Dear Lori and friends at IFP,

Baghdad is an emotional place to be. It is sad to see the effects of the
sanctions (these people are poor) and to hear the stories and see the
wreckage of the '98 and '91 US/allied bombings. It's also a confusing
and unsettling place to be. The governments of Iraq and the United
States are enemies and so naturally the Iraqi authorities treat our
group with a good deal of suspicion. As Iraq Peace Team members we are
careful about what we say at all times and often are escorted when we
visit anywhere (we are however free to leave the hotel to shop, eat out
and go for walks whenever we like). Further uncertainty comes from the
possibility of bombs raining down from a US attack. People here speak of
their fear of another attack and all the members of the Peace Team
definitely feel the tension and fear too. Having said all that I want
all of you to know that I feel supported like I never have before in my
life. I know that there are so many people in Iowa City, Virginia and
all over the US rooting for me, praying for me and thinking about me.
I've never tangibly felt the long-distance support of people like this
before, it's kind of hard to explain. It is also amazing to experience
the hospitality and friendship extended by the Iraqi people. Everyone I
have met so far draws a clear distinction between American citizens and
the policies of the US government. I'm already making a few friends and
I'll be sharing their stories with you all as the friendships develop 
and I learn more about them.

Now, what can we do to humanize the Iraqi people to those Americans who
don't support my peaceful presence here? And what can we do to stop an
attack on Iraq?

This is my fourth full day in Baghdad and I'm starting to get a sense of
how things work and what is possible during my 4 weeks here.

There are several volunteer opportunities at an orphanage for
handicapped children and a some clerical work at the UNDP. Also I
visited Baghdad University today and I've been invited back tomorrow to
possibly help with some English teaching.  However, I feel like my four
weeks will be better spent working directly to assist the Iraq Peace
Team by doing media work and to serve as an information link for IFP's
media work and events/direct actions. Bitta Mostofi has been writing
press releases and information sheets for IPT, she also distributes the
releases downtown at the press center and has become quite talented at
shmoozing with the reporters. I've been shadowing her and hope to take
over that role after she leaves tomorrow. The next event to publicize is
our Christmas action which will probably involve greeting people at a
midnight mass at a church.

In terms of IFP, I will supply you with the same information we supply
the media here and write articles/op-ed pieces incorporating my
interactions with Iraqi civilians.

I won't be able to write many polished pieces while here, it quite
hectic really running here and there and meeting people.  I'll send you
a lot of quotes though as I write them down and as much raw information
as I can. I'll also write as many polished pieces as I can to feed
directly to local Iowa City media.

We should work together to develop direct action plans for IFPers/other
American activists should war develop. Perhaps I could do a live phone
address from Baghdad to a rally-maybe have an Iraqi speak as well, this
could draw press to an event. Also I would be more than happy to set up
interviews with Peace Team members and the media or be interviewed
myself.

When I get the chance I'm going to write a to my cousin who's in the
navy asking him to think about what he's doing and to consider quitting.
I'll send the letter to IFP as well and maybe other IFP members can
customize it and send it to military personnel that they know.

These are all brainstorms that I've had in the past couple of days, let
me know what ideas you all have and what would be useful from me. We
need some serious peace actions in the US right now, I really wish that
I could be there to participate and help stop this war, this has been
much clearer to me now that I'm in Iraq and meeting Iraqis and feeling
their fear and becoming their friends. Please do what you can IFP.

Take care,

Micah