Iraqi family that helped U.S. troops shows scars

[Contrary1]

Life is tough for many who celebrated when Saddam Saddam was toppled

NEW YORK - The three Ali brothers — Saamir, Jamal and Fadi — were among those Iraqis elated when U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein. They eagerly offered their services as translators and suppliers for the troops.

Four years later, Jamal, the eldest, is dead — shot in front of his family at a Baghdad restaurant while resisting abduction. Fadi, the youngest, fled after a near-miss assassination attempt. He spent the past two years uprooted in Jordan, seeking a place of permanent refuge.

And Saamir, granted asylum in the United States, lives in New York City, struggling to find work, lucky to be alive. He still suffers the aftereffects of an insurgent’s bullet that slammed through his right cheek in 2004, tore a hole in the roof of his mouth and exited under his left eye.

“I am glad I helped the Americans — but I am sad for what happened to my family,” he says softly.

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