Iraqi welcome for US turns to fury

The mood is changing for the worse in Umm Qasr where food and medicine is desperately needed, writes Mark Baker from southern Iraq.

May 5 2003

This is the way the war ends: not with the jubilation of the liberated but with the whimpering of ragged children. "Water! Water!" they cry, running from the roadside towards passing cars, thrusting their fingers towards their mouths in the salute of the thirsty.

The Americans have moved on, their presence marked only by the endless convoys of trucks rolling north out of Kuwait towards Baghdad to service the occupying army and the US-led interim administration.

"If the Yanks were serious about changing things and bringing a better life for these people, they should have had trucks with food and water following their tanks straight in here," one senior member of the Australian team said. "Instead they have abandoned these poor Iraqis."

Dr Gataa said the mood of the local population was rapidly turning from frustration to resentment and anger.

"The Americans and the British promised everything but brought nothing," he said.

"All of us will fight them if they stay here too long. No Iraqi will accept this turning into the occupation of their country," he said.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987604147.html

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printed from Iraqi welcome for US turns to fury on 2004-06-25 08:34:29