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20-02-2010, 12:56 PM
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Kuwaiti Band of Brothers - Fort Dix, NJ, February 1991.
A Soldier's Diary: A Kuwaiti volunteer looks back at 'Liberation'
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (25th February 2009)
The invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi in 1990 sparked a multitude of momentous events whose social, economic and political cataclysms reverberated around the world. The tragic invasion culminated in Operation 'Desert Storm' and the liberation of my country seven months later.
When the invasion occurred, I was struggling to balance an educational life at The American University, Washington DC, with an equally active political one targeting a "Free Kuwait." Months flew by, and my countrymen continued to suffer under Iraq's dark shroud of tyranny and aggression. In February 1991, I could bear it no longer and decided to volunteer, along with thousands of other Kuwaiti students, in the United States Armed Forces.
The following are excerpts from a diary I kept during my military service:
FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY:
February 16-22, 1991
"C'mon! Move it!" shouts the drill sergeant as we sprint away from the Greyhound buses with our bags, some of us stumbling over each other's luggage. It is a truly marvelous beginning to a tour of duty...
All of the recruits are then taken to a compound to listen to the obligatory "You're in the army now" speech delivered by a hulking six-foot-four Captain, which included comments such as "Don't call me Sir! I work for a living" and "We are going to bust your butts." Well, I've seen it all before...the army movie cliches, anyway. But somehow living it is different.
It is a chilly, foggy evening as I watch the civilian side of me slowly disintegrate into the night.
On the first day of training, we are woken up at 3:30 a.m., which is when I usually go to bed. We all feel like crap but we made a commitment and now we have to stick to it. We are then supplied with military equipment and a beloved M-16 rifle.
"She's your wife, your girlfriend, your mother. Take care of her, and she will save your ass!" swears a drill sergeant. Sigmund Freud would have had a field day at with that one.
We are then divided into different groups: Civil Affairs, Military Police, Legal Affairs, Medical and Military Intelligence/Interrogation. I am placed in the latter. We also have our heads shaved. I suppose now I really resemble an interrogator, although some of my colleagues think I'm auditioning for an upcoming role alien role in a "Star Trek" film.
The 18-hour days are long and arduous, tensions are sometimes high and we're having a tough time trying to stay awake. At most, we get three hours of sleep per night and that isn't nearly enough. The American drill sergeants keep telling us we're a hopeless bunch of misfits.
"You are going to die in some foxhole!" cries a drill sergeant to a careless friend of mine who is having difficulty dismantling his rifle. Those psychologically intimidating tactics will not work with me, I think to myself.
We attend seven hours of interrogation lectures a day, as well as eight hours of practical training. It is damn tough work, and to make matters worse, it's beginning to snow in New Jersey. College life was a prima donnas' existence compared to this strict, tiring regiment.
We manage to complete rifle target practice and grenade throwing sessions during the next couple of days. Whenever we miss the target, which, frankly, isn't often, all we have to do is visualize Saddam Hussein, and then we usually score bulls-eyes. I'm proud of my platoon; they're excellent shots.
Over the next couple of days, the drill instructors put us through the wringer. We learn radio operations, coded messages, map reading, night-time rifle firing, M-16 dismantling and cleaning, machine-gun and grenade launch firing, and, ominously, chemical warfare training. For the latter, we are placed in a dark, smoky concrete room where we are required to pull off our masks and inhale the tear-gas-like solution. The point of the operation is for us to get a rough idea of what a chemical attack would be like.
"Rough idea" is an understatement... When the test is over, we run out of the building, sweating, salivating, and out of breath. We are required to run around a field, flapping our arms in order to pump blood and oxygen into our systems. While it is horrendous experience, the sight of us scurrying out of the building and flapping our arms like Cro-Magnon men attempting to fly is bloody ridiculous. Some soldiers even manage to bump into lamp posts. Think of "Monty Python" meeting "the Dirt Dozen" and you get the picture.
The last couple of days are hard. We are certainly more fit than before, but the element of anger is much more prevalent among us. I for one, am more emotional, less patient, and more confident, however, I am beginning to fantasize about different methods of torturing and killing Iraqi soldiers - I have always regarded myself as a "pacifist" and a non-violent person, but my initial patriotic reasons for volunteering are turning into a lust for blood. There are unconfirmed reports from Kuwait that Iraqi soldiers are taking people from streets and randomly executing them. Other reports detail the capture of thousands of Kuwaitis, including women and teenagers and their transportation to camps and prisons in Iraq. I just want to finish this training and get out of here. I'm tired of waiting for the inevitable.
FORT DIX GRADUATION
February 23, 1991
It's over. We have completed three months of Basic Training in twelve days. I get my interrogation and Desert Fox Combat Training certificates at graduation today. We are now officially sergeants in the U.S. Armed Forces.
At the ceremony, Vice-President Dan Quayle offers some positive news, stating that "Kuwait is being freed as we talk." Also, the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the U.S., Sheik Saud Nassir Al-Sabah, also hints that we will soon be home. The Ambassador's presence is invaluable; the man has worked assiduously throughout the invasion, he has transcended the role of the diplomat and is now an icon of our fight for liberty - the US based students regard him as an emblematic father.
Naturally, we are all overjoyed at the news of the ground war, but whether Kuwait is free or not, we are ready to fight. In any case, there is lot to be done, even if it is liberated.
We are then moved to a local airport. Kuwaiti officials and diplomats such as the Cultural Attaché Mr. Musaed Al-Haroun affectionately say their goodbyes on the tarmac before we are shipped in a 747 jumbo jet to Saudi Arabia. I am so exhausted I sleep non-stop from New Jersey to Riyadh. It would be the last touch of comfort for a while.
DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA:
February 24, 1991
The 600-plus Kuwaiti volunteers arrive at in Dhahran airport, and we are divided up and assigned to our respective missions. Some are on their way to a frenzied tank battle at Kuwait Airport, others to Riyadh or Jeddah, and some to the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. They won't disclose my destination, but I know it will be an important one. As I get closer to Kuwait, I miss it more than ever.
The people in Saudi Arabia, the clear desert air and the architecture remind me of home, and that makes it all the more painful. I have to admit though; the Saudis seem to use more neon in their city's billboards and signs than any other country in the world. Well, maybe with the exception of Las Vegas and that's where the comparison ends.
HAFR AL-BATIN, SAUDI ARABIA:
February 25, 1991
We arrive at this location, noting the Patriot missile systems along the way, and set up our tents. We still don't know what our mission is about. Tomorrow, we're on our way to another undisclosed location. I hope its Kuwait
E.P.W. CAMP, NASRIYA, IRAQ:
February 26-March 3 1991
We join the U.S. 7th Corps military intelligence units here. I should have known we would end up in Iraq. Our jobs in this remote, dusty desolate tract are to supervise and interrogate Iraqi enemy prisoners of war. I must admit that a great satisfaction comes upon me now. Interrogation begins soon.
The P.O.W. camp is set up around a massive crater surrounded by hills and marshes. There are hundreds of American soldiers here, and so far, they capture around 5,000 Iraqis a day. Sometimes we move our locations within Nasriya to different camps in order to obtain new information from the Iraqis. No matter what camp we end up in, the Iraqi soldiers look wretched. Some of them even wear civilian clothes. We really don't have that much interrogation to do, because they can be bribed easily with cigarettes and food. The MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) that they get are always completely consumed; even the coffee, sugar and chewing-gum supplied along with them are devoured.
Most of the Iraqi soldiers try to appease us with kind words of regret and sorrow about what happened to Kuwait, although most of them do sound like professional con-men. Sure, they can loot and steal, rape, torture, kill and, as it turns out; they're also first-class actors - right up there with the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials who said they were "following orders."
Other Iraqis are surprised that Kuwaitis would literally fight for Kuwait.
"What are you fighting for? Oil and the Emir?" asks a People's Army conscript. I inform him that we fought the war for our heritage, people, our country, but that's something those poor bastards will never understand, especially after living in a despotic police-state like Iraq. At this point in time I couldn't give a damn about their rough childhoods, living conditions or their safety in Iraq - they committed crimes against humanity and they should pay for them. But somehow I have the feeling they're going to get off easy. Since they already surrendered and are speaking out against their regime, they'll end up at camps, living off the U.S. taxpayers and the Saudis, and enjoying benefits such as fresh food, education, and good living conditions. It's a repellent thought, but that's the way the cards are dealt.
If I wasn't following the Geneva Convention, nothing would give me more pleasure than to aim my M-16 and spray the poor bastards with lead, especially the Iraqi Republican Guard types. Unfortunately, I am following the Geneva Convention and such vicious thoughts have to be suppressed.
KUWAIT- IRAQ BORDER:
March 3-4, 1991
Our latest camp is surrounded by hundreds of mines that are constantly being detonated. Because of them, we cannot walk too far from our tents. We heard from the local Chaplain that two of our doctors had died when their jeep exploded on a mined highway. The black and grey smoke from the detonated mines can persistently be seen as the earsplitting, thundering blasts emanating from them are felt all around us.
The American soldiers here are very gracious and supportive, maybe because they know how much we miss home and family. They are exceptional human beings. An elderly Colonel walks into our tent with bags of Saudi groceries and treats, walks towards us handing us the items and asking how families are doing and if we need anything. We are overwhelmed by this gentleman's empathy. This Colonel's gesture reaffirms our pride in serving in the US Army. This is why the United States is a world superpower, a combination of: strength, compassion and morality.
If we were soldiers in an Arab army, I bet you the Colonel wouldn't even let us wipe his dog's ass, let alone pay us a visit.
We are used to the atmosphere of 'war', but we are impatient to get to Kuwait. Many soldiers from my platoon have family there, and want to visit them now that the city has been liberated. Our wish eventually comes true. We are told that we will be home"very soon."
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT:
March 5, 1991
Dozens of oil wells burn in the distance; the city looks like a massive cake surrounded by giant, melting candles. Soon our jeeps and dinghy, brown school buses infiltrate the black smog surrounding Kuwait City.
I feel happy on my return home, but I'm also angry and distressed at the damage around me. Our bus ventures into the once-beautiful oasis of the Gulf. I grit my teeth as I see a burning, white van with Kuwaiti license plates, greenish smoke filtering from its smashed windshield. Many other vehicles, some with missing wheels, lie like scraps of paper on the side of the highway, amidst scorched Iraqi tanks and military vehicles.
The military convoy carefully creeps into the blacked-out city. Electricity is non-existent; the Iraqis had detonated explosives at the electrical plants in the city and we hear there is no water either. To make matters worse, darkness can last more than a day sometimes and when it rains, we all get covered in slimy black patches of liquid.
We are eventually dropped off in front of the American Embassy on the Gulf Road, a long strip of road overlooking the sea-front, to a crowd of cheering, joyous and excited Kuwaitis. This is as close to being a part of a historic event as I ever will be, I think to myself - Kuwaitis spray "We love Bush" graffiti on some walls, drivers honk their horns, teenagers are dancing up a frenzy, and dozens of Kuwaiti resistance members fire tracer bullets into the air from their AK-47 rifles. It is wonderful. And I know one day I will tell my children and grandchildren about this day.
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT:
March 5 - April 3, 1991
My month-long stay in Kuwait is a hazardous time because Iraqi agents and sympathizers are still here. Explosions and shoot-outs can be heard and felt. Martial-law has just been imposed. Fortunately, my house was mostly untouched by the battle, so I sleep there. There is no electricity so I use a flashlight or an oil lamp. As far as I can see, there is surprisingly little structural damage in the city. Maybe I was expecting a bombed-out city like Beirut. Most of the buildings have been ransacked from the inside, although black bullet holes and smashed windows for Iraqi sniper positions are evident on many structures, especially the buildings that overlook the beach - the Iraqis assumed the Allied forces would liberate Kuwait by mounting a Normandy-style invasion through the beachfront. They were dead wrong.
