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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1991)
0 W S Associated Press J. ^ v w Edited by Jennifer O'Cilka . . .. -___1_j—M Missile crashes into downtown Baghdad Editor’s note: This report was cleared by Iraqi officials in accor dance with security procedures. BAGHDAD, Iraq - A missile crashed into downtown Baghdad late Sunday afternoon, sending up a white column of smoke that signaled yet another attack on a capital battered for weeks. It was the first sign of an air attack since before dawn, when a loud ex plosion somewhere in the city sig naled what probably was the arrival of another missile. In other developments Sunday, Iraq renewed its threat to retaliate against U.S. interests “everywhere in the world.” And former U.S. Attorney General and peace activist Ramsey Clark arrived here on what he de scribed as a “peaceful mission.” Clark met with Foreign Ministry officials, and was expected to meet with President Saddam Hussein later in his visit of several days. He de clined to give further details. He was accompanied by a three member IJ.S. delegation that arrived from Amman, Jordan. The skies over Baghdad were quiet Sunday, free of the sounds of aircraft overhead. The bombing missions that began on Jan. 17 appear to have hit every warehouse in Baghdad. The allies seemingly are taking no chances of missing a military storage facility. People arriving from Basra, a southern port and Iraq’s second-larg est city, said daily bombings have destroyed almost every warehouse in the city, including those where tons of dates had been collected for ship ment before the U.N. embargo im posed after the Aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait. Before the embargo, Iraq was the world’s largest exporter of dates. Several bridges in Baghdad also have been destroyed. Cruise missiles fired by U.S. war ships sometimes strike residential areas. Local newspapers publish pic tures showing houses and schools they say were hit by missiles. “The Iraqi people now know the type of civilization and new world order that the president of the United States wants to bring to the Arab region. . Iraqi radio said in a commentary Sunday. “The target will not be confined this time to the soldiers of the United States, the mercenaries of its allies or its collaborators in the holy lands in the Arabian peninsula. The interests of the United States everywhere in the world will also be the target. “There is a difference between terrorism and struggle. This is a le gitimate act...” the radio said. Basra residents reported that mili tary stations where soldiers were being assembled to go to Kuwait or other areas of deployment also were hit in air attacks. There were also unconfirmed re ports that a major irrigation dam built by the British in southern Iraq was hit. A military spokesman said Sun day on Baghdad radio that there had been 17 air raids over Iraq Saturday night. The radio said Iraq had fired Al Hussein missiles, a version of the Soviet-designed Scud modified by Iraq to give it more distance, into Israel and Saudi Arabia in retaliation. A commentary on Baghdad radio said President Bush was mocking God by calling for a day of prayer Sunday for peace and for U.S. servicemen and women in the Persian Gulf. “Bush has asked his citizens to pray for the coalition troops. This evildoer, the colleague of the devil, is asking them to pray for the victory of the United States and the gang it is leading,” the commentary said. “Bush has chosen a God of his own, a God that will fulfill the wishes of George Bush...” the radio said. “Hence, Bush is adding to his sins and crimes the crime of mocking God,” the radio said. — Saddam bets anti-Americanism will sway Arab world to his side CAIRO, Egypt - In his bloody bid to become a latter-day Saladin, Sad dam Hussein has won the hearts of many Arabs from the Atlantic shores of Morocco to Yemen’s Arabian Sea coast. Saddam has made no secret of his ambitions. He has compared himself with Saladin, the Muslim warrior who drove the Christian Crusaders from Jerusalem in 1187. He was even born in the same district northwest of Baghdad. Saddam is now betting that by standing up to one of history’s strong est military forces, which is led by the non-Arabs, all Arab states eventually will come around to his side. At this point, only in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf stales does Saddam have little or no support. To his admirers, the Iraqi presi dent has become a wellspring of pride for an Arab people long ignored or quashed. The phenomenon is nurtured by Arab anger at the United States, leader of the 28-nation coalition whose warplanes are pounding Iraq and occupied Kuwait. Many also blame Washington for Israel’s military superiority over the last four decades. By playing to those feelings, Sad dam has stitched together support covering the Arab body politic from Muslim extremists to secular leftists. “With every day that passes, these groups are getting more united,” said Assad Abdul-Rahman, a member of the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization who formerly taught political science at Kuwait University. “With every day that passes, they are getting conv inced more and more they should support Saddam Hussein.” Even in Egypt, a small anti-war movement is budding. Dissidents such as the Muslim Brotherhood find the massive air war against Iraq repug nant. Sayyed Rashcd, a member of par liament and executive of the Federa tion of Trade Unions, said: “Any war between Arab brothers and any attack on an Arab force is a calamity for all Arabs.” But by and large, the aim is to bring home Egypt’s 36,000 troops from the coalition, not to support the man Cairo newspapers call the tyrant of Baghdad. Most Egyptians consider Saddam the despoiler of his country and the economic ruination of theirs. This is not the case for Arabs in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. •Jordan: Adulation of Saddam is almost universal, transcending eco nomic and social class. Officially neutral, Jordan’s depend ence cn its larger neighbor is so complete that allied attacks on Iraqi tanker trucks caused Amman to im pose immediate oil rationing. Sanctions against Iraq and the loss of tourism because of the war have cost Jordan billions of dollars. •Syria: President Hafez Assad and Saddam arc longtime sworn enemies. But reports persist of an undercurrent of pro-Saddam feeling. •Libya: Leader Moammar Gadhafi has kept a low profile throughout the Persian Gulf War. The official agency JANA has reported demonstrations in several cities over the