Between Two Worlds: Review

Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam
(2005: Gotham Books)

Zainab Salbi and Laurie Becklund

by Deborah Lake

“...a personal intimate look at the soul-crushing impact of Hussein's Iraq...Now, with her chilling memoir, the lies end.” The Washington Post

“More can be learned about Iraq from this book than from all the newscasts.” Alice Walker
“...exquisite and painful...” Ellen Chesler

Zainab Salbi lived a peaceful and privileged childhood in Baghdad. Then, her father was chosen to be Saddam's personal pilot. She explains the dramatic and drastic changes wrought upon her parents, and indeed all of Iraq, by Hussein's megalomania.

I don't want to toss in a spoiler, but let me say this. Saddam's sons were notorious rapists. They learned it at their father's knee.

Saddam also “rebuilt” the hanging gardens of Babylon. That is to say, he destroyed them, and rebuilt them with bricks bearing his name.

The Iraqis are certainly worse off under US invasion and occupation than they were under Hussein. That does not excuse the fact that Hussein was a psychopathic monster who inflicted two generations worth of horror upon his people. It was JUST FINE with the USA, as long as he was OUR psychopathic monster.

Zainab was approximately eleven years old when her Bibi was tapped to serve as Hussein's pilot. Hussein drew people into relationships against their will then used any means possible to keep them at heel. This destructive power eventually ended her parents' marriage, which seemed quite happy to her as a child.

Families were ripped asunder. Anyone suspected of having “Persian” blood was deported. It mattered not the truth of their ancestry.

“My parents had zero interest in politics....because both schools and airlines were nationalized...my parents had to join the Baath Party like most Iraqis just to hold a job. There were several levels of membership...everyone came to know the difference between getting along and being a true believer. The entry level, endorser, was the least you could get away with...Later, of course, it became clear to us all that to rise in the ranks of the Baath Party, you had to write reports on other people, in other words, become a spy.”

Zainab's co-author, Laurie Beckland, captures Zainab's guileless narration of life under Hussein, and the horrors she endured both in Iraq, and when it became clear that she was in danger, after her arrival in the USA.

After her recovery, she founded the charity Women for Women International, which is one of the smartest and sanest charities I have encountered. Not only does the organization provide direct help for women and their children in war zones, they educate men in women's rights. A pilot project in the Congo has yielded amazing results. Families now go from door to door, talking about their new happiness, now that the men know that they do not have to brutalize their wives.

I co-sponsor an Afghani woman. She has not written to me yet, but we can write a letter a month. The only constraints on correspondence occur because of the limited time of volunteer translators.

Bush signed a bill shredding the facade of liberty in the U$A today

On the day that corporations and the U$ government officially merged: aka passage of telecom immunity under FISA reauthorization.