The hardest aspect of my return home is facing the quiet survivors. I meet a large number of torture victims who speak of finger and toe-nails being pulled out, of naked teenagers being forced to sit on broken glass, of being electrocuted and so on. I hear tales of mothers watching as their sons are shot in front of them and of girls being raped by soldiers and then having their breasts sliced off. There are many sad and horrific stories, and while I listen to them, I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I was.
Various Iraqis who are still hiding in Kuwait City attempt to cause anarchy by firing their Kalishnikoff rifles at us while we do our usual security rounds in the desolate and garbage-strewn streets. Once, they blow up an ammunitions dump close to a Kuwaiti civilian area. Some have just stolen 600 Kuwaiti military uniforms from a truck, and others fire at paranoid, young soldiers who control city check-points.
Three shoot-outs manage to suck me in into the violence. The most notable is at the former twin-compound buildings of the Kuwait Ice-Rink, were, supposedly, some Iraqi agents hiding inside attempt to flee. The ice-rink, during the invasion, apparently was a torture centre and home to the Iraqi Special Forces unit. It was supposedly used as a large morgue where dead Kuwaiti bodies were dumped so as not to decompose. Reeking of a putrid aroma of blood and meat, it is an uncomfortable place to be in. Dark, dried-up blood stains are still on the surface of the floor. The building is surrounded by our friends and some soldiers from a Kuwaiti military convoy. Within minutes, a massive shoot-out begins with soldiers storming the building. It lasts for at least twenty minutes. An English Captain passes by and sends his men to tactical locations around the twin buildings. After a while he comments, in his dry sort of way: "Cowboys and Indians, I see.... But where are the Indians?" He walks away and so do we. We never did get to find out if anyone was captured.
Sometimes we are fired upon from dark, empty voids in government buildings. Bullets fly by from one corner of the street to another as we duck for cover and return fire, but that is all we can do.
Another time, my partner Fahad Al-Gharabally, a fellow interpreter and I are almost accidentally shot by a pair of Kuwaiti soldiers while doing usual security rounds in my neighborhood of Rawda. Out of the blue, shots are fired into the air, and we are ordered to get out of the car. They force us to the ground, disarm us and ask who we are, while they point their guns at our heads and kick us in our stomachs. We tell them we are Kuwaitis and show them our American IDs.
"Are we supposed to be impressed because you guys live in America? Give us some IDs. in Arabic" yells out a young soldier.
"I told you, we are volunteers with the American army. Look at our faces, listen to our accents, and look at our uniforms!" I tell him.
He hands us back our cards while his men look down at the ground embarrassed by their imprudent, dangerous and brainless action. Apparently, they thought we were Palestinian agents dressed up in stolen uniforms (With soldiers like these, it's no wonder the Kuwaiti military is in shambles). That incident was probably the closest I ever came to getting killed. Other Kuwaitis were not so lucky - many accidents such as these occur daily and some accidentally did get shot.
Driving out of my neighborhood Rawda, I notice a disheveled, bearded Kuwait walking slowly across the pavement, looking somewhat disoriented. I stop the car, roll down the windows and ask him if he needs a ride. He waves, opens the door and quietly sits besides me as I try to make conversation.
"Please take me home. I live in Nuzha," he requests. I gladly comply and ask him about his wellbeing.
"We just returned from Iraq. We walked here," he stated; as I realized he had been a POW, a feeling of both grief and relief envelop me, distressed that thousands like him were taken from our streets, yet relieved that this courageous man, this champion of everything that is great about Kuwait, stoically walks back with honor. At that moment he was my brother, I didn't know him, I didn't even know his name, and all I knew was that I would do anything for this individual. I dropped him off and thought about others like him, hoping they all return to their families.
The situation continues to be grave. There is still no electricity, and running water is quickly drying up. Explosions are felt on a hourly basis, as well as gun fire. To make matters worse, there is no effective food distribution and no organized law in the country. During this time, it seems, every soldier does as he pleases and there seems to be no order or effective hierarchy in the Kuwaiti chain of command. The truly ironic aspect of the situation is the fact that although my country has already been liberated, it feels like powder-keg about to explode. The violence does not shock or surprise me, but the images of the ravaged country do. The putrid smell of garbage, and dead bodies, darkness at noon, black rain, damaged buildings and burning cars all remain indelibly etched in my mind.
TODAY
It is the year 2009 now, 18 years following the liberation. Times have changed in Kuwait, and not for the better. To many the Gulf War may have seemed akin to a lavish all-star cast miniseries or a video game but to me it was far from entertainment. I survived the war, although we were never too far away from a gun. I was fortunate because my country had already been liberated by the time my field military duty had been activated, but I won't soon forget the pain and anguish surrounding Kuwait, as well as the memory of the prisoners of war, some of whom are still missing in Iraq. What I remember most of all are the survivors and the families of the victims. I remember clearly their words, their soft-spoken declarations of being tortured and of losing a loved one.
The Kuwait Resistance did an exceptional job during the invasion and it breaks my heart that they haven't received the credit and acclaim that they really deserve. There is something seriously warped in this country when the people who really fought for it are neglected for others who have done much less. The Resistance were the unsung heroes of the Gulf War; warriors who sacrificed all for the sake of their country, not the shady politicians whose loyalty lie beyond our borders, the opportunist officials and tycoons who publicly broadcast their loyalty to Kuwait, but in reality did and do nothing, except further their own careers by lining up their own pockets by exploiting the needs of the reconstruction and beyond.
Today more than ever in Kuwait we must remember the invasion. We are now a country that does not even feature the invasion in our educational curriculum, a country that is beginning to forget the lessons of the invasion, a country that continues to meddle in exterior conflicts by wearing the mantle of 'arbitrator' and 'mediator' without taking care of its own, a country that is beginning to forget who its real friends are, neglecting the increasingly grave perils surrounding us, whether ideological or geopolitical. Now more than ever we must remember the invasion, the occupation and the betrayals (both internal and external) and focus on the true reconstruction of Kuwait, both in mind and in spirit, so that we don't fall prey to the calamitous ravages of 1991 again.
'After Iftar' Column
STAKES HIGH
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted From 'Arab Times' (19th September, 2008)
THE Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stated: " He whom Allah gives his authority of ruling people and fulfils not their needs and treat their poverty but Allah will not fulfill his need nor treat his property (for mercy) on the Day of Resurrection." (At-Tirmidhi).
For the past couple of years we have been highlighting corruption, the state's blatant lack of compassion and neglect towards its people, mismanagement and lack of vision, but what has not been obvious is that all of the above is not just plain ineptitude but it is utterly un-Islamic to the ideals of a modern Muslim state, a state that has been blessed with riches from the Almighty.
As a country we reap what we sow, the results are evident all around us: State Security agents bribed into smuggling dangerous foreign elements into Kuwait, toxic materials dumped in areas such as Messila and Um Al-Hamain, visa traffickers importing tens of thousands of laborers and refusing to pay them, widespread embezzlement in government institutions, among countless other infractions.
Citizens -- struck this Ramadan by rising prices, decrepit health care services, feeble infrastructure and higher cost of living in general -- want their quality of life in Kuwait to improve, they demand less bureaucracy, favoritism, and more transparency, accountability and justice -- they want to spend less time whizzing from one inefficient, power-hungry bureaucrat to another in order to get their business in order -- they want to live as citizens, as human beings with decent health care, decent education, with efficient pricing mechanisms on commodities (as the more progressive Gulf states currently do), without worrying about rising over-inflated prices, human rights abuses, tuberculosis, cow scares, sleeper cells infiltrating the state, environmental pollution and other typically Kuwaiti 'manifestations'.
A spirit of cynicism and anger is sweeping through Kuwait, a mistrust of old school government and business-as-usual politics, citizens detect a lack of compassion from both the inept government and various duplicitous parliamentarians; bitter that this affluent country aids others beyond its borders but cannot or will not help its own citizens -- citizens who always seem to be at the mercy of a power or water cut, a bureaucrat, a KD 50 carrot.
And the state continues to announce its willingness to become a 'Financial Hub'; a running joke verbally perpetrated by an assortment of governmental lackeys in denial. Don't believe the hype. We need to clean house before we start talking big, unrealistic ventures. There is no way in hell Kuwait is ever going to be a 'financial hub' unless a complete metamorphosis, a cultural, legal and work systems revolution takes place. Parliament and the government can pass as many laws as they can muster but they are doomed to failure unless the state begins to serve the people, not vice-versa (and they need to be efficient and professional doing it); outdated laws are overhauled and updated (in addition to being enforced in order to gain transparency to local and foreign investors) and state of the art Administrative and Financial systems are integrated into institutions (so projects, expenditures and general income are kept track of).
We must eradicate 'corruption' by applying the full extent of the law, because corruption is not just relegated to 'bribes,' it affects the environment, it fuels crime, it propels jobs and positions of leadership to the wrong people, it instills despair and hopelessness among the populace, it devastates our infrastructure and resources, it stimulates bureaucracy and human rights abuses, frees lawbreakers, tarnishes Kuwait's image, reputation and collective pride, among many other concerns. The day we can eradicate most of the above is the day we can truly call ourselves a 'Muslim State.'
Kuwait -- blessed with a major financial windfall -- will never get another chance to makes things right. How the state acts today -- for our sake and those of the next generations -- will be the deciding factor on whether Kuwait ends up being a safe, modern, thriving metropolis or a dingy, underprivileged, dilapidated state with no future.
It's the difference between you and your kids living comfortably and leading a productive life in Kuwait the year 2025 or your children becoming expatriates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha because this state squandered its intellectual, natural, financial and, dare I say, moral resources. The stakes are very high, but until the powers that be and their minions exhibit compassion towards Kuwait by stressing accountability, reform and the rule of law, we will continue on the road to oblivion.
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20-02-2010, 12:57 PM
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تاريخ التسجيل: Feb 2010
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Death Of Sheik Salem, Beginning Of End Of Era
By Hilaliya on October 12, 2007 6:46 AM | 2 Comments
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/local8cd53b_tn.jpg)
Death Of Sheik Salem, Beginning Of End Of Era
'Other Voices'
Reprinted From 'Arab Times' (12th October, 2007)
By Amer Al-Hilal
Sheik Salem Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's death represents the beginning of an end of an era for Kuwait and its people. Indeed, what moved me about Sheik Salem was his compassion, one of many astonishing qualities that made him an immense leader, but most of all, a genuine human being.
In my humble opinion, when Sheik Salem assumed the hefty mantle of the Chairman of the National Committee for the POWs and Missing Affairs, he truly began to achieve greatness and thereby entered Kuwaiti legend.
In 1993, a colleague from KUNA and I volunteered to join the media team of the National Committee for POW and Missing Affairs. When Sheik Salem heard of our joining the team he personally asked to meet with us, we were led into his office where he warmly welcomed us, spending at least 45 minutes talking about the importance of volunteerism, our roles in the organization, and the POW issue. Here we were, two young volunteers amiably received and treated like professionals; indeed, we left the meeting, pleasantly astounded that Sheik Salem had taken the time out to meet with us. I could not help but be impressed by Sheik Salem's revealing, warm and candid approach, he had the aura of a father figure; I admit I liked him right away. From behind the scenes, he monitored our work, encouraged our efforts, always generous with praise and acknowledgment.
