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Ask About the Iraqi LUG
Yes, there is a Linux Users Group in Iraq. When it was first mentioned on Slashdot it only had two members. It's grown a little since then, as has The Iraqi Linux Group Portal. Adam Davidson, an American reporter in Baghdad who helped start the group, has agreed to answer your questions about Linux in Iraq. Please post only one question per comment. We'll email Adam 10 of the highest-moderated questions, and post his answers verbatim (except for HTML formatting) when he gets them back to us.
And, what's your guess as to what a representative, popularly-elected government in Iraq will look like?
In particular, will "tyranny of the majority" cause minority factions (eg, Kurds, Sunnis, non-Islamic religions, etc.) to become dissatisfied and resort to arms?
How's the free press? Broadly factual, rational, sensational, biased?
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Maybe. I asked because I don't know that. I've heard claims that New York City as more murders per capita than Iraq, but I have no way of knowing. Does life suck, or is it just different? The dominate religion in Iraq wasn't in charge before, members of that religion might find it better just because the US allows religion freedom. (Though when the US leaves who knows if that will continue)
I want to know what it is really like, not what proaganda wants me to belive. I am unlikely to visit Iraq in my lifetime, and even if I do not for long enough to learn what it is really like. (Figgure 100+ countries and it takes several years to learn the culture of each, and I won't live long enough even if I didn't also have to earn a living)
Why do you think Sistani is a nutjob? For, uh, not being part of an undemocratical group of cronies? For wanting some sort of direct elections? For wanting to make sure that Shia (who have been pretty nastily repressed but are the majority) have some sort of proprotional representation? For not seeking direct political power? For standing up to the powers that be (pre and post Saddam)? For being a respected religious leader?
There are many governments I don't trust, or rather, don't trust with my back turned.
When a major religion teaches people that they can get ahead in the afterlife by killing others I tend to be wary. I'm aware that stereotypes aren't absolute, but I'm not willing to ignore a very good indicator and unfortunately for the bleeding hearts, being Islamic is strongly correlated with suicide attacks on civilians.
There's a limited ammount of time available, priorities have to be made. Do you suggest that we ignore racial or religious indicators when screening people? I think it's perfectly reasonable, even though it would target me for extra attention in some areas. I'm Irish and in periods of IRA activity I'd be suprised if British police didn't watch me more carefully.
The important thing to remember is that these indicators are not absolute. There are many more innocent people wearing Turbans than terrorists. Realizing that something is a sign requiring extra attention doesn't imply individual guilt is an important point.
Just out of interest, I remember reading 'Atari User' magazines when I was a kid. There was at least one program, possibly more, written by a guy called 'Mike Rowe'.
I remember thinking, "Is this the guy's real name? Really?"... bearing in mind that "micro" was a common abbreviation for "microcomputer" (which most were at the time).
Fascinating fact: This would have been around the same time that the 'famous' Mike Rowe was born.
Yeah, okay, I'll shut up now.
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