*** Show messages from: Today | This week | Last 30 days | Beginning ***
[7/10/2008 9:39:28 PM] Idacta says: Hi, this is the chat.
[7/10/2008 9:39:43 PM] hypatia says: yo
[7/10/2008 9:39:47 PM] oz says: (devil)
[7/10/2008 9:40:19 PM] Smartquestions says: Oh boy Oz! Your ready to go, hey!?!?
[7/10/2008 9:40:30 PM] hypatia says: (hug)
[7/10/2008 9:40:59 PM] hypatia says: how cool!
[7/10/2008 9:41:38 PM] kalena says: We're (*)s.
[7/10/2008 9:41:48 PM] oz says: (talk)
[7/10/2008 9:42:37 PM] *** Idacta added LegalCharades to this chat
***
[7/10/2008 9:42:40 PM] hypatia says: I loved going to Green Party plenaries. All meetings are chaired by both a man and a woman.
[7/10/2008 9:42:49 PM] hypatia says: It's a whole different vibe.
[7/10/2008 9:42:59 PM] LegalCharades says: looks like it
[7/10/2008 9:43:05 PM] hypatia says: Van Jones from Ella Baker Center???
[7/10/2008 9:43:17 PM] hypatia says: Van is awesome. Everyone should get to hear him.
[7/10/2008 9:43:24 PM] kalena says: http://www.uua. org/events/ generalassembly/ 2008/commonthrea ds/115749. shtml Link to Van Jones Video
[7/10/2008 9:43:27 PM] hypatia says: I would love to work for him.
[7/10/2008 9:43:37 PM] hypatia says: He's in Oakland, CA
[7/10/2008 9:43:55 PM] oz says: Hi lc
[7/10/2008 9:44:07 PM] LegalCharades says: hi how are you
[7/10/2008 9:44:14 PM] oz says: oh a little gassy
[7/10/2008 9:44:18 PM] oz says: the usual
[7/10/2008 9:45:23 PM] oz says: why?
[7/10/2008 9:45:31 PM] oz says: It was a greaT VOTE
[7/10/2008 9:45:32 PM] oz says: LOL
[7/10/2008 9:45:35 PM] oz says: fOR THEM
[7/10/2008 9:45:47 PM] oz says: TRAITORS!
[7/10/2008 9:45:58 PM] oz says: PELOSI !
[7/10/2008 9:46:09 PM] LegalCharades says: 21 Dems in the Senate voted for it all the Republicans voted for it
[7/10/2008 9:46:22 PM] oz says: AND hILLARY VOTED AGAINST IT
[7/10/2008 9:46:25 PM] oz says: lol
[7/10/2008 9:46:31 PM] LegalCharades says: 28 Dems voted against it
[7/10/2008 9:46:32 PM] oz says: of course
[7/10/2008 9:46:38 PM] oz says: big mistake on his part
[7/10/2008 9:46:47 PM] oz says: politically stupis
[7/10/2008 9:46:54 PM] LegalCharades says: 105 Dems in the House voted for it
[7/10/2008 9:47:05 PM] hypatia says: A friend said last night that the candidates are controlled by their big donors.
[7/10/2008 9:47:12 PM] LegalCharades says: No Republican voted against it
[7/10/2008 9:47:19 PM] hypatia says: So one of Obama's big donors twisted his arm.
[7/10/2008 9:47:33 PM] hypatia says: Not even Arlen Specter? He was hot!
[7/10/2008 9:48:30 PM] LegalCharades says: What about the pukes?
[7/10/2008 9:48:37 PM] hypatia says: Specter wondered when Congress was going to declare independence from the Executive Branch.
[7/10/2008 9:48:47 PM] LegalCharades says: only 1 puke voted against it in the Senate
[7/10/2008 9:48:54 PM] LegalCharades says: none in the House
[7/10/2008 9:49:12 PM] oz says: They are foolish
[7/10/2008 9:49:24 PM] hypatia says: why should anything be different now
[7/10/2008 9:49:33 PM] hypatia says: most people in lala land most of the time
[7/10/2008 9:49:42 PM] oz says: its not even about the money
[7/10/2008 9:49:50 PM] oz says: its about power
[7/10/2008 9:50:10 PM] LegalCharades says: Warrants are still required
[7/10/2008 9:50:40 PM] oz says: (puke)
