“Father, I have something
to ask you,” she said.
“Is America fighting
for the liberation
of the Iraqi citizens today?
Or is it fighting to liberate the oil.”

“I don’t know, my child!
I am perplexed,” I said.
But I think some day,
“We may really discern
the loon from the moon.”

Although all I know is this:
“No matter how full her belly is,
America will always be hungry
for the global peace.”

Father!
“But the way they are
digging their nose in Iraq
is actually the root of,
the bloodbath
in the post-saddam, land,”
she exclaimed with a deep sigh.

No, my child!
“Endowed with a
strong sense of justice,
they are trying to establish
peace in the war trodden land”

“When it is a question of peace,
America, never say, “I can’t.”
She does not shrink
from her responsibilities
-She welcomes it,”
I answered her back.

I refute, my father.
But the truth is this:
“To truly remove
the menace of insurgents,
and restore peace in Iraq;
America must stop
its exploitation and return back.”
She said, growing rather red.

“Ah, don’t say that.
If America returns back
without restoring law and order
then peace shall never shine in Iraq.”

"Do you think
they are fond of killing
and putting their
own lives at stake?"
I shrugged my shoulder
and replied her back.

“What a hoax!”
“Was that a paradox?”
she cried out loud.

Believe it or not-
“But whatever they are doing,
they are doing it for
the honor and welfare
of the whole Iraqi people.”
I roared with pride.

Oh! Father, whatever,
“Nevertheless,
if America is to really help Iraq;
It must rectify it’s own fault
and stroll with certainty,
the uncertain path
with a transparent heart.”
She replied back.

“It must win the people’s trust
and fight shoulder to shoulder
with them in their pursuit of peace,
and liberate them from the
bleeding grips of the insurgents.”

“It must impair
the criminal proclivities
of the fanatic extremist leaders,
and refurbish the hopelessness
of the poor masses
with the fervor of hope.”

“Will America have
enough courage
to rectify it’s own fault?”
She asked with a husky voice.

“If not, how, then,
shall Iraq be saved
from the iron paws of war?”
I whispered her back.

She raised her head
up to the gates of heaven.
“Before God I am telling
the truth,” she cried,
with smiles in her eyes.

“O, Worry not, my father!
From the utter darkness
of the violence;
a ray of love shall spring,
and Iraq shall again
be peaceful and free.”

“Ah! But while the world is mourning
the loss of those innocent Iraqis
and those coalition soldiers of peace
due to the extremist’s attack in Iraq.
I'm sure, deep down inside, even you
must be quietly wondering- What's next?”
I replied her back with tears in my eyes.


Copyright 2005 Bhuwan Thapaliya.