Pray for Iraq

Pray for Iraq

Until the fifth day of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the
direction of the attack remains unclear, even as it has already
killed hundreds of innocent civilians and soldiers and injured
hundreds of others.

The Indonesian government has lodged strong protests against
the U.S. military aggression on Iraq but to no avail. Even the
United Nations could not stop the war.

There are different ideas on how to warn the U.S. of its
recalcitrant attitude. Some suggested that we boycott American
products, conduct a sweep of American citizens, and sever
diplomatic ties with the superpower.

We should however take such measures into deep consideration
lest they boomerang on us. What we can do now is to pray
together for the Iraqis so they would remain strong in the face
of such a heavy test, and to appeal to God that the war would
soon end.

Prayers might seem like a small effort but they do produce
maximum results, especially when they are conducted on a massive
scale. Thus, let us pray for the Iraqis and peace on earth.

-- Republika, Jakarta

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Otherop-weapons-morals
Precise weapons and anti-war morals
JP/6/

Precise weapons and anti-war morals

Three days after the U.S.-led military strike on Iraq, the
chief of the U.S. military command in the second Gulf War, Gen.
Tommy Franks, held a press briefing at the As Sayliyah camp in
Qatar over the weekend.

The general, who refers to the force as a coalition force
instead of the American force, tried to explain the precision of
the missiles and weapons that are being used in the war, as well
as the precision of their war strategy. They are aimed at
minimizing the number of civilian casualties.

However, there is something contradictory in the argument on
the use of guided weapons. On the one hand, it claims precision
and accuracy but on the other hand, these weapons kill untargeted
civilians.

Only one argument cannot be defeated by the precise weapons
argument -- the agony shared by millions of people across the
world.

Anti-war protesters have been angered by reports that the
battles have killed innocent civilians.

"Dresden 1945, Baghdad 2003: Same Criminal", an anti-war
placard in Berlin read.

Our heart will always be with the people of Iraq, who have
been facing untold sufferings for a long time now. The Iraqis --
according to U.S. perception -- are being freed from their
miseries. The U.S. will however never be able to convince the
world that its way is fair and humane.

-- Kompas, Jakarta