[7/10/2008 9:50:50 PM] hypatia says: We slapped Conyers around last October for a half an hour at the National Lawyers Guild convention.
[7/10/2008 9:51:03 PM] hypatia says: He's a great friend to humanity most of the time.
[7/10/2008 9:51:16 PM] hypatia says: Someone sat on Conyers.
[7/10/2008 9:51:25 PM] oz says: and pooped
[7/10/2008 9:51:38 PM] hypatia says: They wanted to stall impeachment until it would cripple Bush the least.
[7/10/2008 9:51:57 PM] hypatia says: Now, it will not stop one Bush executive order or appointment.
[7/10/2008 9:52:20 PM] hypatia says: But they would get political brownie points for doing the "right thing."
[7/10/2008 9:52:28 PM] oz says: I agree Idacta
[7/10/2008 9:52:30 PM] hypatia says: lol oz
[7/10/2008 9:52:35 PM] oz says: its crap!
[7/10/2008 9:52:37 PM] oz says: yes
[7/10/2008 9:52:44 PM] oz says: you bet!
[7/10/2008 9:52:50 PM] oz says: facisim
[7/10/2008 9:52:50 PM] hypatia says: that's what all the Demo candidates have done since Clinton
[7/10/2008 9:52:56 PM] hypatia says: appease the fascists
[7/10/2008 9:53:07 PM] oz says: jinx hypatialol
[7/10/2008 9:53:20 PM] hypatia says: and people wonder why the the Dems are not seen as having a moral center
[7/10/2008 9:53:50 PM] hypatia says: There was a seismic shift today.
[7/10/2008 9:53:56 PM] oz says: We have no leaders in the Democrat party just a couple the rest are reps
[7/10/2008 9:56:33 PM] oz says: :x
[7/10/2008 9:57:31 PM] oz says: (bow)
[7/10/2008 9:58:42 PM] Jezzie says: yes oz
[7/10/2008 9:59:22 PM] Jezzie says: we are complacent
[7/10/2008 10:00:37 PM] hypatia says: I think that we should hold "craft-ins" at congress and senate offices.
[7/10/2008 10:00:54 PM] hypatia says: I am making beaded jewelry to sell at the Farmers Market.
[7/10/2008 10:01:05 PM] oz says: yes but slowly
[7/10/2008 10:01:06 PM] hypatia says: I could do that and occupy someone's office at the same time.
[7/10/2008 10:01:15 PM] oz says: they seem like they don't know what to do
[7/10/2008 10:01:33 PM] oz says: yes thats a worry bill
[7/10/2008 10:01:42 PM] hypatia says: Compare Provisions of Hitler's laws with FISA Amendments act of 2008: http://www.indybay. org/newsitems/ 2008/07/06/ 18514030. php From lc
[7/10/2008 10:01:50 PM] oz says: Kalr rove thumbed his nose at conyers today
[7/10/2008 10:01:57 PM] oz says: Karl
[7/10/2008 10:02:00 PM] oz says: arrrg
[7/10/2008 10:02:16 PM] hypatia says: They are going after inherent contempt against Rove.
[7/10/2008 10:03:11 PM] oz says: http://therealnews. com/t/index. php?option= com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=1862&updaterx=2008- 07-10+13% 3A29%3A38
[7/10/2008 10:03:28 PM] LegalCharades says: FISA Amendment Act "A Better Bill"": http://www.newspape rtree.com/ opinion/2572- reyes-fisa- amendments- act-a-better- bill
[7/10/2008 10:03:38 PM] oz says: :@
[7/10/2008 10:04:07 PM] hypatia says: appropriate emoticon, oz
[7/10/2008 10:04:10 PM] oz says: hypatiayou are so right They are sitting on Conyers
[7/10/2008 10:04:18 PM] LegalCharades says: Fact sheet on FISA: http://online. wsj.com/article/ SB12139136094929 0049.html? mod=googlenews_ wsj
[7/10/2008 10:04:24 PM] Jezzie says: (u)
[7/10/2008 10:04:26 PM] oz says: They told him he is history if he dosen't back off
[7/10/2008 10:04:47 PM] hypatia says: lol nell
[7/10/2008 10:05:00 PM] hypatia says: hey, nell, the fund is up to $140!
