Al-Obeidi arrived in New York at the end of July and
with the help of a refugee agency, she was resettled
in Colorado.
She has no family in the United States, and she
would perhaps like to return to her homeland one
day.
"Of course, there is no one who doesn't wish to go
back to his country," she said. "But I am not mentally
ready for that. I also feel personally I am not ready to
integrate back into society, I am not ready. I feel life
is hard for me because it is different -- in culture ...
language -- everything is different here."
Al-Obeidi cannot know the twists and turns her life
will take from here. She wants to finish schooling.
Marry. Five years from now, she pictures herself as a
mother.
One thing she knows though. If and when she returns
home, it will be to a Libya without Gadhafi.
She just wishes Gadhafi had met proper justice. She
felt his killers did him a favor by ending his life. In
the eyes of some, he became a martyr.
"They shouldn't have given him this honor," she said.
He should have been tried for his crimes, she said --
for what he did to the people of Libya, for what he did
to her.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Alleged Libyan rape victim struggling to startanew in AmericaCONTINUED.
He offered her an educational stipend. And health
insurance.
"It means everything to me," she said, opening up an
envelope containing check for $1,800.
"It's not about whether it's a lot or little. It's about
the time that I got it," she said.
It was like winning the lottery. Otherwise, she might
have wound up on the street in a few days.
Aujali said he thought al-Obeidi needs help.
"I told her one thing," he said. "You have to close the
doors to the past and look to the future. She cannot
live in misery the rest of her life."
Al-Obeidi first caught the world's attention in March
when she burst into Tripoli's Rixos Hotel, where
foreign journalists were staying, and publicly
accused members of Gadhafi's forces of gang-raping
her.
She was hysterical. She screamed that she had been
taken from a checkpoint and held against her will for
two days while being beaten and raped by 15 of
Gadhafi's militiamen.
Security officials said al-Obeidi was "mentally ill"
and was being taken to a "hospital." They dragged
her unceremoniously to a waiting white car and
whisked her away. She wasn't heard from for more
than a week, but eventually in media interviews, she
spoke of her ordeal.
She fled to Tunisia in May with the help of a defected
military officer and the Libyan rebels, then in the
thick of civil war. She found temporary sanctuary in
Qatar before being granted asylum in the United
States.
insurance.
"It means everything to me," she said, opening up an
envelope containing check for $1,800.
"It's not about whether it's a lot or little. It's about
the time that I got it," she said.
It was like winning the lottery. Otherwise, she might
have wound up on the street in a few days.
Aujali said he thought al-Obeidi needs help.
"I told her one thing," he said. "You have to close the
doors to the past and look to the future. She cannot
live in misery the rest of her life."
Al-Obeidi first caught the world's attention in March
when she burst into Tripoli's Rixos Hotel, where
foreign journalists were staying, and publicly
accused members of Gadhafi's forces of gang-raping
her.
She was hysterical. She screamed that she had been
taken from a checkpoint and held against her will for
two days while being beaten and raped by 15 of
Gadhafi's militiamen.
Security officials said al-Obeidi was "mentally ill"
and was being taken to a "hospital." They dragged
her unceremoniously to a waiting white car and
whisked her away. She wasn't heard from for more
than a week, but eventually in media interviews, she
spoke of her ordeal.
She fled to Tunisia in May with the help of a defected
military officer and the Libyan rebels, then in the
thick of civil war. She found temporary sanctuary in
Qatar before being granted asylum in the United
States.
Alleged Libyan rape victim struggling to startanew in America
Hers is a struggle shared by all freshly arrived
refugees in the United States. Learning English.
Getting a job. Adapting to American culture.
But starting life anew has been that much tougher for
Eman al-Obeidi, the woman who came to embody
the cruelty of Moammar Gadhafi's regime in the
midst of Libya's brutal civil war. She lives every day
with the scars of the rape she alleges was committed
by Gadhafi's thugs.
Sometimes, she said in an exclusive interview with
CNN, she gets so depressed that she doesn't leave
her apartment for days. Other times, she can't even
get out of bed for three or four days.
"I cry all the time just like little children," she says
wiping dry her moist eyes. "And I always smile, too."
