Philadelphia Iraqi Man Says Troops Should Not Raise U.S. Flag
Al-Taee Recommends Raising Iraqi Flag
POSTED: 5:11 p.m. EST March 24, 2003
UPDATED: 3:14 p.m. EST April 8, 2003
PHILADELPHIA -- The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq is bringing mixed emotions to Iraqi-Americans in our area.
POWs and war victims have become disturbing images to Americans. But what do Iraqi-Americans think of the images being broadcast from their former homeland?
Aziz Al-Taee, the chairman of the Iraqi-American Council has been closely watching Al-Jazeera television from Iraq. Unlike the United States TV networks, Al-Jazeera has been showing close-ups of dead American soldiers. The gruesome pictures have officially upset the White House and they have also angered many Muslim-Americans, Al-Taee said. According to Al-Taee, there is a reason Iraq shows those disturbing images.
"What it looks like is that they've been executed. This is, I think, something that Saddam is using, like "I am going to scare the Americans and I'm going to turn the American public opinion against Saddam by showing this footage and showing Americans what we will do to them.' And that can scare their families, then their families will turn against the president ... So, he's using one of the old techniques like were used in 1948 with the Israeli POWs," Al-Taee said.
Meanwhile, while American troops continue to eat up huge chunks of territory in Iraq, some American Iraqis think it is a mistake to raise the American flag after a victory, said Al-Taee.
"I sent a message to the Defense Department that they could raise the Iraqi flag and that will symbolize to the Iraqi people that (the United States) is giving the power to the people of Iraq," Al-Taee said.
Like many Americans of Arab descent, Al-Taee will be on the FBI watch list. The FBI often comes to the homes of Iraqi-Americans to ask questions. Al-Taee said he expects one of those visits soon.
"They're asking about any backlash or hate crime that anyone wants to commit against Iraqi-Americans. Second, they ask about certain names of Iraqi-Americans they want to locate, and if we have any information about terrorist organizations," Al-Taee said.
Even though Al-Taee is not upset over the questioning, he also says he wished the criteria was probable cause rather than ethnic background.
Aziz Al-Taee, the chairman of the Iraqi-American Council has been closely watching Al-Jazeera television from Iraq. Unlike the United States TV networks, Al-Jazeera has been showing close-ups of dead American soldiers. The gruesome pictures have officially upset the White House and they have also angered many Muslim-Americans, Al-Taee said. According to Al-Taee, there is a reason Iraq shows those disturbing images.
"What it looks like is that they've been executed. This is, I think, something that Saddam is using, like "I am going to scare the Americans and I'm going to turn the American public opinion against Saddam by showing this footage and showing Americans what we will do to them.' And that can scare their families, then their families will turn against the president ... So, he's using one of the old techniques like were used in 1948 with the Israeli POWs," Al-Taee said.
Meanwhile, while American troops continue to eat up huge chunks of territory in Iraq, some American Iraqis think it is a mistake to raise the American flag after a victory, said Al-Taee.
"I sent a message to the Defense Department that they could raise the Iraqi flag and that will symbolize to the Iraqi people that (the United States) is giving the power to the people of Iraq," Al-Taee said.
Like many Americans of Arab descent, Al-Taee will be on the FBI watch list. The FBI often comes to the homes of Iraqi-Americans to ask questions. Al-Taee said he expects one of those visits soon.
"They're asking about any backlash or hate crime that anyone wants to commit against Iraqi-Americans. Second, they ask about certain names of Iraqi-Americans they want to locate, and if we have any information about terrorist organizations," Al-Taee said.
Even though Al-Taee is not upset over the questioning, he also says he wished the criteria was probable cause rather than ethnic background.Copyright 2003 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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