I agree, Mrs. Albright, my death is indeed 'worth it'

I agree, Mrs. Albright, my death is indeed 'worth it'

As a perilously undernourished nine-year-old child growing up in Iraq, my tortured existence has crept along without meaning for so long that the world rarely seems to make sense anymore. The U.N. sanctions against the country I was born in have created living conditions comparable only to a flaming pit of Hell, of which there is no escape, no hope.

By Maria Hanazi,
starving Iraqi child

In my weakened, sometimes delirious condition, I often find it hard to remember why it is so very crucial I be denied food or basic medical care: in order to punish my country's leaders for their unwillingness to allow the forcible disarming of our military.

Being so hungry, it is hard to keep this bigger picture in focus.

That is why, Secretary of State Mrs. Albright, I am so glad to have recently heard about your 1996 interview on 60 Minutes, the one during which Ms. Stahl asked if you thought the sanctions that have already killed half of a million of my helpless peers is 'worth it.'

Kudos to you, Mrs. Albright, for you had the guts to say what we were all thinking with your now-famous response. And I think I speak for the 5,000 impoverished children who expired this month from malnutrition and preventable diseases - and the millions more that eventually will - when I agree with your answer to Ms. Stahl's difficult question. Yes, Mrs. Albright, my death is indeed 'worth it.'

Thank you for reassuring me that my premature death will not be in vain.

Your brutally truthful words have reminded me that I must fulfill my duty as an innocent civilian caught in the crossfire of an international chess game somehow designed to make the world a safer, better place. My role in this effort, as most government officials will confirm, is to suffer needlessly and eventually die in the name of world peace.

Thank you for candidly sharing your thoughts with Ms. Stahl and the rest of the world, Mrs. Albright. Many of the children slowly dying from drinking our contaminated water supplies here in Iraq, including myself, were convinced that Americans had forgotten about us.

For it had been years since you yourself spoke to a group of impoverished children in Iraq, saying "Why would [I] and the United States care about what is happening here? The reason is we are all one family and when one part of our family is not happy or suffers, we all suffer."

Oh wait, that was in Guatemala.

Well, no matter; your statements echoed my personal belief that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. In this case, if my suffering is helping to make the world a better place - an opinion you shared during your interview - then starving to death is indeed worth it.

So do not think twice about supporting the U.N.'s sanctions, Mrs. Albright, as it will aid my contribution to world peace.

And know that you are in my prayers, as I am sure I am in yours.