March 10, 2004

Greetings,

With all of these experiences and the rollercoaster of emotions that have taken place in the last several months, nothing epitomizes it like the incidents that began this week. Within 48 hours, we were taken from ultimate bliss and accomplishment to complete terror and loss.

In celebration of March 8th, International Women's Day, our first of nine women's centers was opened. The string of events left everyone feeling on a complete high, and we were beginning to see the tangible fruits from our hard work. The day started off with Ambassador Bremmer coming to meet with the women who are part of our core program for breakfast. He sat in our traditional Arab style training room, and talked with our women about their expectations for the future. The day continued with further success after success. During the day, the Iraqi Transitional Administrative law was signed. Part of the law supports a goal of including 25% representation of women in the government, a goal that women in Iraq worked hard to gain. We hoped that the coincidence of this historic document signing falling on International Women's Day would not go unnoticed, and would symbolize the role women would have in the future of Iraq. We all felt at the top of the world.

That came crashing down shortly after. On Tuesday, March 9th a team of our staff in Iraq, including three of our Manual Trainers and one of our drivers, Ali, were traveling from Baghdad to the city of Karbala, which is approximately 1 1/2 hours south of Baghdad, to provide training to the women we are serving there. Approximately halfway there, near the town of Hillah, Ali noticed two cars passing them with men inside wearing masks. Ali immediately noticed the threat that these cars posed and began to slow down. The men inside these cars proceeded to open fire on two large cargo trucks in front of our car. Ali immediately reacted and turned around while the trucks were attacked and crashed due to the drivers being shot. Additional vehicles behind ours immediately began to get backed up and also came under fire. Ali and our team were fortunately able to speed away from the scene.

Details of the incident are still coming, but we are very fortunate that our staff was able to escape this serious incident that claimed the lives of not only the truck drivers but also individuals in the other cars as well. This morning, March 10th, I found out that three people - two close friends - were also killed in an incident to Karbala. We do not know if the two incidents were tied. I cannot begin to express the loss I feel - the loss of life, the loss of friends, and the unbelievable loss for Iraq. Few people work with such heart and soul - complete and utter dedication - as my two friends did. They were the reason why we [Women for Women International - Iraq] were in Hillah and Karbala in the first place, and whether it was emails, phone calls, or face to face, they always provided the support and smiles we needed to keep going.

I have many reasons for being in Iraq, but today, added one more. With the death of these three people who dedicated their lives, I am more determined then ever to reach as many women as I can, and to make whatever dent I can in Iraq. As one of the trainers who witnessed the attack said, "They will not win. We will have a new Iraq."

Manal