America's 'Muslim army'

[umm hussain]

Arab-Americans have been fighting in Iraq since the very beginning of the conflict there. Many simply see it as their duty to serve their homeland, America.

Others who have ended up on the frontlines in the so-called "war on terror" have suffered a crisis of conscience, having had to fight fellow Arabs and Muslims as the "enemy".

Three Arab-American marines tell their stories.

JAMAL BAADANI

Jamal Baadani is a gunnery sergeant currently stationed at Quantico Marine Corp Base in Washington DC. He served in Yemen for Operation Enduring Freedom, and won three awards for his services. He is also the founder of Apaam, the Association of Patriotic Arab-Americans in the Military - prompted by the backlash of racism he and his family were subjected to after the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington in 2001.

Jamal Baadani
Jamal Baadani founded Apaam in response to racist abuse
I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt - my parents were from Yemen - and I came to the United States when I was 10.

I didn't know any English, but I was always interested in the military - as I grew up during the Yom Kippur war of 1973. That environment made Egyptians feel patriotic, nationalistic.

It was about caring for your nation, serving your nation. When I was in Egypt, that was Egypt. But when I came to the US, I realised this is my country now.

My father didn't want me to join the military - not because he thought the military was bad, but because he thought I was going to be a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer.

After 9/11, my uncle, who had worked for a large car manufacturer for over 30 years, called me crying - saying 'please send me a picture of you in uniform; I need to prove my patriotism to my fellow workers.'

I was out with a couple of my marines, and a woman came up to say 'I want to thank you for serving our country, especially at this time.'

Then she asked me where I was from. When I said, 'Egypt', she had this look on her face and she said, 'you're a terrorist.' And that was in a Marine Corp uniform.

I cussed her out - I called her every name under the sun. I'm an American too - how dare she tell me I was something different.

But our community sometimes does that to our own. They say, 'you're not worthy, because you're serving the military.' But they don't understand that we're serving and helping the community.

When it comes to self-determination, who has the right to tell someone what they are and what they are not - just because it does not fit with their image?

 

[umm hussain]

MUHAMMED KHALED

Born to a Palestinian father and American mother, Mohammad Khaled joined the US Marines in 2000 to pay for his education. Three years later he found himself in Iraq. He left in 2006, after an incident in which he was left stranded while trying to save three children from incoming fire. He now works as a car salesman.

Muhammed Khaled
Muhammed Khaled found himself the target of young stone-throwers
I'm a Palestinian American. I'm proud of what I am.

Unfortunately the government kicks in, which is like the military - and your heart starts splitting in half.

Ironically, our enemy usually is somewhere in the Middle East - it's my cousins, my family.

I was drawn to the Marines not necessarily by the action, but by the discipline and the order - how the military life is. It is not civilian; it has rules and regulations.

I really thought this would do it for me. I thought I would do four years of active service - I didn't even know about the inactive reserves; I did not know that you really sign up to eight years, not four.

When you get to Nashville, everything changes. A recruiter reminds me of what I do right now, as a car salesman. I'm trying to sell you a car, whether you like it or not.

I'd like you to like it, because it'll make my life easier. But I know you need wheels.

I'll be honest - I think it was kind of like brainwashing. You start wanting to believe that you're going there to help.

When I was a kid, I was one of those guys that threw rocks at the Israelis, and I was really good at it.

I became so good at it I became famous for it. Seriously, the only thing that got me out of trouble was my American passport.

In the summer of 2004, we were in the city of Haditha in Iraq, in a convoy tippy-toeing around.

We were so scared, it wasn't funny. I was shaking. As we passed the Haditha Middle School, we got a shower of rocks. They were flying off my flak jacket and my helmet.

I felt so tiny, and so fogged-up with emotion. Because that kid throwing rocks used to be me.

A rock hit me at the heart. I kept it.

 

[umm hussain]

RAJAI HAKKI

Rajai Hakki is Muhammed Khaled's friend, and served with him in Iraq between 2003 and 2006, when he was honourably discharged. He comes from a privileged family of Syrian origin.

Rajai Hakki
Rajai Hakki was on the New York Times front page when war began
For me, it was very straightforward - we were going into Iraq to get rid of a dictator.

So I told my unit that I spoke Arabic - and I wanted to go to Iraq and be part of the war.

I wanted to be a Marine. I wanted to fight.

We're Muslim. Islam teaches us to be a good citizen. For me at that time, that is here in America.

This is my country now. This is where my children were born. This is where I'm going to die. This is the country that is providing my family hope and the pursuit of dreams.

In Iraq I worked as a translator for the interrogation teams.

We caught this guy, and he gave out 25 names or so. We went on an arresting spree.

I went in there, and began a quick investigation. I started noticing something - all of the last names were the same. I thought there was something fishy here.

I started asking questions - and sure enough, they were all the same family. This guy had revenge in mind. He was one of the cousins - he named his own father - because daddy did not approve of him marrying.

I dug deeper - it turns out he was so annoyed with his family he wanted them all sent to Abu Ghraib. The family was released.

In Iraq, they tell you there's a smell of death - and there is.

It's nasty, it makes you nauseous. You end up having to shoot the dogs - because you'll see dogs in the street with human parts, like hands, in their mouths.

I am not going to defend anybody - but unfortunately, as much as we tried not to kill civilians, some do get killed. We gave a big warning for civilians to leave the towns, but some have nowhere to go.

Once you've seen the first kid that died, and the first woman - later on, it got so normal, it was just like a movie. You just fast-forward.

My family is afraid of the Syrian intelligence service. My father is blacklisted - he can't go back.

