The other night, I was inspired to write this, to highlight the contrasts, and the differing openion of one American family regarding the war in Iraq. It is the norm, in this house that every Sunday, you will find some ten to fifteen people, eating, drinking, and often times in a heated discussions in every corner, and, that hot summer Sunday, was no exception. So, I was wandering out loud, to my wife, and adult American children, about how we in America interpret the loss or success of the " War on Iraq". It was an open democratic forum of free for all discussion, as we say, no bars hold.
Now just take a moment to ponder this picture, a Libyan Father, " liberal Democrat" an ultra liberal American wife, and twelve men and women, four are " meta- meta " as the Italians say. The others were spouses and grandchildren. And the subject ...! " Bush's War " as I so" provocatively" put it. because, I as one who was, and is always probing, felt that when one poses a question, one should take some liberty, in constructing that line of questioning without influencing , or constricting the flow of ideas, or responses to those questions. My oldest daughter Hala, a brilliant, women with Ph d, and still chasing after yet another. She is the ideal upper crust, high power, corporate American women, plus, the mother of a well trained, well seasoned son, in special forces, the other son, is a TV producer.
Supported by her artful gift of persuasion, she began to dominate the floor, a tactic, a negotiator would take first hand in an attempt to influence others, or, at least, bring a sense of doubt, to those whom are not yet, "in line".
For very obvious reasons. She was not interested in how it all began, yet, she was quick in promoting the American conservatives call to go out there and " clean" the place up and declare victory, then let the Iraqi people, do as the see fit, but keep our forces in a friendly areas to protect our " strategic" interests.
My son, Rami, along with his American wife who is as far as I can tell, are, left of center democrats, and very well accomplishes scholastically, he countered by asking us, don't we need to trace the cause of the illness before we begin to rush to administer the cure, don't we have to search for the cure..? or, are we going to shift the paradigm each and every time we embark on a new adventure in the name of strategic interest...! and the advancement of our democratic ideals...! it was an invitation to anyone to jump in and take it from that point. The special forces son, offered his qualified, soldier like openion, I as a soldier, just like any other soldier, carry out my orders, I as a citizen of this land, have rights, and damn very well will express my feelings, my opinions, to my superiors honestly without fear of retaliation. As to how, the was was started, and why... I have my hunches.. but I don't go to war chasing after hunches. I then asked Adam, do you mean to say that you'll speak truth to power..? you're damn right.. Pops.
My wife took it from that point with a lecturer's tone, you have to back track your steps, to get to the present point, and while we do that ,one must count how many, fiascoes, how many blunders and how many un-democratic acts were committed in the name of our democratic principles..!
My daughter Amal, the liberal arts, social scientist, and die hard advocate for battered women and abused children, sitting next to her African-American husband, took the floor away from her mother in mid sentence. She began in her usual way of driving the point with penetrating sense of sarcastic show and tell . she said, Let me take off my shoes, because , the fingers on my hands are not enough to count the bad things we've done to others throughout our short history as a nation among nation. hell, no wander they call us the " Ugly " Americans. how many times, we've toppled governments, and how many times poisoned leader so that we can plant our puppets in other countries so that they can do our bad deeds on our behalf, in the name of democracy, and strategic interests. Her husband, added, that was our contribution to the spread of the American way across the big pond. not to mention the works of art, and the humane treatments to our own native Americans, and the African- Americans for over three hundred years, and it's still going. Aden, my young son, the college professional student, and, a US Marine, jumped quick. Well frankly, I am tired as hell from having to hear all the bad things we've done to the world... and yet, they still coming in droves to our shores, wanting to join the American experience, others, kings, and so called leaders, wanting to kiss our asses, and ask for a handouts, why, Dad.. if we stopped giving all the free hand outs, we will have plenty of money to feed our poor, re-build our cities, and tell the rest, we will be friends, as long as we take care of our people first. and when you call on us to save your Arabian asses from your dictators, then we will have to use our power... all our power to get the job done. Amen to that, brother... said his sister... Hala.

Never a dull moment in the Ben Hameda House...said Aaron, the TV fellow, but, he posed his question to me... Now that you opened this discussion, with only one question, what have you got to contribute.. to it.

It took several visits to several specialists to determine the course of treatment, to combat my illness, I said. Don't you remember those days..? So, I say, yes we have to look to our past, in order to correct our future endeavors.
And, in order to protect our freedoms, and liberties, at home, respect, other peoples rights, and liberties as well, otherwise, what good to speak of liberty.
We can still engage with other nations, in trade, exploration, and exchange of ideas, as long as we can be honest, and deal as real partners with other nations, as I see it now... we only take...take. and when we give... we give the crumbs... the scrap of our table. So, peoples of the world are envious of our modern technology, and our advancements, but, no one wants even small handouts, with strings attached, or, chains around their necks.
I, will never forget a class room discussion, at Georgetown one day, when the professor, in an answer to a question , stated that the US is giving millions of Dollars to many countries, and went on to say ,pointing to me, that Libya is a shining example .
I beg to differ with you, my good professor I lauded. That sum of 10 Million Dollars that my the Government of my country receives, is not a gift..don't you know... It is a part of a legal binding contractual agreement, and an annual payment for the lease of that prime chunk of real Estate called Wheelus Air Base. So, it might be prudent at this time, to correct the record.
The, " not so learned" professor, hit back with that old song,... but ,we built it to protect " you people" from communism... don't you see it now... No. I said, and the reason is very clear and very simple... you see things from your focal point, and only your, whereas, if you step outside your shoes, you will realize, that , " oil and water" will not mix, Islam and Communism will never walk in lockstep. So, the truth is, you built the Base to protect your sole many interests in the Middle East sea.

The other point that I had to contribute to the discussion, seventeen, clandestine operations, on other leaders, and other sovereign nations, including this big one in Iraq.
So, I say, It is Bush's war, now that three fourths of the American people have come to believe that all the reasons to start this war, were big fabrications, by the Neo-cons, and Neo-Zionists. and from my prospective, America won the war.
1- eliminating, an Arab leader that they nourished, and supported his ugly crimes for a number of years, and when openly supported the Palestinians, he had to be eliminated, as for his crimes, one only needs to look at those African, and South American Leaders, and their on going crimes against Innocent people.
2- The mission was accomplished, when we saw the lawlessness, and the looting of Iraqis, wealth.. and the on going mayhem, and the ever raging fires of ugly killings of Muslims by Muslims in their own streets, " Devide and conquer".
3- The innocent lives, those beautiful people that were, and still being killed every day.. are a devastation to us here in the US, and to the Iraqi people.
4- the Billions of dollars that are being spent each and every day... could have been used to feed the poor, rebuild the economy of all the African continent , and America would have been placed as the eternal leader and fried of all the people, not just one nation, or one special group of people.
5- Now, more than ever before, the Arabs in general, and the Muslims of the Middle east, are so divided, so scattered, in distrust of each other, and the west, likes it just fine...
6- when democratic people, cast their ballots, and declared their choice of leadership, and , when that leadership was not to the liking of our American democratic ways.. America, demanded that history must correct itself, to meet Americas/ Israel interest in the region.
7- futile attempts to shift the discussion from the bigger issue " Palestine" by successfully creating yet another problem in the region.... And so it goes
So, my dear Family, although, we still have the best democratic system.. and we guard our liberties ...we must always keep open eyes for those who, from time to time come on the stage with their imperialistic agenda, to corrupt our democracy.
And, in as much, as I presented only a few examples of how America actually won. There will never be a winner...in any war.

Abdulhamid Mustafa Ben Hameda
Former Correspondent
Libyan Radio/ Libyan news agency
Tripoli