Posted on 11/27/2003 5:07:42 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CLEARWATER - In a quiet and unpretentious gathering, representatives of some of the richest and most powerful nations in the world broke bread together Wednesday in a show of unity.
Egypt, Kuwait, France, Singapore, Jordan and Pakistan were there. All part of a 68-member group of countries united against terrorism and based in Coalition Village at MacDill Air Force Base.
The group is working together on two military operations to rebuild Iraq and to curb terrorism. And though military brass from those countries don't all practice the same religion, they decided to come together in a show of support at the end of Ramadan - the holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
"We did this today for our colleagues and for the coalition fellowship," said Col. Nasser Abdalla, 43, of Egypt.
Abdalla's country is one of 17 coalition members where the predominant religion is Islam. The 17 invited the rest to the Mirage Restaurant on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard to celebrate the second of three days of feasting after a month of fasting.
Restaurant owner Khosrow Moradi, 53, of Palm Harbor, worked for two days to prepare the buffet-style dinner of foods including beef kebabs, lamb stew, basmati rice, hummus and baklava.
It wasn't the first time the coalition has been there, Moradi said.
His is one of a very few restaurants in the area that serves food common to the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. The colonels, generals, country representatives and their wives had all stopped through at some point or another, he said.
"Basically, it's word-of-mouth," Moradi said.
Col. Mohammad Mubarak of Kuwait gave the opening address. He explained the holiness of Ramadan and wished everyone Eid Mubarak, or holiday blessings.
Still, he was disturbed by the amount of violence that has taken place across the world during what should be a period of peace.
"Ramadan should be a holy month, a religious month," Mubarak said. "But it just happens there are some extremists who do not represent the Islamic religion. They do take the opportunity to rally their groups. To these extremists, they think the coalition is their enemy."
The dinner was one of many social outings for the members of the coalition, and it helps solidify relationships between vastly different countries.
"It's truly a bonding," said Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl with the U.S. Central Command at MacDill. "The Muslim nations wanted to share their holiday, their culture with the coalition... They enjoy the spirit, the warmth, the genuineness of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To them, it's America."
Maj. Matthew Yap, representing Singapore, said the dinner helps everyone to get along better.
"When you have operations in the Middle East, it is important to be sensitive to what they think and what they feel," Yap said.
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