It was an invaluable period for us, under Sheik Salem's tutelage we travelled to European destinations highlighting the POW issue, we helped organize the famed yellow-colored media campaigns ("Help Free Our POWS") we visited homes of the missing, the latter aspect the most emotionally excruciating part of our work, alas this was done on a limited basis. However, Sheik Salem did not have that luxury; on a daily basis he dealt with the emotional rollercoaster of the hurting POW families, as well as juggling POW-related political efforts related to the Red Cross, Arab League and Geneva's UN Tripartite Commission, not to mention innumerable other governmental tasks. He carried an aching burden on his shoulders; he couldn't just 'switch off,' discarding his duties at work.
At his physical peak, Sheik Salem was a vigorous, handsome gentleman, who could disarm the most cynical of pundits. I saw him weave some of his magic first-hand during a press conference; he called journalists by their first names, briefly joking with them, patiently and assiduously answering questions, they were in the palm of his hand. On a personal level, Sheik Salem possessed a splendid combination of charm, modesty and authority (few Kuwaiti leaders encompass all those qualities). But most of all, we felt like he cared about us, about the POWS, about Kuwaitis, he had an emotional stake in our lives, and we cherished him for it.
I remember his resolute spirit in the face of health issues, specifically his visit to the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington DC during the late 90s (we were serving as diplomats under his brother, Ambassador Sheik Dr. Mohamed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah -the current Minister of Foreign Affairs). Sheik Salem, accompanied by his private physician, sat with us in the Ambassador's 'diwaniya', recounting the latest developments concerning UN Security Council 686-formed Tripartite Commission - under the auspices of the ICRC (its mandate involved the search for Kuwait POWs) - and Iraq's continued refusal to cooperate with it. Sheik Salem seemed frustrated, distraught yet hopeful that our POWs would return. During the conversation he stated a line I have never been able to forget to this day: "I would crawl on my knees to Baghdad if I knew it would guarantee the freedom of the POWs." Remember, we were at the height of animosity between Kuwait and the Iraqi regime; Sheik Salem's unconventional statement was bitterly honest, straight from the heart and devoid of the usual political rhetoric, and I admired his candor, it renewed my affection and reverence for this gentleman, who defiantly kept clinging on to his responsibilities towards the POWs and their families, even though his health was diminishing by the year.
I believe Sheik Salem's legacy will be a humanitarian one, on a personal level, his death unnerved me for a variety of reasons, notably he symbolized a fragment of my youth, a period during the early 1990s when young Kuwaitis such as myself - fresh from serving with the American forces in the Gulf War and eager to rebuild Kuwait - worked for men of his caliber, who embraced us in the pursuit of noble, humanitarian ideals; additionally, he represented a special era for Kuwaitis, when the bonds of affection between Ruling Family members and "the people" were at their most potent.
I was distressed by Sheik Salem's death but also consoled by the fact that he was longer at the mercy of a decade-old health tribulation. Most of all, however, I was soothed by the fact that he passed away on the 27th of Ramadan, surely this was a blessed and holy omen, a testament to an outstanding human being.
'Shepherds' Of Our Conscience
By Hilaliya on September 24, 2007 1:34 PM | 9 Comments | No TrackBacks
'After Iftar' Column
'SHEPHERDS' OF OUR CONSCIENCE
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted From Arab Times (24th September, 2007)
I truly believe that the majority of Kuwait and its citizens are upright, compassionate people who believe in charity, in all its forms, and fear God. Indeed, religion is invaluable to the fabric of society: the charity organizations functioning to assist the needy; distribution of Iftars and meals; the Zakat allocated to society's poor, among other examples are a tribute to this country and a testament to the spiritual caliber of the average citizen. It is insufficient, however, because society demands that two main components be evident in order to maintain a healthy equilibrium, safeguarding citizens and their rights: Justice ("Adalah") and Compassion ("Rahma").
Kuwait is on the precipice of a spiritual and moral descent, every so often sliding into a 'Devil's Playground': escalating violent crime, embezzlement and corruption, discrimination and intolerance, physical abuse, rapes, among other transgressions on basic human rights. One cannot pick up a newspaper without reading of someone being randomly picked off the street and sexually assaulted, of abuse, of murder, among other crimes (this very newspaper recently created a 'Kuwait Crime' section online due to rising crime).
White collar crime is on the rise as well.
One can embezzle hundreds of thousands (if not millions) from ministries (such as Communications) and remain on the job, paying off their larceny in installments like a regular bank loan, not even the threat of a sacking on the horizon.
Others play for much bigger stakes and walk unscathed among us.
Visa ("Iqama") traders continue to smuggle thousands of laborers whom they will eventually disown (making millions in the process) - Kuwaiti movers and shakers know exactly who the culprits are but are impotent to do anything - and our inaction continues to lead to human rights abuses and tarnishes Kuwait's reputation abroad.
Neglect on the part of corporations leads to unnecessary deaths of employees. Committees are formed to investigate. Months later results are shrouded in secrecy and the guilty are acquitted.
And the tragic farce goes on. It's in your local paper everyday. No one is accountable.
How can we expect our society to instill respect of the law and human rights when the law is not impartial and when we do not castigate the guilty? The laws that protect the innocent are in place; however, loopholes in the legal structure and an inability to implement the law effectively on all individuals, not just the weak, is fueling despair, distrust and cynicism on the Kuwaiti street - this in turn leads to political quandaries delaying progress and development, but most of all it sends a disturbing message to the young generations: "Don't respect the law. The law is for the weak."
The Holy Quran states: "O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." [An-Nisa 4:35]
As long as there is no fear of punishment on the street level and in the upper echelons, corruption will continue to be rampant, crime and injustice will continue to flourish.
In conjunction with a firm and impartial implementation of the law, a society must also show empathy; unfortunately, a lack of compassion at a civic and governmental level is also evident, affecting health care, education and employee rights. Social unrest is on the rise. It seems like every ministry and government institution is on strike or threatening to strike due to unacceptable employee benefits (or lack thereof). Newspapers contain full page ads by employees of the oil, health, justice and aviation sectors (among others) demanding more rights and better financial incentives.
Doesn't charity begin at home? God has blessed this nation with riches beyond belief and yet we choose to disregard our home, our community. We neglect investing in our infrastructure: our neighborhood clinics, hospitals, our electrical grid, our water resources, our roads; we neglect building shelters; we neglect building proper adoption homes for orphans (victims of broken homes and illicit marriages). Factories are being built in downtown civilian areas such as Hawalli and Salmiya and close to the city endangering our children. The Bidoon humanitarian issue continues to loom, a dark blemish on our heritage and reputation (it isn't sufficient that we deny them free education or birth certificates, we also have to be malicious and deny them education in foreign countries as well) - I could go on but I think you get the picture and it isn't the embodiment of what Islam should stand for.
Islam's core principles revolve around fighting injustice and offering compassion to all members of society, irrespective of race, gender, ethnic group or religion. The society must protect its own and care for its weak and underprivileged (the poor, orphans, the abused etc) - at both a civic and legislative level. Irrespective of whether we are Muslims or not, we are members of this society: shepherds of our kin, our businesses, our employees, our neighbors, and our community. We all need to get involved, need to speak out against injustice whether we live in affluent comfortable neighborhoods or dingy ghettos.
'Reform' is a word that is bandied about too effortlessly in Kuwait, but you cannot have true reform if the social order does not take care of its own and has double standards meting out justice. It is only by directly facing the dark abyss of society's shortcomings that Kuwait can underline the hidden causes of our hindrances and take back its rightful and historic place as a vanguard of progress, equality and integrity.
'A Call To Web Calls' From Kuwait
By Hilaliya on March 7, 2007 9:59 AM | 16 Comments
A CALL TO WEB CALLS
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (10th March, 2007)
The Kuwait Ministry of Communications apparently is not familiar with globalization, the shrinking 'world village' and the communications revolution sweeping the world. The bureaucratic, backward MOC mentality is stuck in a 1985 time warp. As reported the last few days, the Ministry of Communications has blocked Internet Telephony Services. One could see this particular train wreck coming ever since one of the MOC Under-Secretaries complained a few months ago of losing "20 million KD" in revenue per year due to the Net services.
But let us ponder the issue at hand what is KD 20 million to the MOC? Is this amount more important than allowing our expatriates and businesses to communicate in a swifter, less expensive manner via the net? The majority of citizens in Kuwait are expatriates, and many of them rely on services like Net To Phone because they cannot pay the exorbitant prices by the MOC. These tactics by the MOC are akin to Mafia extortion tactics (arrests, intimidation, blocked sites), forcing citizens to use high cost, sub par services. We are dealing with basic human rights here, the right to communicate with family and friends and not pay outrageous prices.
I am positive tens of millions more get wasted due to corruption and mismanagement at the MOC. The Kuwait international rates are among the highest in the Middle East and the world, technology is catching up; internet telephony services are one day going to make charges obsolete, so the MOC needs to 'get with the program' : preparing itself for its essential and eventual transformation from a traditional, bloated, pedantic government bureaucracy to an "Authority" that provides services and quality control.
Thousands of people are moving away from landlines (part of a global trend) and obtaining mobile numbers (they are the real MOC revenue-killer) - does the MOC intend to sue Wataniya and MTC as well?
Former MOC Minister Masouma Mubarak should have spent more time attempting to 'fix' Kuwait Airways (which is now being sued by 17 stranded passengers in Thailand) than trying to milk every last cent out of poor expatriates and citizens attempting to communicate with others via the Net (I sincerely look forward to a high-tech, pioneering technocrat being offered the MOC portfolio, not Ms. Mubarak again). I also hope expatriates and their representatives in Kuwait help pressure the MOC to revers its course.
For a ministry that has proclaimed its willingness to 'reform,' 'modernize' and avail Kuwait of the latest technological developments in the Communications field, it has failed miserably to keep up with modern trends, limit ISP charges and upgrade its digital and broadband services to be on par with most modern states. The MOC needs to move away from its bureaucratic, inefficient and intrusive Orwellian world into the 21st century.
Embrace Tolerance
By Hilaliya on October 15, 2006 7:39 AM | 7 Comments
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/kuwaitpasttiny77_tn.jpg)
'After Iftar Corner'
Embrace Tolerance
Reprinted From Arab Times (15th October, 2006)
By Amer Al-Hilal
During the blessed month of "Ramadan," Muslims fast, abstain from impure thoughts and actions, donate to charity, and aspire to live up to the ideals of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) by worshiping Allah, the All-Mighty, through their hearts and minds.
Tolerance, humility, civility and compassion, I was raised to believe, were noble characteristics that required constant support and encouragement. These characteristics in an individual are an offshoot of a decent upbringing by conscientious parents everywhere; indeed they are among many pillars of Islam, and are embodied by the character of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
The origins of Kuwait, prior to the oil boom, were also founded on tolerance, kindness and an innate curiosity of other cultures and peoples. Our citizens were pearl divers and merchants, they traveled far and wide, and they become proficient at languages - ranging from Swahili to Indian; our livelihood depended on it. Kuwait was far from affluent during those harsh years; people woke up at dawn, women would work tirelessly to bake food and take care of the homes and - by and large - men would do manual labor. Nevertheless, the community was phenomenal: strong, vibrant, and enriched by a sense of camaraderie, of belonging, united by faith and love. All would share sorrow and happiness; for instance, wedding celebrations would last for days. Long pilgrimages to distant exotic lands, by camel caravans and by the traditional wooden Kuwaiti "Dhows" would span months, occasionally longer. The women and children stayed behind working hard, protecting other's homes and possessions. Indeed, we were expatriates and laborers in other countries, away from our families for extended periods.