Al-Obeidi found relief on these shores when she
arrived here last summer. She finally felt safe, unlike
in Libya, where she felt constantly in danger and her
family was threatened.
But she has found it hard to make ends meet. She
said she has been going to the employment office for
four months but job opportunities have been slim.
"When I came, I never imagined life would be this
hard," she said. "As we say in Libya, you have to kill
yourself working. I wish there was work. There are no
work opportunities."
Her family in Libya sends her $300 a month. Without
that, she said, she would not have made it so far.
Out of desperation, last week, al-Obeidi bought a
one-way ticket from Colorado to Washington with
money from an Iraqi family. She had all but $100 in
her bag; she used $65 of it and took a taxi to the
Libyan Embassy in Washington.
She came with a distrust of politicians and diplomats
but with hope in her heart that her compatriots would
not turn her away. But Libyan Ambassador Ali Aujali,
she said, spoke to her like a father.
Page 1 of 3
refugees in the United States. Learning English.
Getting a job. Adapting to American culture.
But starting life anew has been that much tougher for
Eman al-Obeidi, the woman who came to embody
the cruelty of Moammar Gadhafi's regime in the
midst of Libya's brutal civil war. She lives every day
with the scars of the rape she alleges was committed
by Gadhafi's thugs.
Sometimes, she said in an exclusive interview with
CNN, she gets so depressed that she doesn't leave
her apartment for days. Other times, she can't even
get out of bed for three or four days.
"I cry all the time just like little children," she says
wiping dry her moist eyes. "And I always smile, too."
Al-Obeidi found relief on these shores when she
arrived here last summer. She finally felt safe, unlike
in Libya, where she felt constantly in danger and her
family was threatened.
But she has found it hard to make ends meet. She
said she has been going to the employment office for
four months but job opportunities have been slim.
"When I came, I never imagined life would be this
hard," she said. "As we say in Libya, you have to kill
yourself working. I wish there was work. There are no
work opportunities."
Her family in Libya sends her $300 a month. Without
that, she said, she would not have made it so far.
Out of desperation, last week, al-Obeidi bought a
one-way ticket from Colorado to Washington with
money from an Iraqi family. She had all but $100 in
her bag; she used $65 of it and took a taxi to the
Libyan Embassy in Washington.
She came with a distrust of politicians and diplomats
but with hope in her heart that her compatriots would
not turn her away. But Libyan Ambassador Ali Aujali,
she said, spoke to her like a father.
Page 1 of 3
mail showsCONTINUED...
Police investigating phone hacking by journalists say
that about 5,800 people, including celebrities, crime
victims, politicians and members of the royal family,
were targets of the practice by journalists in search
of stories.
It involves illegally eavesdropping on voice mail by
entering a PIN to access messages remotely.
that about 5,800 people, including celebrities, crime
victims, politicians and members of the royal family,
were targets of the practice by journalists in search
of stories.
It involves illegally eavesdropping on voice mail by
entering a PIN to access messages remotely.
James Murdoch warned over phone hacking, e-mail shows
Correspondence released Tuesday shows that James
Murdoch was warned in writing of the seriousness of
a threat to sue his News of the World newspaper over
phone hacking in 2008.
"Unfortunately it is as bad as we feared," the editor
of the tabloid e-mailed proprietor Murdoch about the
case, according to a copy of the correspondence
published by Parliament Tuesday.
The e-mail from Colin Myler appears to undercut
Murdoch's repeated testimony that he did not know
details about phone-hacking by his employees.
Murdoch concedes in a letter to lawmakers, also
published Tuesday, that he replied to the e-mail, but
he does not admit having read it.
Murdoch is at the center of a scandal over illegal
eavesdropping by the newspaper, which he shut
down in July in the face of public fury at phone
hacking.
Editor Myler e-mailed Murdoch in June 2008 about a
phone-hacking victim's threat to sue News of the
World, describing Gordon Taylor as "vindictive."
Myler requested that Murdoch meet him and the
paper's lawyer, Tom Crone, for "five minutes" on
June 10.
Murdoch appears to agree in his reply three minutes
later, but said in his letter to Parliament dated
December 12 that he did not review the entire e-mail
chain, which includes detailed correspondence about
the Taylor claim.