last few weeks, targeting both sides of the conflict. Four cents more for letters WASHINGTON - It’s official: Mailing a letter now costs 29 cents. After nearly a year of hearings and study, higher postal rates took effect Sunday. The new first-class rate is 29 cents for the first ounce and 23 cents for each additional ounce. Sending a post card now costs 19 cents. And just about all other mail will cost more, too. The new rates were imposed after f nearly a year of study and hearings. Special “F* stamps featuring a flower are available at post offices tc cover the new rate until official 29 cent stamps are printed. In addition, so-called make-u[ stamps worth 4-cents (although the) don’t show any amount on them) art available. Those stamps, combine* with a 25-cent stamp, represent tht new 29-cent rate. NelSra&kan Editor Eric Planner Assistant Photo Chief At Schaben 472-1766 Night News Editors Pat Dlnelage Arts & Entertainment Cindy Woetrel Editor Julie Naughton Managing Editor Victoria Ayotte Diversions Editor Connie Sheehan Professional Adviser Don Walton Photo Chief William Lauer 473-7301 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Ne braska Union 34,1400 R St., Lincoln, NE, Monday through Friday during the academic year, weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board For Information, contact Bill Vobejda, 436-9993 Subscription price is $45 for one year Postmaster Serd address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St.,Lincoln, NE 68588 0448 Second class postage paid at Lincoln, NE ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT IMP DAILY NEBRASKAN Large-caliber guns that fire explosive shells. _Gunners are usually out of sight of their targets. SELF PRO^rLED(SPrART!LILERY TOWED ARTILLERY Conventional artillery on a light armored chassis similar to a tank in size. Guns are towed by a tractor ADVANTAGES: **vehicle ■ Ability to keep up with mechanized units ADVANTAGES: ■ Cross-country mobility, goes places towed artillery cannot ■ Enemy fire resistant and more likely to survive ■ Fires within minutes of order and moves position faster DISADVANTAGES: ■ Tracked vehicles are more prone to mechanical breakdowns ■ Ammo is carried on trucks and armored vehicles Source: How to Make War. James F. Dumigan and Jane s Armour ana Artillery "p Nebraskans heed day of prayer People of all faiths in Nebraska heeded President Bush’s call for a day of prayer Sunday seeking peace in the Persian Gulf, where U.S.-led forces are trying to force Iraq out of Kuwait. At Mary Our Queen Roman Catho lic Church in Omaha, the Rev. Francis P. Kenny devoted his entire homily to the call for prayers. “No better theme could anyone express at these times,” Kenny told the estimated 200 in attendance. Kenny said that long before Bush designated Sunday as a day to pray for peace, people throughout the na tion were praying. Kenny said war never has accom plished much good and negotiation is preferable. But Kenny also said he believes the United States made the effort to avoid going to war. “How very strange that just one man, or just a small group of men, -4* - If we really want to stand with our troops over there, the best thing we can do is pray‘ Johring director of KSC Campus Crusade for Christ -- could bring about such a catastrophe on the world,” Kenny said. Kenny pointed to a tree set up in front of the church that was filled with yellow ribbons upon which are written the names of friends and pa rishioners serving in the Persian Gulf War. Clergymen from across the state said they planned special activities Sunday to observe the president’s call. The Rev. Larry D. Mead, pastor of a the Gering Bapust Church, said time was set aside for a special peace prayer. Mead, a Vietnam veteran, called Bush’s call for prayer refreshing. The Rev. Glenn G. Mahaffcy, pastor of the Church of Our Savior Episco pal Church in North Platte, said peace prayers have been a regular part of his worship services since the war began. “If we really want to stand with our troops over there, the best thing we can do is pray. God acts when we pray,” said Craig L. Johring, director of Campus Crusade for Christ at Kearney State College. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski, pastor of Resurrection Catholic Church in Grand Island, is a military reserve chaplain, but has not been called for service as part of Operation Desert Storm. He said prayers for peace are of fered during services at his church every week. Planes crash; sent to same runway i LOS ANGELES - An air traffic I controller directed a USAir jetliner and a smaller, commuter plane onto the same airport runway, resulting in a crash that killed as many as 32 people, investigators said. The National Transportation Safety Board released highlights Saturday night of about five minutes of conver sation between the control tower and pilots just before the crash Friday night at Los Angeles International Airport. Safety board spokesman Jim Burnett said the taped tower traffic showed USAir Flight 1493 twice asked the controller for permission to land and received no response. About two minutes before the crash, a controller directed commuter Sky west Flight 5569 with 12 people aboard to enter Runway 24-Left for takeoff, and the tape had the same controller giving the USAir pilot permission to land on 24-Left. Moments later, controllers acknowl edged a collision and fire had oc curred on the runway. Burnett, who gave an oral account of the tapes, would not say whether the controller had erred. “We don’t deal in terms of fault. That’s a word the safety board doesn’t use,” he said. Within seconds of touching down after a westbound descent over Los Angeles, the twin-jet USAir Boeing 737 ran into the back of the smaller plane, which was about to take off. Eighteen people from the USAir flight were listed as presumed dead. Two confirmed deaths on the jet in clude the pilot, Capt. Colin Shaw, 48, of Washington, D.C., said USAir spokeswoman Agnes Huff. All 12 people aboard the Sky west plane were presumed dead, including the pilot and the airline’s local man ager at the plane’s destination in Palmdale, 40 miles north of Los Angeles. Sixty-nine people survived from the US Air flight, despite raging flames and choking smoke that filled the jet’s interior. Fifteen of the injured were treated at hospitals and released. Twelve remained hospitalized Sunday, includ ing the first officer of the US Air plane who was in critical condition with bums, respiratory bums and fractures, Huff said. Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher said iden tification of the dead could take sev eral days.
