FRENCH HUMAN SHIELD in Baghdad, Luis Miguel Fuste

Live from Bagdhad
TESTIMONY OF A FRENCH HUMAN SHIELD:
« I am at 9 hours from the American attack on Iraq »

UNPUBLISHED WORK - http://paxhumana.info
By Luis Miguel Fuste, French human shield in Baghdad.

March 19th, 2003

Hello to all humanity

I am at 9 hours from the American attack on Iraq, 9 hours which are not only going to decide on my future but also on yours, 9 hours before the whole humanity sinks into the biggest chaos which it never knew, 9 hours before the United States dominate the world...

I am not anxious to make an anti-imperialist political speech, anti-American, or pacifist because many people could badly interpret my statements and my actions. I am only noticing what takes place.

Some dare to come to criticize me by saying to me that by protesting against the war, I am only supporting " the peace " imposed by the dictatorial iraquian regime and that the people waits only for the Americans to come to free them, and that I shall only be an obstacle to this famous peace. I want to tell them that if Iraqis really want to get rid of the yoke of Saddam Hussein, it is their problem, not that of the Westerners; then do not come to say to me that the United States have the right to come here to free the people, they are especially going to release the souls of their body by bombarding them massively, is it that you call the freedom? Do you really think that the Iraqi people going to feel free in a country where the liberalism will reign? Don?t you see that "by freeing" this country, the USA are going to enslave the whole world by controlling the biggest oil reserves, by settling down politically and economically the richest region in the world, and that soon, you will be the new social prisoners, although the major part of you is already: I just have to look at the demonstrations of March 15th: the whole world piss out of it henceforth, and even more is not capable of going out once a month in streets to protest, while here, we show every day our discord with this war.

As I urge for peace, do you really think I want to support a regime having massacre of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Kurds, Iranians, and opponents. That I want to support a man who lobotomize his people through the propaganda, the personality cult and the fear (talking of that, quite as Bush) ; although it is necessary to recognize, on the other hand, that Iraq had the best literacy rate in the world before the first Gulf War, all the inhabitants are very evolved, worthy, intelligent, quiet, friendly and honest; and that is a part of an education which we lost in West, which the country knows more cultural and social liberties than in all other Arabic countries in the region; and the Americans, with their system and their mentality, want to come to make them better than that they are already???

I lived one year in the United States and I am here for almost one month and I can assure you that if I had to return in one of these two countries, I shall choose Iraq without hesitating, because I much more feel safe here and I like being around simple and authentic people, what is not any more, on the contrary, the case in the United States. And it is for it that I stay, for the population, not for its dictator.

And you come to say to me that I am not eyes wide open, that I am too closely involved her for a proper view? What do you know about what takes place in this country? Set apart what we tell you in the media; don?t you feel even more manipulated than I am here??!!!

I came here as a man free to do what he wants because nobody imposed me anything, neither the system nor anybody was able to stop me in my action and nobody will persuade me to leave now the country and not go to the end of my ideas: this is the true freedom. And even if it means dying, it will be in free and happy man...

I hope that these comments do not seem to you too extremist because it is far from being the case, I am always the same person as previously but more experienced and wise and I do not think that the wisdom is to remain arms crossed in front of the TV or to organize demonstrations after the war, at least it is not me who shall go to say that to families in mourning or to victims of this war.

Here, everything changed for two days, the ultimatum from Bush completely stopped the activity in Baghdad: the traffic is less and less dense, people save their essence, there are hundreds meters of tail in stations services (50 liters for an euro, I understand now the sense of the word "black gold"!), the major part of the businesses closed, the others sell the end of their stock of water and food (it leaves as the bread roll, especially thanks to the journalists who buy hundreds of liters of water so they are afraid of staying here during months!!).

Journalists worry themselves sick because of the e-bomb, because all the electronic material is going to be reduced to nothingness (they are storing everything in boxes in metal to counter the parade) and furthermore they were sent back of Palestine Hotel where they all were concentrated, to return to the Al Rachid and to the Al Mansour Hotels who are ready for communications: they are also going to become real human shields in spite of them!!!! They get the wind up and it is just, they are henceforth going to know what it makes to be on sites at risks; because seeing how the major part of them completely ignore us, especially the Frenchmen, they could not understand what we felt; now we are all equal, 1000 western human shields in Baghdad, isn?t it beautiful!!!!

Sorry to be so sarcastic or ironic, but I really hate three quarters of the journalists here; they decided since the beginning to let us die, and in particular the Frenchmen I am anxious to repeat it; and I indeed hope to have my revenge on them soon.

All the prices burned here: hotels, food, water, taxis: it would cost us more than 1500 euros if we would like to go out of the country, thus now, whatever comes, we are blocked here for an indeterminate term.

But it's not serious, I chose to stay in the refinery, I also have the choice to stay in the hotel by saying to me that I made what I was able to, and we failed in the prevention of the war, but it is not the role of a human shield to leave as our work, our mission really begins, I know pertinently that my physical presence will be useless because I am not superman, because I cannot stop the bombs with my own hands or by my own will ? even that by leaving the site at the last moment, persuading Bush that I am always there would be much more relevant, because I am quite sure to be safe at the hotel, and a good war witness is better than a good war martyr ? but such is my choice, and I hope that you will respect it, whatever you thought.

Maybe it is my last e-mail before quite some time, even unfortunately it could be the last one of my life, but I want you to know that I love you all of you: friends, family, acquaintances, or perfected strangers, it is for you all that I fight today and I hope that one day you will do it for me.

All the persons that I meet in my life shaped my perception of the world, built my identity, helped me to become what I am today and I thank you all for it because I feel really serene and happy as I speak to you.

I am not making my will, far from it, because I feel that I am going to take out there, I do not know why, but I think fewer and fewer that I shall not finish under bombs or under yoke of one of both clans. But we do not know what our fate reserves us, at least I shall accept it, whatever comes.

See you very soon,
Luis Miguel FUSTE