Posted on 03/22/2003 10:50:17 AM PST by knighthawk
AS an Iraqi Australian who is proud to be a citizen of this wonderful country, I salute you. My heart is with you and also with the people in my beloved Iraq.
I am sure that none of you would wish to be involved in this war for light-hearted reasons. Neither would the Iraqi people, who have been suffering for 35 years under the most brutal regime in modern history. Iraqis are emotional, peace-loving people, generous and above all proud of their identity.
I spent 32 years in Iraq before I was forced to flee. I love Iraq. I love its Kurds, Shiites, Sunnis, Mandaens, Yazidis, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Turkomans, Armenians, Jews and Baha'is. I love its land and rivers, its white mountains and palm trees.
Dear Australian soldiers, remember this: every individual Iraqi has been wounded physically or emotionally. You are on a sacred mission. You are on a mission to bring a smile to a child's face. You will help relieve the elderly of their agonies. You will help pave the road to a new life. You will give hope to thousands of mothers who lost their beloved ones in the dark torture chambers of the regime.
Your names will be recorded as heroes in the bright lists of history. You will help restore the weeping face of humanity with your good deeds.
Once you set foot on that land, remember it is the land where Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was born. It was there in ancient Ur, on the river bank of the Euphrates, that civilisation took shape.
I plead with you to be vigilant. I also plead with you to take care of my people. Treat them with dignity. In return, they will treat you with generosity. They will open their arms and hearts for you.
But be aware of those who have sold their souls to the dictator. Be aware of their tricks and manipulation, but be fair. Let them realise that you are there for every human being.
As your families back here in Australia will be waiting eagerly for you to return safely, I, too, am waiting eagerly to see my brothers and friends in Iraq alive and safe. And I trust you will do everything possible to achieve it. I am proud of you, mates.
Yours sincerely,
An Iraqi Australian citizen, Hadi Kazwini
Iraqi refugee Hadi Kazwini pens an open letter to our troops in the Gulf
They've lived under a police state where getting arrested for the hint of saying anything against the Hussein regime could be your worst nightmare. Treat the innocent ones gently, and look out for Saddam's hirelings.
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