Basra: Why they are not cheering

BBC ^ | 3/25/2003 | Paul Reynolds

[a_Turk]

They were supposed to be cheering in the streets as the American and British tanks rolled in, just as they did in France in 1944.

On 18 March, the New York Times reported: "Military and allied officials familiar with the planning of the upcoming campaign say they hope that a successful and 'benign' occupation of Basra that results in flag-waving crowds hugging British and American soldiers will create an immediate and positive image worldwide while also undermining Iraqi resistance elsewhere."

The fact is that Basra is not undergoing a benign occupation. It has just been declared a military target by British forces which have come under attack from inside.

This was a city which the British spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon said early on was not of military importance.

In the scheme of things, it still isn't. But it has become a problem.

'Under threat'

What has happened?

The explanation, according to British and American officials, is that Saddam Hussein's forces are still oppressing the people who cannot therefore show their true emotions.

Dr John Reid, the British Labour Party chairman compared the irregular Saddam forces dressed in black - known as Saddam's Fedayeen - to the SS in Nazi Germany.

The US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, one of those who wants Iraq to be a the start of a democratization process across the Arab world, told the BBC: "I think that when the people of Basra no longer feel the threat of that regime, you are going to see an explosion of joy and relief, but right now they're still under threat.

"Saddam is still maybe alive and his goons and his assassination squads are still there."

Bad memories

The people remember, it is said, what happened in 1991 when on 15 February, President George Bush senior urged "the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters in their own hands and force Saddam Hussein the dictator to step aside".

The people did try, both in the Kurdish areas of the north and the mainly Shia areas of the south, including Basra.

They were cut down. The Kurds fled into the mountains of southern Turkey, but the Shias (and others like the communists) in the south had nowhere to go.

The London-based organisation Indict, which seeks to put Iraqi leaders on trial for war crimes, has accounts of mass executions in Basra and other southern cities as the Ba'ath party and the Republican Guard re-imposed their control.

Not cheering

However, it might not be as simple as that.

Consider what happened in Basra last Saturday when there were air raids. The Qatari television channel al-Jazeera had a team in the city and it sent back graphic pictures of dead and wounded civilians which were widely shown in the Arab world.

But these images have been all but ignored in the West, which seems more interested in pictures of the American prisoners of war.

People do not take kindly to being bombed, even by "friendly forces".

British forces, if they enter Basra to counter resistance there, will have to follow the advice of Colonel Tim Collins of the Royal Irish Regiment who told his men before the war started: "Tread carefully".

There is an interesting article in the Guardian of 25 March from its correspondent, James Meek, who has been with the US Marines in Nasiriya. He shows how hostility to Saddam Hussein is not necessarily converted into support for the invasion.

He managed to talk not just to marines but to locals, one of whom Mustafa Mohammed Ali was a surgical assistant at the Saddam hospital in the city.

He said that in fighting on Sunday bombs were dropped on civilian areas, killing 10 people.

That day, two dead marines were brought to the hospital and he made this admission: "When I saw the dead Americans I cheered in my heart."

And yet he did not support Saddam Hussein: "We don't want Saddam, but we don't want them [the Americans] to stay afterwards."

Meek quoted another man, a farmer named Said Yahir, as saying that the marines had come to his house and had taken his son, his rifle and 3m dinars (£500; $800).

"This is your freedom that you're talking about? This is my life savings," he said.

Said Yahir himself had taken part in the uprising of 1991. He is not cheering in 2003.

Effect of sanctions

There are two other points: the effect of years of sanctions and the effect of nationalism.

Although the sanctions regime allows for the provision of food and medicine, this is not always delivered to the poor.

Saddam Hussein is not blamed but the United Nations and the United States are.

The sufferers from sanctions may take time to be convinced that the invaders are bringing them relief.

Iraqi nationalism is another powerful influence.

Those who know the country say that it can hold people together, whether they are Kurds, Sunnis or Shias.

It appears to be a factor in the current phenomenon.

A coming together often happens to a people under siege, and a siege is what the Iraqis are now experiencing.

[Post Toasties]

I had gathered that they're not cheering because there's no Allies around to hear it yet.

[BushCountry]

More BS! Another Lamestream media attempt to discredit the war.

[randita]

Consider what happened in Basra last Saturday when there were air raids. The Qatari television channel al-Jazeera had a team in the city and it sent back graphic pictures of dead and wounded civilians which were widely shown in the Arab world. But these images have been all but ignored in the West, which seems more interested in pictures of the American prisoners of war.

