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Email Story to a Friend March 23, 2006 Iraqi woman says troops must go Journalist Eman Ahmed Khamas says Iraq can’t make its own government work while American forces remain By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Eman Ahmed Khamas agrees with President Bush that the reign of terror in Iraq must end. But that’s where they part company. The Iraqi journalist and human rights activist wants all foreign troops and fighters out of Iraq, including the Americans. "It is very important that Mr. Bush announce now that the occupation will end soon, in a few months at most, not in a few years as he said yesterday," Khamas said in a telephone interview late Wednesday afternoon. "After that, the Iraqis, with the help of the international communities, can rebuild and create a proper government," she added. "But there must be respect for the Iraqi people and goodwill on the part of America." Advertisement Khamas, 50, will discuss her Iraqi perspective at 7 tonight in the large meeting room of the Medford library, 205 S. Central Ave., Medford. She spoke in Ashland Wednesday evening. She is part of a delegation of Iraqi women who began a United States speaking tour two weeks ago calling for the U.S. and the U.N. to create a peace plan to end the violence in Iraq. Sponsors for the local visits include Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Citizens for Peace & Justice of Medford, CodePink and Global Exchange. Khamas, who lives in Baghdad with her husband and two daughters, described the situation in her native country as intolerable. "It is very dangerous, very bad, and it’s getting worse every day," she said. "It is not safe to move around outside your home. Actually, it is no longer safe in your home now. It’s really horrible." In addition, Iraqi civilians routinely suffer from a lack of basic services, including electricity and clean water, she noted. She estimates that more than 200,000 Iraqis have died in Iraq, and many more have gone missing. Thus far, slightly more than 2,300 Americans have been killed and more than 17,000 wounded. While she did not describe it as a civil war, she said the potential was there for it to erupt into one. "But it is not impossible to prevent (a civil war)," she said, reiterating that would require foreign troops to leave Iraq. "It is crucial that Iraqis be allowed to run Iraq," she said. "I am optimistic if that happens. But I am utterly pessimistic if things continue as they have for the past three years." Khamas is a member of the Women’s Will organization, which focuses on defining and defending women’s rights outside of political party interests and opposing incarceration of women as hostages. She regularly publishes articles on women’s conditions in Iraq, and has documented human rights violations committed by all the forces, including Americans. Her delegation is promoting a call for peace in Iraq signed by 50,000 women around the globe. In addition to pushing for conflict resolution, the delegation urges the start of negotiations to reincorporate disenfranchised Iraqis, full representation of women in the peacemaking process and a commitment to women’s equality in post-war Iraq. More on the delegation can be found at www.womensaynotowar.org . Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at Iraqi woman says troops must go ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s