An early letter to General Tommy Franks
From Saadi Youssef (Poet from Mesopotamia)
Sir, General,
First, I want to say in all honesty that I am following what is permitted on the TV about your news: about your close- ranked soldiers, your family, your president, etc. ... And that when I observe history -- in a deferential way -- I feel that I would like to be like one of my ancestors who saved a city from being razed by Tamerlane in Syria.
You will enter Baghdad, Sir, General, like all who entered before you: a conqueror. But, you know, due to the fact that you were a conquered nation once, that nations are unconquerable. Rulers can be defeated, and our ruler will be defeated first. I am happy about that, because this imbecile has denied me the air of my country for more than 30 years.
You do not like Julius Caesar: you say he was a general -- but such long speeches! -- so he was killed. I, the poet, will be short instead. You will enter Baghdad, Sir, General. Can I relay to you what Omar (the second Caliph after Mohamed) advised his general who was heading for Iraq? Don't cut down a tree, he said.
But today things are taking a different turn; it is said that you want to cut the return route for Iraqis going back to their country. Rumour has it that a list of 2000 Iraqi opponents, prepared by your Iraqi agents, prohibits these Iraqis from going back to their homeland under the pretext of easing your occupation.
In so far as this concerns me, I can't deny this rumour. Al-Mutamar (an Arabic weekly, financed by the American taxpayer and based in London) has recently published a letter saying that I, the poet, Saadi Youssef, must be denied the right of return to Iraq after its liberation.
I am asking you, And Jonny Abu-Zaid, our in- coming governor-general, To elaborate on human rights under the conditions of imminent occupation.
London 01.03.03
