CPTnet
June 18, 2003
IRAQ UPDATE: June 13-17, 2003
The CPT delegation arrived back in Baghdad after spending two days in
Basrah, southern Iraq. Team members who had been in Basrah before the recent
war were shocked by the extent of the damage caused by U.S./UK bombing of
the city. Many commercial buildings, hotels, and residential areas had been
heavily hit. However, they also noted that there were far fewer troops on
the streets than in Baghdad and that the soldiers and civilians were more
relaxed.
On the way back to Baghdad, the delegation attempted to visit Ur, the
birthplace of Abraham. However, they were denied entry because the site has
now been taken over for a U.S. military base. They could see that the famous
ziggurat at the site has been defaced. The delegation also stopped at the
place on the highway where CPTer George Weber was killed in a road
accident on Jan. 6, 2003. Team members Anne Montgomery and Peggy Gish, and
Iraqi drivers Sattar and Ismail, who had been with George at the time of
the accident, led in a joint service of remembrance.
Back in Baghdad, the delegation came upon a peaceful demonstration of 300
Iraqis in Paradise Square calling for a united Muslim government. A U.S.
tank lowered its gun barrel and repeatedly swept it over the crowd. Anne
Montgomery intervened with the tank crew and they stopped.
Maureen Jack and Cor Keijzer visited a new Palestinian refugee camp at the
Haifa Sports Club in Baghdad. The refugees had been displaced from their
subsidized housing when Saddam's government fell. This group was now living
in 250 tents on an open soccer field. Conditions are miserable due to
temperatures well above 40 degrees celsius. There are no showers, little
electricity, and only eight exposed squat toilets and two water taps for
more than 1,000 people.
Elsewhere in Baghdad, some streets have normal pedestrian and commercial
traffic but other streets close up by 4 pm because of the fear of looting.
Electricity supply is still very episodic, although line-ups for gasoline
are a bit shorter.
The delegation met with Chaldean Bishop Warduni. He insisted that the
problem of Saddam Hussein could have been resolved without war because
Saddam was already in decline. Now the war has brought other problems, "It
is like breaking a dam and now you have a flood. Freedom without justice is
no freedom. We have the same Bible as Bush and we must all use it for
peace. The Americans must have wanted us to suffer more or else they would
have come prepared to begin the rebuilding immediately."
He said that churches and mosques are cooperating in relief efforts, but
"This is not the time for evangelism. We have to live out our faith, not
speak it."
The delegation came across two demonstrations. One was by a group of
physically disabled people who are now involved in clearing landmines. They
had laid out a simulated minefield with a large pile of shoes from the limbs
they had lost, and called for more attention to the problem of unexploded
ordnance. Another angry but nonviolent protest demonstration accused U.S.
soldiers of breaking into a mosque and stealing money. Demonstrators said
that Saddam had never defiled mosques in such a way.
At the Maternity Hospital, Sr. Bushra told the delegation said that women
patients cannot afford the fees for the hospital's services. However, the
hospital does not turn anyone away. Women are often anaemic and malnourished
which endangers them and their babies. She said it was good that Saddam was
gone, but that conditions in the country were now worse
than ever.
The delegation also visited with a group of Dominican Brothers. They too
talked about how conditions had worsened. They were angry that U.S. forces
had preserved the Oil Ministry but had bombed all the other government
ministries and communication facilities.
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