[7/10/2008 10:05:00 PM] oz says: The BlueDems and the pukes will trash him!
[7/10/2008 10:05:26 PM] LegalCharades says: I callled the entire Congressional Black Caucus today
[7/10/2008 10:05:37 PM] hypatia says: what did you say, lc?
[7/10/2008 10:05:44 PM] LegalCharades says: I called Robert Wexler
[7/10/2008 10:06:11 PM] LegalCharades says: I called my own Rep. Shelley Berkeley
[7/10/2008 10:07:18 PM] Jezzie says: i'm not on the dems team
[7/10/2008 10:07:24 PM] LegalCharades says: I called the entire Congressional Black Caucus
[7/10/2008 10:07:45 PM] Jezzie says: i love kucinich
[7/10/2008 10:08:19 PM] LegalCharades says: I asked them to stand in support of Wexler's demand for Statutory Contempt title 2 USC section 192
[7/10/2008 10:08:28 PM] hypatia says: what, Cherri????
[7/10/2008 10:08:31 PM] LegalCharades says: And the Inherent Contempt
[7/10/2008 10:08:33 PM] hypatia says: that's obscene
[7/10/2008 10:09:19 PM] Jezzie says: thats what i thought
[7/10/2008 10:09:23 PM] hypatia says: I think that Dennis the k was given the OK to introduce one article today.
[7/10/2008 10:09:39 PM] hypatia says: So the Dems can LOOK like they are attending to business.
[7/10/2008 10:09:48 PM] hypatia says: while they postpone it
[7/10/2008 10:09:50 PM] hypatia says: LMAO
[7/10/2008 10:10:30 PM] hypatia says: The process has been co-opted
[7/10/2008 10:10:34 PM] Jezzie says: it will be one soon, Idacta
[7/10/2008 10:10:44 PM] hypatia says: looool
[7/10/2008 10:10:55 PM] LegalCharades says: Kucinich: Impeachment not off the table: http://www.scoop. co.nz/stories/ HL0806/S00290. htm
[7/10/2008 10:11:22 PM] Jezzie says: lc, so great hypatiabrought u here, hugs
[7/10/2008 10:12:24 PM] hypatia says: I agree, Bill.
[7/10/2008 10:12:48 PM] Jezzie says: i agree, Idacta
[7/10/2008 10:12:56 PM] Smartquestions says: We need the entire Congress exposed!
[7/10/2008 10:12:56 PM] hypatia says: looool
[7/10/2008 10:13:11 PM] Jezzie says: right cherri
[7/10/2008 10:14:14 PM] hypatia says: sound going bad
[7/10/2008 10:14:28 PM] hypatia says: echoes for me
[7/10/2008 10:14:58 PM] hypatia says: better now
[7/10/2008 10:15:22 PM] LegalCharades says: Pelosi: House Judiciary Committee may hold impeachment Hearings: http://www.huffingt onpost.com/ 2008/07/10/ pelosi-house- judiciary- co_n_111976. html?page= 2
[7/10/2008 10:17:12 PM] LegalCharades says: Pelosii says Impeachment is a go
[7/10/2008 10:17:17 PM] LegalCharades says: http://www.huffingt onpost.com/ 2008/07/10/ pelosi-house- judiciary- co_n_111976. html?page= 2
[7/10/2008 10:18:44 PM] hypatia says: hell, Idacta
[7/10/2008 10:19:05 PM] LegalCharades says: Did you read that Deb
[7/10/2008 10:19:37 PM] Jezzie says: well this is my same feeling about the u.s. govt -- that it has a shadow frame as a system
[7/10/2008 10:19:53 PM] hypatia says: yes
[7/10/2008 10:19:58 PM] LegalCharades says: ok
[7/10/2008 10:19:59 PM] hypatia says: not yet lc
[7/10/2008 10:20:04 PM] LegalCharades says: oh
[7/10/2008 10:20:07 PM] Jezzie says: what we call a shadow govt
[7/10/2008 10:20:08 PM] LegalCharades says: http://www.huffingt onpost.com/ 2008/07/10/ pelosi-house- judiciary- co_n_111976. html?page= 2
[7/10/2008 10:20:26 PM] hypatia says: read it
[7/10/2008 10:22:32 PM] hypatia says: McCain's top ten ways to KILL IRANIANS http://www.huffingt onpost.com/ andy-borowitz/ mccain-issues- top-ten-fun_ b_111631. html