News of the World ultimately settled with Taylor for
700,000 pounds (about $1.2 million.)
It also settled with several other celebrities, including
actress Sienna Miller.
Murdoch was warned in writing of the seriousness of
a threat to sue his News of the World newspaper over
phone hacking in 2008.
"Unfortunately it is as bad as we feared," the editor
of the tabloid e-mailed proprietor Murdoch about the
case, according to a copy of the correspondence
published by Parliament Tuesday.
The e-mail from Colin Myler appears to undercut
Murdoch's repeated testimony that he did not know
details about phone-hacking by his employees.
Murdoch concedes in a letter to lawmakers, also
published Tuesday, that he replied to the e-mail, but
he does not admit having read it.
Murdoch is at the center of a scandal over illegal
eavesdropping by the newspaper, which he shut
down in July in the face of public fury at phone
hacking.
Editor Myler e-mailed Murdoch in June 2008 about a
phone-hacking victim's threat to sue News of the
World, describing Gordon Taylor as "vindictive."
Myler requested that Murdoch meet him and the
paper's lawyer, Tom Crone, for "five minutes" on
June 10.
Murdoch appears to agree in his reply three minutes
later, but said in his letter to Parliament dated
December 12 that he did not review the entire e-mail
chain, which includes detailed correspondence about
the Taylor claim.
News of the World ultimately settled with Taylor for
700,000 pounds (about $1.2 million.)
It also settled with several other celebrities, including
actress Sienna Miller.
business
In the past year, the United States Business Council
in Iraq was established to advance commercial
interests for American firms operating in Iraq.
Opportunity aside, al-Maliki acknowledged the
difficulty of moving his country from the planned
economy of the Saddam Hussein era to a market-
based system governed by transparency laws and
international regulations, not to mention convincing
American businesses to invest in a country that still
experiences a high volume of violence. He assured
his audience that his government was doing all it
could to root out corruption and make the country
safe for businesses to operate.
"Make no mistake, this is a country that's
developing, its commerce is developing, it's going to
take time, it's going to take energy," Deputy
Secretary of State Thomas Nides told CNN after al-
Maliki spoke. "U.S. companies are going there
because they believe they can make money and at
the end of the day that's what it is about, and most
of these companies have dealt with complicated
environments. Iraq is no different, but we have seen
huge progress."
Nides said the "robust diplomatic staff" still based in
Iraq after the military withdrawal will include large
economic and legal teams to work with U.S.
companies operating in Iraq.
Nearly 40 leaders from the Iraqi private sector made
the trip to Washington with al-Maliki to meet with
their American counterparts.
in Iraq was established to advance commercial
interests for American firms operating in Iraq.
Opportunity aside, al-Maliki acknowledged the
difficulty of moving his country from the planned
economy of the Saddam Hussein era to a market-
based system governed by transparency laws and
international regulations, not to mention convincing
American businesses to invest in a country that still
experiences a high volume of violence. He assured
his audience that his government was doing all it
could to root out corruption and make the country
safe for businesses to operate.
"Make no mistake, this is a country that's
developing, its commerce is developing, it's going to
take time, it's going to take energy," Deputy
Secretary of State Thomas Nides told CNN after al-
Maliki spoke. "U.S. companies are going there
because they believe they can make money and at
the end of the day that's what it is about, and most
of these companies have dealt with complicated
environments. Iraq is no different, but we have seen
huge progress."
Nides said the "robust diplomatic staff" still based in
Iraq after the military withdrawal will include large
economic and legal teams to work with U.S.
companies operating in Iraq.
Nearly 40 leaders from the Iraqi private sector made
the trip to Washington with al-Maliki to meet with
their American counterparts.
As troops leave, Iraq wants surge of AmericanbusinessCONTINUED...
As the United States completes its withdrawal of all
military forces from Iraq by the end of the month,
Iraq's prime minister made a pitch to leaders of
American commerce and industry Tuesday: Iraq is
open for business.
In an address to American executives at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki said his country offers
"limitless" opportunities for American companies.
