Hello,
Many of you may remember Dr Salam Ismael from Iraq, who was with us in Cuenca and who also participated in the PHM India meeting last year. He sent us a message for all anti-war protestors these days of the fifth anniversary of Bush’ and Blair’s illegal war on Iraq. I thought I’d share it with you.
Bert
Message from Dr Salam Ismael (Iraq) to the protestors around the world
Dear all,
After five years, we are back here to the streets that unified us, to say to the world that each one of you who went around the world protesting against that illegal war was RIGHT.
I know it was costly. It was costly for us as Iraqis, it was costly of our blood and tears. But it was for a bigger cause, a cause for our country to be free and dignified.
After five years we proved that everyone who was here in the streets was right, and that everyone who was not listening to us was wrong. The Iraqis were watching you and were proud that you were expressing the lively consciousness of humanity, marching for one reason, to say NO to evil, NO to war, Not In Our Name.
Last year I lost my uncle and my cousin, and then I lost my father. They have been killed by militias. It was an attempt to shut our mouths. But they could not understand that this made me more determined to tell the truth.
Five years on, the 2003 US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq has left a devastated country and people. While dictatorships always come with their unique problems – and Iraq was no exception and neither was it unique – prior to 2003, the majority of Iraqis had access to basic facilities, ranging from education, health, food and other basic infrastructure. Today, Iraqis have access to barely an hour of electricity daily, if they are fortunate; the cost of fuel has skyrocketed, despite Iraq being the second largest producer of oil in the world; potable water is lacking, resulting in a variety of illnesses through the consumption of untreated water; unemployment stands at around 40-60%; there is a severe shortage of basic medicines and health care; children’s education has been severely disrupted, with an entire generation of psychologically traumatised children; there is a sharp increase in the number of widows, orphans and street children; and the displacement of thousands upon thousands of families, both internally and externally, is surely the greatest tragedy of the 21st century.
The new government – if its a real government – has proved that it is incapable of protecting its citizens – the violence and bloodshed continue unabated, despite all claims to the contrary. Sectarian tension and distrust intiated by militias, which did not exist prior to 2003, have affected the livelihood of Iraqi society. Freedom of movement is impossible today. Bands of militia roam the streets, and safety and security for Iraqis is but a haunting memory.
The perpetrators of this crime of such great magnitude, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and the loss of livelihood of an entire sovereign nation, must be held accountable and justice must be done. Contrary to popular belief that Iraq would disintegrate further if the occupation ended, as often stated by those who support this war of aggression, the occupation of Iraq must end before any real reconstruction and reconciliation can take place. Iraqis should be left to chart their own destiny, while they take their rightful place among the other nations of the world.
Dr Salam Ismael
Doctors for Iraq
March 2008