Baghdad
bombing should open world's eyes
At
4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a cloud of smoke and
debris surrounded the structure of the Canal
Hotel in Baghdad. A cement truck filled
with explosives bombed the three-story building
used as headquarters to 300 United Nations'
employees. Twenty people have been confirmed
dead and more than 100 wounded, while many
others are still trapped under the rubble.
The number of victims is potentially higher
when we consider that a news conference
was being held during the blast.
While
President Bush played 11 holes of golf before
reacting to the news of the bombing, rescuers
frantically attempted to save the lives
of those trapped in the rubble. It seems
the war started by our feisty president
is still alive and well, even after he declared
major combat was over. Since May, when the
declaration was made, 61 U.S. soldiers have
been killed while stationed in Iraq.
Among
the 20 people confirmed dead was the newly
appointed United Nations envoy Sergio Vieira
de Mello. The 55-year-old Brazilian national
had worked for the United Nations since
1969.
To
all this chaos Bush responds by saying that
the terrorists are testing our will.
Where
are the so-called weapons of mass destruction?
Have we found any yet? Maybe this is why
other nations have not jumped at the opportunity
to send peacekeepers to Iraq. A nation with
citizens so brainwashed into submission
that some still long for the "protection"
of Saddam Hussein.
Perhaps
because they view the presence of the United
States and its envoys as a greater threat
to their society. While Americans may not
share this view, we can see that by these
actions that fear engenders even more violence
against peacekeepers and innocent civilians.
As
the number of injured soars in Baghdad hospitals,
we can try to understand Iraqi discontent
when we consider that many patients are
civilians who have nothing to do with politics
and are lacking beds, oxygen and other necessities.
Prior
to the bombing of the Canal Hotel, U.N.
officials refused heavy security to avoid
a large American presence, with the exception
of a concrete wall. Now the president offers
all possible assistance for rescue and recovery,
yet fails to substantiate measures to avoid
the repetition of such acts of violence.
But how many more lives are we willing to
give up in a war started by two madmen:
Saddam and Bush? How many more American
soldiers will need to be killed for Mr.
Bush's declarations of "we'll show
them whose boss?" Still, the number
of peacekeepers and civilians continue to
die around the world at the hands of mad
leaders like Osama, Saddam and Bush. What
can we do? Understand that supporting out
troops means wanting them alive, fight for
our nation, not our feisty president; then,
voice our reactions to this understanding.
Militant groups are overtly responsible
for these acts of terror, yet it is time
to consider alternatives to further violence.
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