Check out these letters to the Melbourne Age (people who've visited Iraq) *BARF ALERT*

Melbourne Age ^ | September 11, 2002 | Angela Townsend, Deb Hull

[zapiks44]

There's more to Iraq than Saddam Hussein

After spending the first half of this year working in Bahrain, my Iraqi-born partner and I stayed with his family in Baghdad.

The inherent vibrancy and beauty of Iraq took me by surprise. I wandered through resilient remains of a 900-year-old university, explored the ancient city of Babylon, chatted with elderly scholars of politics and religion, feasted my eyes on 3000-year-old treasures in a sprawling museum, shared a table with a special forces sharpshooter and joined a circling party of mourners in an ancient, gold-topped mosque.

The women I shared coffee with were doctors, lawyers, scientists and engineers - most now choosing to do their most important work, that of full-time wife and mother.

Contrary to popular Western belief, the majority of men I met in the Middle East treated their wives with the greatest respect and affection. With the Koran clearly stating second, third or fourth wives are only permitted if they can be treated completely equally, I have yet to meet a man who has taken more than one wife.

While the majority of Iraqis detest their vile dictator, they don't welcome another war waged on them. They don't want to lose husbands, sons and brothers senselessly, forced to fight for Saddam in a US-led attack.

At the base of the Saddam Tower (which reminded me of Sydney's), I pondered a plaque extolling the virtues of Saddam Hussein - it was attached to the remains of an American missile. Days later we visited an elderly aunt whose lifelong friend was killed, four houses away, when an American bomb fell short of its intended target during the Gulf War.

Despite the difficult trials of the past, the Iraqis are friendly, generous and caring people, trying to get on with their lives. They are not Koran-wielding lunatics and they don't deserve to suffer an unprovoked attack at the hands of what they see as muscle-flexing "US terrorists". Angela Townsend, Blackburn

Reflections on an Iraqi 'sister'

I believe there is a woman in Iraq who has a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, as I do.

She has about as much respect and admiration for Saddam Hussein as I do for John Howard. But she loves her country and her compatriots and her children, as I do.

Her children are thinner and less robust than mine and she prays they won't get sick, because during the Gulf War Iraq was bombed "back into the pre-industrial age" by George Bush senior.

Were this woman and I to sit together, watching our children play, could I explain why my country was preparing to attack hers?

If Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, so does the US. And, for more than a decade, Iraq has not used them or threatened to use them against the US or its allies.

Could I look at her across the table and say that Australians were prepared to help bomb her house because her president might one day use weapons we think he has?

Could I explain that we are prepared to kill her children "collaterally" because we can't bear to live with a perceived threat?

Could you? Deb Hull, Riddells Creek

[July 4th]

Oh, how touching. Pardon me while I hug the toilet.

[Nitro]

The inherent vibrancy and beauty of Iraq took me by surprise.

Didn't I see this on "OZ!!"

[dead]

And, for more than a decade, Iraq has not used them or threatened to use them against the US or its allies.

At this time, Iraq’s primitive delivery system for weapons of mass destruction limits his range to within its own borders.

Saddam Hussein has used them within those constraints. Ask the dead gassed Iraqis.

Besides, the nice Iraqi woman with the kids would probably just strap a bomb on one of her children, in order to take out Miss Dingbat Aussie and her infidel children.

A three-year-old boy, whose parents would only identify as the nephew of World Trade Center victim Judy Hazel Fernandez, examines soil at ground zero, during a memorial service in the footprints of the destroyed towers, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, in New York. The boy's parents said their son was trying to grasp the concept that the soil contained all that remains of his aunt, whose body was never found. Fernandez, 27, of Jersey City, N.J., was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald. (AP Photo/Radcliffe Roye)

[BrooklynGOP]

Could I look at her across the table and say that Australians were prepared to help bomb her house because her president might one day use weapons we think he has? >

Her president? She voted for the guy?

[AzJP]

Yeah, syntax appropriate.

If you've ever been in a Baghdad home, you'd best forever (publically) refer to that monster as "President", or even "beloved President" etc.

Otherwise your hosts might disappear. Or bits found.

Hate the vile bastard (as most Iraqii do) but careful of the speech because that monster has long tentacles in that gun-controlled country.

I learned that a while back, from my Baghdad hosts who are now happily living in Salt Lake City. Almost happily. Grammaw does not understand how her grandkids could convert to LDS!

kj

[zapiks44]

I agree. I think the reason none of the Iraqis explicitly said they want Saddam removed or would support us in doing so was because Saddam would have them killed within a week (or days, or hours). It'd be suicide for an Iraqi to give his/her name to a major Western newspaper and tell them they want Saddam gone. Saddam would just read about it, send out his goons, and by the next day that person's remains would be on public display to show what would happen to "traitors".

[lawdude]

"The inherent vibrancy and beauty of Iraq took me by surprise. "

There was inherent beauty in Japan and Nazi Germany, too.

[Nitro]

If I read this correctly, and I think I do...

you are suggesting that we vibrate Iraq...

preferable with a high-yeild Nuke!!!

[Lizard_King]

[hysterical voice] Won't someone PLEASE think of the children?

Those that preach morality in terms of ad populum arguments are either evil or useful idiots. I imagine these fall into the latter category.

[Brett66]

Could I explain that we are prepared to kill her children "collaterally" because we can't bear to live with a perceived threat?

Maybe you could start by saying your nation's about to be liberated from this despot. Of course that would require you to have a clue, which you don't.

[YankeeReb]

At this time, Iraq’s primitive delivery system for weapons of mass destruction limits his range to within its own borders

Why couldn't they just strap one of these on and come over here & detonate it?