Two days later, at the Iligo National Assembly Building.
Samir sat in the back row of the observer area of the assembly seats, wearing a brand new military uniform, with the rank of Lieutenant General on his epaulettes glinting faintly under the lights of the assembly hall.
His hands were clasped tightly together, knuckles somewhat white.
In the hall, the members of the assembly were entering one after another.
When Member Hashimi came in, he nodded slightly in Samir's direction, then walked to his seat.
A few members of the Kurdish parliamentary blocs gathered and whispered together, occasionally glancing at the rostrum.
At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, the Speaker knocked the gavel.
"Let's now review Ministry of Defense Proposal No. 147: the proposal to form the Border Defense Tenth Division and incorporate parts of civilian armed forces."
For the next three hours, Samir endured the longest wait of his life.
