Dean's World

Welcome to the Carnival of the Liberated, a sampler of some of the best posts from Iraqi bloggers. This week we've got talking points, grocery shopping, a letter from a union leader, dissident patients, pajamas, and more reactions to the election results.

Riverbend goes grocery shopping, writes about the election results, and generally shares the joy.

Husayn of Democracy in Iraq (is here) has a pretty good handle on what may be the next chapter in Iraq:

At least the authorities are trying harder to crack down, but I begin to wonder if they are doing enough. I will not let emotion overwhelm me however, a finger must be pointed at Iraqis who are too cowardly to tell about these terrorists, who harbor them through their silence. I would like to see our new government formed quickly and take a strong stand against these quiet collaborators. Fear should not stop one from doing the right thing.

Rose of Diary from Baghdad will be leaving Iraq—her husband has a new job in Dubai.

Iddam Khadduri of Free Iraq publishes a letter from Hassan Juma'a Awad, president of the Basra Oil Workers' Union. The bottom line—go away:

Those who claim to represent the Iraqi working class while calling for the occupation to stay a bit longer, due to "fears of civil war", are in fact speaking only for themselves and the minority of Iraqis whose interests are dependent on the occupation. We as a union call for the withdrawal of foreign occupation forces and their military bases. We don't want a timetable - this is a stalling tactic. We will solve our own problems. We are Iraqis, we know our country and we can take care of ourselves. We have the means, the skills and resources to rebuild and create our own democratic society.

Saleem has detailed results of the Iraqi elections.

hafir has some talking points.

Hammorabi echoes Winston Churchill's plea “Give us the tools and we'll finish the job”:

Lastly today the Iraqi forces received the complete patrolling and security in the centre of Baghdad from the US forces. Good step however the US should help to arm with the best equipment the Iraqi forces including air space policing by helicopters and fighters as well as tanks and heavy armoured vehicles plus communication and hi tech equipments!

hnk gives us a tour of her school in pictures. It's not a pretty sight.

Omar and Mohammed of Iraq the Model, after a fallow spell, are back blogging as strongly as ever. Must be the pajamas.

There's an interesting tidbit of information in the most recent post from Dr. Saif of Iraqi Humanity:

I was very sad when I finally heard a week ago that the doctors diagnosed her case & unfortunately she had a kind of CA (Cancer) & her case was very late since the cancer had metastasis to the lymph node. I was greatly sorrowed about her since I knew that she hadn't children & she has been married only for 2 yrs, Finally I talked to her husband who was confused & I tried to calm him & pray to God to heal her. I astonished when I recognized his accent, which looked like he was a Jordanian. Therefore, I asked him about that & he told me that he is a Syrian. So I asked him again why he wouldn't go to Syria since they have more developed staff & stuff for CA treatment but he answered me sadly that he is a political dissent to the Syrian Regime & he can't go home since his life will be in danger if he went there.

Ali of Iraqi Liberal has some pretty interesting analysis of the election results.

Alaa, The Mesopotamian, also has some comments on the elections: “When the Judge is satisfied, the Mufti has no business to object”.

Dave Schuler posts regularly to his own weblog, The Glittering Eye. The Carnival was originally conceived by Ryan Boots.