|
Sunday, March 23, 2003
In the eyes of the child
IT WAS like a countdown for the whole world, a world praying that the war will not push through while admitting that US President George Bush has already made his mind up even before the resolutions of the United Nations on Iraq.
As the whole world virtually held its collective breath waiting for the first bomb to explode, some children in Davao City are seemingly unaware.
"Ambot, unsa man na, wala ko kabalo (I don't know anything about that)," was the evasive reply of Bryan Kim Durano, 10, when asked what he thinks of the war.
Kevin Jay Calacat, 7, a grade one pupil, just smiled before walking away.
The crisis in Iraq since the last Gulf War in 1991 actually started to heighten anew in December 16, 1998 when UN weapons inspectors withdrew from Iraq. Iraq refused to cooperate with the UN move to destroy the country's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs.
Hours after the withdrawal of UN inspectors, air and missile strikes on Baghdad was launched by a joint team of the US and the British.
The following day, the UN Security Council issues a resolution that formed a new disarmament commission for Iraq.
But, more than a month later on January 27, 2000, Iraq announced it will not deal with erstwhile new UN weapons inspector chief Hans Blix.
But it was in 1992 when US President Bush started his offensive on Iraq and two other countries that he said are "terrorist allies". The two others are Iran and North Korea.
On October 10-11, 2002, the US Congress votes to give Bush the authority to use force against Iraq, raking in 296 yes votes against 133 nay in the House and 77 yes to 23 nay in Senate.
A month later, on November 8, 2002, the UNSC unanimously approved Resolution No. 8 threatening Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm or else face serious consequences. Thus, UN experts began work in Iraq by virtue of UN Res. No. 8.
Iraq insists it has no weapons of mass destruction, a claim the US refuses to believe and UN says is not true.
As the year 2003 entered, the Iraq crisis saw world markets swing high and low and its people glue their ears on their television sets in trepidation, waiting for what will happen next.
But hope that the war will not push through was still strong.
On Valentine's Day, Hans Blix even came up with a second report to the Security Council saying that even if Iraq still appeared to be reluctant about UN Resolution No. 8, it has already "taken some positive steps".
Despite the "positive steps" and worldwide protests against war, Bush pushed on with his war threats.
The war protests continued and heightened after Iraq started destroying its banned Al Samoud 2 missiles last March 1.
The protesters were no longer only peace-loving citizens from all over the world, but governments as well.
On the same day, the Turkish parliament voted not to allow US troops to use Turkey as a launching pad against Iraq.
On March 5, France, Germany and Russia issued a joint statement saying they will not allow a resolution allowing the use of force against Iraq be passed in the UNSC.
Eight-year-old Kenneth Limboy wished that the war would not push through as his mother was predicting it to.
"Ingon si Mama momahal daw ang bugas ug mag-gira. Hadlok ko basig di na mi kakaon (My mother said that the price of rice will shoot up if the war breaks out. I'm afraid because we might no longer be able to eat)," he said.
For his part, Kennyfitz Macalipay, 11, of Erico Nograles National High School says there is nothing good that will come out from war.
"Makasira ng bansa, magsasara lahat ng tindahan, magugutom lahat ng tao (War destroys nations. Businesses will close down and people will go hungry)," Kennyfitz said.
Genevieve Fontanilla, 12, on the other hand admits she is afraid of the war because of its possible effects on the Philippines.
"Kahit sinasabi nila na hindi tayo madamay, baka madamay pa rin," she said.
All three want that the war will not push through.
But, like all other people, both young and old all over the world who have been praying that the war will not push through, Kenneth and Kennyfitz are up for a whole lot of disappointment.
By the first week of March, Bush no longer tried to mask his desire to attack Iraq. The protests and the actions of other government were brushed off as insignificant as on March 6, Bush said that US itself will act to disarm Iraq even if the UNSC votes against a resolution authorizing the use of force. No war drum was ever thumped louder.
By March 7, Blix reported that Iraq is now more responsive and that disarmament can be done in months. But the US, Britain and Spain gave the March 17 deadline. Disarm by March 17 or face war, the three countries, with Bush's instigation said.
Sure enough, by March 17, US Britain and Spain declared there is no more time for diplomacy. It is time for war. On that day, Bush came out on live broadcast calling on Saddam to leave Iraq in 48 hours or face the wrath of US-led troops and smart bombs.
Even before the 48-hour period was up, Iraq rejected Bush's ultimatum.
While the whole world waited for "fireworks" similar to what they have witnessed in the 1991 war coverage, the first guns were actually fired not in Baghdad but by ground troops on March 19 with a lighting advance by Marine forces into southern Iraq along the Shatt el Arb River towards the big naval base and town of Umm Qasr.
With the US troops were two brigades of the British 1st Armored Division and naval vessels landing Marine units south of Basra.
