An article appearing in the Australian, written by an Iraqi citizen, Omar Fadhil Al-Nidawi, who along with his brother Mohammed run the weblog Iraq the Model.
Iraq was a just war
Omar Fadhil Al-Nidawi | June 02, 2009
THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq – including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago – and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country.
Many still ask: Was it worth it?
If we examine the question from an American, British or Australian perspective, then it would be difficult to present an answer that could convince all critics. For the coalition members this was a war of opportunity, not a war of necessity. Going to war or not was never an issue that could affect the existence of a coalition member, nor was winning or losing.
For Iraq and its people however, this war was the beginning of a struggle for rebirth, a very difficult but necessary one, for sure.
People of my generation who were born in democracies may take the freedom they enjoy for granted. This is certainly not the case for me or my people. I was born a decade after the murderous Ba’ath Party grabbed power in Baghdad in the sinister coup of July 1968. To us, the war brought an end to that 35-year-long nightmare and the beginning of an era of freedom, thanks to our friends in the coalition.
For me and many Iraqis, it was certainly worth it. Life is better today than it was before 2003. That is even though we were on the receiving end of this war in all its phases, from initial invasion through the bloody sectarian violence and terror that paralysed the country for years. Despite the high price in blood, today is brighter than yesterday. Above all, we have hope – something we did not have under Saddam’s dictatorship – that tomorrow will be even brighter.
Excerpt, Read the rest HERE