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American Morning
Clandestine Diary
Aired October 21, 2003 - 07:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: An Iraqi who called himself Salam Pax became well-known on the Internet during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. His online diary, written in cafes in Baghdad, was an uncensored account of the war ongoing. What began simply as a conversation with a friend turned into a huge attraction for readers around the world -- readers hungry for news from inside of Baghdad.
His blog is collected in a new book, "The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi." And recently I talked to him about the misconceptions people have right now about Iraq. He wanted to stay in silhouette, he says, because he is now used to the anonymity he now enjoys.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALAM PAX, WROTE CLANDESTINE WAR DIARY: People would say, look, Iraqis are sitting, you know, waiting for coalition forces, Americans to do stuff for them. And this is really not very correct, because, I mean, you might not see it in the media, but what's happening is that private businesses are up. Private banks are up and running. People are trying to solve the problems they can solve. In neighborhoods and communities, you try to do something. You don't sit and do nothing about it.
But we need the help of the coalition forces for the bigger stuff. I mean, getting ministries up and running. Of course, we can't do this alone. We need help there. But it's not like Iraqis are doing nothing and waiting for someone else to do it for them. This is not correct.
HEMMER: So then...
PAX: And...
HEMMER: So then, how do you come down on this argument about returning power to the Iraqis? There is a big debate between the U.S. and its European allies.
PAX: Now...
HEMMER: When is it appropriate? Or can you even say right now?
PAX: Look, it's -- the electricity thing. One thing people always forget is that electricity was bad before the war. It was used always as some sort of a political tool. If you are bad, they're going to cut the electricity -- that's Saddam regime. Now, what's happened is that they're making sure that all of Iraq gets the same electricity all of the time, which is not -- I mean, not much.
HEMMER: All of this is a work-in-progress, as we've noted....
PAX: Yes, yes.
HEMMER: ... throughout this entire campaign, going back to, really, the end of the war -- or major combat anyway. What's the danger for you right now in trying to keep your identity secret? Why not go public?
PAX: Well, there are two things. First, I've written about people. I'm still actually blogging about certain people, political parties, religious groups. And it doesn't make me feel very comfortable when they really know who I am. I still see them, I still meet them, I still talk to them, so...
HEMMER: Why is that, then?
PAX: I'm not -- I mean, it's OK. We might have been "liberated" -- quote/unquote. But it's still not very safe in Baghdad. I mean, anybody can go and kill anyone now on the street for any reason. And it happens. It happens. It does happen. That's why people are upset with the security situation, because these things are very difficult to control. We still don't have laws -- very clear laws. So, it's still not very safe.
And, the second reason is, I mean, all bloggers have pseudonyms. Go check, you know, Weblog (ph). And when you write something bad about your boss, you don't want him to go online, you know, and know who is writing this thing, because you'll get fired. And this is what I've done quite often. So, I -- you know, it's...
HEMMER: A final question here. Tell me how people are adapting right now in Iraq. I'm certain you have heard countless stories and seen countless cases yourself. How is the adaptation process been for them now, four or five months down the road?
PAX: That's a bit difficult. When your city suddenly has changed so much, but you still -- you get used to things which aren't really very normal. I mean, look, you have tanks running around the streets. You have checkpoints with people with huge guns in their hands.
And the worrying thing is that you get used to it. That's really worrying. You don't see things anymore. They are all over the city. Your city is still (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You still see the wreckage. It feels like a war zone. And you adapt to it, because humans are like that, because you have to go on living, and that's wonderful. But it's really bad when you get used to it. It shouldnt be normal. This is not normal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Salam Pax, the blogging continues from Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 21, 2003 - 07:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: An Iraqi who called himself Salam Pax became well-known on the Internet during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. His online diary, written in cafes in Baghdad, was an uncensored account of the war ongoing. What began simply as a conversation with a friend turned into a huge attraction for readers around the world -- readers hungry for news from inside of Baghdad.
His blog is collected in a new book, "The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi." And recently I talked to him about the misconceptions people have right now about Iraq. He wanted to stay in silhouette, he says, because he is now used to the anonymity he now enjoys.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALAM PAX, WROTE CLANDESTINE WAR DIARY: People would say, look, Iraqis are sitting, you know, waiting for coalition forces, Americans to do stuff for them. And this is really not very correct, because, I mean, you might not see it in the media, but what's happening is that private businesses are up. Private banks are up and running. People are trying to solve the problems they can solve. In neighborhoods and communities, you try to do something. You don't sit and do nothing about it.
But we need the help of the coalition forces for the bigger stuff. I mean, getting ministries up and running. Of course, we can't do this alone. We need help there. But it's not like Iraqis are doing nothing and waiting for someone else to do it for them. This is not correct.
HEMMER: So then...
PAX: And...
HEMMER: So then, how do you come down on this argument about returning power to the Iraqis? There is a big debate between the U.S. and its European allies.
PAX: Now...
HEMMER: When is it appropriate? Or can you even say right now?
PAX: Look, it's -- the electricity thing. One thing people always forget is that electricity was bad before the war. It was used always as some sort of a political tool. If you are bad, they're going to cut the electricity -- that's Saddam regime. Now, what's happened is that they're making sure that all of Iraq gets the same electricity all of the time, which is not -- I mean, not much.
HEMMER: All of this is a work-in-progress, as we've noted....
PAX: Yes, yes.
HEMMER: ... throughout this entire campaign, going back to, really, the end of the war -- or major combat anyway. What's the danger for you right now in trying to keep your identity secret? Why not go public?
PAX: Well, there are two things. First, I've written about people. I'm still actually blogging about certain people, political parties, religious groups. And it doesn't make me feel very comfortable when they really know who I am. I still see them, I still meet them, I still talk to them, so...
HEMMER: Why is that, then?
PAX: I'm not -- I mean, it's OK. We might have been "liberated" -- quote/unquote. But it's still not very safe in Baghdad. I mean, anybody can go and kill anyone now on the street for any reason. And it happens. It happens. It does happen. That's why people are upset with the security situation, because these things are very difficult to control. We still don't have laws -- very clear laws. So, it's still not very safe.
And, the second reason is, I mean, all bloggers have pseudonyms. Go check, you know, Weblog (ph). And when you write something bad about your boss, you don't want him to go online, you know, and know who is writing this thing, because you'll get fired. And this is what I've done quite often. So, I -- you know, it's...
HEMMER: A final question here. Tell me how people are adapting right now in Iraq. I'm certain you have heard countless stories and seen countless cases yourself. How is the adaptation process been for them now, four or five months down the road?
PAX: That's a bit difficult. When your city suddenly has changed so much, but you still -- you get used to things which aren't really very normal. I mean, look, you have tanks running around the streets. You have checkpoints with people with huge guns in their hands.
And the worrying thing is that you get used to it. That's really worrying. You don't see things anymore. They are all over the city. Your city is still (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You still see the wreckage. It feels like a war zone. And you adapt to it, because humans are like that, because you have to go on living, and that's wonderful. But it's really bad when you get used to it. It shouldnt be normal. This is not normal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Salam Pax, the blogging continues from Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
