Posted on 12/15/2003 10:31:07 AM PST by knighthawk
had just returned to my motel room in Port Augusta at 8.30pm on Sunday after a long working day in the power station. My wife rang me from Sydney: "Hadi," she said, "today is the day, they captured Saddam. May my father and young brother be comforted in their graves now."
And she began to weep, remembering her father and brother, both assassinated by Hussein's regime.
I wept, too. The joy was overwhelming. I danced and danced by myself. I wanted to share this moment with someone so I rang my colleague Tony Hodge in his room and told him the news. He was so happy for me - for the Iraqis, as he put it, who went through decades of anguish and agony.
The tyrant is captured. Iraqis who suffered the oppression and cruelty of Hussein are rejoicing.
The mothers who lost their beloved sons and daughters in mass graves are content. It is justice they have been looking for, the revenge of justice. For the Iraqis whose lives had been wasted in wars with neighbours and wars with brothers, this is the greatest triumph. The tyrant is captured, hiding in a rat hole, filthy and disoriented, and above all humiliated in front of those who thought him to be a walking god. What an incredible picture!
The flow of phone calls didn't stop the whole night. I was watching the full coverage on pay TV and calling Iraqi friends from around the globe.
I rang my wife more than 20 times and we start singing together. I even managed to get through to my sister in Babylon. She sounded overwhelmingly cheerful. "You'd never believe what's happening in the streets right now," she said.
"People gathering in groups, dancing and signing. The ululation of women in the air. This is the best Eid (Feast) ever. The cafes opening, everything for free. Sweets and cookies given out by those who suffered the most and lost family members in (Hussein)'s wars.
"It is their moment of joy. It is the day that most Iraqis have been dreaming of. It is the day of days." No one would ever comprehend what this moment could mean to 98 per cent of Iraqis.
Hussein was not just a dictator or a cruel tyrant or an oppressor. He was a man who believed he was the owner of the land and its people.
His ambition was to conquer the whole region and turn it into a nationalistic and chauvinistic empire to threaten the world. He oppressed the people of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait in the past 2 1/2decades.
He killed anyone who opposed him and threw thousands of people in prison. He spent $US700 billion ($946.7 billion) on nuclear, biological and chemical programs. He offered Iraqi money to terrorists while thousands of children were desperately in need of food and medicine. He used chemical weapons against the Iraqi Kurds and massacred 5000 people in a single day.
He executed thousands of Iraqis when they rioted against his regime in 1991 and buried them in 420 mass graves spread all over the country where 400,000 people are estimated to have been buried.
Hussein is captured now. Iraqis are looking forward to his trial. They want him to be an example for all tyrants. I can see now the other dictators in the Middle East shivering with fear. Their day is coming, too, unless they see reason and hand over power to their people. Hussein is captured. It is a powerful message to all those who, in the name of resistance, are killing Iraqis and coalition soldiers.
We have been telling the world about Hussein and his brutal regime. We gave an explicit picture of those who died in his dark prison cells. Many who heard us were very suspicious and doubtful. Many marched in demonstrations against the war not realising that, by doing this, they strengthened Hussein's hand. Look at him now; surrendering without any of the pride his tribal ancestors fought for.
Many thought that he would kill himself when he'd be surrounded. Yet he couldn't do it. He is a coward after all.
It's clear that almost the entire Iraqi community here in Australia is celebrating this historical moment. We would like to convey our gratitude and appreciation to those fellow Australians who supported us during the past few years. We owe a lot to this wonderful country which provided us with security and respect. We would also like to thank the coalition of the free world that liberated Iraq from this brutal dictator. And above all, we have to appreciate the efforts of our fellow Australian forces who participated in liberating our motherland.
Back in March I wrote on this page an open letter of support for the Australian soldiers in Iraq. Now, I am even prouder of you, mates.
Hadi Kazwini is an Australian-Iraqi engineer and writer in Sydney.
CNN and Al Jazeera are busy interviewing the other 2%.
Amen, brother!
*pinging* s88 and con. for your NEOhio and 88 ping lists...please "forward"! ;)
How about just a wee bit of recognition to those dammed Americans?
Don't Buy Chinese Goods
In God We Trust…..Semper Fi
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