Families of Sept. 11 Victims Join in Grief With Iraqis Who Lost Loved Ones in Gulf War

The Associated Press

AGHDAD, Iraq Jan. 8 — Grief turned Kristina Olsen into a peace activist after her sister died aboard the American Airlines flight that terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

On Wednesday, she met Iraqis in Baghdad who also lost loved ones in an attack but in 1991, when U.S. warplanes struck an Iraqi bomb shelter during the Gulf War.

Olsen and three other American relatives of Sept. 11 victims traveled to Baghdad to protest a possible U.S. war with Iraq and to promote peace through personal contacts with Iraqis.

The activists heard fear and anger that the United States would strike again, talking for two hours with Iraqis such as Fikra'a Shaker, 46, who lost her parents and sister in the shelter bombing.

"They asked us what we wanted, and we said we wanted peace," Shaker said after meeting the Americans. "But if Bush attacks us, we are ready to offer more victims." Peace activists in iraq

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2003

Answers

This is all just a horrible mess. It's hard to know what to do. I don't want war. But it seems the majority of our citizen's support it. What can you do? People feel threatened and have a lot of fear. I can say I don't want war, that it's just like attacking your brother or sister or yourself. But I can't reassure anyone with any certainty that we aren't under threat. I don't know everything and the government CAN'T tell us everthing. But at the same time we don't know what propaganda the government manufactures either. It's sooo confusing.

I wish I were as courageous as you to not worry about being on any shit lists. BUT I have 4 kids (3 of them young) that need their parents around and not in jail. I know. That's how the government gets it's way.

It's a shame that most people in this world think they are so separate from everyone and everything else.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2003

She has the right to be there, just as she had the right to ignore the travel advisories. Many countries would consider her actions treason, yet here, our government disclaims her statements as not reflecting official position. We are lucky to live in a democratically influenced republic.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2003

Jay: I'm happy to see yer beginning to see the light with your "DEMOCRATically influenced republic." (joke)

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2003

I keep hearing the the vast majority of people support Bush regarding a war on Iraq. But it sure seems odd that I have not personally heard more than one or two people say they feel that way.

To paraphrase Chief Seattle...."Mankind did not invent the web of life, we are but one strand in it. What we do to the web, we do to ourselves."

There are so many ways to look at it. Its easy to justify war, when we are coming from fear. Its easy to protest the war when we are coming from our hearts...from love.

As for me, I choose to THINK LOVE!!!!

Idaho Gal thinklove@webtv. net

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

Idaho Gal,

In our area here, we overwelmingly support the military action. Of course almost everyone in our area either work directly for or have family members who work for defense contractors or are active military. Since the ramp up for the coming offensive, most all the locals who were laid off after 9/11 have rep0orted back to work in Huntsville.

Seeing how many support it has to do with your region. North Alabama is highly dependent on defense contracts as are parts of Georgia, Missippi, Texas, Tenn, Mass and other states. I find the only visible opposition here on the Internet, as this is the only contact that I have with people from your area, MN , MI etc. Perception is always narrowed by the region and views that comprise your environment.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

I hear ya, Idaho Gal! I have a Boondocks cartoon up on my bedroom wall where Huey is listening to the TV news and the voice says," At the top of the news, the president has said he has the overwhelming support of the American people for his planned attack on Iraq. He is also asking Americans not be alarmed if they don't actually KNOW any of these people, and y'know, take his word for it."

Ah yes, well we are judged by the company we keep, eh?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003