Invasion Kuwait – Jihan Rajab
I have one very ragged copy of Jihan Rajab’s Invasion Kuwait which she published in 1996. All my house guests have been given an opportunity to read it, and not one single one has been other than blown-away.
When you look at Kuwait today, there is no sign that the disasterous invasion took place. The invasion and occupation are barely a blip on the screen of modern history, to those who were not involved.
And yet – when you listen to those who went through it, there are tales of sheer heroism. If you get the conversation started, in a group, you can hear hair-raising tales, heartbreaking tales, told by the people who went through it.
I had to buy the book through Amazon.com because I looked all over Kuwait and couldn’t find it, not even at the Tarek Rajab museum. When I bought it, I bought it used, because there were no new copies available, but this morning when I went to include the book in the Warrior Women post, I found that you can now buy it new, and I decided it was worth a post of it’s own. It is well worth a read, and it makes Kuwait so much more alive when you pass sites mentioned in the book and remember what took place there in Rajab’s book.
I have read one other book detailing the horrorific experience in Kuwait, but that is all. Are there others? Are there books on the invasion, and the individual experiences, written in Arabic?
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Mmm I just found one on Amazon, written by someone who I think is currently a media/communications professor at Kuwait University:
Ayyam al-qahr al-kuwaitiyya: min al-thani aghostos 1990 hatta 27 Febrayir 1991 (Yawmiyyat), by Dalal Faysal Zaban.
Days of the subduing of Kuwait: from August 2, 1990 to February 27, 1991 (Diary).
Google unearths a Dalal Al Zaban who teaches at Kuwait U, as well as a Dalal Zaban who is a massage therapist in Florida. I’m guessing the first Dalal is the author 🙂
You are always amazing, Little Diamond. Thank you!
Hello there : ) I know of two books by the same author, but they are written in Arabic, is that ok? They are by Laila Al- Othman, the first is called “Ayyam El Sabr wal Mor” in which she talks about her personal experience of the occupation, it was really gripping, I highly recommend it. The other is called “Hawjez Sawda’a”, it’s a collection of short stories, but I haven’t read it. Hope this helps.
Thank you, Vixenfatale. I wish I could read Arabic well enough to read a whole book, but I am still pretty much at the sounding out the letters stage. Reading a whole book would take me a lifetime.
I am really happy because my neice, Little Diamond, could read them, and also, there are readers here who CAN read Arabic, and you have just passed along really good information to them, too.
Many thanks.
Here’s one: http://www.trafford.com/4dcgi/view-item?item=17692
I am very glad : ) hopefully if the books get translated i’ll let you know, & good luck with learning arabic 🙂
” Trapped in Kuwait” by John & Roberta Hogan, westerners living in kwt during the iraqi invation of Aug/2, is a true story . In their journal we see the rape and pillage of the country as seen through the eyes of this American couple.
A countdown to Armageddon
There are a lot of stories you can hear if you sit with Kuwaitis and get them started on the invasion. It’s a depressing topic though. Lots of people died or were imprisoned. Girls raped. Really diverse methods of torture used. My family was personally effected by it.
But anyway, it’s strange that you mention it because a few weeks ago I was wondering why no one seems to celebrate the heroes that did not die in the invasion. Those who participated in the Kuwaiti resistence without ever getting caught or killed. I heard that our neighbour was a real hero during the invasion and he’s an older man who’s still alive so why isn’t he celebrated as a hero? He should be.
Thank you, Magical, that looks like another great book!
Thank you, Hayfa, I haven’t heard of that one before. I am eager to read it. There are so many amazing stories from the war that we rarely hear.
You are so right, Zin/1001, there are stories out there that are almost painful to hear, but worth the hearing. And yes, there are so many unsung heros. Hmmmmmm. . . . know any writers? 😉 This would make an amazing book, full of the personal experiences, and it might be cathartic for those participating. Or a series of news articles in one of the papers . . . Men – and women.
I’ve written one! Well, it’s mostly a social commentary and includes the invasion. I just haven’t gotten off of my lazy ass and tried to get it published yet.
Well get off your lazy a$$ and get that book published, HARMONIE22! I love your writing. And, btw, I have added your language intensive and social-issues-sensitive blog to my blogroll. Loved the lastest poem.
Thank you 🙂
😉