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/kuwaitpasttiny99_tn.jpg)
And yet we were a beacon of tolerance and kindness. Kuwait was the foremost Gulf country to build an American Hospital, to embrace non-Muslims into their communities, notably missionaries, leading to the establishment of churches and places of worship here. We were an open, transparent and God-fearing society; our minds were wide open and our arms were ready to welcome strangers who might ride through the visage of a distant sandstorm into our "Kut," (the word Kuwait derives from it, meaning "Little Fort").
We never were a country that fueled fanaticism, bigotry, injustice, corruption: rising embezzlement, shopkeepers being attacked because they stocked Christmas trees, foreigners being targeted because of race or country of origin, Kuwaiti cultural legacy being shunned (because they include music or dance), rising censorship against all forms of intellectual works, among many other examples. These events are un-Islamic; a warped, narrow-minded form of ignorance roaming under the guise of religion. ![](http://www.hilaliya.com/kuwaitpasttiny88_tn.jpg)
Tolerance, compassion, sincerity, humility, treating individuals with respect - regardless of rank, race, ethnic background or religion; these are both Islamic ideals and traditional Kuwaiti ideals, they are a form of charity: pure in nature, high in stature and evocative of equality and goodwill.
These ideals should be embraced, always, not just during the holy month of Ramadan. They were the ideals of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and a way of life. Only by acquiring knowledge of our Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and emulating his gentle, just and compassionate traits, can we become better Muslims.
Masses Tired Of Rhetoric On 'National Unity'
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By Hilaliya on July 6, 2006 2:56 PM | 1 Comment
People Want Decisive Action, Tangible Accomplishments
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (6th July, 2006)
Elections are over. The people have spoken. The new Parliament is an opposition one in the true sense of the word. The reform movement is as formidable as ever and its main defenders in Parliament have returned imbued with a sense of energy and determination.
Even with 25 Constituencies and unlimited resources, the government and its supporters could not extinguish the flames of reform and the vociferous spirit rallying against corruption. Last minute “yellow journalism,” interviews with tainted Ministers and empty talk about “national unity” could not dispel how people felt both about corruption and the aimless, unproductive role the government has played during the last few years. Infrastructure problems such as the water shortage issue only augmented people’s frustrations at the government, a government that has failed consecutively to advance Kuwait into the 21st century.
The ball is in the government’s court now. The people and the Parliament have demanded that certain individuals do not return to a new cabinet and that the government take a heightened stand against corruption - prevalent in all of Kuwait not just government bodies - which taints everything it touches whether it be housing, social issues, technological upgrades, among other issues. Corruption is no longer a symptom of a failed society; it is now an ailment which not only menaces all of Kuwait but renders it impotent.
If the government is serious about privatization, upgrading Northern oil fields, improving health care and the environment, tackling unemployment and creating new jobs, then it needs to listen to the Kuwaiti street. Nevertheless, we want things done right, if the government upgrades or privatizes, we want a transparent mechanism that benefits the Kuwaiti citizen, not some Tom, Dick or Harry who is “close to the inner circle.”
The government cannot blame Saddam or Iraq for the lack of progress and development in Kuwait. There are no more internal problems within the branches of the Ruling Family impeding progress. Oil is not at $7 a barrel. There are no more scapegoats.
People want decisive action and tangible accomplishments. They are tired of rhetoric concerning ‘national unity’ and ‘navigators steering the Kuwaiti ship safely to shore’ and all the other useless jargon the public has been spoon-fed the last quarter of a century.
If the government is serious about reform, it will help pass 5 Constituencies (or even one Constituency) it will eradicate corrupt elements from future cabinets, it will work on a plan to upgrade Kuwait’s infrastructure and seriously analyze the needs of the young Kuwaiti men and women coming of age who need decent jobs, security and prosperity to help build this country.
However, if the government chooses the defiant route ignoring the will of the people, then we all tumble into another political abyss the results of which will not be pretty and the government will not be able to blame its incompetent performance on “internal elements hurting Kuwait’s national unity.”
Radiaoctive Dreams: Spare Region 'Another War'
By Hilaliya on April 25, 2006 11:10 PM | 5 Comments
Iran's Reactors 'Radioactive dreams'; Spare Region 'Another War'
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (24th April, 2006)
Dear President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
Please allow me to interrupt your latest preparations for the bizarre "Holocaust: Myth or Fact" conference and congratulate you on your active and vibrant Presidency. Iran continues on its path of enlightenment, its respect for human rights, combating terrorism, its support for freedom of speech, the Middle East Peace Process, security in the Gulf and the international arena by continuing to thumb its nose at the West and the Gulf countries by pursuing a nuclear program.
During the Kuwait invasion, Saddam "I Invaded Kuwait But All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" Hussein torched over 700 oil wells, literally making us live through Joseph Conrad's Darkness at Noon, local lax environmental regulations on factories and the oil industry, leading to an increase in asthmas rates and cancers.
So Mr. President, you are just speeding up the inevitable; we are now on the path of an uninhabitable Kuwait, one shrouded in cancers and innumerable deaths due to the radioactive smorgasbord - due to a potential earthquake, human error a la Three Mile Island or a smart-bomb attack - from your strategically-placed-on-the-Kuwait-border nuclear reactors.
Of course placing such reactors around Teheran or your major cities would have alarmed citizens, so they got moved to our neck of the woods (ie the Busher plant).
You were well aware that our Ministers would run to you with open arms, with their gleaming, toothy smiles, and hug you and treat you like a visionary head of state when you visited us. You knew we'd make statements "supporting peaceful nuclear work."
We also embraced your envoys (ie. Rafsanjani) but what use will their words of reassurance be when people are getting chills and fever due to environmental radiation?
You actually went one step beyond an invasion. This won't be seven months of torture, rapes and killing (featuring over 600 POWs missing); rather Kuwait will be uninhabitable, not for one month, or seven months or three years, but for decades. It's genius. You will actually manage to do something Saddam never dreamed of: create a ghost town - fueled by alarming cancer rates and innumerable deaths - where human life is worthless and billions in revenue whether earned (oil) or spent (infrastructure, investments) will be worthless. The history, heritage and land of a country will be erased, not in name but in reality. Who would want to live here under those conditions? Mr President if you don't believe me, I'll try to make this easier for you: watch Stanley Kramer's 1959 motion picture 'On The Beach' (you can order it from Amazon.com). Listen to Fred Astaire's monologue.
Oh, I just realized that you - as a former American hostage-taker during the Iranian revolution - are probably not "cool" with the idea of watching Western films, unless they are 'Wag The Dog' or 'Fahrenheit 911.' Take the Russian deal. And spare the region another war. Kuwait is tired of being in the eye of the storm every decade. We've had enough. Otherwise its welcome to Radioactive Dreams, Mr. President. And that will be all due to your sheer genius and respect for human life.
War Brings Forth Best Traits
By Hilaliya on March 22, 2006 12:02 PM | 4 Comments
WAR BRINGS FORTH BEST TRAITS
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (22nd March 2006)
It's been three years to this day since I heard sirens piercing the airwaves at noon, on March 20, 2003.
I had moved two days earlier to a new domicile, the only reason I had bothered to change my location was due to the fact that the new one had a basement room which I could seal in case of a chemical or biological attack by Iraq.
In Kuwait we lived through over three weeks of the Iraqi fallout: sirens blazing several times a day, missiles being intercepted by Patriot missile batteries, some striking the city, fear of a chemical attack; indeed all of us were in 'low frequency' or controlled panic mode.
You can prepare yourself psychologically but when the siren's sound becomes audible, on the streets and the radio, it becomes an altogether different beast to tame.
When the sirens pierced our surroundings the first day of the war, I sat down in silence, I had dry mouth, I attempted to collect my thoughts and "get it together," I wasn't worried about myself, but was concerned about my children and thoughts of what a chemical attack could do to Kuwait were devastating. During the Gulf War thousands of us Kuwaiti students and professionals had volunteered to serve with the U.S. Army, and we received training at bases such as Fort Dix, NJ (even receiving chemical training) but when you're in Kuwait with a family and children, it's an entirely different scenario.
We rushed to the basement - already stocked with supplies: radios, flashlights, food and water - and locked the door, sealing it with plastic wrappings and tape.
We sealed ourselves in the room. I had never done such a thing in my life.
The radio was on, the Kuwaiti announcer coolly reporting the situation. He was the voice we clung to, he was the voice that would tell us 'everything's okay,' the voice that would allow us to break the seals on the door and leave the basement room, as opposed to being stuck in there for days like hamsters, because of any chemical threat.
The first dozen or so siren warnings we all did the same "shtick"; scurrying to the basement room and locking ourselves in. I'd sit wondering how the British dealt with years of the "blitz" in London, being bombarded with sirens piercing, using shelters, and utilizing food rations, eventually many of them having to send their children to the countryside for their own safety.
After a few days of sirens intermittently going off, we got accustomed to them and began ignoring that little "panic room" we had set up in the basement. We actually celebrated my son's birthday in the living room once while they screeched in the background.
Nevertheless, the air Conditioner was still off and all the windows in the house were still sealed, the war still raged, and the rumors still flew, but it was work as usual and life went on. We would follow the news closely no matter where we were, any ministry, house, place of business had MSNBC or Fox News in the background. Let's not forget Al-Jazeera featuring the Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Al-Sahaf lambasting the U.S., describing the grave casualties they were suffering. He was Iraq's Inspector Clouseau, the buffoon of the hour; mocked nightly on Jay Leno and David Letterman (Al-Sahaf is now comfortably retired in Dubai).
Al-Sahaf In Action 10 days after the initial war had broken out, the outlook was bleak. We became uneasy, preparing for the worst. We actually had expected a Gulf War videogame scenario where Iraqi soldiers would surrender to television camera crews and the like, but now there was resistance in places like Basra and there were reports from the US media that U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld had wanted a leaner and meaner strike force as opposed to a larger and formidable one (i.e. The Powell Doctrine: Overwhelming Force). The war didn't seem like it was progressing at the expected rate; I remember a hefty number of expatriates were beginning to leave Kuwait and we were worried that the American invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein would take a minimum of six months.
We had grown accustomed to the American Patriot missile batteries intercepting all the missiles before they reached downtown Kuwait. But then it happened. It was around 1am and I was watching Fox News - which had a decent live feed of Kuwait - and I felt a distant thundering blast, the house shook slightly. The live feed featured a shot of Kuwait city, quiet, orange lights glowing in the distance behind skyscrapers and buildings, and then we saw it: a rising mass of smoke appearing in the background.
No sirens had blared. This missile had gotten through.
Immediately I worried that it might be a chemical attack but began skimming through the channels, Fox, MSNBC and CNN.
The Missile Explosion In Kuwait It was bizarre watching Fox News report on something happening in my vicinity while I was there. This wasn't some desolate remote country thousands of miles away, this was here and now.
Gradually they all began featuring the live feed from Kuwait featuring the explosion. Within an hour we found out that Souk Sharq - one of Kuwait's premier malls by the beachfront - had been hit; young Kuwaitis in defiance left their homes and drove to the location. Camera crews were taping everything; dozens of Kuwaitis, maybe hundreds, showed up, taunting Saddam and Iraq, yelling out in Arabic "bring it on!"
Within a few days, the war effort picked up pace and the Americans had reached Baghdad. The regime had been decimated.
When I reminisce of those apprehensive weeks we went through three years ago, they humble me; they also spark memories of the invasion of Kuwait when fearless Kuwaitis - accustomed to a comfortable life - joined the resistance, distributed food, helped people in need and worked blue collar jobs to help themselves and others. Many paid with their lives. Others were taken as hostage to Iraq. The resistance characteristic of the Kuwaiti invasion has never truly been highlighted in the global media or popular culture but it was invaluable to the efforts to free Kuwait and maintain the status quo, political or otherwise.
