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World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
[Following is a letter from Dalila Kouidri, president of the Association of Mothers of the Disappeared in Algeria and representative of the Mothers of Wednesday Committee, to the mothers of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. This letter was forwarded by Louisa Hanoune, Workers Party Member of Parliament in Algeria, to the delegates attending the USLAW National Labor Assembly for Peace in Chicago.]
October 18, 2003
Zeladyia, Algeria
Dearest Mothers of U.S. Soldiers in Iraq:
As an Algerian mother who lost her son in the course of the tragic
war in my country, I denounce the crime that took so many lives at
the World Trade Centre on 11 September, 2001. But I also denounce the
heinous crimes committed by the U.S. government in the name of the
victims of 9/11.
I embrace the courageous mothers of the victims of the World Trade
Centre who have said, "Don't invade Afghanistan or Iraq in our
name."
And I embrace the mothers of U.S. soldiers in Iraq who have spoken
out against the war and occupation of Iraq.
I reach out to all mothers of U.S. soldiers in Iraq -- white or
black. Your sons and daughters, with their beautiful faces, having
grown up in such great splendour, should not be placed in harm's way
by Bush, whose only concern is oil and profit for a tiny few. Your
sons and daughters should return from Iraq to their homes in the
United States -- immediately.
I want to end by saying that the mothers of these U.S. soldiers and
victims who have taken a stand against the unjust war in our region
have given me -- and given all of us -- great hope in the future of
humanity. And for that I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Dalila Kouidri