Today is the 14th of July, the anniversary of the revolution which put Iraqi on the path of Republican rule. The revolution which was led by the former Iraqi president Abdul Kareem Qasim or as my father always loves to call him the most honest Iraqi president. I'm sure only some American politicians and few history lecturers who studied the Middle East history know this name.

         Abdul Kareem Qasim was a brigadier in the Iraqi army. Many stories were written and told about him but almost all of the stories shared two main facts. He was very clever and patriotic. One of the most famous stories about him was the story of forgiving the executed Iraqi president Saddam when he (Saddam) and his followers failed in assassinating him in al Rasheed Street in the 7th of October 1959. When the security forces arrested Saddam and his followers, Abdul Kareem Qasim issued an amnesty order. His quotation which is driven from the holy Quran is still vary famous (let bygones be bygones). Sometimes, I blame him for being so kind and so human and he should at least give them a life sentence. His kindness with the wrong people brought us nothing but pain and sadness. He was killed later by the same people, the Baath Party in a faked trial in the building of the defense ministry. the court lasted for minutes and death sentence was issued quickly.

          My father reminds me from time to time how humble was Qasim. He says that in one of the rainy days of winter and while he riding his bicycle going to his bakery he didn't pay attention and mud splattered onto Qasim's uniform. Qasim was wandering in Kadhemiyah neighborhood. An officer shouted at my father and asked him "do you know who this guy is?" My father answered "No, I don't". The officer said "This is the leader of Iraq. This is the president of Iraq Abdul Kareem Qasim). My father was shocked and he wanted to go to Qasim to apologize but Qasim smiled and said "GO to your work young man. God Bless you. Its not a big deal. Its only mud" and he blamed the officer for shouting at my father saying "why did you stop the man? He didn't mean it." Abdul Kareem Qasim used to visit all the areas of Baghdad by himself and he used to have only three people with him, a driver and two guards while any general director in these days move through Baghdad streets with at least 8 vehicles convoy that includes at least 20 guards although his Excellency the general director can do to Iraq only  0,0001% of what Qasim had done because no one thinks about Iraq as the great Abdul Kareem Qasim used to. He used to consider Iraq his house and its his duty to take care of his family while they (most of the directors and officials) don't think about how much they give their big house Iraq. They think about how much they earn from Iraq neglecting the house and the residents in this house. When I hear such great stories about the BEST IRAQI PRESIDENT and when I remember my lost 38 years of my age, I wish I were burn to see him.

          When Saddam's regime was collapsed. some people removed the statue of the man who tried to assassinate Qasim in the same place where the assassination attempt took place. This statue was put by Saddam's regime. It was removed by the angry people and they put the statue of Abdul Qasim. That was the first honoring.  I still remember the clip of the old man who stood in front of the statue of Qasim and saluted him and read Surat al Fatiha ( a chapter of the holy Quran that people dedicate for the souls of people who they love and respect). Today and while I was watching TV, I read that the government decided to change the name of one of the most famous streets in downtown Baghdad from the 14th of Ramadhan Street into Abdul Kareem Qasim Street. This is not really enough. I believe the government should pay retirement salary to the rest of Qasim's family.

          Rest in Peace our beloved Leader. We miss you in these hard days and we really need you but we have no choice but to accept God' will. You will be forever in the hearts of the people who loved your humbleness, your generosity and your patriotism.