Iraq still an insecure nation Gulf News

Opinion, August 2003, www.aljazeerah.info

Iraq still an insecure nation

Gulf News

26-08-2003

There can surely be nothing more distressing than to see the International Committee of the Red Cross having to retreat from a war-torn area because of security fears. But this is exactly what the ICRC has had to do because there can be no guarantees for the safety of its personnel in Iraq. While there will still remain about 50 foreign staff. Taking such a dramatic decision to evacuate a number of staff is in recognition of warnings that the ICRC offices or personnel could be the next target for some form of guerrilla attack, as recently undertaken on the UN offices in Baghdad.

The ICRC is usually the first to arrive in a country in need of its specialist assistance, and one of the few international aid bodies that stays long after all others have left. So, with the reduction in ICRC staff to essential levels only, it is likely that many other aid agencies similarly engaged in trying to restore Iraq to some semblance of order, will also feel inclined to depart, pending a greater improvement in security and law and order. ICRC officials claim that there are very few people in Iraq at the moment who consider themselves to be safe; most are frightened and fear going out into the streets. In such abnormal conditions, is it any wonder that the nerves of Iraqis are stretched taught through anxiety?

The Coalition Provisional Authority, CPA, claim they are "on top of things" and winning the battles, yet there is little evidence to support this claim. There are still many areas that are without their basic needs and, in failing to redress these issues, support for the CPA rapidly wanes among the Iraqis. With fear predominating and Saddam Hussain still at large, the saboteurs give every impression of having the upper hand.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).