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Comments and thoughts of an American Muslim on US Foreign policy in the Middle East and the so-called War on Terror,examining the contradictions from a perspective of justice, fairness and human rights.

M3I: Music, Mormons, Military and Iraq
30 November, 2005

On a recent Saturday evening, I shared an experience with an Iraqi friend of mine. I met him over two years ago at a seminar where he gave a lecture on the situation in Iraq. At that time, I couldn’t help but marvel at how he spoke out against the US occupation of Iraq despite having been imprisoned by Saddam Hussein at Abu Ghraib. Since then, we have become close friends. He had been given two tickets for a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Denver, Colorado USA, by a colleague from an interfaith program. Ibrahim invited me to go with him and I accepted, as being with him is always a learning experience as well as providing needed reinforcement for my world outlook. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the evening turned out to be an opportunity to clarify my identity as a Muslim and as an American.

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Posted by yuram 20:30 | Iraq | Comment(0) | Permalink
Let's Get The US Out of Iraq
12 November, 2005

My goal in writing this article is the immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and for an end to the occupation. I am disturbed by lack of logic and rationality that has permeated our government concerning the US-led war and occupation in Iraq. I am troubled by the language that is used by the media to describe it, as the choice of words veils the reality of the violent and volatile situation in Iraq that the United States, Great Britain and allies have created.

I am appealing for the immediate withdrawal of all US forces and an end to the atrocities of occupation and aggression for the following reasons which I will attempt to validate below:

  1. The number of trained Iraqi forces has peaked and is actually declining. American troops are not instrumental in training Iraqi police and military personnel.

  2. The US invasion initiated the instability, and the US occupation is causing increasing instability, based on the increasing number of attacks, bombings and deaths.

  3. The US occupation and attacks are provoking an understandable resistance response from Iraqis and people in adjoining countries.

  4. The government in place in Iraq is a puppet regime under US control that uses torture, just like the invaders who empowered it and just like the regime that it replaced.

  5. The vital mission being performed by the US has not been clarified.

  6. As a result of the US invasion and occupation, Iraq is on the brink of civil war.

  7. The US cannot impose a peace on Iraq or cause Western-style democracy to flourish there. The Iraqis must decide what form of government they want free from foreign occupation.

  8. The US is murdering innocent Iraqi civilians, including children, on a daily basis.

  9. The Iraqi health care system has deteriorated as a result of the US-led war and years of economic sanctions.

  10. The best defense against living in insecurity and fear of terrorism is to give no offense, that is, to withdraw.

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Posted by yuram 04:10 | Iraq | Comment(0) | Permalink
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