April 10, 2003 AMERICA AT WAR: LOCAL REACTION By By LEAH ETLING The U.S.-led war in Iraq may not officially be over for weeks or months, but the toppling of a symbolic statue in Baghdad on Wednesday and whispers of near victory from Washington are prompting some local observers to look toward the end of the military campaign in the region. Local peace activists are recasting their regular Saturday march to focus on postwar reconstruction, casualty counts and humanitarian efforts in the region. And those who have supported the fight say they are hoping to hear soon that the Bush administration's mission to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein was successful. Luis Hilario of Lompoc was cheered by the toppling of the Hussein statue. "It was kind of cool watching that guy take off his shoes and start hitting the statue with it. That's a good sign. It's a huge step for these people." But Mr. Hilario, 26, said he hadn't been convinced Mr. Hussein was out of power, which to him is pivotal. "I personally don't think the war is over until we know that Saddam is dead. I hope it's over. I've got a couple of cousins over there." Ihsan Saib, founder of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara in Goleta, is from Iraq and still has family living in Baghdad. Mr. Saib said that with statues and pictures of Saddam Hussein all around the country, the fall of one does not symbolize the end of the war. He believes the fight was over before it even began. "Victory has been declared ever since (the troops) landed," he said. "The war is not over but victory is definitely declared." Leah Wells of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has made several trips to Iraq, and she remembers the huge statue well. It was right in front of a hotel where she stayed on her first trip to Baghdad. But for Ms. Wells, the war will end when United Nations sanctions against Iraq are lifted, she said. She believes the restrictions on import and export have contributed to Iraqi looting shown on television. "If what we're looking at is Saddam Hussein being out of power, then these sanctions need to be lifted and normal trade needs to resume with Iraq." Santa Barbara resident Lane Anderson, who has coordinated and participated in many antiwar events, said he was not surprised that the conflict may be nearing its end. "I personally never doubted that the U.S. military would be efficient and carry out their duties and succeed, but I think being efficient and successful in a bad idea, which is what I think this was, is not a great feather in our cap." Filmmaker Penny Little said that the focus of upcoming peace marches will be recast. "We're looking at how to refocus the event. One of the focuses now has to be on humanitarian aid for the people of Iraq," Ms. Little said. "There's also going to be a funeral procession because there have been casualties." At the Live Oaks Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the Rev. Bets Weinecke was holding a weekly candlelight vigil Wednesday evening. "I anticipate that keeping the peace is going to be a major challenge," said Rev. Weinecke, who plans to continue the vigils throughout April no matter when the war ends. "My feeling is that the war isn't really over as long as we are occupying a country." But Tina Aguirre of Lompoc was cautiously hopeful that a change for Iraq might be in store. "I think the people in Iraq are more excited and feel a little more relieved. Like they're actually getting something, their freedom, but it doesn't mean Saddam is gone yet." Rebecca Carey of the Santa Maria Peace Coalition watched the statue being taken down on television with another reaction. "It was a moving and historical moment. The sad fact is, that to achieve this 'symbolic' taking out of the Saddam statue, the U.S. have killed thousands of Iraqi civilians. Several American soldiers have lost their lives. I shudder to think that people are celebrating today."
News-Press staff writer Hildy Medina contributed to this story. |
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