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Preserving Routine Amid Rising Violence Preserving Routine Amid Rising Violence
(7 months later)
BAGHDAD — Struggling for a decade against Iraq’s misery, Hani Jari Hattab assembled what passed for an empire in his neighborhood, including a cellphone kiosk, a computer store and a supermarket stocked with goods from abroad. BAGHDAD — Struggling for a decade against Iraq’s misery, Hani Jari Hattab assembled what passed for an empire in his neighborhood, including a cellphone kiosk, a computer store and a supermarket stocked with goods from abroad.
When the bloodshed eased around 2009 — for a spell that Mr. Hattab referred to as the “golden years” — he started walking home instead of driving and kept the supermarket open past sundown, no longer dreading the night.When the bloodshed eased around 2009 — for a spell that Mr. Hattab referred to as the “golden years” — he started walking home instead of driving and kept the supermarket open past sundown, no longer dreading the night.
But the respite was brief. Last year was the deadliest in Iraq in five years, and the violence has accelerated in recent months: More than 900 people were killed in January alone, according to Iraqi officials.But the respite was brief. Last year was the deadliest in Iraq in five years, and the violence has accelerated in recent months: More than 900 people were killed in January alone, according to Iraqi officials.
A few weeks ago, a car bomb in his neighborhood, called Shaab, killed passengers riding a minibus and tore through two of Mr. Hattab’s stores, leaving the windows in shards on the sidewalk and the modest gains of his family in jeopardy.A few weeks ago, a car bomb in his neighborhood, called Shaab, killed passengers riding a minibus and tore through two of Mr. Hattab’s stores, leaving the windows in shards on the sidewalk and the modest gains of his family in jeopardy.
People have stopped tallying the bombs in this working-class neighborhood, where the violence has ebbed at times since the American invasion almost 11 years ago but never retreated. Like the rest of the city, Shaab has long been a captive to threats. Little seems to get built apart from barricades. Few people speak of plans, modest or grand, except those that involve leaving.People have stopped tallying the bombs in this working-class neighborhood, where the violence has ebbed at times since the American invasion almost 11 years ago but never retreated. Like the rest of the city, Shaab has long been a captive to threats. Little seems to get built apart from barricades. Few people speak of plans, modest or grand, except those that involve leaving.
Preserving routine seemed to be the best anyone hoped for.Preserving routine seemed to be the best anyone hoped for.
“Life goes on,” Mr. Hattab said, a few days after the explosion, as he rang up groceries in his supermarket and marveled at how quickly people returned to the streets after the bombs, in a matter of minutes now, where it once took days.“Life goes on,” Mr. Hattab said, a few days after the explosion, as he rang up groceries in his supermarket and marveled at how quickly people returned to the streets after the bombs, in a matter of minutes now, where it once took days.
Outside, the bomb crater filled with muddy rainwater and disappeared into the landscape, another in an endless collection of local scars. “We have gotten used to this,” Mr. Hattab said.Outside, the bomb crater filled with muddy rainwater and disappeared into the landscape, another in an endless collection of local scars. “We have gotten used to this,” Mr. Hattab said.
Shaab, on Baghdad’s northern edge, was mostly vegetable farms when the government started building middle-class housing for its employees decades ago. Mechanics and carpenters had replaced the farmers by the American invasion in March 2003, when allied bombs fell here one morning, killing more than a dozen people in the first of Shaab’s many recent traumas.Shaab, on Baghdad’s northern edge, was mostly vegetable farms when the government started building middle-class housing for its employees decades ago. Mechanics and carpenters had replaced the farmers by the American invasion in March 2003, when allied bombs fell here one morning, killing more than a dozen people in the first of Shaab’s many recent traumas.
As Iraq descended into a vicious sectarian civil war, Shiite militias that held sway in the neighborhood dumped the bodies of their victims, drilled with holes, in the streets. Anxiety expanded the place: The sectarian cleansing that segregated Baghdad filled Shaab with Shiite residents fleeing other parts of Iraq.As Iraq descended into a vicious sectarian civil war, Shiite militias that held sway in the neighborhood dumped the bodies of their victims, drilled with holes, in the streets. Anxiety expanded the place: The sectarian cleansing that segregated Baghdad filled Shaab with Shiite residents fleeing other parts of Iraq.
American soldiers lined the central market street with blast walls to deter the bombers, and when that did not work, the thoroughfare, in the heart of Shaab, was sealed off to traffic, Mr. Hattab said.American soldiers lined the central market street with blast walls to deter the bombers, and when that did not work, the thoroughfare, in the heart of Shaab, was sealed off to traffic, Mr. Hattab said.
The street is open again, but perhaps not for long. Most every day, the bombers pierce the rings of security, the walls and the checkpoints that have deformed the capital.The street is open again, but perhaps not for long. Most every day, the bombers pierce the rings of security, the walls and the checkpoints that have deformed the capital.
