Posted on 02/01/2003 3:20:25 PM PST by billorites
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A stunned world watched the dramatic breakup of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia in the clear blue skies over Texas on Saturday, and sent their words of sorrow to grieving Americans.
The world's other major space power, Russia, sent its condolences to Washington, but said the disaster would not affect the launch of a supply rocket to the orbiting international space station on Sunday.
The seven members of Columbia's crew had "given their lives to conquering the dangers of space in the name of peace, science and progress of civilization," Russia's President Vladimir Putin said.
A spokesman for Russia's space mission control center said a Progress M-47 rocket would go ahead as scheduled to take supplies to the International Space Station, where one Russian and two Americans are in orbit.
At the Vatican, Pope John Paul prayed for the dead astronauts during a mass at St Peter's Basilica. He had received the news of the disaster with great pain shortly before the mass, Vatican sources said.
A wave of sorrow engulfed Israelis who had tuned in to watch what was expected to be the triumphal return of Israel's first astronaut, former combat pilot Colonel Ilan Ramon.
The launch of Ramon's space flight had virtually erased news of the country's woes, spreading space fever among Israelis embittered by a Palestinian uprising for statehood, a scandal-plagued national election and a domestic recession.
Shocked Israelis wondered if fate could have anything worse in store for them as they saw the disaster broadcast live on local television channels.
Their disbelief deepened as newscasters reported the shuttle's break-up was first witnessed over a town in Texas named Palestine, a bitter irony lost on no one.
"It's terrible because Israelis, my kids in school for instance, have been studying about space and the Israeli astronaut Ilan," said Ricky Ben-Or in Jerusalem.
ARAFAT SENDS CONDOLENCES
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority Israel wants disbanded expressed condolences to the families of all seven astronauts.
India was also especially shocked: the first Indian-born astronaut and a symbol of national pride, aerospace engineer Kalpana Chawla, was among the dead. She had already made a previous shuttle flight.
Thousands of people braved a cold winter's night to ring temple bells and pray for Chawla and her six crew mates in her home town of Karnal just outside the capital New Delhi. She had moved to the United States in 1982 and joined the U.S. space agency NASA in 1988.
The leaders of Germany and France, at odds with the United States over Washington's hardline attitude on the Iraqi crisis, sent their condolences to both the United States and Israel.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, just returned from Washington and a council of war with President Bush over Iraq, wrote to both the U.S. leader and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon expressing sorrow at the disaster.
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer added his "regret and sadness" at the news.
But Iraqis on the street, facing the possibility of a U.S.-led assault on their country over banned weapons of mass destruction, said the shuttle tragedy was God's retribution on Americans.
"We are happy that it broke up," government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said.
"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said.
Find out what building this piece of crap works in and where he lives and target both of them in the first wave.
Hey idiot! God had nothing to do with it.
Lets see his "god" try and stop that.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority Israel wants disbanded ...
No bias there. How about "The State of Israel which the entire Moselm world wants eliminated..."?
WOW!
Interesting
Why is it that "God" shouldn't be mentioned if it is a reference to "God" in the Judeo-Christian "Tradition"?
(Or even the mention of "God" of certain other Beliefs)
But!
As long as it is "Allah",......
(The "god" of Islam)
Talking about "God" is "Okay"?
Sorry. I get confused at times.
(Btw, My God, who I believe in..... is merciful)
</rant>
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority Israel wants disbanded ...
Yeah, I caught that too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.