WTat:er TODA Monday March 24, 2003 ©2003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 116 One-hundred-twelve years of editorilfreedom Partly cloudy with wind from the south at 15 miles per hour. 70 Lt~45 ;omorrio wwwmichigandaily.com 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 I 'C h 4 ,d xa. . r., h mid r7 + n r .. vil t 4 r ti t. a° l 4 S ' = of 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