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BAGHDAD (14 MAY 2003) – Hamed Mehson Alaiwi never expected to be attacked by the American military. Alaiwi, a former government employee, re-sells gasoline on the street in order to support his family in post-war Iraq. Until today, his new job seemed harmless. Daily, he fills his large, gallon-sized gas cans at the Abu Qlam gas station and goes in search of thirsty cars. Street sales of gasoline have exploded in Baghdad since the war ended and gas shortages began.
Gas stations throughout Baghdad have been ordered by the US to stop selling gas to re-sellers and only let people fill their cars, in order to cut down on crowding. When a group of Iraqis carrying gas cans, including Alaiwi, approached Abu Qlam at 1:30pm today, US soldiers stationed there without a translator told the group in English that they couldn’t fill their cans.