instead of the Clock Tower Building, for the Central Criminal Court and the Supreme Court.

The Green Zone is defended with coils of razor wire, chain-link fences, earthen berms and armed checkpoints. The area is defended by M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and HUMVEEs with .50 caliber machine guns on top. The Green Zone appears under siege, with barriers, high concrete walls and checkpoints. US officials are rarely visible outside it, and rules for British personnel bar them from leaving it unless accompanied by four bodyguards and an armored vehicle.

Iraqis and foreign diplomats have been critical of occupation officials, who they say are isolated within the Green Zone and un-informed about life elsewhere in Baghdad, an area that official US security jargon calls "the Red Zone." Being in the Green Zone in Baghdad provides a limited possibility to meet regular Iraqi people. Americans are walling themselves in, mentally and emotionally, as well as physically.

Håll ögonen på den Gröna Zonen. Den ligger mitt i Bagdad och om och när zonen tas bort så är Irak på väg till friheten. Bush säger att USA bara skall ha kvar en ambassad, men ambassaden kommer antagligen att ligga mitt inne i den Gröna Zonen som har extraterritoriell status.