CPTnet
March 26, 2003
IRAQ UPDATE: 6:00 pm/10:00 am EST

as reported to Doug Pritchard

Peggy Gish said that the big sandstorm has continued. For the previous eight
hours it turned the whole sky orange--very eerie. It also rained mud during
the storm. People say this is the worst such storm in seven years.

The delegation has given a real boost to the whole team. Their journey in
was miraculous.

Peggy had spent four previous nights at the Water Treatment Plant. Relations
within the whole group at times are difficult because everyone is under
severe stress and needing to find ways to deal with it. She was also
affected by the petroleum fires which filled the sky with fumes and soot.
She enjoyed getting to know Een Ha Yoo, the Korean IPTer, at the water plant
along with two other Koreans in town, despite the language barriers.

Peggy has made a regular habit of working two or three hours every morning
at the Sisters of Charity Orphange near the Al-Daar Hotel. The children
have severe physical disabilities. She, the Iraqi staff and volunteers help
feed the children and play with them on floor mats.

Today the team and delegation spent a lot of time in meetings with the Iraq
Peace Team (IPT) and in orienting the new delegates. There are now seventeen
IPTers, six CPTers, and nine CPT delegates. The delegation may eventually
need to move over to the Andalus Apartments but this is still under
negotiation. They will spend at least tonight at the Al-Daar Hotel. The best
time for media interviews is 7-8 am or 6 pm-midnight Baghdad time.

There was quite a lot of bombing during the day today from heavy B52
bombers.