He and his family are political refugees living in Lynnwood. They fled what he calls "the most troubling place" five years ago.

"The Iraqi president Saddam Hussein said anybody who worked with foreigners 'is a criminal or traitor and all would be killed,' " according to Zebari.

That death threat included Ali's family.

His father had done business with American companies.

Ali's family, which includes seven brothers and a sister, were granted political asylum. "My grandparents and my cousins all live in northern Iraq, we are worried if a war happens," he says.

Now the war drums are getting louder. After hearing Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech Wednesday, Ali's family is now afraid to leave the television. They constantly monitor Kurdish and Arabic news reports.

They're not worried about what the U.S. will do. They fear how Saddam Hussein will react.

"I'm sure if it comes to the point, Iraqi president would do anything to stay in power and use chemical weapons on anybody who he hates," Zebari said.

He remembers how he was treated when he was born with a brittle bone disease, but theer were no doctors and no medicine. "I remember a lot of times my legs broke and it healed by themselves," he said.

From such a ruthless dictator, Ali's family fears war is inevitable.

"Kurdish people are strong enough and they are prepared to go through anything," Zebari said. He says they know if the U.S. does nothing - nothing will change for the Iraqi people, who are already dying a slow death under Saddam Hussein.