The spirit of camaraderie, strength, faith and sacrifice was prevalent among both Kuwaitis and expatriates; people went out of their way to make sure others were fine, well-stocked and out of harm's way.
In times of crisis, our best traits are brought forth.
It would be astonishing if one could maintain that spirit even during peace; a noble ideal one should aspire to.
Sculptured Hands On a Solid Past - 'Booms' To Take You Back
By Hilaliya on February 19, 2006 4:43 PM | 2 Comments
Abu Issa at work in his shop (Photograph by the late Muhammed Ibrahim - KUNA)
Sculpture Hands on a Solid Past - 'Booms' to take you back
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (1993)
His hands carefully slide across the dusty wooden object. The white-bearded man then places the object on a wooden rack and carefully chooses his tools. The sound of hammering is audible as the elderly craftsman begins to knock wooden nails into the seafaring vessel. His name is Abdulwahab Issa Al Rashed and he is a miniature boat builder.
Abu Issa, as he likes to be known, is a meticulous craftsman and enjoys constructing a variety of wooden ship and boat models, in a various sizes. Located on the Gulf Road, adjacent to the beach, surrounded by traditional Kuwait mud houses and a small mosque, Abu Issa can be found constantly working on new miniatures in his cramped little edifice, highlighted by its wooden gate - it is like stepping into Kuwait's pre-oil, pearl-diving past. Abu Issa has been working his trade since 1972 and states that his work first "began as a hobby." He works on a variety of miniature and not-so-miniature boats (such as the 4 feet long 'Al Boom,' a traditional Kuwaiti fishing and pearl-diving ship). Abu Issa believes that newer generations of Kuwaitis should not forget their humble and hard-working past, and encourages them to preserve the heritage and craft of ship-building. Some of the miniature ships that Abu Issa builds at the present time include the 'Jalboot,' 'Sanbook,' Albatil,' and 'Alshuia;' all traditional boats which were once used as merchant and fishing vessels.
The demand for his work has considerably increased since the liberation, due to the theft and destruction of much of his work by the Iraqis, and due to increased public interest in the ancient Kuwaiti art forms. Indeed, his clients include Gulf citizens, as well as Westerners who have a keen interest in Kuwait's heritage. Most prefer to order the 'Al Boom' models (a Kuwaiti icon if ever there was one). Abu Issa's easy-going, relaxed, yet disciplined demeanor is tailor made for the kind of model building that he specializes in. His work hours can sometime hit the midnight hour, whether demand for his miniatures exists or not (he takes up to one week to build a full-scale model, but with bouts of energy, he can build one in two days).
Abu Issa is not a materialistic man; most of his pleasure is derived from the craft itself. His prices are reasonable as well (ranging from KD 30 to KD 900 for a massive, meticulously crafted model). His models can beautify offices, living rooms, hallways and make ideal presents for foreigners unfamiliar with Kuwait's ships of yester-year. Fortunately, Abu Issa's love and passion for his trade guarantees that the fate of this particular Kuwaiti art form is in solid hands.
The Bisht: We Start With A Thread
By Hilaliya on April 28, 1992 6:38 PM | 3 Comments
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/baghlibisht_tn.jpg)
The Bisht: We Start With A Thread
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (April 28, 1992)
The demand for the traditional luxurious Kuwaiti 'Bisht' is an ever-continuous one as its appearance is one of elegance and formality. Its color, texture, length and cloth can add dignity and presence to those who wear it. The Bisht is a cloak-like robe that is usually worn by men in formal occasions over the 'dishdasha' (robe).
The production of a 'Bisht' is not an easy one; it requires machinery or hardware, human resources, textiles and cloth from foreign countries, proper distribution, and so forth. The making of one 'Bisht' can take up to a month and a half for quite a number of them are specifically made for customers in order for measurements and style-requirements to be precise according to the buyer.
One of the most pioneering makers of 'Bishts' are the Baghli Brothers. Their thriving business, based in a factory, in Subhan, meets the demands for 'Bisht' orders, especially for Kuwaitis who don't want to travel to Syria or Saudi Arabia to get one. Their large, but privately located, factory contains the necessary equipment for the creation of 'Bishts' and is maintained by a family and their crew of over a dozen specialists. They are an example of how a pioneering business spirit in Kuwait can turn into a success story.
They are not agents or representatives of foreign companies. Their business, based on hard work traditions, is totally local.
"We begin with a thread," AbdelRasul Al-Baghli said, adding" and eventually work up the whole robe." This was proven by the introduction of some long, wooden sticks which were placed in a noisy machine that rotated the places of wood-it was a continuous method that eventually helped surround the wooden sticks with threads.
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/machinery_tn.jpg)
Once the threads were tied around the wood, they were then placed in a large, weaving machine that helped sew all the thin threads together. Another machine takes those thin threads and produces a full-length cloth, which later will be toned, cleaned or polished, in a private room.
The golden linings-threads that descend from the neck-line of the 'Bisht' to its bottom are extremely important and could mean the difference between an excellent 'Bisht' and one that is inferior.
"We have two kinds of threads, the golden, silky ones, and the metallic-tinted ones. The difference is clear when one sees them," explained Al-Baghli, who prefers to order his silk threads from countries such as France and China.
One kilo of Chinese silk threads can cost KD 300 but has a fluffy, silky quality to it and has excellent texture.
The golden linings have to be manually sown in and adjusted, Al-Baghli said, noting that "the difference between us, and for example, the Syrian method of doing 'Bishts' is that we have more time and effort to them".
They might produce two lines in order to form the golden lineage of the 'Bisht'. We produce up to 10 threads per lineage, explained Al-Baghli, adding that his method of producing 'Bishts' is more meticulous and his results more productive.
"The Syrian 'Bisht' has shorter lifespan than Kuwaiti or Gulf one. The Gulf ones can be worn by future generations, if their quality is good," he elaborated. Al-Baghli pointed out that his prices are reasonable and are based on quality of the thread-cloth and not on deceit or cheating. "You get your money's worth, whatever you order, whether you chose KD 30 or KD 2000 material. The choice is up to the customer."
Asked about his facilities in Kuwait, Al-Baghli said that they had everything they needed for successful making and distribution of their robes. "We also have the ability to produce most of our own spare parts locally. In the past, we had to order them from outside. There are approximately 50 kinds of spare parts needed for the machinery to work efficiently," said Al-Baghli.
As far as the types of robes concerned, Al-Baghli added that there are three different kinds of 'Bishts': summer, spring, and winter ones. The robes all come in different shades or colours.
In the spring the ivory-coloured 'Bisht' is also the norm.
'We produce the summer and winter ones, of course, depending on the styles...... for example, we cater to many people from the Gulf, in countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar-all their styles, looks and texture of their 'Bishts' differ, therefore, we have to produce the 'Bishts' according to their local specifications," the Kuwaiti Bisht maker said.
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/sowing_tn.jpg)
"During the invasion, we paid a guard to take care of our factory, and it worked. But when 'Desert Storm' began, many Iraqis tried to get into the factory because of the panic or chaos," said Al-Baghli.
Most of his equipment, some dating back to 1980, was saved but their main shop, next to the Kuwaiti souk, was ransacked, "However, because of the vandalism, demand for our work even surpasses those of pre-invasion of Kuwait," he added.
Al-Baghli also stated that due to the coming national assembly elections, many are buying and distributing large number of the formal robes as "presents."
Since, the 'Bisht' is regarded as an expensive but worth-while investment; it isn't surprising that there is a thriving market for it in Kuwait.
The Baghli Brothers' 'Bisht' business is a good example of effective, productive, and honest entrepreneurship n Kuwait
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15-03-2010, 11:08 PM
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عضو مشارك فعال
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السلام عليكم
يعطيك العافية على الموضوع الشيق واللة يكثر من امثالك
نتمنى حق كل واحد يحب الكويت كل خير وشكرا
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في الآونة الأخيرة المؤلفات المنشورة الفئة
وقال الجندي يوميات : ألف متطوع الكويتي يتطلع إلى الوراء على 'تحرير'
بواسطة Hilaliya يوم 25 فبراير ، 2009 9:03 م | 23 تعليقات | 1 تراكباك
![](http://www.hilaliya.com/Fort_Dix_1991_tn.jpg)
الفرقة الكويتية للإخوان -- فورت ديكس في نيو جيرسي ، شباط / فبراير 1991. وقال الجندي يوميات : متطوعة الكويتي يتطلع إلى الوراء على 'تحرير'
بواسطة عامر الهلال
نقلا عن 'القبس' (شباط / فبراير 25th 2009)
غزو الكويت من قبل القوات العراقية في عام 1990 أثار العديد من الأحداث الجسام التي الاجتماعية والاقتصادية والسياسية النكبات التي ترددت أصداؤها في أنحاء العالم. الغزو المأساوية بلغت ذروتها في عملية 'عاصفة الصحراء' وتحرير بلدي سبعة أشهر في وقت لاحق.
عند وقوع الغزو ، وكنت تناضل من أجل تحقيق التوازن في الحياة التعليمية في الجامعة الأمريكية ، واشنطن العاصمة ، مع واحد بنفس القدر سياسية نشطة تستهدف "حرروا الكويت". طارت من قبل أشهر ، وأبناء بلدي لا تزال تعاني تحت العراق كفن الظلام من الطغيان والعدوان. في شباط / فبراير 1991 ، ويمكن أن أحمل له لم يعد ، وقرر أن يتطوع ، جنبا إلى جنب مع الآلاف من الطلبة الكويتيين أخرى ، في الولايات المتحدة للقوات المسلحة.
وفيما يلي مقتطفات من يوميات ظللت خلال خدمتي العسكرية :
فورت ديكس في نيو جيرسي :
16-22 فبراير ، 1991
"C'mon! الحركة!" صيحات الرقيب الحفر ونحن ركض بعيدا عن الحافلات السلوقي مع حقائبنا ، والبعض منا تتعثر بسبب الأمتعة بعضها البعض. إنها حقا بداية رائعة لجولة من واجب...
كل من المجندين ثم يتم نقله الى مجمع للاستماع الى وجوب "أنت في الجيش الآن" الكلمة التي ألقاها ثقيل على ستة أقدام وأربع النقيب ، الذي تضمن ان مثل هذه التصريحات "لا تدعو لي يا سيدي! أنا العمل من أجل لقمة العيش "و" نحن ذاهبون الى تمثال نصفي لديك بأعقاب ". حسنا ، لقد رأيت كل هذا من قبل... الجيش الكليشيهات الفيلم ، وعلى أي حال. ولكن ما هو المعيشية المختلفة.
وهو بارد ، مساء ضبابية كما أشاهد في الجانب المدني من لي تتفكك ببطء في الليل.
في اليوم الأول من التدريب ، ونحن استيقظ فى الساعة 3:30 صباحا ، والذي هو عادة عندما كنت أذهب إلى السرير. نشعر جميعا مثل حماقة لكن علينا التزاما والآن علينا أن نتمسك به. نحن ثم تزويد المعدات العسكرية وذكر الحبيب - 16 بندقية.
"إنها زوجتك ، صديقتك ، أمك. تعتني بها ، وأنها سوف توفر حمارك!" اقسم رقيب الحفر. سيغموند فرويد كان سيتعين يوميا في الميدان مع أن واحدا.