The first exchange of fire happened shortly at the mouth of Khawr al-Zubayr river, a few miles from Umm Qasr.
Finally, dawn of March 20, the "fireworks" people have associated with the Gulf War started in Baghdad and Tikrit when US launched a so-called "surgical military strike" against a "target of opportunity". "Shock and Awe," the US called its type of attack.
The Pentagon has reported that in the earlier attack on Baghdad, at least 36 Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles were fired from 4 US cruisers and 2 submarines in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf along with F117 stealth bombers. The "Shock and Awe" attack was dubbed "Operation Iraqi Freedom".
The long expected war was finally on. Bush finally got his war.
"The opening stages of the disarmament of the Iraqi regime have begun," the White House announced.
"Stop the war. Pildi na daan si Sadam. Hi-powered and armas sa US," Michael Vincent Capoy, 13, an out of school youth said when asked about his analysis of the ongoing crisis.
As selective bombings of key establishments in Baghdad continued ground troops marched on in the periphery of Iraq, intending to reach Baghdad in three days. Desert storms, however, were holding them back.
Another US-UK column is heading for southern Iraq's oil field for fear that Iraq will sabotage these.
Morning of March 20, the Iraqi military staged its offensive against the advancing troops in the Kuwait-Iraqi border and exchange of heavy fire ensued. Toward noon, Iraq has fired its first two missiles into northern Kuwait that set off air raid sirens in Kuwait City.
It was at this time when Saddam appeared on Iraqi television for a short appearance urging Iraqis to fight for "freedom and humanity".
International news reports have since questioned the film clip, some saying the person who appeared could not have been Saddam, and others saying it could have been a pre-recorded appearance.
"Gibombahan ang Iraq kay nasuko na man si Bush kay Saddam (Bush was angered by Saddam so he ordered Iraq to be bombed)," Love Shane Mirantes, 13, said to explain what she knows about the US attack on Iraq.
Her added explanation, however, hints at something else that could be taken as misunderstanding of the real issue at hand, or, an insightful understanding of what the war is really all about.
"Nasuko si Bush kay Sadam kay pobre man ang Iraq (Bush is angry at Saddam because Iraq is a poor country)," she said.
Later in the day of the 20th, it has been reported that two Iraqi divisions in Basra area have already capitulated, a report denied by the Iraqi ministry of information.
The allied troops, however, suffered their first loss Thursday night when a Marine CH46 helicopter crashed on the Kuwait side of the Iraq border, killing four American Marines and eight Britons on board.
Another US Marine was killed in the battle for Umm Qasr the following morning. Umm Qasr is an important Gulf naval base.
The march of the allied forces toward Baghdad continued on to Friday during which it was reported that at least 40 percent of Iraqi territory in the outskirts of Nassariyeh fell into the hands of allied troops.
The columns move in, take on the Iraqi troops and leave only a small group to engage Iraqi troops on the sidelines as the bulk of the column move on, fast, toward Baghdad.
This type of assault, it is said, is the mark of US war commander, General Tommy Franks.
"No sooner had a combined American-British force captured Umm Qasr and the Faw peninsula and was proceeding east towards Basra, Iraq's third largest town, when they split up. Leaving Basra to the British, the US Marines turned north towards the Euphrates. In a parallel movement, a second column made up of US 1st and 3rd Divisions was pushing in the same direction. Both columns were making for Baghdad and preparing to cover each other's flanks. Their hurtling momentum won them the epithet of '21st Century Armored Cavalry'," the Debka file reported through the Internet.
"Dapat mag-peace na sila, walay hinungdan kung mag-away sila (They should strive for peace. There is no reason for them to be at war)," Merk Primo Gumban, 11, said.
"Unta ihunong na ang gira. Basig mamatay ta tanan (The war should stop because we might all die)," Efren Olis, 11, said.
Saturday morning that saw fresh US missile explosions that set fire on Saddam's palace was also a day of mourning anew as seven British crewmen died when two naval helicopters collided with each other the Gulf in what the naval command said was an accident.
More missiles, guns and tanks are being fired as the war goes on, unimpeded.
While the US-led troops claim minor casualties, Iraq says the bombings have already killed 250 civilians overnight Friday alone. A news clip from BBC Friday showed a group of women and children in some desert, in bloodied clothes waiting for help.
Over here, in Davao City, far away from Iraq, even the children knows that the greatest casualty in such a war are the children and they are one in asking that the war be stopped.
"Way ayo ang gira. Maangin ang mga way labot." -- Junjie Otero, 11.
"Ihunong ang gira. Magka-trauma ang mga bata, ma-warshock." -- Dodong Ampong, 15.
"Maangin lang ang mga bata." -- Mark Levi, 11.
"Takot man ko ko sa bomba kasi dami mamatay. Kung walang gera, walang magutom." Cleo Jane Hechanova, 6, Marbel Evangelical Learning Center. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
