Hi Everybody,

It is amusing to see my comments section inundated with some long-winded outpourings from some of my old friends. I don’t really mind. Because regarding these particular friends, despite their verbal excesses, I know that their hearts are in the right place, basically. And Indeed, some of their sentiments and words do strike some sympathetic cords.

For instance, Paul Edwards, is an old friend on this blog, and he is very outspoken and impulsive and excruciatingly profuse; and I can’t say that I condone all that he says; yet at times I cannot help being touched by some of his statements. For instance this:

“the left-wing wankers who thought that Saddam was the legitimate representative of the Iraqi people. He didn't care about the atrocities Saddam was committing against his own people, including institutionalized rape.” , or this:

“The free world has a massive advantage at the moment, and it is time to press home that advantage” – Priceless.

However, I regret that he dragged the name of the late Pope into it. The late Pope was definitely a good man, and his opposition to the War was understandable from his purely sincere humanitarian position. We can forgive him that. And, certainly we must not put him in the same league as the Leftist Anti-war hypocritical crowd.

And then this: “Or was it because the Iraqi people were in an out-group for him? See my message to you over at "Free Iraqi". It is insidious that some people believe in protection of the rights of animals in their own country, while human beings in Iraq and other places in the Middle East are in an out-group that can be slaughtered like cattle as a "cultural nuance".
……Would now be a good time to ask that the status of Iranian girls get raised somewhere between American cats and American dogs, so that the institutionalized rape of them can be ended? Please? It is bizarre that the world can stand idly by and let governments like that stand. Am I living in a parallel universe or something? Does no-one protect women anymore? Rapists are ignored instead of fought”

What is said above does not apply really to the Pope “God rest his soul”; but to quite a lot of other people.

Yes indeed, the war toppled a monstrous regime of a bestial clan, and freed a hostage majority. Whatever other motive lay behind the intervention, this was a valiant act of chivalry. And when the American people ( as proved by their vote) and their president are willing to spill the blood of their children and the treasure of their land to help the Iraqi people regain their freedom and build their democracy, this comes from their respect and belief in the humanity of their fellow humans, regardless of distance and racial differences. Racism consists of ignoring the plight of your fellow humans. “We must not mess about with the problems of the third world, withdraw immediately and leave them to their own resources.” they say. That mayhem and genocide can ensue does not seem to bother these “do-gooders”.

Make not mistake, my friends, this infant democracy that is just beginning in our country will grow and become strong but it needs the helping hand and protection of its powerful friends who were the basic instrument of God’s mercy to bring it into being; especially at these times when it is still too weak and fragile. And make no mistake either, that if it were not for the powerful presence of the Friend, the monsters and wolves infesting the place would loose no time in completely dismembering, deavouring and interring the remains of the new born.

To change the subject some friends would like to know my thoughts regarding the election of the new presidential team and the recent political developments. Well, I think it is well that the Kurds have insisted on the selection of Jallal Talabani to the post of president. To start with, it is a very good antidote to emotional separatist sentiments amongst the Kurds; although I am convinced that those sentiments are of impulsive rather than serious nature. It has been extremely wise that the Iraqi Alliance insisted on reaching agreement with the Kurdish faction rather than any other. Numerically, it would have been possible to get the required majority by different alignments. Any alliance against the wishes of our Iraqi Kurds would have had disastrous consequences. I suspect the wisdom of Sistani behind this. Besides, Talabani or Mam Talabani (Uncle Talabani) as he is called in Iraqi Kurdistan, is an old veteran politician of high degree of political skill and famous maneuvering ability. And, above all he has his heart absolutely in the right place. Symbolically, it is very valuable. It signals equality between all Iraqis and that any Iraqi can reach the highest office regardless of creed or race. Therefore, overall we are very pleased with this outcome and hoping that the new government (the first democratically elected one in our history) will achieve success.

Regards to all my friends.

Salaam