Watching anti-war protests with pain (By an Iraqi Doctor who's witnessed Sadaam's handiwork)

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 9, 2003 | Adil Awadh

[SJackson]

As an Iraqi refugee who has experienced firsthand the horrors of Saddam Hussein's despotic reign in Iraq, it's difficult for me to watch hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets of America and Europe voicing their disapproval of the war plans to liberate my besieged homeland.

As I watch these images roll across my TV screen, I wonder how these protests appear to various audiences in Iraq. I wonder how much pain these rallies cause those Iraqis whose tongues were mercilessly cut off by Hussein because they chose to exercise that same right of free speech in Baghdad.

I wondered how these defiant protest chants sound to the hundreds of victims of Hussein's barbaric ear-cutting policies, for they too were opposed to the concept of war, especially those involving Hussein. I have treated many Iraqi soldiers and brave anti-war activists suffering from severe ear infections with life-threatening consequences, after being subjected to this perverse form of mutilation at the Al-Amarah military hospital. I was a medical intern at the hospital, located in the southern part of Iraq from 1994 until 1996, and was a sad witness to this atrocity. I find it unfortunate and ironic that a Western anti-war activist would march in support of Hussein and his war-inflicting regime while their brave anti-war Iraqi counterparts languish tortured and mutilated in the dark jails of Saddam Hussein.

I wondered how the protest banners carried by the marchers appear to Iraqis who have long been subjected to leafleting by Iraq's "Great Uncle." In 1991, my family was the terrified recipient of one such chilling message when Hussein's military helicopters dropped leaflets informing the residents of my town that the Iraqi military was about to strike us with chemical weapons. We were told the action was necessary in an effort to quell the popular and widespread anti-Hussein uprising. One of these leaflets fell in my family's garden. I can only imagine the horror my family and the residents of my town must have felt when they read the signs of the anti-war protesters asking their leaders to extend the reign of the Butcher of Baghdad.

Continued......

By Adil Awadh. Adil Awadh, an Iraqi doctor, worked in a military hospital in Iraq from 1994 to 1996. He is an independent member of the Iraqi National Congress and lives in the Washington area

[SJackson]

I wonder if Jimmy Carter would let us count any of this in determining violence must be proportional to the injury we have suffered.

[smokegenerator]

personally, I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.

No, I am not anti-war nor Pro-Iraq. I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first as they are the direct and immediate threat. Though, I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein". Just my opinion, just that the Admin has not sold me on their reasons.

[FrdmLvr]

I saw four Iraqi women testifying before Congress on the necessity of America taking Sadam out now. Did anyone see this? Was it broadcast on C-SPAN? I saw it on a news report on FOX, I think. Pretty compelling stuff. I wish I had more to go on, I'd like to have seen the whole thing, or at least read an article on it in the paper.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yeah, let's let Saddam continue to murder, rape, and torture his people with one hand, while passing off WMD's to his Al-Q buddies. Because heaven knows, there's no one else near the Korean penninsula that has a vested interest or stake in what Kim is doing.

[nicmarlo]

I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.

Then, maybe a picture is worth a thousand words to you; here's just a couple (more can be found at the website below):

Bloody Friday

Chemical massacre of the Kurds by the Iraqi regime
Halabja-March 1988

[Samurai_Jack]

Fortunately nobody elected you to office to make this critical decision.

[San Jacinto]

...violence must be proportional to the injury we have suffered.

Carter is, of course a worthless idiot.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were proportional to Pearl Harbor, and I haven't heard about any Japanese Zeroes bothering people in Hawaii lately.

Everything we have done so far and everything we will do in Iraq will not meet the required tally for 9-11. There is much yet to do.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[smokegenerator]

If elected to office, we would not be involved with the mess in Kosovo nor Bosnia, 911 would not have occured, the current Iraqi regine would have been a non issue as they would have been taken out in 1991. We would not be in Afghanistan to kick out the Taliban gvt as I would have never supported the Tali's like the US did in their fight against the Northern Alliance.

The US govt makes some strange bedfellows, doesnt it? They are allies of the KLA, who has been on the INTERPOL list of terrorist groups for many years, then miraciously, are taken off of it when they fit the needs of the US agenda.

[Solamente]

Your affliction stems from what you "feel," as opposed to what you should know. Your logic is convoluted to say the least. That the man is affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition makes you suspicious speaks to your agenda, not his.

[AppyPappy]

Remember we went full tilt into Bosnia because of this stuff, with the blessings of the anti-war crowd.

[sausageseller]

The "admin" does not have to sell me on anything.

I am smart enough to understand who is EVIL!

You need to drop the "Its about oil" leftist line!

It is based on ignorance.

[ez]

Perhaps you'll believe international organizations.

UNSCR 688 (UN Security Council Resolution 688) “condemns” Saddam Hussein’s repression of the Iraqi civilian population -- “the consequences of which threaten international peace and security.” UNSCR 688 also requires Saddam Hussein to end his repression of the Iraqi people and to allow immediate access to international humanitarian organizations to help those in need of assistance.

Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated these provisions and has: expanded his violence against women and children; continued his horrific torture and execution of innocent Iraqis; continued to violate the basic human rights of the Iraqi people and has continued to control all sources of information (including killing more than 500 journalists and other opinion leaders in the past decade).

