Hugh Sykes in Iraq.
You may have heard Hugh in Basra this week on PM, as well as Today, the World Service or 5Live. Here are some of the things he saw and people he met, accompanied by his captions:
"Floating restaurant on the Corniche
On deck at dusk
City centre
Take my picture too! Thanks!
Yes, that is what you could see in the background in those two photographs.
The Venice of the East has lost its romance, and gained a dangerous level of pollution.
Out shopping with Mum.
Market-stall, central Basra. "Welcome!" she said, in English.
Moktada al Sadr supporters in the market.
Police at the Courts of Justice.
Lawyers and a client at the court.
In Basra bookshop and newsagents.
Find this man! Hassan was last seen in a coffee shop six years ago, bringing me a hubble-bubble to smoke.
I found him, working across the road in a shop. He said I'd promised to bring him the photo -"but I didn't think it would take six years!"
Polishing the British war memorial at the base in the desert which is now under US authority. 179 British dead since 2003. At least 3,500 Iraqi civilians have also died in the southern areas under British control. They have no memorial.
This dear little girl, Um al Benin, stepped into the BBC hire-van and looked around, and put on my headphones and listened to part of a poetry recital I'd recorded at the weekend at a Basra arts festival. At one point, the poet referred to the Shatt al Arab. Um al Benin pointed down the street, and said "The Shatt al Arab is down there"."
Listen to PM
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Wonderful photos and captions! More than a thousand words and incredibly touching, thank you Hugh.
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Thanks Hugh and his team. Cracking stuff!
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thankyou Hugh, for these wonderful insights to the stories behind your reports.
nick
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ThankHugh.
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I am not at all convinced that Hugh Sykes sticks to the BBC brief of dispassionate and neutral reporting. Is he given latitude ?
It would be quite understandable if that were so, but it should also be made clear if that is indeed the case.
The memorial to the Service personell is in fact a temporary structure due to be brought back to the UK. I imagine the Iraqi`s themselves are remembered within their own families. Though it has to be said that Islamic burials operate under a very different philosophy than ours in the West.
The waterway shown in the photographs is no worse than many I have seen in a similar state in Welfare State from birth to death UK.
One of my neighbours actually did his National Service in Iraq.
From my experience in Arab countries all street cleaning, such as it was, was done my immigrants (usually Pakistanis) or by convicted criminals (in work parties). It was considered to demeaning
for the ordinary Arab. Among the Shopkeepers and Craftsmen an "apprentice system" seemed to operate which made Oliver Twist look positively enlightened.
I am also willing to bet that the women street vendor you photograph was a widow otherwise she would not have been allowed to trade in an open market.
It should also be stated that Shia and
Shittite are far wider apart than Catholic and Protestant and it seems to me growing ever wider.
I think that in the present situation in Iraq context is everything.
This does not mean, in my opinion at least, that Hugh Sykes is anything other than a first class reporter worthy of the BBC.
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Hugh - the voice, face, picture(s) of humanity.
Thankyou.
P.S. How's the book coming on???
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peterbolt - sorry, but if it needs to be made clear, you probably wouldn't understand ...
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A thousand thank yous, Hugh
Tashakkur do hezzar (well, I hope this does make some sense).
I cannot, however, get over the courtesy and friendship shown by the Iraqis to Westerners, given the present circumstances. It is a great credit to you, Hugh, that you elicit such warm responses. But you are a man of your word - You strive not to let people down.
Perhaps our governments need to learn this lesson from you.
Take care, Hugh, and, to quote from another country where friendship and hospitality are paramount:
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
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Peerless.
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Thank you all for those heartening kind comments.
And thank you Hazzar Bozorg - and is that lovely (familar) verse az Iran?
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Silly me, it's from Ir....eland.
And lovely too.
You could add to it the Farsi 'blessing':
Sah-e-shoma kam na Shoddid....
....May Your Shadow Never Grow Shorter
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Insha 'Allah.
Your reports are, as TIHorse says so succinctly, "peerless".
Mind yourself and give a pet to Tigress.
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Oh, good grief.
Somebody tell the moderators that "PMHugh" is Hugh Sykes, and he is *allowed to post here*.
Twerps.
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From memory, he had written something to wish us all well in a foreign tongue. Just shows no one is 'above the law'.
BTW Hugh: every time I hear one of your reports and/or see your photos, you make it seem so fascinating I want to go there.
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Chris Ghoti: twerps? You might say that, I couldn't possibly comment.
I had written that the Gaelic blessing from Big Sister could include the Farsi:
Soh-e-shoma kam na shodid
which (MODERATORS PLEASE NOTE!!)
I TRANSLATED!!!
"May your shadow never grow shorter"
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PMHugh @ 15, I repeat: twerps.
I add: prunes!
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Hugh, that is a lovely addition to the Gaelic blessing. I'll try to remember the farsi, and will remember the translation, and, in my turn, I wish the same to you. Haale shomaa?
K-B
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CG (16)
"I add: prunes!"
Would that be pitted or not?
Love and Taramasalata.
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Oh, mods, DO get a grip, please! I included an entirely harmless farsi phrase to Hugh asking him how he is, and somebody has referred it to the mods?
I hope, having reviewed it, that you'll allow it through. In the meantime, I'll post my response to Hugh again, all in English, and hope that the saddo who decided to deprive Hugh of a greeting will feel a little silly now.
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Big Sis,
Wow! What was wrong with that then?
I think it might be because you wrote something in a foreign language? In the rules it says that this might be one of the reasons for referral I think? Can't envisage anyone referring you. It must be automatic reading?
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I have had the same when using asterisks.
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Hugh (15), I was sent to the mods (17) by somebody for asking how you are, in farsi. The words began with an 'h' and an 's' and were intended to show you that I am still trying to learn a little farsi, even if progress is slow.
And I thanked you for adding that lovely blessing, which I've taken the precaution of copying just in case somebody refers your post, too.
It is lovely, and appropriate, and particularly appropriate to you. I wish it to you.
I would sign this with the farsi name you taught me. Instead I write
Big Sister in farsi ;o)
PS Rather spookily, your report on BH came on as I was typing my no. 17.
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fJd, I'm not sure. Clearly the mods *are* the pits, but on the other hand isn't pitting evisceration? In the latter case, clearly it should be done...
Or just take the heart out of them so that they shut up and go away, especially at weekends, and take theirn dratted 'bots with them.
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It could be, Joe. And I have been referred before, in particular for using foreign languages, but when I've used farsi phrases to Hugh before they've got through if short and preceded by English. This was very short. I took the precaution of abbreviating the farsi name for Big Sister into initials, and I'm wondering whether that might have been the problem, since the first letter is one which, I seem to remember has caused automatic moderation in the past when used alone. So as not to tantalise you, it is the third letter in the word 'ask'.
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Big Sis,
I am as confused as you are. There does seem some discrepancy at times. Can't understand why that letter you mention is so offensive as well? What a strange affair!
Chris,
"Evisceration", Yes, may the Lord rip the bowels of mine enemies from their mortal coils. May the blood of their bodies wash the gutters red. May the crows feast on their flesh, and act as a reminder to all who forsake the sacred word.
Just about to have a look see what gardens are open to visit today.
Have a good day.
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