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TODA
Monday
March 24, 2003
©2003 The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXIII, No. 116
One-hundred-twelve years of editorilfreedom
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Allied forces face tougher ground war
U Officials say fighting will be more
* difficult to win than originally expected
in beginning of war
The Associated Press
Iraq used ambushes and even fake surrenders to kill or
capture up to 21 American troops yesterday, inflicting the
first significant casualties on the allied forces driving
toward Baghdad. U.S. war leaders declared the invasion on
target despite the bloody setbacks.
Up to nine Marines died and a dozen U.S. soldiers were
taken prisoner in surprise engagements with Iraqis at An
Nasiriyah, a southern city far from the forward positions of
the allied force.
On the third day of the ground war, any expectation that
Iraqi defenders would simply fold was gone.
"Clearly they are not a beaten force," said Gen. Richard
Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "This is going
to get a lot harder."
Even so, the U.S.-British coalition fought to within 100
miles of Baghdad and tended to a growing northern front.
And at the end of a day filled with plenty of bad news for
allied forces, U.S. officials said troops had made what could
be an important discovery: a suspected chemical factory near
the city of Najaf. U.S. Central Command said troops were
examining several "sites of interest,' but that it was premature
to call the Najaf facility a chemical weapons factory.
Early Monday, Baghdad was bombarded with what
appeared to be its strongest airstrikes since Friday, even as a
mosque blared "God is great" and "Thanks be to God," per-
haps to boost Iraqis' morale.
Allied soldiers came under attack in a series of ruses yes-
terday, U.S. officials said, with one group of Iraqis waving
the white flag of surrender, then opening up with artillery
fire; another group appearing to welcome coalition troops
but then attacking them.
Lt. Gen. John Abizaid of U.S. Central Command said a
faked surrender near An Nasiriyah, a crossing point over the
Euphrates River northwest of Basra, set off the "sharpest
engagement of the war thus far." Up to nine Marines died
before the Americans prevailed, he said.
Twelve U.S. soldiers were missing and presumed captured
by Iraqis in an ambush on an army supply convoy at An
Nasiriyah, Central Command said.
"We, of course, will be much more cautious in the way
that we view the battlefield as a result of some of these inci-
dents," Abizaid said.
Arab television showed what it said were four American
dead in an Iraqi morgue and at least five other Americans
identified as captured soldiers.
"I come to shoot only if I am shot at," said one prisoner,
who said he was from Kansas. Asked why he was fighting
Iraqis, he replied: "They don't bother me; I don't bother them."
Some of the missing prisoners were from Fort Bliss,
Texas, said Jean Offutt, an Army spokeswoman at the base,
where families members gathered Sunday night.
"The mood, of course, is very tragic," she said.
See WAR, Page9A
Scorched
Iraqi oil
fields won't
affect prices
By Lydia K. Leung
Daily Staff Reporter
Despite repeated warning from
President Bush and other military
officials to Iraqi troops not to
destroy Iraqi oil wells and produc-
tion facilities, seven oil wells were
set ablaze by retreating Iraqi sol-
diers Friday.
Initially, media reports stated that
there were up to 30 oil wells that
had been set on fire, but in a news
conference in Qatar Saturday, Unit-
ed States Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks
said only seven oilfields in southern
Iraq were confirmed sabotaged.
Traders on the U.S. crude oil mar-
ket were first worried about a dis-
ruption of oil supply when the news
of burning oilfields was announced
Friday.
But optimism resumed quickly
when U.S. Energy Secretary
Spencer Abraham reassured that
U.S. oil supplies were stable.
"There shouldn't be any immedi-
ate impact," visiting Business
School Prof. Steve Percy said.
"Unless the oil wells are set ablaze
in a major kind of way that the mar-
ket perceives that those wells won't
be able to be fixed in the short
term, there will be some upward
pressure on prices."
Before Operation Iraqi Freedom
went into action, oil and gasoline
prices surged to decade highs.
