Iraqi perspective

A couple of weeks ago, I posted some Iraqi perspective that included an open letter from President Talabani to Tony Blair. Today, Ali of Free Iraqi posted his reaction to President Talabani's letter: Thank you, Mr. President, for speaking on my behalf. Read the whole thing, especially Ali's description of pre-war impressions of Tony Blair. Here's how it begins:

Thank you, Mr. President for speaking on my behalf.

A friend of mine, Dr. Jawad Hashim e-mailed me the full script of president Talibani's letter to PM Tony Blair. And although it was published on many sites and newspapers about a week ago, I'd like to post it here on my blog in full so that more people would have the chance to read it. I'm no fan of politicians in general but the truth is that I admire MR. Blair a lot and I also feel honored that Mr. Talibani is my president. I think it's something that honors all Iraqis, Arabs even more than Kurds that Iraq has finally started to cross the line of fanaticism to see each others as brothers and sisters and that soon we will join the whole human family although it's been a tough road and it's going to be so for a long time.

I chose to post Mr. Talibani's letter because I don't see it as a political letter and I don't think that he had to write it, but more it's a letter from an Iraqi who was oppressed and treated like a second degree citizen (in a country where 1st degree citizens were killed tortured and raped on a regular base!) and who now, thanks to the sacrifices of the coalition and to the bravery and determination of men like Mr. Blair has finally found his much deserved position in his country. I feel that Mr. Talibani did not really have to write this letter but instead he wanted to and I feel the same way and have always hoped of doing something like that. In fact I've written a "thank you" letter to Mr. Blair on the Internet but I don't think it reached him.

I like Mr. Talibani's letter more because it speaks exactly the way I feel and the way I wanted to write such a letter. For the first time an Iraqi president says and thinks the way I do! I must say I'm not the only one who feels this way and that so many Iraqis feel the same (even anti-American ones who I found that they still like two coalition leaders; Blair and Colin Powel).