Iraqi exile speaks out against Saddam's counterfeit peace movement

BrookesNews.Com
Tuesday Feb. 18 2003

The following is a letter by Dr B Khalaf that was published in the Guardian. It is a strong condemnation of the 'peace movement' and its organisers.

I write this to protest against all those people who oppose the war against Saddam Hussein, or as they call it, the "war against Iraq". I am an Iraqi doctor, I worked in the Iraqi army for six years during Iraq-Iran war and four months during Gulf war. All my family still live in Iraq. I am an Arab Sunni, not Kurdish or Shia. I am an ordinary Iraqi not involved with the Iraqi opposition outside Iraq.

I am so frustrated by the appalling views of most of the British people, media and politicians. I want to say to all these people who are against the possible war, that if you think by doing so you are serving the interests of Iraqi people or saving them, you are not. You are effectively saving Saddam. You are depriving the Iraqi people of probably their last real chance get rid of him and to get out of this dark era in their history.

My family and almost all Iraqi families will feel hurt and anger when Saddam's media shows on the TV, with great happiness, parts of Saturday's demonstration in London. But where were you when thousands of Iraqi people were killed by Saddam's forces at the end of the Gulf war to crush the uprising? Only now when the war is to reach Saddam has everybody become so concerned about the human life in Iraq.

Where were you while Saddam has been killing thousands of Iraqis since the early 70s? And where are you are now, given that every week he executes people through the "court of revolution", a summary secret court run by the secret security office. Most of its sentences are executions which Saddam himself signs.

I could argue one by one against your reasons for opposing this war. But just ask yourselves why, out of about 500,000 Iraqis in Britain, you will not find even 1,000 of them participating tomorrow? Your anti-war campaign has become mass hysteria and you are no longer able to see things properly.

Locum consultant neurologist, London

Ed: Brookes understands Dr Khalaf's frustration with the hypocrisy of the counterfeit peace movement and its media allies. The movement's main Victorian coordinator is the Victorian Peace Network. Its site is a brazen front for Saddam Hussein. It refuses to condemn him or report his crimes. There are no links to anti-Saddam groups nor are there any articles explaining why Saddam should go.

It only carries links to pro-Saddam groups, including Electronic Iraq and MAPW (Medical Association for the Prevention of War). The latter is affiliated with the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. This organisation was actually a Soviet front that was established in 1981 by the KGB and was operated by the Soviets' IDCC (International Department of the Central Committee). What more is there to be said.