I've been called a 'race traitor' - and that hurts, because I consider myself an Arab-American. I love the Arab world, and I love my Arab roots. And I really miss Syria, I wish I could go back.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6230498.stm

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,


Sister they are young and undereducated. The have no brains. I am going to vomit. The volunteered to kill Muslims. There are other choices.
I will not be able to restrain myself...because there are thousands of Muslims in America who will not kill Mulsims. ...

 

[Abu Hannah]

disgusted

Muslims killing muslims, and they call it serving the interests of the American community. I won't say anymore as I too am disgusted.

 

[konrad16660]

if you read the qur'an you will find what these men are doing to be unacceptable, and they are guilty by association. They are not free of guilt, and they will pay for what they have done. There was a soldier that went up "missing" a year ago when he met up with his family. I know he just deserted, and I think that is good, because he is saving his soul, and what he did was allowed in the qur'an.

 

[Bawar]

sister umm-hussain, i dont know what is your purpose from posting these threads sister.
are you expecting us to feel sorry for them who are taking part in the destruction of a muslim nation?
as sister mirajmom siad, i feel sick.

if serving America means kill innocent civilians and illegally occupy other nations, then they should not do it, particularly when it comes to killing people of their own roots.

i wish i had never come across such stupid and biased mentality.
they should be ashamed of what they are doing and should not expect to be accepted by Iraqi people. They are lost and belong to no one.

they are not accepted even by Americans and thats what they deserve.

wassalam

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,

The sister is correct in posting this. Yes, we need to know that the worst of all creatures is the one who serves the servants of the devil. He is the most despised because he will turn his back on his own. He has sold his soul and poor creature that he is; he is so stupid he could not even sell it to the devil..he sold it to a servant of the devil.
The sister works hard to help raise our iman.
I do need to say please know there are many of us who live in the states who serve Allah. And would not have it any other way.

 

[justoneofmillion]

assalam,this is what happens with the ones that kiss the hand that is slaping them, the colaborators and traitors may Allah swt send them to the deepest part of hell if they killed,spyed or conspired against any muslim,the same thing goes for those who collaborated and are still collaborating with the united Satans army in Iraq and afghanistan i will never be able to understand this no matter how non judgmental i must strive to be !remember the case of the vietnamese collaborators when they were hanging onto the rails of the helicopters and ejected away like rubbish by their American friends when taking the flight from the American embassy in Saigon to leave south vietnam defeated and humiliated as the yankees were!!! and remember what the Algerians did to the "Harki" after the independence most of them were beheaded or shot others applied for asylum in France and were literally treated like animals by the french who had promised them citizenship or at least a status of permanent residence they were left in ghettos and camps like rootless bastards with no country ,no honor,no dignity and no feeling of belonging ,today forty five years after and about three months ago a French politician made a statement during a campaign saying publicly that the "harkis"(traitors) were inferior and impotent men because they had betrayed their own brothers in Algeria,they are even banned from turning back to the country they once betrayed in order to be be buried in the land of their ancestors in the land of Islam. and their children still carry the burden and label of their parent they call them the sons of the Harkis (traitors)it has even become a french word nowdays !!(altough their children have nothing to do with it)this is what happens to the traitors they spend their whole lives in humiliation in a way or another!!!.we count on Allah swt and to him we ask for help and protection i would rather die from hunger,torture or get killed with my head up than sell my brothers and sisters this way.for the reward of a pet.

 

[hussain.mahammed]

A disgrace for the Muslims all over the world. Idont have any words to express my anger at these foolish ignorants.
There was another thread about a Muslim Chaplain originally from Bangladesh. He feels glad to have a picture with Murderer Bush.
:astag: :astag: :astag:
Are these so-called Muslims in their senses?
wa/salam

 

[rony]

As-salam, I can smell that they are trying to make it ligel to kill muslim by making excuses. It sound like that I knew some muslim when I use to live in Melbourne who use to drink almost everyday and get drunk, but they never use to eat meat if it was not buy from the halal shop, they use to say it is haram to eat that meat. One of them went to army to pay for his tution fee, hello there is a lot place to get student loan. Like: government, school, bank and they also can get scholarship.

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,

My brothers and sisters in Islam. We know Victory belongs to Allah. We know whatever is on earth and in the heavens belongs to Allah...
We know we are being tested and indeed I am proud to be your sister.

Let us concentrate on those who strive for Islam. Let us celebrate that we have each other...I may not be able to perform in battle...I pray...I write..I try to inspire..

yes, the servants of the servants of the devil may get some orts...but the slaves of Allah...we are working for Janna. Let us work hard..let us spare our anger and turn it into positive energy...because by definition we know the outcome...in the end the return of all is to Allah.

I prayed to Allah to give me muslims and Allah gave me the likes of you...
intelliegent, pious, strong, determined, and ever faithful...

 

[island muslim]

Salaam Alaiykum,

I am not surprised. The Hypocrites lived during the time of rasoolALLAH (pbuh) so there should be a whole LOT of them now. Would like to refer all brothers and sisters to surah Munafiqeen (The hypocrites). During the time of rasoolALLAH(pbuh) they even BUILT a BIGGER and MORE BEAUTIFUL mosque to prove they were better muslims (even spent LONGER time at prayer and other religious duties for SHOW).... The truth about their beleifs came about when the muslims were attacked and they did NOT fight cause they thought the muslims would loose.

LOL.. Their true colors always come out when the muslims are eak and they think the muslims have NO CHANCE of winning.

 

[island muslim]

Their true colors always come out when the muslims are weak and they think the muslims have NO CHANCE of winning.

 

[aishamohamud]

what do they want to gain out of this i really dont understand, atleast they are publicy declaring that they work for the enemy what about those muslim spies that are in the midst of muslim communities. where will they escape to, on the day when there is no protector except Allah