Visiting the NATO School has always been a pleasant experience for me.
I have been going there over three years now. At a personal level, it
is wonderful to live amidst the Alps for a few days. It is such a stark
contrast from the Aloha land, which I eminently prefer. However, I
can't stop thinking that Almighty God has created Bavaria during one of
his down days. He took a lot of time in making sure that it becomes one
of the most scenic spots on this earth.
On a professional level, my trip to NATO School is immensely gratifying,
since I get a chance to talk to the Iraqi officers. Unlike all the
guest speakers (who are referred to as VIPs), I don't stay in five star
hotels. I have made a point of staying with the Iraqis, so that I can
get quite a few opportunities to exchange views with them about Iraq,
Iran, and the entire ME region.
The Iraqis are so intense in their feelings, in their judgment, and in
their assessment of everything that is part of their surrounding at a
given time. They did not have a vote in choosing their country of
birth, but they show no bitterness toward anyone about what they and
their country has been going through since 1981, when Saddam Hussein
imposed the first war on them by attacking Iran. They have suffered
under the Saddam's tyranny even before that calamity. They continue to
suffer even today. Even though they are living in a fledgling
democracy, they suffer from the ever-escalating spirals of sectarianism,
under which the Sunnis and Shias are killing each other because the
other side is not a &q ...