That's because the West, for the most part, is not interested in disseminating Iraqi propaganda. Al Jazeera has no such journalistic standards.

[SouthernFreebird]

That day, two dead marines were brought to the hospital and he made this admission: "When I saw the dead Americans I cheered in my heart."

I keep trying to find some good in the arab world but, God help us they seem to be just F'in evil to the core.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

They want to see the head of Saddam Hussein on a pike!

I'd like to see that too!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Sgt Hulka 123]

I'll take a stab at this.....Is it because the have WEAPONS POINTED AT THEIR HEADS?

[mikegi]

These reporters wander into a crowd and shout, "Who isn't happy with the Americans?". Then they record the negative news and present it as "conventional wisdom". Standard operating procedure for the Leftist press.

The Iraqis are terrorized by the remnants of Saddam's regime. Once Saddam has been destroyed, things will change fairly quickly.

[Feiny]

" the marines had come to his house and had taken his son, his rifle and 3m dinars (£500; $800). "

Oh sure, I buy that one! Our soldiers kidnapped his boy & took his useless dinars. Totally believable.

[Prysson]

I dont really care if there are dancing Iraqi's in the streets. That may be a palatable bit of political smokescreen for the war but this war is not and never has been about Iraqi freedom. That is nothing more than a benefit. If the Iraqi's can live better lives free from tyranny after this is over then good for them. I will be happy to see it. But for this American I really dont give a crap. This war is about disarming a madman who in fact does have relationships with terrorists and in fact does have WMD. End of story. People can play up the "liberate Iraq" all they want. If in the end of the day they are liberated great but I really dont care so long as they dont have WMD.

While I am saddened by innocent lives the idea you can fight a war without them is obtuse and frankly I resent the implication by a bunch of third world, barbarians who regularly slaughter innocents intentionally, that we are targeting innocent people on purpose. I cant even say what I think of Western journalists who cater to that nonsense.

There is no Nation on earth that takes or would even consider to take the care that we do to avoid civilian casualties. To imply otherwise is as intellectually and morally dishonest as it is possible to be. It is beyond despicable to point a finger at America when we are giving POW's (one time enemy combatants) food, clothes, beds and three squares a day...while they murder POW's and dance in the streets.

Name one other nation in the world that would send in thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to the nation we are at war with. Name ONE. (Britain) Ok Name another one. RUssia? I think not. Spare me you hypocritical BS Putin. I unlike most journalists havent forgotten what you guys are STILL DOING in Chechnya so spare me the lecture..or better yet shove it where the sun doesnt shine...and while your at it save some for France.

Now they are complaining because Basra is running out of water. It is a "WAR" you morons! If they want water let them surrender. That the civilian population is suffering is sad but to borrow an old phrase. Better them then us.

[KellyAdmirer]

They were supposed to be cheering in the streets as the American and British tanks rolled in, just as they did in France in 1944.

This has nothing to do with France in 1944. Liberating Kuwait, that was like France in 1944, and the cheering was tremendous. This is like Patton rolling into Munich. The Germans weren't cheering then, and the Iraqis aren't cheering now.

[finnman69]

They are not cheering because Saddam's goon are running around with automatic weapons still dressed in civies.

[Wphile]

I keep trying to find some good in the arab world but...

You and I both. Even the so-called "repressed Iraqi people" are getting on my nerves. Look at this article - and I know it's BBC - but criminy...they don't want us to bomb, yet they are pissed we didn't back them up sufficiently in 1991, and now they are cheering American dead. Seems they only want the humanitarian aid but can't handle the heat in order to get it to them.

This war is about ridding Sadaam of weapons of mass destruction. I used to believe in the 'free the Iraqi people' mantra but am becoming more and more cynical with each passing day.

Sorry for the rant but Errrrr....

[wjeanw]

The problem is a picture doesn't necessarily convey the truth of the situation. Dead bodies wearing civilian clothes may be normal citizens killed mistakenly, or purposefully, in battle just as easily as they could be soldiers who took off uniforms so as to gain an advantage while fighting allied troops.

[AdamSelene235]

PICTURES YOU MAY NOT SEE ON TV

In Basra, Iraq, Iraqis, adults and children welcome the British 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.

PICTURES YOU MAY NOT SEE ON TV

In Umm Qasr, the Iraqis, freed by the USA, cheer

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[Wphile]

LOL! Looks like you and I are on the same page!

[BunnySlippers]

I noticed they cropped that photo.

[Wphile]

Thanks for the pictures. I've calmed down a bit now.

[AdamSelene235]

The Communist agitprop is really, really begining to piss me off.