DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38992
TITLE= IRAQ / DETROIT REACT
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WHILE PRESIDENT CLINTON BUILDS A CASE FOR POSSIBLE
MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, ARAB-AMERICANS ARE ONE GROUP
LISTENING TO HIS WORDS VERY CLOSELY. THE MIDWEST U-S CITY OF
DETROIT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF ARABS OUTSIDE
THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ
HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED FOR THEIR RELATIVES OVERSEAS AS
WELL AS THEIR OWN WELL-BEING IN THE UNITED STATES. MORE FROM
V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND.
TEXT: AT THE AMERICAN ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE OFFICE
IN SUBURBAN DETROIT, DIRECTOR IMAD HAMAD SAYS THE PHONE STARTED
RINGING SHORTLY AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONALLY-TELEVISED
SPEECH FROM THE U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.
// HAMAD ACT #1 //
IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WERE UNHAPPY WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
SPEECH, NOT TO ARGUE THE OPTIONS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH
THE CRISIS BUT MAINLY THAT THE SPEECH DID NOT EVEN
BOTHER TO MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF THE
IRAQI CHILDREN.
// END ACT //
IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT, ATTORNEY INTISSAR AL-KAFAJI WAS ALSO
WATCHING MR. CLINTON. SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FROM IRAQ IN
1967 AND IS AMONG THE MAJORITY OF ARAB-AMERICANS IN THE DETROIT
AREA WHO DO NOT FEEL A MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ WILL
RESOLVE THE STANDOFF OVER UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
// AL-KAFARI ACT #1 //
JUST BECAUSE YOU BOMB IRAQ YOU DO NOT RESOLVE THE
ISSUE OF INSPECTIONS. YOU MIGHT UPSET SADDAM HUSSEIN
FOR A WHILE, BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT. WHO IS GOING TO
SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES? THOSE POOR IRAQI PEOPLE.
// END ACT //
MR. HAMAD SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STRONGER DIPLOMATIC EFFORT
MADE TO SETTLE THE INSPECTIONS DISPUTE, AS WELL AS A MORE OPEN
DISCUSSION ON WHEN SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ MIGHT BE LIFTED. HE
ALSO POINTS OUT THAT ARAB-AMERICANS WHO OPPOSE BOMBING BAGHDAD
ARE NOT SUPPORTERS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN.
// HAMAD ACT #2 //
NOBODY HERE IS QUESTIONING THAT THE IRAQI REGIME DID
SOME DAMAGE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH, BUT PEOPLE ARE
MAINLY CONCERNED WITH THE OUTCOME OF IT (MILITARY
ACTION) AND THE HUMAN TRAGEDY.
// END ACT //
MS. AL-KAFARI SAYS ALTHOUGH SHE HAS BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR
MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND HAS BECOME A U-S CITIZEN, THE THOUGHT OF
AN ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ IS STILL UPSETTING. SHE FEARS INNOCENT
IRAQIS -- WHO ALSO OPPOSE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S POLICIES -- WILL BE
HURT OR KILLED. SHE SAYS THE THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION IS ALSO
UPSETTING HER FAMILY.
// AL-KAFARI ACT #2 //
MY MOM HAS BEEN VISITING THIS COUNTRY FOR EIGHT MONTHS
AND IT IS DEVASTATING (FOR HER.) EVERY TIME I LOOK AT
HER FACE, SHE IS WORRIED AND KEEPS FLIPPING CHANNELS. I
TRY NOT TO LET HER SEE THE NEWS MEDIA BECAUSE IT IS
PETRIFYING.
// END ACT //
ARAB-AMERICANS IN THE DETROIT AREA ALSO FEAR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO
THEM IF THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES START BOMBING IRAQ. MR. HAMAD
REMEMBERS A BACKLASH AGAINST HIS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS DURING THE
1991 GULF WAR.
// HAMAD ACT #3 //
THE ARAB-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN MICHIGAN FACED TREMENDOUS
INCIDENTS OF HATE CRIME AND HARASSMENT. LOTS OF
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS WERE EFFECTED.
// END ACT //
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARAB-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN MEETING
WITH DETROIT AREA GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DISCUSS
THEIR CONCERNS. THERE ARE ABOUT 60-THOUSAND ARAB-AMERICANS
LIVING IN THE DETROIT AREA. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/JO
17-Feb-98 3:24 PM EST (2024 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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