Posted on 02/02/2003 8:34:52 AM PST by RCW2001
| Sunday, 02-Feb-2003 7:20AM | Story from AFP / Nayla Razzouk Copyright 2003 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) |
BAGHDAD, Feb 2 (AFP) - Iraqis expressed regret on Sunday at the US space shuttle disaster, but thanked "God Almighty" that the dead included an Israeli astronaut who was a fighter pilot in the 1981 air raid which destroyed their country's embryonic nuclear reactor.
"I thank God Almighty for avenging my country," said primary school teacher Ata Ahmad, while looking up and raising his two forefingers in the air.
"I still remember the day when he bombed our country in a hateful crime against Iraq and the Arabs," said Ahmad, a pensioner sitting at the 120-year-old al-Zahawi cafe in central Baghdad.
The space shuttle Columbia, which was transporting crew members back to earth at the end of a 16-day mission, disappeared from NASA screens on Saturday as it turned into a fireball shortly before it was due to land in Florida.
Colonel Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli in space, was one of the seven astronauts who died in the tragedy.
Ramon, who was the payload specialist on Columbia's scientific mission, was a fighter pilot in the Israeli air force who fought in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
But in Baghdad most people remember him for taking part in Israel's air raid on their country's embryonic nuclear reactor at Osirak, or Tammuz for the Iraqis, in a strike meant to abort Iraq's alleged quest for nuclear weapons.
"Everybody first thought it was Iran because we were at war back then, but a military spokesman later said on the radio it was Israel," Abdel Karim Shaker recalled as he sipped Iraqi dark tea at the cafe.
"Tammuz, which was for peaceful objectives, was our pride. We were the only Arab country to be so advanced," said Shaker.
"The Zionists and the American administration do not allow any Arab country to be a threat to the state of Israel," he said, triggering approving nods from other men overhearing the conversation.
Shaker expressed anger at the fact that "Israel is allowed to have all the nuclear reactors and weapons that it desires, while Iraq and any other Arab country are forbidden from doing so."
UN inspectors in charge of ridding Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction resumed their operations in the country last November 27 after a four-year break.
Jaafar Baqer, a retired radiologist, explained that "the enemies of Iraq did not only destroy Tammuz, they also assassinated a number of our most brilliant scientists."
Two younger men at the cafe, traditionally frequented by an all-male clientele, interrupted a seemingly intense backgammon game to take part in the conversation.
"We are saddened by the news because this is a loss for science and humanity. We also feel with the American people, we have nothing against them. We only hate their president because he wants to harm us," said Abu Nour.
President George W. Bush has threatened military action against the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on the grounds that it is developing weapons of mass destruction.
"The raid on Tammuz was not just a political or military strike, it was a clear attempt to harm Iraq's capabilities. It was an attack on our civilization," said Salah, a university student.
"This is why we feel that the accident is a gift from God. They hit our scientific programmes and now God has avenged us. We are just relieved at this scientific loss for the Zionists," he added.
nay/lg/kir
US-space-Israel-Iraq
They deserve everything that is going to happen to them.
Iraq's Jerry Falwell.
even U.S. Islamicists.
They'd get the same answer from any true Islamicist.
The DAMN press wants anything but the UNSPUN truth getting out.
The difference being that Israel will only use them in self-defense, where any other Arab country would use them in a terrorist surprise attack.
That is one of the idiotic statements ever to hit the web. Rev. Jerry Falwell is a solid Born Again Christian, you may not like his preaching, but who are you to cast stones or insults at him?
The Lord God Almighty, Christ Jesus should give you have the insight to His word that He has Rev. Falwell.
Yor thoguhts are echoed by God's word:
Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Wanna take a guess at who modern day Amelek includes?
Careful now, or they'll start calling you "the spawn of Satan", as they were saying to me in a similar thread last week.
Come to think of it, there was a "cloak of protection" thread only this morning, e.g., Columbia accident was due to Roe v. Wade.
Point of information: "Tammuz" is the name of the month in which Nebechadnezzer breached the walls of Jerusalem, before destroying the ancient kingdom of Israel.
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