See OIL, Page 9A
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War veterans rally to
support U.S. troops
By Emily Kraack
Daily Staff Reporter
In their first public display since war in Iraq
broke out, local veterans took to the steps of the
Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Saturday to
voice their support for U.S. troops abroad.
More than 100 veterans and a handful of stu-
dents gathered to express support for U.S.
troops and for President Bush. A smaller group
of students, mostly from Anti-War Action! and
the Radical Cheerleaders, turned out for a
counter protest against the war.
Ken Rogge, spokesman for Vietnam Veterans of
America Chapter 310, said the rally did not neces-
sarily express support for government policies.
"The military doesn't necessarily want to go
to war - they are doing this for the govern-
ment," he said. "We are doing this to support
them. It doesn't mean that we support the poli-
cies of the government."
Referring to the crowd gathered to support U.S.
troops in Iraq, Vietnam veteran and rally organizer
Gary Lillie said, "There probably hasn't been a sight
like this on this campus since World War II."
Rally sponsors provided cards to attendees who
wanted to send messages of support to troops abroad.
They also gave out dog tags commemorating the rally
and asked for donations to help cover postage and
personal hygiene items to send to troops.
Forrest Manley, a Vietnam veteran who
served in the Navy, said morale boosts from
home are critical for troops.
"It's very important to the troops that they
know we support them. Their lives are on the
line," he said. "Once the conflict starts, it's
strictly 'let's support the men and women over
there and show them that we're behind them."'
Conflicts between supporters and anti-war protest-
ers developed toward the end of the event, but quickly
dissolved into small groups of students and veterans
discussing their various viewpoints.
"There probably hasn't been a
sight like this on this campus
since World War II.
- Gary Lillie
Vietnam war veteran
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Stacy Richmond
said there were no incidents reported at the rally.
John Kinzinger, a Vietnam veteran and rally
organizer, said he was a little nervous that vio-
lence might break out, but added he was
relieved that no serious conflicts took place.
"I was a little concerned myself," he said.
"We were here to support the troops and not to
support any personal agenda and that's what
happened - nothing happened."
LSA sophomore Max Sussman, an Anti-War
Action! member, said someone tore his sign up
and threw it in his face. "I hope people continue
to respect each other and not resort to violence
in these situations," he said. "If you're pro-war
you're going to be more sympathetic to using
aggressive means to prove your point on the
personal level."
LSA senior Gaurav Jashnani, an AWA! member,
said he supported the troops but that he offered a
different kind of support than the veterans.
"I can't do anything in good conscience except
ask that our troops please be brought home," he
said. "I don't understand how anybody can be in
support of our troops while simultaneously asking
that they give their lives."
The rally included the Pledge of Allegiance to
an American flag held by members of Young
Americans for Freedom.
Kinzinger gave a prayer during the rally, in which
he asked that troops be given "compassion for ene-
mies who also fight for patriotic causes."
SETH LOWER/Daily
Ypsilanti resident Charles Meggison and his son Riley participate In a rally supporting American
troops in Iraq. More than 100 people came to the rally Saturday on the Diag.
Former U.N. ambassador
affirms role of U.S. in war
By Lydia K. Leung
Daily Staff Reporter
Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassa-
dor to the United Nations, Visited Hale Audi-
torium Friday to address issues relating to the
aftermath of the war with Iraq and the future
role of the United Nations.
The Citigroup annual lecture for the Gerald
R. Ford School of Public Policy was sched-
uled six months ago with "Making the U.N.
More Effective in Time of Crisis" as the title.
But the outbreak of war on Wednesday caused
Holbrooke - who is best known as the archi-
tect of the Dayton Peace Agreement that con-
cluded the war in Bosnia - to shift his focus
to current events in Iraq.
Despite international debates on the legiti-
macy of the current U.S.-led attack, Hol-
brooke repeatedly said that the war is
completely legal.
