-Caveat Lector- Doubts and Questions Slow Aid and Other Concerns Fuel Iraqi Discontent Toward United States
By John Donvan http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/iraq_safwan030322.html S A F W A N, Iraq, March 22 — They were unforgettable images: Residents of this southern Iraqi town openly welcoming coalition forces. They danced in the streets as a picture of Saddam Hussein was torn down. That was yesterday. Traveling unescorted into Safwan today, I got a far different picture. Rather than affection and appreciation, I saw a lot of hostility toward the coalition forces, the United States and President Bush. Some were even directed towards the media. (It was the first time I heard somebody refer to me as a "Satan.") To be sure, conversations with people on the street here begin relatively calmly. But the more they talked, the angrier they got. In part, much of their discontent stems from the unknown. In speaking with them, the newly-liberated Iraqis ask the same questions that seem to nag many outside Iraq. Why are you here in this country? Are you trying to take over? Are you going to take our country forever? Are the Israelis coming next? Are you here to steal our oil? When are you going to get out? Show Us the Aid But also fueling the simmering animosity among Iraqis here is the lack of physical aid and comfort, promised by the United States before the conflict began. The U.S. military said in press briefings today that supplies of food and medicine have been stockpiled and will be delivered to the Iraqi people as soon as possible. But for the residents of Safwan, "soon" isn't soon enough. We were told that some people here have been wounded. And we saw one man taken to a car so they could drive him to Kuwait for treatment. Others told us that three or four people had been wounded during the first night of the war and people were very bitter about that. The notion that the military has things under control isn't quite clear in other aspects as well. Some very reliable Western journalists I spoke with, said they had traveled down a road that the British military told them was clear. Twenty-minutes later, they discovered land mines on the highway. Elsewhere, journalists were running into gunfire. This is all within about 6 miles of the Kuwaiti border. I couldn't help but feel that today was a dicey day, a very dicey day. PRINT THIS PAGE | SEND THIS TO A FRIEND | VIEW MOST EMAILED WORLD NEWS TONIGHT HEADLINES · Satellites Give U.S. Deadly Aim · Secret Surrender Plan for Saddam · Bids to Rebuild Iraq · Iraq: Special Report Search Now: Copyright © 2003 ABCNEWS Internet Ventures. Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
