Baghdad Hams

Under Saddam’s rule, ham radio operator Abdul Karim Hadi would have been executed if he’d kept radio equipment at home. Back then hams had to transmit from exclusive clubs, with the Mukhabarat listening in to every conversation. When liberation came in 2003 things didn’t improve that much for Abdul. The United States arrested him and confiscated his radio equipment. He was later released with an apology when the US discovered he was just a radio enthusiast, rather than an insurgency communications agent. Newsday covers his interesting story.