Thursday, May 24, 2007

Liberation of Khorramshahr

In those days there was no internet and the best way of obtaining upto date news was by constantly tuning the short wave radio from one station to another. Everyone knew the importance of what was at stake and how it would be a turning point in repelling the Ba'athist aggressors. Iran's once feared professional army was emasculated and a large number of our best air force officers had been executed after the Shahrokhi air base uprising. So much depended on the courage of what was left of the military, the revolutionary guards, the volunteers and the local people of Khorramshahr. It was a test of courage against armour. It was a moment where our differences were forgotten. The only thing that mattered was defeating Saddam's forces.

BBC 'analysts' were skeptic of a quick conclusion, saying making the masses of Iraqi forces to retreat from the city would be a tough nut to crack or something like that.

Finally the state radio announcement that we had all been waiting for, came. "Dear listeners! Dear listeners! Please pay attention!" Our hearts stopped beating for a second, was it good news or bad? "...Khorramshahr, the city of blood - Khoonin Shahr - has been liberated."

The joy from hearing the news is impossible to put down in words. Still we wanted other sources to confirm the news. The tuning knob was turned back and forward so many times that it just came off in my hand and we were left with the annoying crackling white noise you hear in between stations.

I am not sure if I read in the papers over the next few days or how, but I remember how I laughed my head off at Saddam's propaganda machine's claims that the Iraqi forces had taken part in an 'organised retreat, having established all their military objectives!' Yeah Right Mr. Gobels!

This was the best moment to make Saddam concede. He was on his knees and willing to pay Iran compensation. Sadly those who profited from the continuation of the war or had some illusions of expanding the Islamic Republic to Iraq, had the upper hand. A golden opportunity to end the war as victors was denied to our nation and 8 years later, after so many Iranians were maimed and martyred, the poison chalice had to be drunk.

Today all of us Iranians should remember those who fell in the epic battle for liberation of Khorramshahr. Today we should honour those who still suffer the injuries of the eight year war and make sure they are not forgotten.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What are the cost in terms of blood and treasure for Khomeini's delusional and psychopatic ambition? I for one cannot forgive this bastard. My Nazanin brother would have been alive if that monster had accepted the truce Saadam had offered.

Azarmehr said...

I salute your brother dear Serendip and all those who lost their lives in defending Iran.

Anonymous said...

پتکين گرامی،ـ
با سپاس به خاطر يادآوری آزادي خرمشهر عزيز از دست ارتش عراق. اکنون خرمشهر، هرچند خسته و زخمی، ولی با دليری ايرانيان زنده و پا بر جا مانده است. و صدام حسين نابکار که خود را سردار قادسية دوم می ناميد، آرزوی دستيابی به خاک مقدس ايرانمان را با خود به گور برد.ـ
در عين حال فراموش نکنيم که اين انقلاب منحوس اسلامی بود که بنية دفاعی ايران را تضعيف کرد و بعثی ها را به هوس ناممکن تسخير بخشهايی از کشورمان انداخت. از هواری بومدين رييس جمهوری وقت الجزاير نقل می شود که به صدام حسين اخطار داده بود که فکر های خام در بارة ايران را به دور بريزد، زيرا محمدرضاشاه او (صدام حسين) را به عنوان صبحانه ميل خواهد کرد.ـ
سرنديپ عزيز، همدردی مرا در سوگ از دست دادن برادر بپذير. سهراب سپهری می گويد «مرگ پايان کبوتر نيست!» هيچ ايرانی خمينی و ياران او را نخواهد بخشيد. ننگ و بدنامی ابدی برآنان است.ـ

Anonymous said...

Thank you Azarmerh. Anniversary of his death is coming up shortly and my ulcer is acting up again..hahaha

Anonymous said...

It was our Stalingrad, I believe!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot.

Bardia said...

نام از دست رفتگان را زندگان زنده میدارند پس آنان همواره در کنارمان خواهند بود