Opinion: The Street of His Excellency, the Prime Minister

The Italian artist who made the statue of Abdul Muhsin al-Sa'doon, the first Iraqi prime minister during the 1920s, did not know that a big and important street (in central Baghdad) would bear the statue's name. And he also did not know that the statue would be stolen in the looting after the big idol (former leader Saddam Hussein's) statue fell. (The statue was later replaced with a reproduction.) Sa'doon Street, which connected many generations, is no longer attractive. There are no casinos, no theatres and no collared lights. All forms of life disappear just before sunset, as all of the shops and supermarkets close for fear of criminals who come out when darkness falls. The street that was once full of life became a street of ghosts, empty and dull. Most of the buildings are empty and have "for rent" signs, but who dares to rent on that dead street? Most of the doctors' clinics are closed because many prominent doctors fled Iraq to avoid death and kidnapping. Many crimes happen on the street that is named after the prime minister. By 4 pm, Sa'doon Street is empty of everything but the (fake) Sa'doon statue.