A Gulf War Memoir

إحذر عدوك مره وصديقك ألف مره، فإن إنقلب الصديق فهو أعلم بالمضرة
The above is a famous Arabic saying that translates to:

Be cautious of an Enemy, but be extra cautious of a friend for he/ she knows your weaknesses if alliance turns to animosity.

It was about this time 18 years ago when I learned the concept of betrayal. It was also about this time 18 years ago that I started paying more attention to details of History and less attention to what crap was fed to us in school.

I was honestly shocked to see an “ARAB” country invading another “ARAB” country. Worse, I was even more shocked to see some Arab nations supporting the invader.

When I saw/ witnessed this catastrophic event, a fuse in my head burned. My brain became overloaded with thoughts about right and wrong.

I was like “WTF?!?”, “What’s going on with the world?”, “Arabs don’t do that”, “Muslims don’t do that”. . .

I was too young to understand the “Iraq/ Iran war” but never young to understand the Gulf War.

Let’s go back in time a little. . . .

Long before internet, and long before

the Gulf War, we were taught in school to love and care for all other Arab nationalities and stand together as ONE ARAB NATION.

We sang these patriotic songs about “EL OMMAH EL 3araBeyah” and celebrated each Arab country independence day. I honestly believe that borders were not necessary between us and we should unite to beat the enemy.

We had only one enemy back then and it was (Israel). Why hate them? Well, how would you feel if someone kicked you out of your home and claimed it as his? Plus, they were Jews and we were programmed to hate them .

Everything was CLEAR. . . or was it?

Suddenly, disaster struck hell broke loose and chaos prevailed. . .

The only programs on TV were those of Chemical warfare and how to take preventive measures at home. We were instructed to duct tape the windows at home and make sure all air cracks are sealed.

I remember seeing the black clouds of smoke from burning oil fields in Kuwait that came all the way to UAE.

I remember attending the graduation of the first batch of volunteers who joined the army during that time.

I remember when Kuwait was liberated. . . and how happy they were to go back home. . .
Imagine loosing it all. . . How sad they were for the ones the lost. . .

We also lost people in that war. . .

worse, imagine it is your neighbor who takes everything away from you by force.

I am sharing some photos I found online because I couldn’t find my photos from those days. . . They are stashed somewhere in the storage room…

Anyways, to make a long story short. . . .

I hope no one takes this entry as a “hate” towards a nationality or ethnicity group.

Facts are Facts. nothing more, nothing less. We should be thankful for internet for it provides us with the latest and up-to-date info.

I still believe there are good people and bad people everywhere in this world. . . .Regardless of color, religion, ethnicity…etc.

WAR is good for Nothing, Absolutely Nothing.

Edwin Starr thinks so. . . .