Starving for Freedom’
Iraqi-Americans Support War With Saddam, But Not With Iraqi People
abcnews.go.com
PHOENIX, Feb. 12 — As the likelihood of a U.S. war with Iraq grows, support for ousting Saddam Hussein is coming from an unusual group: Iraqi-Americans.
"I think the United States is now on the right track to get rid of Saddam Hussein and help the Iraqi people to bring democracy," said Jabir Algarawi, the director of the Arizona Refugee Community Center in Phoenix, and one of the 3,000 Iraqis who have settled in Phoenix since the Gulf War ended.
With a warm, dry climate that is similar to Iraq's, Phoenix has the second-largest number of Iraqi refugees in the nation. Detroit, with 12,000 refugees, is the largest Iraqi community. Overall, 37,714 people in the United States have identified themselves as Iraqi nationals or Iraqi-Americans, according to the 2000 Census.
Since many of these refugees ran away from the brutality of Saddam's regime, for them, there is no debate about whether the United States should go to war with Iraq.
According to one refugee named Diaa, who fled Iraq in 1994 and asked that his last name be withheld, the Iraqi dictator is a "dangerous person" who has chemical and biological weapons. The U.S. government should not "leave him alone this time," Diaa added, especially since the Iraqi people are waiting for the opportunity to fight alongside American troops.
Mixed Feelings
What Diaa and the other refugees are concerned about, however, are the parameters of such a war, especially since most of the refugees still have families back in Iraq.
"I think it's good to go to war with Iraq, but not the people. We want Saddam to be destroyed, but not the people," said Mohammed Yusef, 15, who came to the United States four years ago.
For Batool Shamil, who left Iraq in 1995, the memory of Iraqis being killed in 1991 is still fresh. "I'm worry about my family there," she said. "Too many people got killed [in 1991]."
Algarawi also has mixed feelings: "A feeling that I want to see the end of that regime, and a feeling of concern about the family and the friend in Iraq."
Iraqi-Americans Cherish Freedom
As most of the Iraqi Americans have noted, the biggest difference between their homeland and their adopted land is the freedom they enjoy here. And they are worried that a postwar Iraq would not have the same liberties, especially if a U.S.-occupation of Iraq lasts several years.
"I agree with the action to change the regime only … I don't want American soldiers to stay there. We need to enjoy the freedom in our country," explained Shamil. "We are afraid they will occupy my country and they will take the oil."
Algarawi says despite the risks that would be involved in a war between America and Iraq, even those now living in Iraq are willing to support an attack against the current regime if it results in a democratic Iraq.
"The Iraqi people [are] starving for freedom," he said. "The Iraqi people want to build their country and want to be part of the international community."
Although Algarawi would rather see Saddam leave Iraq on his own, he thinks that no matter what happens, the United States has a mission to bring democracy to Iraq.
But he does not want to see a repeat of 1991. At the end of the Gulf War, Algarawi participated in a civilian uprising encouraged by then-President George Bush, father of the current president. But when the United States did not provide military support for Iraqi citizens, Saddam was able to crush the rebellion.
Algarawi said he felt betrayed and soon fled Iraq. This time around, however, he is willing to forgive the United States if it follows through.
So far, based on President Bush's pledge in his State of the Union speech to bring freedom to the Iraqi people, the refugees have faith.
"When he said we will bring the freedom to Iraq, I start to cry because it's our dream ... to have freedom," said Shamil. "I think he will keep his promise." |
