| 11/1/2005 8:47:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Photo by Kirsten Laskey
Dr. Dahlia Wasfi, a speaker with Global Exchange, spoke about the horrors of the Iraq war to more than 100 people Saturday at the Salida Senior Citizens Center. |
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Iraqi doctor makes case for U.S. withdrawal
by Kirsten Laskey
Mail Staff Writer
Dr. Dahlia Wasfi spent her early childhood in Iraq during the rule of Saddam Hussein and, 33 years later, she visited family members living in Iraq under U.S. occupation.
At the Salida Senior Citizens Center Saturday, Wasfi revealed what she saw and experienced during her trip.
More than 100 people listened to her story. In addition, she presented a slide show about her reunion with family and friends, but it wasn’t a sentimental presentation.
Wasfi showed pictures she took of family members who seemed tired and older than their age.
She presented photographs from different Web sites. The images revealed mutilated bodies, taunting soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison and Iraq citizens being harassed and humiliated.
Wasfi showed the horrible photographs to argue the war in Iraq isn’t benefiting anyone – citizens or military personnel – and said the solution is for the U.S. to get out of Iraq.
She said it isn’t terrorists or insurgents who are killed during bombings or attacks – children are the main victims.
Those who aren’t killed by bombs or bullets are starving because there is no food and are suffering from a lack of medical supplies because the country isn’t receiving necessary resources.
In addition, electricity is scarce and sewage runs beside streets because soldiers bombed treatment plants and electric grids. As result, anti-U.S. sentiment is increasing, she said.
Iraqis aren’t the only ones suffering from the war. At this point, she said, more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq.
She said military personnel are being exposed to depleted uranium in bombs, causing many soldiers to suffer from cancer and ultimately, die.
To allow security in Iraq, U.S. troops should be withdrawn, she said.
“Iraq will be in chaos, but not because troops left,” Wasfi said.
The country will be in chaos because the U.S. destroyed its civil structure. The Iraqi people can rebuild their country, she said.
The U.S. should withdraw troops because “It’s human suffering ... it’s not for a just cause. If we truly want homeland security, we (need to stop human suffering) throughout the world,” Wasfi said.
Central Colorado Humanists sponsored the event. Nancy Reed of Cotopaxi said Wasfi was invited because, “We must know what we’re doing in Iraq and be informed and I want the truth to come out now.”
Shala Salazar, visiting her father in Salida, said she came to the event to learn more about the war.
“I used to work with refugees in Rotterdam, Holland. Many of them were Iraqi or from Afghanistan.
So I saw the way the war affected them.
“I wanted to learn from someone of Iraqi descent (and) learn from people who saw it themselves rather than from Fox News,” Salazar said.
Wasfi’s presentation personalized the war, Salazar said.
“When she was speaking about her family ... she made it human.”
Wasfi said she has advocated ending the war and bringing troops home for about a year. She has traveled throughout Colorado and plans to go to Los Angeles in the spring.
So far, she has made 33 presentations. Wasfi said she is vocal against the war because, “I’m hopeful my presentation and what people do afterward will bring troops home. It’s the strength of resistance in Iraq (and in the U.S.) that will make us leave.”
She said she was encouraged by the number of people who listened to her talk Sunday. Wasfi said she might be “naive,” but remains hopeful her family will have a better life.
Spreading the message through word of mouth, is the best method, Wasfi said, adding it was an effective method during the Vietnam War.
“The size and emotion of demonstrations forced the administration to get troops out. Also because the media tends to be influenced by corporate interests, it tends to be word of mouth that gets the truth get out.”
Central Colorado Humanists invited a another speaker, Mike Miles, a former U.S. Senate candidate, to speak to local residents Nov. 19.
In addition, the organization will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Bongo Billy’s Salida Cafe.
The group hosts a science discussion at 10 a.m. the first and third Sundays monthly at Book Haven.
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