YOU'D BE OPTIMISTIC TOO IF YOU WERE AN IRAQI:

HANDS OF FRIENDSHIP (DEBORAH ORIN, May 26, 2004, New York Post)

Seven Iraqi men whose right hands were chopped off on Saddam Hussein's orders at Abu Ghraib prison yesterday went to see President Bush - to thank America for freeing their country and getting them prosthetic limbs.

"You have to thank everybody who participated in the decision-making of going to war against Saddam, because without this, nobody can live in peace ever in the United States, Iraq or in Europe," said Basim Al Fadhly, 43.

All seven had their right hands amputated by a doctor at Abu Ghraib on Saddam's orders, on charges of foreign currency trafficking - and each had an "X" tattooed in the middle of his forehead to mark him as a criminal. [...]

The men spoke at a press conference several hours after going to the Oval Office, where Bush said, "I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein. They are examples of the brutality of the tyrant."

But the men - who today plan to thank some of the U.S. troops who helped free Iraq - also spoke with surprising optimism and lack of bitterness about the future, talking about the need for forgiveness, as well as punishment, so Iraq can build anew.

Why surprising? Only the Western Left and far Right are not optimistic about Iraq's future.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 26, 2004 12:14 PM