The explosions mostly target majority Shiite neighborhoods like Shaab, where there have been at least three car bombs so far this year.The explosions mostly target majority Shiite neighborhoods like Shaab, where there have been at least three car bombs so far this year.
The country’s political feuds and a resurgent threat from jihadists are the latest source of violence and anxiety. Weeks of bloody battles in the western Anbar Province between the government and Sunni militants, including some linked to Al Qaeda, have already displaced more than 140,000 people.The country’s political feuds and a resurgent threat from jihadists are the latest source of violence and anxiety. Weeks of bloody battles in the western Anbar Province between the government and Sunni militants, including some linked to Al Qaeda, have already displaced more than 140,000 people.
The fighting has spread into Baghdad and other provinces, fueling fears of a wider conflagration and a return to the intercommunal carnage of the past.The fighting has spread into Baghdad and other provinces, fueling fears of a wider conflagration and a return to the intercommunal carnage of the past.
“We lost many friends, and many relatives,” said Hussain Ali, 33, a government employee who lives in Shaab, speaking about the height of the civil war. “When will we get over this nightmare?”“We lost many friends, and many relatives,” said Hussain Ali, 33, a government employee who lives in Shaab, speaking about the height of the civil war. “When will we get over this nightmare?”
Iraqi officials boast of ambitious plans to help struggling corners of the city like Shaab, including new schools, housing and even a sleek elevated train that they say will begin to stitch the divided capital back together. The improvements are hard to picture against the tangle of electrical wires above the bruised storefronts, on streets that often flood.Iraqi officials boast of ambitious plans to help struggling corners of the city like Shaab, including new schools, housing and even a sleek elevated train that they say will begin to stitch the divided capital back together. The improvements are hard to picture against the tangle of electrical wires above the bruised storefronts, on streets that often flood.
From Thamer Abdel Moneim’s quiet carpentry shop, life in the neighborhood seemed to have come to a halt, after a brief stretch of relative prosperity.From Thamer Abdel Moneim’s quiet carpentry shop, life in the neighborhood seemed to have come to a halt, after a brief stretch of relative prosperity.
“People are afraid of what’s happening in Anbar,” he said. “They have stopped building houses for a while.”“People are afraid of what’s happening in Anbar,” he said. “They have stopped building houses for a while.”
Overcrowding provided the only relief for his business: Subdivided apartments need new bedroom sets and doors.Overcrowding provided the only relief for his business: Subdivided apartments need new bedroom sets and doors.
Local conversations were full of gloom, reflecting the wider mood. On Iraqi television, commercials hailing the military played in loops, girding the public for an intensifying war against the militants. Video clips circulated on Facebook showed jihadists killing soldiers and truck drivers while shouting anti-Shiite epithets.Local conversations were full of gloom, reflecting the wider mood. On Iraqi television, commercials hailing the military played in loops, girding the public for an intensifying war against the militants. Video clips circulated on Facebook showed jihadists killing soldiers and truck drivers while shouting anti-Shiite epithets.
In the carpentry shop, where Mr. Abdel Moneim, a Kurd, worked with colleagues from different sects, there was a conviction that Iraq would not be poisoned by infighting again.In the carpentry shop, where Mr. Abdel Moneim, a Kurd, worked with colleagues from different sects, there was a conviction that Iraq would not be poisoned by infighting again.
“We have learned from what happened,” one of the employees said.“We have learned from what happened,” one of the employees said.
The bomber in Shaab a few weeks ago drove a silver Kia. The explosion barely missed Ali Abdul Mehdi, who works in Mr. Hattab’s computer store.The bomber in Shaab a few weeks ago drove a silver Kia. The explosion barely missed Ali Abdul Mehdi, who works in Mr. Hattab’s computer store.
“I don’t know how I survived; I was standing there,” Mr. Abdul Mehdi said, pointing to a wall a dozen feet from the crater. Then he pointed to where a minibus had been passing. “Twelve or thirteen died,” he said.“I don’t know how I survived; I was standing there,” Mr. Abdul Mehdi said, pointing to a wall a dozen feet from the crater. Then he pointed to where a minibus had been passing. “Twelve or thirteen died,” he said.
He stared at the shattered facade of the computer store in the evening rain. Behind him, shoppers filled the market, refusing to abandon their routines.He stared at the shattered facade of the computer store in the evening rain. Behind him, shoppers filled the market, refusing to abandon their routines.
“After this explosion, I’ve started from zero. I will rebuild,” Mr. Abdul Mehdi said, more out of duty, it turned out, than conviction. He wanted to leave the country, but was staying to care for his parents, he said.“After this explosion, I’ve started from zero. I will rebuild,” Mr. Abdul Mehdi said, more out of duty, it turned out, than conviction. He wanted to leave the country, but was staying to care for his parents, he said.
“People go on as if nothing happened,” said Zuhair al-Tamimi, 52, a lawyer. “That is the worst thing that can happen in life. To get used to death.”“People go on as if nothing happened,” said Zuhair al-Tamimi, 52, a lawyer. “That is the worst thing that can happen in life. To get used to death.”