A Saddam obsession...

Layla Anwar, An Arab Woman Blues - Reflections in a sealed bottle...

The online dictionary defines obsession as "a domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. " and as "a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion..." Now Sami (I never use real names by the way) is a prototype of someone obsessed. However, Sami's obsession has a peculiarity of its own. His obsession is Saddam Hussein (the legitimate president of Iraq.) I have known Sami for over 15 years now. I have known him "before" and "after"."Before" and "After" have become code words amongst Iraqis to refer to that cursed day - the day of the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. When Iraqis discuss something, anything, almost always someone will ask this question: "Was that before or after?" Sami before and Sami after and his obsession has not ceased. After the occupation, Sami was jubilant, elated... A few days ago, I had the misfortune of bumping into Sami...

continua / continued