|
|
A NEW IRAQ EVOLVING
By Sara Clark
On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush made promises to his nation that fixed on a quick and victorious war in Iraq.
May 1, 2003, Bush had announced that the United States and its allies had prevailed.
During his March 19th speech, Bush warned the troops that they would experience the unlawful activity of a dishonorable man, Saddam Hussein.
“In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality,” President Bush said in his speech.
Iraqi television showed images of prisoners of war (POW’s) that were gruesome and too disturbing to show in the United States. This is a prime example of Hussein’s disregard for war combat ethics.
His troops also participated in unlawful acts by waiving the surrender flag in an attempt to ambush U.S. troops. In other instances they dressed as civilians and pretended to seek the aid of the U.S. troops.
This caused U.S. troops to increase inspection of real civilians who had been trying to surrender.
During his first speech Bush also declared the mission of the United States was not to attack the Iraqi civilians, but to help them establish a free country and a new government.
“I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm,” Bush said in his first speech.
“A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will require our sustained commitment.”Now that the major combat is over, President Bush is looking to do just what he has said. Some of his plans include making the drinking water clean and dependable. He has sent American water sanitation engineers to Iraq to check for the quantity of purification chemicals.
Bush is concentrating on Iraqi health care, making sure that Iraqis have the medical attention and treatment they need. He has gone about this by having medical specialists inspect Iraqi hospitals, and help them receive any equipment or repairs that they need for a better hospital.
Those in the U.S. say it will not be a quick process.
Regina German, a nurse at the Albany Medical Center said the hospitals not only need to be equipped with better supplies, but better help too.
“Their hospitals are lacking in staff, German said. “We have about nine nurses to a floor,” “There they probably have nine floors to one nurse.”
His next promise was to send Iraqi children back to a school where their teachers are well educated, and their environment is clean and safe. In doing this he plans to shut down any schools that have been previously used as military arsenals.
Carl Bison, a guidance counselor at the Shenendehowa School District, Albany, N.Y., says that looking past their old school may be difficult for the Iraqi children.
“When a child sees his school being used as a stage for violence it makes them weary about returning to learn,” Bison said. “A child learns through experience. These children have learned that the deceitful acts of violence are okay.”
The President’s decision to go to war with Iraq was one that was not greeted warmly by many. Rallies were held all over the world tried to sway Bush’s contemplation with war.
Sharon Morehouse, an anti-war protestor who participated in rallies in her hometown of Walingford, C.T., still feels the issues could have been resolved in other ways.
“I just don’t think that people need to resort to violence all the time,” Morehouse said. “If we took all the war tactics and redirected them to more peaceful ones, there would be no need for a war. Look at all the people we have trained in violence. If only they were trained in reconciliation.”
Those who supported the war said it was the only way to relieve Hussein of his power over Iraq.
Arthur Hodges, a pro-war demonstrator, said that he thinks the war has been exactly what our army and the world needed.
“Not only have we established the fact that we are as strong as we say, but we have proven that we back up our word,” Hodges said. “And somewhere in between we have overthrown one of the most feared dictators of the century and are now working to reconstruct his wrong-doings.”
In his address to the nation from atop the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, Bush extended his gratitude and delight to all members of the coalition by telling them, “America is grateful for all they have done.”
He later added a more tear-jerking phrase that summed up his goals, pride and satisfaction with the effort the U.S. troops put into the war.
“When Iraqi civilians looked into the faces of our servicemen and women, they saw strength and kindness and goodwill,” he said. “When I look at the members of the United States military, I see the best of our country, and I’m honored to be your Commander-in-Chief.”