Saddam Hussein has also harassed humanitarian aid workers; expanded his crimes against Muslims; he has withheld food from families that fail to offer their children to his regime; and he has continued to subject Iraqis to unfair imprisonment.10

REFUSAL TO ADMIT HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS

§ The UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly issued a report that noted "with dismay" the lack of improvement in the situation of human rights in Iraq. The report strongly criticized the "systematic, widespread, and extremely grave violations of human rights" and of international humanitarian law by the Iraqi Government, which it stated resulted in "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror." The report called on the Iraqi Government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights treaties. § Saddam Hussein has repeatedly refused visits by human rights monitors and the establishment of independent human rights organizations.

From 1992 until 2002, Saddam prevented the UN Special Rapporteur from visiting Iraq.11 § In September 2001 the Government expelled six UN humanitarian relief workers without providing any explanation.12

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

§ Human rights organizations and opposition groups continued to receive reports of women who suffered from severe psychological trauma after being raped by Iraqi personnel while in custody.13 § Former Mukhabarat member Khalid Al-Janabi reported that a Mukhabarat unit, the Technical Operations Directorate, used rape and sexual assault in a systematic and institutionalized manner for political purposes. The unit reportedly also videotaped the rape of female relatives of suspected oppositionists and used the videotapes for blackmail purposes and to ensure their future cooperation.§ In June 2000, a former Iraqi general reportedly received a videotape of security forces raping a female family member. He subsequently received a telephone call from an intelligence agent who stated that another female relative was being held and warned him to stop speaking out against the Iraqi Government.15

§ Iraqi security forces allegedly raped women who were captured during the Anfal Campaign and during the occupation of Kuwait. 16

§ Amnesty International reported that, in October 2000, the Iraqi Government executed dozens of women accused of prostitution.17

§ In May, the Iraqi Government reportedly tortured to death the mother of three Iraqi defectors for her children’s opposition activities.18

§ Iraqi security agents reportedly decapitated numerous women and men in front of their family members. According to Amnesty International, the victims’ heads were displayed in front of their homes for several days.

19 TORTURE § Iraqi security services routinely and systematically torture detainees. According to former prisoners, torture techniques included branding, electric shocks administered to the genitals and other areas, beating, pulling out of fingernails, burning with hot irons and blowtorches, suspension from rotating ceiling fans, dripping acid on the skin, rape, breaking of limbs, denial of food and water, extended solitary confinement in dark and extremely small compartments, and threats to rape or otherwise harm family members and relatives. Evidence of such torture often was apparent when security forces returned the mutilated bodies of torture victims to their families.20

§ According to a report received by the UN Special Rapporteur in 1998, hundreds of Kurds and other detainees have been held without charge for close to two decades in extremely harsh conditions, and many of them have been used as subjects in Iraq’s illegal experimental chemical and biological weapons programs.21

§ In 2000, the authorities reportedly introduced tongue amputation as a punishment for persons who criticize Saddam Hussein or his family, and on July 17, government authorities reportedly amputated the tongue of a person who allegedly criticized Saddam Hussein. Authorities reportedly performed the amputation in front of a large crowd. Similar tongue amputations also reportedly occurred.22

[sausageseller]

"We"

Must have been you and that mouse in your pocket.There was no ME in that WE!

[smokegenerator]

Oil...oil...oil...If you knew me, I am far from leftist, very far. I despise those faggots more than you can imagine, with their "poetry sit-ins" and their flower-power whooo-weee. You dont think Cheneys old oil outfit has the contracts signed and sealed already? They have to sell you, as it is unconvincing evidence.

Did you believe the Kuwaiti incubator story back in 1991? I am sure you fell for it.

Did you believe the Admin/Govt when they were claiming that over quarter million Muslims were "raped" by the big-bad Serbs? You fell for those lies, didnt you?

[smokegenerator]

This is the same "International Organization" who were claiming a quarter of a million muslim women were raped by the Serbs, again they were lying and misleading the world for political agenda.

[SJackson]

personally, I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.
No, I am not anti-war nor Pro-Iraq. I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first as they are the direct and immediate threat. Though, I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

Yes, he is. As Sadaam and his ministers are affiliated with Iraq. And GWB is affiliated with America and the Republican party, Ted Kennedy with the dems. Tom Paine and Ben Franklin had their affiliations, and yes, those who are anti-war have their affiliations too. Guess there’s no one who isn’t a propagandist or liar, even me, I have affiliations too.

============================

I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first
I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

=======================

Simple, you answered you own question, just turn it around.

Start with I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the Nkorea.

in which case I’m sure you’ll agree

I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first

makes no sense.

If military action is necessary in Korea, and it may be without substantive support from China, it will be a significant action. A two front war is not only not desirable, but our last Chief Exec left us without that capability.

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein".

You haven't even attempted to make that case. We'll see when it's over, but I should remind you that Kuwait's oil fields, along with Iraq's, the Saudi's, and the rest of the peninsula were essentially ours a decade ago. You need to show me the "business deals" we extracted for me to consider that possiblilty now.

[AFPhys]

sounds like, in you, the leftists selected a perfect person to conduct their fool's errand. if we wanted the oil, all we would have to do would be to support hussein and he would give it to us for a nickle a gallon. you have to be joking if you are trying to sell that tripe here.

[apackof2]

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein

Are you related to Martin Sheen?

When we are in Baghdad, hell yes we have a right to oil as one of the spoils of war that we we forced to fight. It will help pay for a war that we didn't start and to help us rebuild Iraq for the Iraqi people as opposed to going to the "evil Hussein" to build 18 palaces, fund terrorist groups, keep mistresses etc. while his people who should benefit from the oil, live (if he decides they should) in fear and poverty

LIBERATE IRAQ

[nicmarlo]

And if it were "all about oil," we're 12 years past when it would have been more convenient to take it....you remember, the Gulf War, that was "all about oil," too, wasn't it?