Yasmin’s Introduction: ‘Letter to her Friends

Dear Friends,


Peace upon you all.


I started writing these Emails about the war, and sending them to my personal
friends in the peace movement ( SPR), to let them know about my family in
Baghdad , and about what is really happening in Iraq.

Then, my friend Dave, who has been doing a great job, of keeping us all
informed of what's going on, has asked me if he can share this letter with the SPR
list.

And I thought that this is a wonderful idea.


For those of you who know me ... it's OK .. but for those who've never met
me... I thought that I should introduce my self ... it's only fair.


I am Yasmin Alani. I am 35 years old.

I live with my husband and kids in Portsmouth NH.

I am an American citizen of Iraqi origin.

I 'I've lived the first 22 years of my life in Baghdad, and had my Bs degree
in civil engineering from Baghdad University.


After I left Iraq, I could not go back to Iraq, for eight years.

Since then, we have been lucky enough to be able to go back to see our family
once a year , for the past five years.

I was last In Iraq for three peaceful weeks, with my family , on Feb. 03

I came back on March 1st.


When the war started a week ago ... I was horrified for a couple of days and
could not know what to think of it.

I stopped answering phone calls or even speak to my friends.

I was totally stunned.

Looking on those horrible pictures of Iraqi casualties, I was feeling so much
pain for the waste of life.

I was only able to make up mind, when I watched, with the very same horror
and the very same pain , as I looked at the dead bodies of American Young
solders.They looked like school kids.


It was then that I made up my mind ... that I am on people's side ... both
Iraqis and Americans ... and that the ones that I am really very upset with, are
the policy makers here.


You see ...  after people die ... being Iraqis civilian or American solders,
really doesn't matter ... at all.

Those bodies all looked the same to me ... young life wasted .

All people are the same ... we all want the same thing ... good future for
our kids ... and most of all ... Peace.


I've lived with the people of America for years ... I have shared their food
and water ... I have learned to love them , understand their sense of humor
and laugh at their jokes.

I can hardly find a difference between us.


I find most Americans to be very reasonable ... but many are misinformed.


The way I am trying to help out here, is to let my friends know about my
family.

And to let them know about what's going on in Iraq.


I could not believe , as I watched CNN, that they are repeating the very same
thing they did during the first gulf war. They were still showing " smart
bombs" falling so precisely on their targets ... and American tank moving
forward, and nothing about casualties!

Because I am sure they know that the people of America will never accept for
these crimes to be committed in their names.

Bombs so smart , that it's not only missing their target , but it started
missing the whole country as one fell in Iran!


I have ten Arabic TV channels (non of them is Iraqi TV) and they are giving a
detailed coverage ( 24 hour from Baghdad, Mousil and Basra).


So I thought ... this time I will try and let the people of America ( well,
at least my friends) know about what is really going on.


I want the people here to see the real , ugly face of war ... It is not a
video game ... and there is  no such a thing as smart bombs. There is destruction
and there is death.


We were always in touch with our family in Baghdad.

Almost all my family and my husband's family, are there... our parents,
sisters, brothers,nieces and nephews, uncles aunts and there kids.

We phoned them every day.

I was also with my sister on E mail.

But we have lost touch with them after the communication centers were hit.


Please forgive me, I truly don't mean to offend anyone.

Murders are being committed ... it's up to you whether you look at them or
turn your face and forget all about them.


And in the end ... you don't have to take my word for it,

 I just ask you not take CNN's either.

You should go and try to seek information as much as you can.

I have Japanese TV and they are showing the same  horror, and Mexican TV  too
... only CNN and the rest of American TV are the ones with the " clean war,
clean conscious".


And please, let no one tell me, as they see the horrifying death due to war,
that THIS IS WAR ...

 I know that this is war ... and that is why, we should do our best to stop
it ... that is , if we care.


I sincerely prey for peace all around the world.

And I leave you in peace.


Yours

Yasmin Alani