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.