(Your Voice in a World where Zionism, Steel, and Fire have
turned Justice Mute)

by Ibrahim Alloush/FAV Editor

The choice of targets in the attacks on the French tanker in Yemen, the night club in Bali, and the theater in Moscow couldn't have come at a more convenient time for the Bush administration to justify America's alleged "War on Terrorism". At this critical time of gathering gloom over Iraq, nothing else could have helped more in goading an international public opinion, hitherto opposed to the American aggression on Iraq, into the lap of Zionists and the U.S. administration. In the case of well-intentioned miscalculation, these operations only reflect in their timing and locations a strategic dispersion of Arab and Muslim efforts away from the source of the main threat: the U.S. government and the Zionists.

But while these incidents have done a great deal of harm to the Arab and Muslim cause in general and to Iraq in particular, the courageous operation off the Kuwaiti Island of Faylaka on October 8, 2002, and the string of similar attacks that followed, have sent several powerful messages in the opposite direction, by virtue of their good timing and choice of target.

First of all, if Kuwaitis like Anass al Kandari and Jasem al Hajjiri can feel like this about American troops on Kuwaiti soil, can the Bush Administration even begin to fathom how the Arab street is seething beneath the heavy yoke of Arab regimes elsewhere? Or how common Iraqis will react if American troops are stationed in their country?! These quick sands should make the Bush Administration want to seriously ponder its plans to invade Iraq.

And contrary to what the Western media likes to pretend, the attack was not an isolated act of two individuals, but expressed the sentiments of a large section of the population, as witnessed by the number of people who attended the funeral of the martyrs. The fact that the reading of prayers and washing of the bodies were not allowed indicates that Anass al Kandari and Jasem al Hajjiri were considered martyrs, not merely dead. Those attending were fully aware of that. The fact that another Kuwaiti was put on trial for openly praising Anass al Kandari and Jasem al Hajjiri at the funeral indicates that support for them is not marginal, but a sentiment that needs to be suffocated.

But more importantly, if two Kuwaitis can force American troops to withdraw "in fear for their safety", how will the American military presence in the region be reconfigured when the aggression on Iraq triggers more such attacks on Americans by Arabs and Muslims? Notice that the attackers were able to infiltrate into an area heavily guarded by supposedly one of the best branches of the U.S. military. Then they were able to hit twice in two different locations before going down in a blaze of glory. This is very interesting as it suggests the Americans are lax and arrogant in their security as much as it underlines the determination of the two Kuwaiti brothers.

Over and above all that, incidents such as the one off the Kuwaiti island of Faylaka, and there has been more than one, certainly strengthen Iraqi morale and resolve to repel any impending American aggression. Such incidents, inside or outside Kuwait, demonstrate that standing up to American troops can pay off militarily. They also imply that the Arab and Islamic street is politically undivided in its opposition to an American aggression on Iraq, and to American designs in general.

Moreover, this particular incident is rich in symbolism. It was not only carried out by Kuwaitis, supposedly pro-American; it was undertaken by Kuwaitis particularly as the U.S. is preparing to invade Iraq. Thus, these two Kuwaitis have done more to reintegrate Kuwait back into the Arab fold than anything else in the last twelve years, including some recent campaigns of popular Kuwaiti assistance for the second Intifada in Palestine. Another point: I found it touching and significant that one of the martyrs left a note calling attention to the plight of the Palestinian people and that his 'testament' as well as a declaration by a surviving relative both pointed to the fact that his act was impelled by his feelings of solidarity with the Palestinian people and his disgust and rage with the Zionist/American adventures in the Arab world. Hence, one of the great things Anass al Kandari and Jasem al Hajjiri have done is help heal damaged inter-Arab relations. These two have become thus heroes of Arab and Islamic unity, and deserve to be lauded as such.

Far from being "terrorists", they were practicing legitimate resistance against invading American troops on Arab and Islamic soil. Their martyrdom has already paid off dividends for the Arabs and Muslims they have left behind, and their heroism has lit up a shining example for the rest to follow. May God bless their souls.