'Gulf'

I was signed up for the war a few weeks ago. I don’t really want to fight, but I don’t have much of a choice. Saddam Hussein has told us that the Americans are evil and against Allah. They’re very bad. I left home a few weeks before. I have my gun with me and for the past few days I have been living in a foxhole with Akbar, Ali and another Saddam. We’ve already been in combat, and I’ve seen people drop dead in front of me. It’s all the American’s though. My friends agree. They’re fighting a dirty war, using their planes to fire at us at night. I’m fairly scared, but I don’t want to go home without any honor.

Last night was a bad night. Two guards were found sleeping in the watchtower. We never get enough sleep. They bomb us at night and keep us awake. Anyway, they shot the two guards and made us watch. But you have to try and forget these things. It’s like what Ali says, “ You have to try to forget these things, and keep your wits about you.” But it’s har...