How the Supreme Party Began
spoke. “The Supreme Party was first created in Iraq to support the revolution and to make sure the National Army, in any situation, could not change the regime.”
“Oh, you mean it was designed to prevent a coup, right?” asked Kelly. “It was a force to take care of the army?”
“Exactly,” replied Mohammed, nodding his head. “They were, and are, very popular in Iraq, even today, because they led the fight with Iraq for a good eight years. The members did many brave things. They showed their gallantry by not getting any support from other countries. They were completely on their own.”
When Mohammed spoke of the Supreme Party, a feeling of pride reflected in his eyes, and his voice was full with conviction, sincerity, and satisfaction. His love for his country and its people was evident in every word he spoke.
“Wow, that’s amazing that Iraq, a small country, and its people were on their own. No support, no help, considering that given same situation, other countries would normally rally support from neighboring countries Iraq had help from more than thirty Arab and European countries,” said Kelly. She was impressed to hear what Mohammed had to tell her about his country and its people. She had always taken Iraq to be a small, war-torn country ruled by religious fundamentalists. She understood the pride that he felt for his country. Kelly saluted Mohammed with two fingers of her right hand. “All this gives me goose bumps!”
Ali looked straight at Mohammed and spoke again. “And they started that war! How do you know so much?” Except for the fact that Kelly and Mohammed had saved Ali’s life—a life he had already committed to his country—he had no reasons to trust them. “How does this man sitting in the city of New York in the United States of America know so much about my country and our struggle?” Just by keeping a few Iraqi artifacts, one does not become a nationalist, thought Ali.
Mohammed did not offer a verbal reply to what Ali had asked; instead, he reached into his shirt, took out his old Iraqi Army ID tags, and held them up and smiled at Ali. With a great amount of effort, Ali, too, reached into his shirt and pulled out his own Army ID tags. Kelly realized she was not in the company of two ordinary men but rather two old-timers, war veterans bound by a common past, common roots, and a common origin. An unspoken bond formed between the two men.