نحن ومن ثم تقسيمها إلى مجموعات مختلفة : الشؤون المدنية والشرطة العسكرية والشؤون القانونية والطبية والاستخبارات العسكرية / الاستجواب. وأنا وضعت في هذا الأخير. نحن ايضا لدينا حلق شعر رؤوسهم. أفترض الآن أنا حقا يشابه محقق ، على الرغم من بعض زملائي انا اعتقد بمراجعة لدور المقبل دور أجنبي في "ستار تريك" الفيلم.
من 18 ساعة في اليوم لمدة طويلة وشاقة ، والتوترات عالية في بعض الأحيان ، ونحن لها وقتا عصيبا في محاولة للبقاء مستيقظا. على الأكثر ، وحصلنا على ثلاث ساعات من النوم في الليل ، وأنه لا يكاد يكفي. ورقباء التدريبات الأمريكية يخبروننا بأننا حفنة يائسة من غير الأسوياء.
"انت ذاهب الى الموت في بعض حفرة!" صرخات رقيب الحفر الى صديق لا مبال من الألغام الذي يواجه صعوبة في تفكيك بندقيته. تلك التكتيكات نفسيا ترهيب لن تعمل معي ، وأعتقد أن لنفسي.
نحن حضور سبع ساعات من الاستجواب محاضرات في اليوم ، فضلا عن ثماني ساعات من التدريب العملي. انها لعنة العمل الصعبة ، ومما زاد الطين بلة ، هو بداية لسقوط الثلج في ولاية نيو جيرسي. الحياة الجامعية كان donnas الوجاهة 'جود مقارنة هذا صارمة ، فوج تعب.
تمكنا من إكمال بندقية هدف الممارسة ودورات رمي قنبلة يدوية خلال الأيام القليلة القادمة. ونحن كلما يتمكنوا من تحقيق المستهدف ، والذي ، وبصراحة ، ليس في كثير من الأحيان ، كل ما علينا فعله هو تصور صدام حسين ، ومن ثم فإننا عادة ما يسجل الثيران العيون. انا فخور بحياتي في فصيلة ؛ انهم الممتاز الطلقات.
على مدى اليومين القادمين ، والمدربين من خلال التدريبات وضعتنا العصارة. ونحن نعلم العمليات الإذاعية ، رسائل مشفرة ، قراءة الخرائط ، وإطلاق النار ليلا في البندقية ، م 16 تفكيك والتنظيف ، والمدافع الرشاشة والقنابل اليدوية إطلاق النار ، والأدهى من ذلك ، التدريب على الحرب الكيماوية. لهذا الأخير ، ونحن وضعت في الظلام ، وغرفة ملموسة الدخان أين نحن المطلوبة لسحب قبالة دينا اقنعة ويستنشق الغاز المسيل للدموع على غرار الحل. نقطة من العملية هو بالنسبة لنا للحصول على فكرة تقريبية لما هجوم كيماوي من شأنه أن يكون عليه الحال.
"فكرة تقريبية" هو بخس... عندما يكون الاختبار قد انتهت ، فإننا نتعرض للخروج من المبنى ، والتعرق ، وعاب ، والخروج من التنفس. نحن المطلوبة لتشغيل نحو الميدان ، وترفرف أسلحتنا من أجل ضخ الدم والاوكسجين في أنظمتنا. في حين أنه من التجربة المروعة ، على مرأى منا يهرع للخروج من المبنى وترفرف أسلحتنا مثل ليوبيسيتش ، الرجل مجنون يحاول أن يطير هو سخيف تماما. بعض الجنود حتى يتمكنوا من عثرة في اعمدة الانارة. التفكير في "مونتي بايثون" الاجتماع "دزينة الوسخ" ، ويمكنك الحصول على صور.
في اليومين الماضيين هي الثابت. نحن بالتأكيد أكثر ملاءمة من ذي قبل ، ولكن العنصر من الغضب هو أكثر انتشارا بكثير بيننا. أنا واحد ، أنا أكثر العاطفي ، وأقل صبرا ، وأكثر ثقة ، ومع ذلك ، وأنا مطلع على تخيل عن أساليب مختلفة من التعذيب وقتل جنود عراقيون -- لقد كنت دائما اعتبر نفسي من دعاة السلام "" وشخص غير العنيفة ، ولكن بلدي الأولية أسباب وطنية للعمل التطوعي يتحولون إلى شهوة الدم. وهناك تقارير غير مؤكدة من الكويت ان الجنود العراقيين يأخذون الناس من الشوارع وتنفيذها بشكل عشوائي. التقارير الأخرى بالتفصيل القبض على الآلاف من الكويتيين ، بمن فيهم النساء والمراهقين ونقلهم الى معسكرات وسجون في العراق. أنا فقط أريد أن أنهي هذا التدريب ، ونخرج من هنا. أنا تعبت من انتظار لا مفر منه.
فورت ديكس تخريج
23 فبراير 1991
الامر قد انتهى. أكملنا ثلاثة أشهر من التدريب الأساسي في اثني عشر يوما. أحصل على الاستجواب وثعلب الصحراء التدريب القتالي شهادات التخرج في اليوم. نحن الآن رسميا رقيبا في القوات المسلحة الأميركية.
في حفل الافتتاح ، نائب الرئيس دان كويل يقدم بعض الأخبار الإيجابية ، مشيرا إلى أن "الكويت هي أن يطلق سراحه ونحن نتحدث". أيضا ، سفير دولة الكويت لدى الولايات المتحدة ، والشيخ سعود ناصر الصباح ، ويشير ايضا الى ان نتمكن قريبا من المنزل. السفير في الوجود لا تقدر بثمن ، والرجل وعملت بدأب ، طوال فترة الغزو ، وقال انه قد تجاوز دور دبلوماسي واصبحت رمزا لكفاحنا من أجل الحرية -- الولايات المتحدة تقوم الطلاب يعتبرونه رمزا للأب.
بطبيعة الحال ، ونحن جميعا بسعادة غامرة في الاخبارية للحرب البرية ، ولكن ما إذا كانت الكويت هي حرة أم لا ، ونحن على استعداد للقتال. في أي حال ، فإن هناك الكثير مما يتعين القيام به ، وحتى لو كان المحررة.
ونحن بعد ذلك ، انتقل إلى مطار محلي. مسؤولون كويتيون والدبلوماسيين مثل الملحق الثقافي السيد مساعد الهارون القول بمودة وداعهم على المدرج قبل أن يتم شحنها على متن طائرة جامبو 747 الى المملكة العربية السعودية. إنني منهكة للغاية أنام بدون توقف من ولاية نيو جيرسي في الرياض. سيكون آخر لمسة من الراحة لبعض الوقت.
الظهران بالمملكة العربية السعودية :
24 فبراير 1991
وبالاضافة الى 600 من المتطوعين الكويتيين في التوصل إلى مطار الظهران ، ونحن منقسمون حتى والمخصصة لبعثاتنا. بعضهم وهم في طريقهم إلى معركة محمومة دبابات في مطار الكويت ، والبعض الآخر إلى الرياض أو جدة ، وبعض من الحدود السعودية الكويتية. انها لن تكشف عن وصولي ، لكنني أعرف أنها ستكون خطوة مهمة. وأنا الاقتراب من الكويت ، وأشتاق إليها أكثر من أي وقت مضى.
الناس في المملكة العربية السعودية واضحة في الصحراء الجوية والهندسة المعمارية لي أن أذكر من المنزل ، وهذا ما يجعل الأمر أكثر إيلاما. ويجب أن أعترف رغم ؛ السعوديين ويبدو أن استخدام المزيد من النيون في مدينتهم لوحات وعلامات من أي بلد آخر في العالم. حسنا ، ربما مع استثناء من لاس فيغاس ، وذلك حيث أن المقارنة تنتهي.
حفر الباطن ، المملكة العربية السعودية :
25 فبراير 1991
وصلنا إلى هذا الموقع ، مشيرا الى ان انظمة صواريخ باتريوت على طول الطريق ، وتشكيل لدينا خيام. ما زلنا لا نعرف ما هي مهمتنا حول. غدا ، ونحن في طريقنا إلى مكان آخر لم يكشف عنه. ويحدوني الأمل في الكويت
E.P.W. كامب ، الناصرية ، العراق :
26 فبراير - 3 مارس 1991
نحن نضم صوتنا إلى الولايات المتحدة 7th حدات سلاح الاستخبارات العسكرية هنا. وأرجو أن يكون معروفا لنا في نهاية المطاف في العراق. وظائفنا في هذا النائية ، والمسالك الترابية هي مهجورة للاشراف على العدو واستجواب السجناء العراقيين. ويجب أن أعترف أن يأتي بارتياح كبير الآن على عاتقي. استجواب تبدأ قريبا.
وP.O.W. المخيم هو اقامة حول حفرة واسعة تحيط بها التلال والمستنقعات. هناك المئات من الجنود الامريكيين هنا ، وحتى الآن ، كانت التقاط حوالي 5،000 عراقي يوميا. أحيانا نحرك المواقع داخل الناصرية الى معسكرات مختلفة من أجل الحصول على معلومات جديدة من العراقيين. بغض النظر عما مخيم نحن في نهاية المطاف في والجنود العراقيين تبدو بائسة. بل ان بعضهم يرتدون ملابس مدنية. نحن حقا لا نملك أن الاستجواب ان تفعل الكثير ، لأنها يمكن أن تكون رشوة بسهولة مع السجائر والمواد الغذائية. والتوعية من مخاطر الألغام في (وجبات جاهزة للأكل) أن تحصل دائما استهلك تماما ، وحتى القهوة والسكر ومضغ العلكة ، جنبا إلى جنب مع الموردة منهم يلتهم.
معظم الجنود العراقيين في محاولة لاسترضاء لنا الكلمات الرقيقة من الأسف والأسى على ما حدث للكويت ، على الرغم من أن معظمهم لا يخدع مهنية سليمة مثل الرجال. بالتأكيد ، فإنها يمكن أن نهب وسرقة واغتصاب وتعذيب وقتل ، وكما اتضح ، لكنهم ايضا الفاعلة من الدرجة الأولى -- حتى مع وجود النازيين في محاكمات نورمبرغ والذين قالوا انهم "يتبعون الأوامر".
العراقيين الآخرين يدهشنا أن الكويتيين حرفيا من شأنه أن الكفاح من أجل الكويت.
"ما الذي يقاتلون من أجل؟ النفط وأمير؟" يطلب من الجيش الشعبي المجند. أنا بإبلاغه بأن حاربنا الحرب لتراثنا ، والناس ، بلدنا ، ولكن هذا شيء هؤلاء الأوباش الفقراء لن يفهم أبدا ، وبخاصة بعد أن عاش في الشرطة الاستبدادية للدولة مثل العراق. عند هذه النقطة في الوقت أنا لا يمكن أن تعطي نأبه طفولتهم الخام ، والظروف المعيشية أو سلامتهم في العراق -- أنهم ارتكبوا جرائم ضد الانسانية ويجب ان يدفع ثمنها. ولكن ما لدي شعور انهم ذاهبون الى النزول السهل. نظرا لأنها بالفعل استسلم ويتحدثون ضد نظامه ، وأنها سوف ينتهي في المخيمات ، الذين يعيشون بعيدا عن دافعي الضرائب الامريكيين والسعوديين ، والتي تتمتع بمزايا مثل المواد الغذائية الطازجة ، والتعليم ، والظروف المعيشية الجيدة. انها طارد الفكر ، ولكن هذه هي الطريقة التي يتم التعامل على بطاقات.
