An Actor’s Opinions
The Sept. 2 Outtakes column asks, “How far will publicists go to exploit the current Mideast crisis?” and then notes that as a cast member of the movie “Navy SEALS” I was asked for my opinions.
The author of the Outtakes item either purposefully omitted certain information or did not adequately research my past.
If he had, he might have discovered that my grandfather was secretary of the Council of Ministers in Iraq and later became the minister of justice and education; further, that my father was an Iraqi diplomat for 20 years.
My mother, like myself, is American. We lived in Baghdad in the early ‘60s and were present during the overthrow and subsequent assassination of Abdul Kareem Kasem.
A friend felt this gave me a unique perspective of the current crisis and, sans renumeration, made public my opinions about Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Rather than exploitation, it was an honest effort to counteract the vilification of Arabs in the American media. My portrayal of the terrorist in “Navy SEALS” notwithstanding, I believe my background warrants an opinion.
NICHOLAS KADI
Burbank
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