Iraqi family that helped U.S. troops shows scars

'Fingers are on the trigger'
"Never deal with the enemy and his allies,” said the notes, which included blurry photographs of armed insurgents. “Our eyes are wide open, and our fingers are on the trigger.”

Just weeks later, the threat was carried out. About a dozen gunmen burst into a Baghdad restaurant where Jamal was dining with his family, tried to abduct him, and — when he resisted — shot him dead in front of his wife, son and other relatives.

Fadi also was targeted, escaping injury in an attack on June 27, 2005. He fled to Jordan a few days later.

Hadeel, the sister, has lived in the United States since 1999 — successfully gaining asylum after a divorce in Turkey left her unable to take her son back to Iraq.

She works for Japan Airlines’ cargo division at John F. Kennedy International Airport; much of her energy is spent supporting Saamir, 36, and trying to reunite the extended family. She recently traveled to Turkey, escorting her mother to the U.S. consulate in Istanbul in an attempt to get her a visitor’s visa to America. It ended with the women in tears and no visa.

Saamir’s wife and two daughters were allowed to join him last September.

They live near Hadeel in the quiet Queens neighborhood of Middle Village, in an apartment far smaller than their former Baghdad home.

Adjusting to American days
The girls — aged 14 and 5 — attend public school, and are adjusting quickly to American ways. But their mother, Nada, still speaks little English.

In Iraq, Saamir produced and sold perfume, but that career seems defunct now — his wounds have left him without a sense of smell.

Nonetheless, his appearance and his ability to speak and eat are remarkably normal, considering the extent of his injuries. Much of the credit goes to Dr. Mahoj Abraham, a plastic surgeon based in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who heard about Saamir and — at no charge — performed complex reconstructive surgery on Saamir’s palate in April 2006.

Abraham listed the problems that continue to beset Saamir — blurred vision, breathing difficulties, some memory loss and dizziness — but lauded his attitude.

“He has always had a positive outlook, and has great hope for the future,” the doctor said. “He truly is an inspiration.”

Saamir is deeply grateful to Abraham and to Richard Chen, the immigration lawyer who helped him win asylum

Most people 'are nice'
“I’ve had so many people help me,” he said. “It’s a great country. All the people — most of them — are nice.”

Although he is unsure when peace will return to Iraq — “after 50 years, maybe” — he still believes the United States was right to invade.

“The terrorists make that disaster. The U.S. Army — they do their best. Not everything will be 100 percent great — but they do their best.”

Hadeel, like her brother, is grateful for the U.S. role in ousting Saddam, but now wishes American troops would leave Iraq.

“I feel so sorry for every American soldier who gets killed — it’s just not worth it,” she said. “This is going to go on forever. You don’t know who you’re fighting over there.”

Hadeel has conflicting emotions about the legions of displaced Iraqis, and the extent of America’s obligation to accommodate more of them.

“There are so many stories similar to ours — I know they can’t take everyone,” she said. “But people like us, they put their lives on the lines. They deserve to be here — they have no other place to go.”

At one point during a lengthy interview at Hadeel’s house, Saamir struggled with his English when asked whether he had any regrets now about working along with his brothers for the Americans. He turned to his sister for help.

“They believed they were helping the Iraqi people — they believed they were doing something for their country. But unfortunately — this is what we got,” she said.

“We lost our country, we lost our family. If we can be together, we would appreciate it.”

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