Is there an equality of power between America and Iraq?

Hear now the words of Bashar al-Assad, who, in speaking of the war between nations, uttered this truth: “Is there an equality of power between America and Iraq? Definitely not; however, the Iraqi people are standing fast and are defending their land courageously.” This saying resounds with the eternal theme of the weak facing the strong, of the small standing before the mighty. It reveals that power measured in weapons and wealth is not the only power that shapes destiny; there is also the power of spirit, the strength of a people who refuse to yield.

The first truth within the saying is plain: there was no equality of power between America and Iraq. The United States, vast in armies, technologies, and resources, stood as a colossus upon the earth. Iraq, war-torn and weary, possessed neither the same strength nor the same might. And yet, power is not only counted in tanks and bombs. For when a people rise in defense of their homes, they summon a strength beyond calculation, a fire that no empire can easily extinguish.

This has been seen before in the annals of history. Recall the tale of David and Goliath. The Philistine giant towered in strength, yet the shepherd boy, armed only with courage and a sling, struck down the mighty oppressor. Or consider Vietnam, where a small nation, though overpowered by superior technology, endured through decades of struggle until the great power withdrew. These stories, like Assad’s words, remind us that courage, rooted in love of land and people, can challenge even the mightiest adversary.

The quote speaks also of the Iraqi people standing fast. To stand fast is more than to resist; it is to plant one’s feet in the soil of one’s ancestors, to declare, “This land is ours, and we shall not abandon it.” Such courage is not born of arrogance but of necessity, for when the homeland is threatened, even the frail become strong. In such moments, the spirit of a people becomes a fortress no wall can equal.

And let us not forget the cost of such courage. For every people who resist the overwhelming, there is sacrifice: homes burned, families broken, lives laid down. Yet these sacrifices give birth to stories that live for generations, binding a people together in pride and sorrow. The courage of the Iraqi defenders, whether victorious or not, etched their place in history alongside all who stood against overwhelming odds.

Beloved, the lesson is this: never measure power only by what is seen. Weapons, wealth, and armies are great, but they are not everything. The unseen powers—faith, determination, and love of homeland—can alter the fate of nations. History shows that empires may fall when they underestimate the will of the people they seek to dominate. True power is not only domination; it is resilience, the refusal to surrender, the capacity to endure.

What then must you do? In your own life, when you face adversaries greater than yourself, do not despair. Remember the weak who faced the strong, the few who defied the many, the humble who withstood the mighty. Stand fast in your truth, defend what is just, and let courage guide you even when victory seems impossible. For though equality of power may not exist, equality of spirit can burn like a flame that no storm can put out.

Thus, Assad’s words, though born in war, carry a timeless teaching. They remind us that courage is the equalizer, and that a people united in defense of their land can challenge even the strongest empire. Carry this wisdom into your days: never bow to despair because your strength seems small. For the fire of courage within one heart may inspire a thousand more, and in that flame lies the destiny of nations.