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

;; ANPAk..r.. 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