Al-Maliki said his country is trying to diversify from
an energy-dominated economy, to one that focuses
on financial, medical, agricultural, educational and
infrastructure services as well.
The end of U.S. military operations in Iraq heralds the
beginning of a "wider relationship" between the two
countries where "not generals but businessmen" will
focus on economic and political engagement
between the two countries, al-Maliki told the
audience. He spoke to more than 400 executives
representing a wide range of industries including
petroleum, engineering and construction, commercial
aviation, architecture, maritime cargo and financial
services.
As U.S. investment in Iraq has increased since 2008,
al-Maliki said Iraq wants to see a much greater
presence of U.S. companies in his country to help
spur greater spending and investment on the
country's infrastructure as a way to better the lives
of Iraqis and create more U.S. jobs in the process.
Total foreign direct investment in Iraq hit $70 billion
for the first months of 2011, according to the
chamber. The United States has increased its
investment from nearly nearly $2 billion in 2010 to
more than $8 billion this year, the organization said.
That figure represents 11.6% of all investment
entering Iraq, the chamber said.
The International Monetary Fund has projected the
Iraqi economy to grow at a faster pace than China or
India over the next two to three years.
Despite growing U.S. investment in Iraq, the chamber
continued its own pitch to U.S. businesses of the
potential Iraq represents for them, and American
workers, before al-Maliki spoke.
"We continue to trail our trading partners with
respect to investment and economic engagement in
Iraq," said Lionel Johnson, vice president for Middle
East and North African Affairs at the chamber. The
private sector stands to play a crucial role in filling
the capacity void left in many sectors of the Iraqi
economy following the U.S. military departure,
Johnson said.
Winning business for American firms in Iraq has not
been an easy prospect in the past. Not a single U.S.
energy firm secured a deal for oil production at an
auction of contracts by the Iraqi government two
years ago. Many members of Congress were
outraged, and questioned the U.S. investment in Iraq
to that point after lucrative multi-billion-dollar
contracts went to Russian and Chinese firms instead.
military forces from Iraq by the end of the month,
Iraq's prime minister made a pitch to leaders of
American commerce and industry Tuesday: Iraq is
open for business.
In an address to American executives at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki said his country offers
"limitless" opportunities for American companies.
Al-Maliki said his country is trying to diversify from
an energy-dominated economy, to one that focuses
on financial, medical, agricultural, educational and
infrastructure services as well.
The end of U.S. military operations in Iraq heralds the
beginning of a "wider relationship" between the two
countries where "not generals but businessmen" will
focus on economic and political engagement
between the two countries, al-Maliki told the
audience. He spoke to more than 400 executives
representing a wide range of industries including
petroleum, engineering and construction, commercial
aviation, architecture, maritime cargo and financial
services.
As U.S. investment in Iraq has increased since 2008,
al-Maliki said Iraq wants to see a much greater
presence of U.S. companies in his country to help
spur greater spending and investment on the
country's infrastructure as a way to better the lives
of Iraqis and create more U.S. jobs in the process.
Total foreign direct investment in Iraq hit $70 billion
for the first months of 2011, according to the
chamber. The United States has increased its
investment from nearly nearly $2 billion in 2010 to
more than $8 billion this year, the organization said.
That figure represents 11.6% of all investment
entering Iraq, the chamber said.
The International Monetary Fund has projected the
Iraqi economy to grow at a faster pace than China or
India over the next two to three years.
Despite growing U.S. investment in Iraq, the chamber
continued its own pitch to U.S. businesses of the
potential Iraq represents for them, and American
workers, before al-Maliki spoke.
"We continue to trail our trading partners with
respect to investment and economic engagement in
Iraq," said Lionel Johnson, vice president for Middle
East and North African Affairs at the chamber. The
private sector stands to play a crucial role in filling
the capacity void left in many sectors of the Iraqi
economy following the U.S. military departure,
Johnson said.
Winning business for American firms in Iraq has not
been an easy prospect in the past. Not a single U.S.
energy firm secured a deal for oil production at an
auction of contracts by the Iraqi government two
years ago. Many members of Congress were
outraged, and questioned the U.S. investment in Iraq
to that point after lucrative multi-billion-dollar
contracts went to Russian and Chinese firms instead.
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