What would Sadaam do, if he developed a nuclear bomb? Would he drop it on Kuwait instead of storming the nation for a second time? What else could America do to prevent Sadaam from attacking and killing people? Because that seems to be all that he knows, Sadaam needed to go.
- By: craig on April 8, 2003

An interesting article I came across today - interviews with Iraqis about the war - as with all war articles these days, i'd take it with a pinch of salt: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20030401zg.htm
- By: prema on April 4, 2003

Mazdak, Thank you for your "long" but very interesting response. Just to clarify some of my views: I don't see war as a game. Sometimes the way of the world leads to the use of force. Civilisations have risen and fallen because of wars. This is of course no reason to encourage or even support the indiscriminate killing of soldiers or civilians. However, now that war IS underway, and circumstances prior to it were not able to prevent it, it has to run to its bittersweet end. If the coalition pulls out at this point - more Iraqis will die because of any support they may have shown to the coalition. Those PoWs - especially those who "voluntarily" surrendered - they and their families will not be spared by Saddam Hussein. We have seen a spate of articles by Iraqis who have lived and suffered under his regime, disclaiming the anti-Iraqiwar supporters. I am digressing into reasons for questions you did not raise. Excuse me. For the record, I am not a Westerner, but an Easterner (a Baha'i as it happens). I don't believe that race, or nationality is any barrier to knowing the horrors of war. I can't believe that anyone will really say that war is correct, is right. It never will be. It may be necessary, it may be a consequence of various actions by govts, but it is never right. And I don't condone it. I hear what you are saying about hatred being caused by the war - probably it will increase even more because of what it happening. Perhaps it may lead unto better things. I think my original point in my earlier comment was related to anti-war protests going on worldwide after the war has started, they are not aware that if they get what they want - that if the forces pull out now, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and the fate of the Iraqi ppl in Saddam Hussein's hands are in dire, very dire straits. But your views did give me much to think about. Thank you. :)
- By: Prema on April 3, 2003

It's a few days I've been thinking to post this note here. I want Americans, the British and other westerners to know how I feel about the situation. So here we go; sorry it may get a little long: I understand why some people (like Prema) see war as a game: Americans are going to kill the dictator in order to give Iraqis a better future. Most westerners have not lived under war, therefore they don't understand how living in war feels like. I had absolutely no sympathy for Iraqis in the beginning of this war, because they imposed a horrible war on us and I believe they actually supported Saddam's war on Iranians (their first forces who invaded Iran were called People's Army or Volunteer's Army [Jeysh Al-sha'bi]). So when America started this new war, I thought "well, what comes around goes around". But on the other hand, I have clear memories of our war time. The worst period of my entire life was when Iraq bombed cities (including Tehran ofcourse) heavily 3-4 times a day during June 1985 (Khordad '64 Persian calendar), and also the last year of the war when Iraq sent 300 missiles only to Tehran over a year. Everybody was nervous, we lived in total panic, everybody was depressed. Many people left their homes and escaped to villages rural areas far from big cities. The worst day was when 7 missiles came to Tehran. I still remember all the despare we were in. Sometimes you could hear the missiles coming, and you had no idea where it is going to land! On your house? in your grandparents's? your best friend's? Sometimes you could see the missile coming down. That's the most negative and dark excitement you can experience in your life. My math teacher was killed, my father's colleague was killed. One exploded near my grandparent's house (near a military base), when we arrived there I saw the window frames and the breaks around them in the middle of the room, cracked doors...blood everywhere...neighbours crying, and so on and so forth...And up to today my worst nightmare is bombardments Now how do people in baghdad feel, when they get 50+ missiles a day? We became all mentally ill just by 300 modified and weak iraqi missiles over a year. What is the mental condition of people in baghdad who are under attack of tens of powerful cruise missiles everyday? I'm sure iraqies now are the most mentally sick people in the world. On one side they have to suffer Saddam, and on the other side they have to suffer the americans. How dare America calls it "Operation Iraqi Liberation?" It's the most stupid name I have ever heard in my life! What will be there after Saddam? A totally ruined country, with more than 20 million mentally ill people, all with bad memories and hatred for those who killed their loved ones (whether Saddam or Bush). Oh and of course a big new market for American and British companies to sell their services and products, and take away oil with peace of mind. And americans wonder why suicide bombing happens in Palestine or Iraq! Those who commit that horrible act have nothing to lose! Do you understand? They have NO LIFE to lose. Their mother, father, sister or brothers have been murdered...can you imagine: how desperate one must be to commit a suicide attack. I remember an interview with a balkan girl during the war in Balkans (I don't remember if she was bosnian or serbian). She said: "If Americans want to kill Milosovic, why did they kill my mom? why are they bombing me and my friends?" Remember, this war will create lots of hatred; whether the we get rid of Saddam or not. People are not stupid: everyone knows Bush is there for oil. I hate it when Rumsfeld comes to TV and talks about his effort to establish democracy in Iraq. Someone should ask him what he was doing in Baghdad in mid-80's? Sorry for the long message :^)
- By: Mazdak on April 3, 2003

your conclusions are a bit childish. two or three views cannot be regarded as most.
- By: ms.nobody on April 3, 2003

Prema, don't give up hope in all Americans. Keep telling us what you just posted, you are one of the few who has a basis to speak. I hope when this is over and the bastard is out, that your country will become great, and may other countries with dictators will have hope for a better day from what they see in Iraq
- By: Dave on April 3, 2003

I find it frustrating to see Americans, and even other nationalities continue demonstrating against the war - not realising that if the war were to end abruptly now, the Iraqi ppl will suffer more than ever. The Ba'ath regime will not spare any mercy for those who had helped or even received help from the Coalition. No matter if even Iraqis stand up and say they need the help of USA to bring Saddam down, other "anti-war" protestors think they know better than the Iraqis. Sometimes, we are willing to die to give our children and grandchildren a better future.
- By: prema on April 3, 2003

Maybee his comment was not a bluff. Today, Tuesday, April 2nd, he has not posted on this site, however he does have an entry on his Persian blog, in Farsi. Alas I can't read Farsi. Anyone who can translate?
- By: Dave on April 2, 2003

That's a bluff not writing any more, today is April Fool's Day, you're trying to play trick on your readers.
- By: Soheil on April 1, 2003

In Dearborn, Michigan, Arabs came out for an anti-war protest and were shouted down by...Iraqis living in Dearborn. Everyone seems to have their own agenda. Too bad most of them can be traced to hatred.
- By: Dave on April 1, 2003

Hi, I think that the last message in your persian weblog (Closing the persian weblog for an unlimited time), is the lie of April 1st (Doroogh-e Sizdah). Is it correct?
- By: Arash Radmand on April 1, 2003

April fool's day Your gag item fell flat that you can't write due to utterable "problem"
- By: kohnankhaki on April 1, 2003

Hey, Hossein! are you going to close here too?
- By: rasa on April 1, 2003

Whether they agree with our plans for the Middle East or not does not matter. We intend on converting everyone in the Middle East to the religion America. You cannot hate us if you are one of us. You would not kill a fellow American would you? Let the brainwashing begin and welcome to our family. Enjoy - or else.
- By: George Butcher on March 31, 2003

Hmm...I have several Iranian friends who have lived in the US for several years. They support the war 100% and thought we should have done this years ago. Thought you should mark a few on the other side.
- By: american on March 31, 2003