لو لم أكن التالية لاتفاقية جنيف ، لا شيء من شأنه أن تعطيني المزيد من المتعة لهدف بلدي إم 16 ورذاذ الاوغاد الفقراء مع الرصاص ، وخاصة أنواع الحرس الجمهوري العراقي. للأسف ، وأنا أتابع لاتفاقية جنيف ومثل هذه الأفكار يجب أن تكون مفرغة قمعها.
الحدود الكويتية العراقية :
3-4 مارس ، 1991
أحدث معسكر محاط المئات من الألغام التي يجري باستمرار تفجيرها. بسببهم ، فإننا لا نستطيع السير بعيدا جدا من وجهة نظرنا الخيام. سمعنا من قسيس المحلية ان اثنين من أطبائنا قد لقوا حتفهم عندما انفجرت سيارتهم الجيب على الطريق السريع الملغومة. دخان سوداء ورمادية من بتفجير الألغام يمكن أن ينظر إليه على الدوام وصام للأذن ، الانفجارات المدوية التي تنبثق عنها هي شعر في كل مكان حولنا.
الجنود الأمريكيين هنا هي كريمة جدا وداعمة ، وربما لأنهم يعرفون كم نفتقد المنزل والأسرة. فهي استثنائية البشر. وقال العقيد المسنين لدينا يسير في خيمة مع أكياس البقالة السعودية ويعامل ، يسير نحونا تسليم لنا البنود ويسأل كيف يفعلون الأسر وإذا كنا بحاجة إلى أي شيء. تكتسحنا جنتلمان هذا التعاطف. هذا العقيد في لفتة تؤكد اعتزازنا الذين يخدمون في الجيش الاميركي. هذا هو السبب في أن الولايات المتحدة هي قوة عظمى العالم ، مزيج من : القوة والرحمة والأخلاق.
لو كنا جنود في الجيش العربي ، كنت أراهن على العقيد أن لا يسمحون لنا حتى يمسح كلبه الحمار ، ناهيك عن دفع لنا هذه الزيارة.
تعودنا على جو 'الحرب' ، ولكن نحن نتوق للوصول الى الكويت. وكثير من الجنود من وجهة نظري فصيلة عائلة هناك ، وترغب في زيارة لهم الآن أن المدينة قد تم تحرير. رغبتنا الحقيقية تأتي في نهاية المطاف. قيل لنا اننا سنكون البيت "قريبا جدا".
مدينة الكويت ، الكويت :
5 مارس 1991
العشرات من حرق آبار النفط في المسافة ؛ المدينة يبدو وكأنه كعكة ضخمة محاطة العملاقة ، وذوبان الشموع. سرعان ما لدينا من سيارات الجيب وطوف ، وحافلات المدارس البني اختراق الضباب والدخان السوداء المحيطة بمدينة الكويت.
أشعر بالسعادة لعودتي ، ولكن أنا أيضا بالغضب والحزن على الاضرار من حولي. مشاريعنا داخل الحافلة التي كانت يوما واحة جميلة من منطقة الخليج. أنا الحصباء أسناني كما أرى الحرق ، وشاحنة بيضاء تحمل لوحات معدنية كويتية ، مخضر تصفية الدخان من تحطيم الزجاج الأمامي. العديد من المركبات الأخرى ، مع بعض العجلات في عداد المفقودين ، تكمن مثل قصاصات الورق على جانب الطريق السريع ، وذلك وسط المحروقة الدبابات والعربات العسكرية العراقية.
على قافلة عسكرية بعناية تزحف الى المدينة تيار كهربائي خارج. الكهرباء غير موجودة ؛ العراقيين قد فجر عبوته الناسفة في محطات توليد الطاقة الكهربائية في المدينة ، ونسمع لا يوجد الماء سواء. ما زاد الطين بلة ، أن ظلام الماضي أكثر من يوم في بعض الأحيان وعندما تمطر ، وغطت ونحن جميعا في الحصول على بقع سوداء غروي من السائل.
نحن في نهاية المطاف سقطن امام السفارة الاميركية في شارع الخليج ، وشريط طويل من الطريق المطل على البحر الجبهة ، أمام حشد من الهتاف ، الفرحة والسعادة الكويتيين. هذا هو أقرب إلى كونه جزءا من الحدث التاريخي كما قلت من أي وقت مضى وسوف يكون ، وأعتقد أن لنفسي -- الكويتيين رذاذ "نحن نحب بوش" الكتابة على الجدران في بعض الجدران ، والسائقين يطلقون أبواق سياراتهم والمراهقين والرقص حتى جنون ، وعشرات من المقاومة الكويتية أعضاء طلقات كاشفة النار في الهواء من وبنادق اي كي 47. انه شيء رائع. وأنا أعرف يوم واحد أنا لن أقول أولادي وأحفادي عن هذا اليوم.
مدينة الكويت ، الكويت :
5 مارس -- 3 أبريل ، 1991
بلدي لمدة شهر البقاء في الكويت هو الوقت خطرة لأن العملاء العراقيين والمتعاطفين معها لا تزال هنا. يمكن أن انفجارات وتبادل لاطلاق النار يسمع ويرى. قانون الأحكام العرفية قد فرضت فقط. لحسن الحظ ، كان منزلي في الغالب بمنأى عن المعركة ، لذلك أنا تنام هناك. لم يكن هناك كهرباء حتى يمكنني استخدام مصباح كهربائي أو مصباح زيت. بقدر ما أستطيع أن أرى ، هناك القليل من المستغرب أضرار هيكلية في المدينة. ربما لأنني كنت أتوقع مقصوفة مدينة مثل بيروت. معظم المباني قد نهبت من الداخل ، على الرغم من ثقوب الرصاص الأسود وتحطيم نوافذ على مواقع للقناصة العراقيين واضحة في العديد من الهياكل ، وخاصة في المباني التي تطل على الشاطئ -- العراقيين تولت قوات الحلفاء من شأنه تحرير الكويت من قبل شن نورماندي - أسلوب الغزو عن طريق شاطئ البحر. انهم قتلوا خطأ.
الجانب الاصعب من عودتي هي التي تواجه الناجين من الهدوء. التقيت عددا كبيرا من ضحايا التعذيب الذين يتحدثون عن اصبع واصبع المسامير التي انسحبت ، عارية من المراهقين وإجباره على الجلوس على الزجاج المكسور ، بالوقوف والكهرباء وهلم جرا. أسمع حكايات الأمهات يشاهدون ابناءهم كما يطلق عليهم النار أمامهم والفتيات يتعرضن للاغتصاب على أيدي الجنود ، وبعد أن صدورهن معزولة. هناك قصص كثيرة محزنة ومروعة ، وحين أستمع إليها ، وأعتقد أنني لست قويا كما ظننت أنني.
العديد من العراقيين الذين ما زالوا يختبئون في مدينة الكويت في محاولة لاشاعة الفوضى من جراء إطلاق النار من بنادقهم باتجاه Kalishnikoff علينا ونحن نبذل جولات الامنية المعتادة في مقفر والقمامة متناثرة في الشوارع. مرة واحدة ، يفجرون أحد مخازن الذخيرة في منطقة قريبة من المدنيين الكويتيين. البعض فقط سرقت 600 الكويتية الزي العسكري من على متن شاحنة ، وغيرها النار على الجنود ، والشباب الذين يسيطرون على المدينة المذعور نقاط التفتيش.
ثلاثة تبادل لاطلاق النار لإدارة تمتص لي في حيز العنف. أبرزها هو في التوأم السابق للمباني مجمع الجليد الكويت وحلبة التزلج ، كانت ، ويفترض أن بعض العملاء العراقيين الذين كانوا مختبئين بداخله محاولة للفرار. تزلج على الجليد ، أثناء الغزو ، على ما يبدو كان مركزا للتعذيب والمنزل إلى وحدة القوات الخاصة العراقية. كان من المفترض أن تستخدم مشرحة كبيرة حيث الجثث كانت ملقاة الكويتية حتى لا تتحلل. الفوح من رائحة عفنة من الدم واللحم ، وانما فى مكان غير مريحة ليكون فيها الظلام ، جفت بقع الدماء لا تزال على سطح الأرض. كان المبنى محاطا أصدقائنا وبعض الجنود من قافلة عسكرية كويتية. في غضون دقائق ، تبادل لاطلاق النار ضخمة لتبدأ مع الجنود باقتحام المبنى. ويستمر لمدة عشرين دقيقة على الأقل. وقال الكابتن الانجليزية يمر بها ويرسل رجاله لمواقع تكتيكية حول المباني التوأم. بعد حين انه التعليقات ، في تقريره النوع الجاف من طريقة : "رعاة البقر والهنود ، وأرى.... ولكن أين هم الهنود الحمر؟" يمشي بعيدا ، وكذلك نحن. نحن لم يحصل أبدا لمعرفة ما إذا تم القبض على أي شخص.
أحيانا نحن لاطلاق نار من الفراغات ، فارغة مظلمة في المباني الحكومية. يطير الرصاص من قبل من زاوية واحدة من شارع لآخر ، فإننا بطة لتغطية النار والعودة ، ولكن هذا هو كل ما يمكننا القيام به.
مرة أخرى ، شريكي فهد الغربللي ، مترجم زميل وأنا ما يقرب من أطلق النار بطريق الخطأ من قبل اثنين من الجنود الكويتيين أثناء القيام الجولات الأمنية المعتادة في حي بلدي من الروضة. من فراغ ، يتم إطلاق النار في الهواء ، ونحن على أمر من الخروج من السيارة. يجبروننا على الأرض ، ونزع سلاح لنا ، ونسأل من الذي نحن فيه ، في حين أنها فوهات بنادقهم نحو رؤوسنا وطردنا في بطوننا. نحن نقول لهم نحن الكويتيين وتبين لهم بطاقاتنا الشخصية الأميركية.
"هل نحن من المفترض أن يكون انطباعا لان يا رفاق العيش في أميركا؟ اعطونا بعض المعرفات. باللغة العربية" يصرخ جندي شاب.
"لقد قلت لك ، نحن المتطوعين مع الجيش الأميركي. انظروا الى وجوهنا ، والاستماع لدينا لهجات ، وننظر في الزي الرسمي!" أقول له.
بيد انه يعود بنا أوراقنا بينما رجاله ننظر إلى الأرض بالحرج من جانب الحكمة ، وخطرة وأبله العمل. على ما يبدو ، كانوا يعتقدون اننا كنا الفلسطينية وكلاء تتخفى فى زى المسروقة (مع مثل هؤلاء الجنود ، ولا عجب في الجيش الكويتي في الفوضى). ان الحادث ربما كان أقرب من أي وقت مضى جاء الى تعرضه للقتل. غيرها من الكويتيين لم يحالفهم الحظ -- العديد من الحوادث مثل هذه تحدث يوميا ، وبعض لم يحصل اطلاق النار بطريق الخطأ.
طرد من بلادي حي الروضة ، ألاحظ أشعث ، والكويت الملتحي يمشي ببطء عبر الرصيف ، يبحث مشوشا بعض الشيء. لقد توقف السيارة ، ولفة أسفل النوافذ وأسأله عما إذا كان يحتاج إلى ركوب. والأمواج ، ويفتح الباب ويجلس بهدوء إلى جانب لي وأنا في محاولة لجعل المحادثة.
"يرجى اتخاذ لي البيت وأعيش في النزهة ،" انه الطلبات. من دواعي سروري أن تمتثل وأسأله عن الرفاهية له.