[7/10/2008 10:22:43 PM] hypatia says: holy crap!
[7/10/2008 10:24:02 PM] LegalCharades says: under the FISA Amendments there is no Telecom immunity
[7/10/2008 10:24:53 PM] Jezzie says: right, karen
[7/10/2008 10:26:02 PM] hypatia says: all the more reason for localizing
[7/10/2008 10:26:06 PM] LegalCharades says: House passes FISA Amendments with no Telecom immunity: http://www.betanews .com/article/ House_passes_ FISA_amendments_ without_telecom_ immunity/ 1195252916
[7/10/2008 10:26:25 PM] Jezzie says: right, cherry
[7/10/2008 10:26:32 PM] Jezzie says: obama is a decoy
[7/10/2008 10:26:53 PM] hypatia says: the favorite stalling tactic of politicians is "sending it to committee" or "ordering a study."
[7/10/2008 10:27:18 PM] Jezzie says: good point deb
[7/10/2008 10:27:56 PM] hypatia says: ty nell
[7/10/2008 10:28:27 PM] hypatia says: yes, cooptation is how social movements are destroyed
[7/10/2008 10:28:32 PM] hypatia says: or crippled
[7/10/2008 10:28:49 PM] hypatia says: the right has made it seem like a lot more happened in the 60s than really happened
[7/10/2008 10:29:32 PM] LegalCharades says: FISA amendments vote on July 8: dump Telecom retroactive Immunity!: http://www.freegovi nfo.info/ node/1923
[7/10/2008 10:29:40 PM] kalena says: Read Herbert Marcuse, One Dimensional Man.
[7/10/2008 10:29:41 PM] hypatia says: occupy someone's office!
[7/10/2008 10:29:48 PM] hypatia says: I love Marcuse
[7/10/2008 10:30:02 PM] kalena says: Me Too. Eros and Civilization.
[7/10/2008 10:30:04 PM] oz says: Cry havoc and let slip the dogs ofsocial revolution to socialism?
[7/10/2008 10:30:10 PM] hypatia says: he has helped me understand much of what's going on
[7/10/2008 10:30:15 PM] kalena says: Me too.
[7/10/2008 10:30:21 PM] hypatia says: I just learned about "surplus repression"
[7/10/2008 10:30:35 PM] kalena says: I need a refresher on what that means.
[7/10/2008 10:30:52 PM] hypatia says: More social control than needed for capitalism to work effectively. ..
[7/10/2008 10:30:59 PM] hypatia says: as in right wing xtian fundamentalism
[7/10/2008 10:34:30 PM] oz says: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=TXFMCa2hS4c
[7/10/2008 10:34:52 PM] LegalCharades says: Yes I have seen that
[7/10/2008 10:35:12 PM] LegalCharades says: thanks
[7/10/2008 10:35:41 PM] hypatia says: good?
[7/10/2008 10:35:45 PM] hypatia says: okies
[7/10/2008 10:36:08 PM] oz says: http://www.imdb. com/title/ tt0492931/
[7/10/2008 10:36:21 PM] hypatia says: he left
[7/10/2008 10:37:22 PM] hypatia says: cool Oz!
[7/10/2008 10:38:20 PM] Jezzie says: sounds cool
[7/10/2008 10:38:24 PM] hypatia says: Paltalk also works for Macs now
[7/10/2008 10:38:39 PM] hypatia says: but the video quality would not be good unless you paid
[7/10/2008 10:38:55 PM] hypatia says: so forget it LOL
[7/10/2008 10:39:37 PM] hypatia says: "reality" shows
[7/10/2008 10:39:42 PM] hypatia says: dancing shows
[7/10/2008 10:39:52 PM] Jezzie says: no, not at all, ozy
[7/10/2008 10:39:59 PM] hypatia says: YAY!
[7/10/2008 10:40:03 PM] hypatia says: awwww!
[7/10/2008 10:40:15 PM] hypatia says: IOU you some answers, sq!
[7/10/2008 10:40:18 PM] hypatia says: WOW cool!
[7/10/2008 10:42:41 PM] hypatia says: night all!
[7/10/2008 10:42:47 PM] oz says: (hug)
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