"Many people argue that just because they
couldn't pass the second resolution, (the
United States) therefore couldn't go to war ...
that was a serious mistake in terms of pre-
senting the case to the world," Holbrooke said
to students, faculty members and other com-
munity members.
He said the United States has legitimate
reasons for starting the war, even without the
second resolution, because the passage of
U.N. Security Council resolution 1441 -
which requires the full declaration and disar-
mament of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction
- has already given the United States ade-
quate reasons to go to war when Saddam
Hussein showed no interest in complying
with international law.
"It doesn't matter what your view is on
prior to the start, there is no outcome better
than a quick victory with a minimum number
of causalities on both sides," Holbrooke said.
He added that although the debate over war
continues, the world should now turn its atten-
tion to post-war issues, which include the post-
Saddam Iraq, relations with U.S. allies, Arab oil
supplies and the future of the U.N.
See U.N., Page 9A
s need for o11
AP PH
Michael Moore flashes the peace sign yesterday in Los Angeles as he poses with the
Oscars he won for Best Documentary Feature for the film "Bowling for Columbine."
Oscarcere monyCoes
on without red carpet
REBECCA SAHN/Daily
Richard Holbrooke, a former U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations, addresses the war in Iraq Friday at Hale Auditorium.
By Ryan Lewis
Daily Film Editor
Bicyclists pedal against nation'
By Michael Kan
For the Daily
Protesting the nation's dependency on
oil, student bicyclists pedaled in solidar-
ity against war in Iraq in a parade
through downtown Ann Arbor Friday.
"I'm here especially because we're
riding against the war," said Music
freshman Sarah Herard, who participat-
ed in the Critical Mass bicycle parade. A
monthly event, the Critical Mass bicycle
parade had special meaning this month
as a protest of the war on Iraq.
Rn thei hilrpc ins th ctrpp+tc~
rather than the sidewalks, cyclists par-
ticipate in Critical Mass to encourage
the public to adopt bicycling as a more
efficient and cleaner form of trans-
portation. But, due to the war, many
bicyclists have also used the parade as
a way to show their stance against
America's involvement in Iraq.
"I want to emphasize no war on oil,
and our dependency on oil," LSA junior
Samara Davis said, "We want to support
our troops by bringing them home."
"Normally it's next week, but we
moved it ahead since a lot of what this
war kAm+ t smr Pnltme"RC ' .anhn-
"America's car culture is part of the cause
since it forces the people to use car
transportation:
- Emily Kearns
RC sophomore
With "shock and awe" currently
exploding over the skies of Bagh-
dad, concern for safety at the annu-
al Academy Awards ceremonies led
to a scaled-back red carpet opener
and increased security provided by
the National Guard. Despite the
international concern, Oscar Night
continued for its 75th year.
The Steve Martin-hosted event
responded to the current situation in
Iraq with a subdued atmosphere,
most apparent in the removal of the
glitzy arrivals and paparazzi. The
Academy wished to respect the seri-
ous nature of the overseas conflict,
as well as the attending personali-
ties. hv removing the standard
extravagant interview and picture-
taking gala while ardently prevent-
ing any stoppage of the event which
has never once been cancelled.
Frank Pierson, president of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences, stood in front of reporters
on the steps of the Kodak Theater to
declare his dedication to continuing
the ceremonies. "At a time when
American culture and values are
under attack all over the world, we
think it is more important than ever
that we honor those achievements that
reflect us and Americans at our best,"
Pierson said.
Rumors abounded regarding the
possible absence of numerous per-
formers and high-profile personali-
ties, including Tom Hanks and Best
See OSCARS. Page 6A
more student Emily Kearns said. Many
participants cited "car culture" - or the
United States' overreliance on oil - as
reasons for U.S. intervention.
"America's car culture is part of the
cause since it forces the people to use
car transnArtation" Kearns said.
LSA sophomore Chris Janik held
similar opinions. .
"I am against petroleum use, and
against the war," Janik said. He added
that he also opposes the war because
President Bush and the U.S. government
Se RIVLE FS Pae 9A
L