Jasmine's Story: A Kuwaiti Girl's Memories of Liberation

April 25, 2003 | Jasmine

[backhoe]

-When the Dungeon Doors Swing Open...--

[Budge]

Sometimes we Americans like to be appreciated.

I wish you could have heard Jasmine's tearful and heartfelt "Thank you." It came, not just from her, but from many of her countrymen.

[sweetliberty]

"Sometimes we Americans like to be appreciated."

I got the distinct impression that Jasmine was very appreciative of the American soldiers and what they did for her and her family as well as for their efforts and sacrifices for the Iraqi people at the present time.

[cherry_bomb88]

Sweet...thanks for posting this, and Meek, thanks for pinging me.

This is a very touching story, and the sad thing is, her's is probably not the only one.

[xJones]

I got the distinct impression that Jasmine was very appreciative of the American soldiers and what they did for her and her family as well as for their efforts and sacrifices for the Iraqi people at the present time.

I apologize if I offended, I thought it was evident that I appreciate Jasmine's heartfelt story, and long may it be told. God bless her and may they find her missing family members.

[sweetliberty]

"I apologize if I offended, I thought it was evident that I appreciate Jasmine's heartfelt story"

There was no offense at all and I did understand that. I was just making the point that Jasmine was definitely thankful. Sorry I didn't make myself clearer.

[nicmarlo]

Thanks for posting this, sweetliberty; I wish Jasmine all the best. She's a brave and strong woman. May all the Iraqi people come to see that we are their friends, not their enemies/conquerors.

---

Ping to New Yorkers.....here's yet "another reason" why we "fight the good fight:"

I woke up August 2, 1990 to find myself without a country. The Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait; I was only 12 at that time. My dad left for Saudi Arabia as Iraqi soldiers were after him. The Iraqis had a list of names of people they wanted so they were everywhere chasing also famous singers and football players to make them part of the Iraqi team and others! My mom, my two brothers and I all went to live in the basement of my aunt’s house with seven other Kuwaiti families......

[McGavin999]

I can't even imagine what it must have been like to live through that. The Kuwaitis have shown what a noble people they are by the way they stood up for their Iraqi neighbors. They've been right there with water, food and medicine. They took a terrible risk hosting our troops, and I hope the Iraqi people are grateful.

[sweetliberty]

Something else that Jasmine shared that I didn't know before is that there are streets in Kuwait named for the first President Bush.

[BlindedByTruth]

A touching story, but sounds the same story that a Kuwaiti ambassador's daughter told t Congress back then, she was 15 and it was a similar account and it was found out that she made it up and was a publicity stunt to get us to support Gulf War I and it worked, if this was true, my prayers to this woman

[sweetliberty]

I am sure there are many such stories that are true and I expect we will be hearing many of them. It sounds like in the one you heard there may have been an ulterior motive, but in all fairness, it was perhaps justified and besides, in the one with which you are familiar, it may have happened to someone with whom she was well acquainted and she may have adopted the story as her own. Don't be too quick to judge.

[dsutah]

What a courageous young woman! She's only 2 years older than my younger daughter! That would be such a terrible memory to have to live with. Yet she goes on with her life. God bless her, and the rest of her family that is left, and also the Kuwaiti and Iraqi people!

[dsutah]

Exactly! I was thinking of that too! Also, I thought of the scene from "The Patriot", where Gabriel goes into the city where his girlfriend lives, and sees a the bodies of two or three of the villagers hanging in the trees! (hideous!)And to think that this still happens in this day and age in many parts of the world!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

American conservatives instinctively recoil from the idea of a cult of personality, whereas "liberals" (really socialists) want to promote the heroic model . . . I think of my uncle asking me to dream of a world run by (the by-then-already-dead!) Mother Theresa.

We obviously need a way to popularize the understanding of the reality of the cult of personality--that such a position would not have attracted Mother Theresa, but would and did attract Saddam Hussain. And there is never a shortage of evil, when good men do nothing.

[Internet Golfer]

I just read Jasmine's story, and it brought tears to my eyes....to think people still suffer like this in this day and age!!! Thank GOD that I live in the United States of America!!!

Jasmine, You have seen and been through so much in your 24 years...I pray that you find happiness in this contry. WELCOME!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Sweet...thanks for posting this, and Meek, thanks for pinging me.

This is a very touching story, and the sad thing is, her's is probably not the only one.

You're welcomed.

There are PLENTY of similar stories of Saddam's horrors. I don't know if ya'll remember the old show Naked City. Part of the narration was:

There are 7 million stories in New York City. This is/has been one of them.

[N8VTXNinWV]

ping!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

the scene from "The Patriot"

"The Patriot" was fiction, it's well to remember; some of it was a touch over-the-top as relates to the moral basis of the Revolutionary cause.

Based, however, on real characters and historical events. Just not documenary, and not to be confused with such--let's have no conservative Oliver Stones.

The real-life "Tavington" was named Tarlington, I believe--and tho the military history instructor didn't specify why he felt that way, he noted that the historical Tarlington "unfortunately" escaped from the battle of Cowpens, in which the British forces were defeated in detail.

I'd have liked the movie better if it had been less ficitonal about that final battle; the historical one was in fact very nice tactical use of available forces and terrain, to spring a very nice trap.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

several stories of the horrors that were done to Kuwaitis. Amazing that such accounts rarely reach the international media, but then a great many media sources supported Saddam this last time.

Eason Jordan's "the devil made me do it" mea nonculpa comes immediately to mind . . .

[sweetliberty]

Actually, Jasmine was only here for a little while and was anxious to return to Kuwait to be with her family. She is due to leave soon. I pray that her missing cousins will be found.