"لقد عدت للتو من العراق. مشينا هنا" المعلنة ؛ وأنا أدرك أنه كان أسير حرب ، وشعور كل من الحزن والإغاثة مختوما لي ، وألمه من أن الآلاف من أمثاله واتخذت من شوارعنا ، بعد أن يعفى هذا الشجاع الرجل ، هذا بطل من كل ما هو عظيم عن الكويت ، برزانة مناحي العودة بشرف. في تلك اللحظة كان شقيقي ، لم أكن أعرف عنه ، لم أكن أعرف حتى اسمه ، وكان كل ما أعرفه أنني لن تفعل أي شيء لهذا الفرد. أنا أوصلته وفكرت في غيره من أمثاله ، على أمل أنهم جميعا العودة إلى أسرهم.
الوضع لا يزال خطيرا. لا يوجد حتى الآن الكهرباء ، والمياه الجارية بسرعة تجفيف. انفجارات ورأى على أساس كل ساعة ، وكذلك اطلاق النار. لجعل الأمور أسوأ ، ليس هناك فعالية توزيع الأغذية ، ويوجد قانون تنظيم في هذا البلد. خلال هذا الوقت ، على ما يبدو ، كل جندي يفعل ما يشاء ، ويبدو أن هناك أي ترتيب أو فعالة التسلسل الهرمي في سلسلة القيادة الكويتية. الجانب حقا للسخرية من الوضع هو حقيقة أنه بالرغم من أن بلدي قد تحررت ، فإنه يشعر وكأنه برميل بارود على وشك الانفجار. العنف لا مفاجأة او صدمة لي ، ولكن هذه الصور من البلاد التي تمزقها تفعل. رائحة عفنة من القمامة ، وجثث القتلى ، والظلام عند الظهيرة ، والمطر الأسود والحقت اضرارا بالمباني والسيارات المحترقة تظل جميعها لا يمحى في ذاكرتي.
اليوم
فمن عام 2009 ، الآن ، 18 عاما ، عقب تحرير. لقد تغير الزمن في الكويت ، ولكن ليس للأفضل. لكثير من حرب الخليج قد يبدو أقرب إلى مينيسري الفخم جميع الصب نجم أو لعبة فيديو ولكن بالنسبة لي فهو كان بعيدا عن الترفيه. نجوت من الحرب ، على الرغم من أننا لم نكن أبدا بعيدا من بندقية. كنت محظوظا لأن بلدي كان قد حررها الوقت بلدي حقل الخدمة العسكرية قد تم تفعيلها ، ولكنني لن ننسى قريبا الألم والأسى المحيطة بها الكويت ، وكذلك الذاكرة من أسرى الحرب ، وبعضهم لا يزالون مفقودين في العراق. ما أتذكر الأهم من ذلك كله هي الناجين وأسر الضحايا. أتذكر بوضوح كلماتهم وأعمالهم معسول الكلام الإعلانات لتعرضه للتعذيب ، وفقدان أحد الأحباء.
المقاومة الكويتية قامت بعمل استثنائي أثناء الغزو وأنه يحطم قلبي أنهم لم يحصلوا على الائتمان وهتاف انهم حقا يستحقون. هناك شيء خطير مشوه في هذا البلد عندما يكون الناس الذين قاتلوا من أجل حقا انها مهملة بالنسبة للآخرين الذين فعلوا أقل بكثير. وكانت المقاومة الأبطال المجهولون في حرب الخليج ؛ جميع المحاربين الذين ضحوا من اجل بلدهم ، وليس للسياسيين الذين يدينون بالولاء شادي تكمن وراء حدودنا ، والمسؤولين والأثرياء والانتهازي الذي تبث علنا في ولائهم للكويت ، ولكن في الواقع لم وألا يفعل شيئا ، باستثناء وظائف لهم مزيدا من اصطفاف جيوبهم الخاصة باستغلال احتياجات إعادة الإعمار وخارجها.
اليوم أكثر من أي وقت مضى في الكويت يجب أن نتذكر أن الغزو. نحن الآن في بلد لا بل ميزة الغزو في مناهجنا التعليمية ، هذا البلد الذي هو بداية لننسى الدروس المستفادة من الغزو ، وهي الدولة التي تواصل التدخل في الصراعات الخارجية من خلال ارتداء عباءة 'محكم' و 'الوسيط 'دون رعاية من تلقاء نفسها ، البلد الذي هو بداية لننسى الذين أصدقائها الحقيقية هي ، لكنها تتجاهل الأخطار المتزايدة الخطورة المحيطة بنا ، سواء كانت ايديولوجية او سياسية. الآن أكثر من أي وقت مضى ، علينا أن نتذكر أن الغزو والاحتلال والخيانات (الداخلية والخارجية على حد سواء) ، والتركيز على اعادة الاعمار الحقيقية للكويت ، على حد سواء في الاعتبار وروحا ، حتى أننا لا تقع فريسة لفاجعة من ويلات 1991 مرة أخرى.
الرهانات عالية
بواسطة Hilaliya 28 ايلول / سبتمبر ، 2008 7:16 م | 2 تعليقات | لا تركبكس
'وبعد الافطار' العمود
الرهان الكبير
بواسطة عامر الهلال
من طبعها 'القبس' (أيلول / سبتمبر 19th ، 2008)
قال النبي (عليه السلام) ما يلي : "الله هو الذي يعطي سلطته من الشعب والحاكم لا تفي باحتياجاتهم وعلاج الفقر ولكن الله لا تفي بالحاجة ولا علاج له ممتلكاته (الرحمة) في يوم القيامة. "(الترمذي).
لالعامين الماضيين كنا تسليط الضوء على الفساد ، وغياب الدولة الصارخ للشفقة والإهمال تجاه شعبها ، وسوء الإدارة وانعدام الرؤية ، ولكن ما لم يكن واضحا هو أن كل ما سبق ليس مجرد انعدام الكفاءة ولكنها تماما غير إسلامية إلى المثل العليا للدولة الاسلامية الحديثة ، الدولة التي لم تنعم بثروة من العلي القدير.
كبلد نجني ما نزرعه ، والنتائج واضحة في كل مكان حولنا : أمن الدولة وكلاء رشوة إلى خطورة تهريب العناصر الاجنبية في الكويت ، ومواد سامة في مناطق مثل المسيلة وأم Hamain ، وتجار التأشيرات استيراد عشرات الآلاف من العمال وترفض أن تدفع لهم ، والاختلاس على نطاق واسع في المؤسسات الحكومية ، وبين المخالفات الأخرى التي لا تحصى.
المواطنون -- ضرب هذا شهر رمضان المبارك من ارتفاع الأسعار ، وتداعي الخدمات الصحية والبنية التحتية الضعيفة وارتفاع تكاليف المعيشة بشكل عام -- نريد نوعية حياتهم في الكويت من أجل تحسين ، فإنها الطلب أقل بيروقراطية ، والمحسوبية ، والمزيد من الشفافية والمساءلة والعدالة -- انهم يريدون يقضون وقتا اقل من الأزيز واحدة لا تتسم بالكفاءة ، السلطة بيروقراطي الجياع إلى آخر من أجل الحصول على أعمالهم التجارية في النظام -- أنهم يريدون أن يعيشوا كمواطنين ، كبشر مع الرعاية الصحية اللائقة ، والتعليم اللائق ، مع كفاءة التسعير آليات بشأن السلع الأساسية (كما في دول الخليج أكثر تقدمية تفعل حاليا) ، دون الحاجة إلى القلق بشأن ارتفاع الإفراط في تضخم الأسعار ، وانتهاكات حقوق الإنسان ، والسل ، ويخيف البقر ، وخلايا نائمة في التسلل الى الدولة ، والتلوث البيئي وغيرها من عادة الكويتية 'مظاهر'.
وبروح من السخرية والغضب يجتاح الكويت ، وعدم الثقة من الحكومة المدرسة القديمة والأعمال التجارية ، والسياسة المتبعة ، كشف عن المواطنين على انعدام الرحمة من كل من الحكومة ومختلف وغير كفؤ البرلمانيين المزدوجة ؛ المريرة بأن هذه البلاد الغنية مساعدات أخرى خارجة عن نطاق الحدود لكنه لا يستطيع أو لن تساعد مواطنيها -- المواطنين الذين دائما على ما يبدو تحت رحمة السلطة أو قطع المياه ، وبيروقراطي ، وهو 50 دينارا الجزرة.
والدولة لا تزال تعلن عن استعدادها لتصبح 'المركز المالي' ؛ الأمر مزحة لفظيا التي ارتكبتها مجموعة متنوعة من أذناب الحكومية في الإنكار. لا نعتقد أن الضجيج. نحتاج إلى تنظيف البيت قبل أن نبدأ بالحديث مشاريع كبيرة ، غير واقعي. لا توجد طريقة في الجحيم الكويت من أي وقت مضى هو يذهب أن يكون 'المركز المالي' إلا إذا حدث تغير جوهري كامل ، والثقافية والقانونية ونظم العمل الثورة تأخذ مكان. البرلمان والحكومة كما يمكن تمرير العديد من القوانين لأنها يمكن حشده لكنهم محكوم عليها بالفشل اذا لم تبدأ الدولة في خدمة الشعب وليس العكس (وأنها بحاجة إلى الكفاءة المهنية ، ويفعل ذلك) ؛ القوانين التي عفا عليها الزمن ، ويتم تحديثه تحديث (بالإضافة إلى كونه القسري من اجل الحصول على الشفافية للمستثمرين المحليين والأجانب) والدولة لشؤون الإدارة والفن والنظم المالية المتكاملة في المؤسسات (حتى المشاريع والنفقات والإيرادات العامة وتحفظ مسار).
يجب أن نقضي على 'الفساد' بتطبيق المدى الكامل للقانون ، وذلك لأن الفساد ليست مجرد انزالها الى 'الرشاوى ،' لأنه يؤثر على البيئة ، وهو يغذي الجريمة ، فإنه يدفع الوظائف والمناصب القيادية للشعب الخطأ ، وأنه يغرس اليأس واليأس بين الجماهير ، إنه يدمر بنيتنا التحتية والموارد ، وتحفز البيروقراطية وانتهاكات حقوق الإنسان ، وتفرج عن مخالفي القانون ، يشوه صورة الكويت وسمعتها والاعتزاز الجماعية ، من بين أشياء أخرى كثيرة. اليوم نستطيع القضاء على معظم ما ورد أعلاه هو اليوم الذي يمكننا أن نسمي أنفسنا 'الدولة الاسلامية'.
الكويت -- المباركة مع مكاسب مالية غير متوقعة الرئيسية -- لن تحصل على فرصة أخرى ليجعل الأمور في نصابها الصحيح. كيف يمكن للدولة الأعمال اليوم -- لأجلنا وتلك الأجيال القادمة -- سوف يكون عاملا حاسما في ما إذا كانت الكويت ينتهي به الأمر إلى بلد آمن ومدينة حديثة مزدهرة أو حقيرا ، المحرومين ، والحالة المتردية ليس لها مستقبل.
ذلك هو الفرق بينك وبين الاطفال الذين يعيشون بشكل مريح ويعيشون حياة منتجة في الكويت عام 2025 أو أطفالك تصبح المغتربين في دبي وأبو ظبي والدوحة بسبب هذه الدولة أهدرت والفكرية والطبيعية والمالية ، وأجرؤ على القول ، والموارد المعنوية . الرهانات عالية جدا ، ولكن حتى هذه القوى أن تكون ووأتباعهم المخلصين المعرض الشفقة تجاه دولة الكويت من خلال التأكيد على المساءلة ، والإصلاح وسيادة القانون ، وسوف نستمر على الطريق المؤدي إلى عالم النسيان.
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16-03-2010, 05:16 AM
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تاريخ التسجيل: May 2009
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الساعة الآن 02:38 AM.
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