File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_2003/postcolonial.0304, message 4


Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2003 19:01:27 +1200
From: Margaret Trawick <trawick-AT-clear.net.nz>
Subject: but maybe this is the most realistic response


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-04/01/content_808346.htm

Wedding in Baghdad under Bombardment
Xinhuanet 2003-04-01 05:47:36

 BAGHDAD, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Despite the bombs and missiles which jolted the Iraqi capital city, Ramadan 14th street in downtown Baghdad Monday witnessed the first outdoor wedding ceremony since the start of war 12 days ago.

Escorted by a process of over 50 vehicles, the car carrying the bride and the bridegroom, which was decorated with roses and flowers, drove through the streets of the city of 5 million population, amid joyful music and drum beats.

A large crowd of people thronged to the streets to show their blessings and happiness to the couple, with some women ululating with great joy.

It was hardly for anyone outside Iraq to believe that people in Baghdad, which has been under continuous airstrikes from the coalition forces since March 20, could have such a mood for a grandwedding ceremony.

On Monday, several quarters of Baghdad were rocked by fresh bombardment from Anglo-American coalition forces. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's presidential palace in central Baghdad and the Iraqi Information Ministry were targeted again in the air raid.

Warplanes were heard flying low over the city in a fresh wave ofbombardment on Day 12 of the US-led war on Iraq, the witnesses said.

On Saturday, 53 Iraqis were killed and 59 were injured in a coalition's air strikes on the al-Nasr market in northwestern Baghdad.

According to Iraqi civil defense forces, 14 Iraqis were killed and 30 others wounded by US-British missiles strike on a busy market area in northern Baghdad on Wednesday.

Although Baghdad is under vehement air raid everyday since the outbreak of war, which aims to topple the Iraqi regime, the life here still goes on as usual.

Baghdadis have accustomed to going to work with the explosions, shopping with them, and sleeping with them howling overhead.

Banks and shops were open. Electricity and water supply were normal. However, prices of bread, vegetables, fruits, eggs and meathave doubled or tripled in the past days.

The traffic was busy in the day and only dareful drivers drove at night, when the air raids intensified.

As the coalition forces pound Baghdad at night, frightened children would hide under the arms of their parents, while some bold ones would climb up to the rooftop to enjoy a free "fireworks"performance.

Iraqi officials make their daily appearance on TV, briefing the common people on recent battle results, most of them good news achieved by the Republican Guards, Iraq's elite forces, in a bid toshow that the country was still under the control of President Saddam.

Football matches were held on green grassland, as if in times ofpeace. Fans cheered for their sports heroes with all-out ardor.

People believe the siege on Baghdad by the coalition forces would last for a long time, and the supply of water, food and othernecessities may be cut off some day. But they can do nothing to stop it but to let it be.



HTML VERSION:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-04/01/content_808346.htm
 
Wedding in Baghdad under Bombardment
Xinhuanet 2003-04-01 05:47:36 
 
 BAGHDAD, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Despite the bombs and missiles which jolted the Iraqi capital city, Ramadan 14th street in downtown Baghdad Monday witnessed the first outdoor wedding ceremony since the start of war 12 days ago.
 
Escorted by a process of over 50 vehicles, the car carrying the bride and the bridegroom, which was decorated with roses and flowers, drove through the streets of the city of 5 million population, amid joyful music and drum beats.
 
A large crowd of people thronged to the streets to show their blessings and happiness to the couple, with some women ululating with great joy.
 
It was hardly for anyone outside Iraq to believe that people in Baghdad, which has been under continuous airstrikes from the coalition forces since March 20, could have such a mood for a grandwedding ceremony.
 
On Monday, several quarters of Baghdad were rocked by fresh bombardment from Anglo-American coalition forces. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's presidential palace in central Baghdad and the Iraqi Information Ministry were targeted again in the air raid.
 
Warplanes were heard flying low over the city in a fresh wave ofbombardment on Day 12 of the US-led war on Iraq, the witnesses said.
 
On Saturday, 53 Iraqis were killed and 59 were injured in a coalition's air strikes on the al-Nasr market in northwestern Baghdad.
 
According to Iraqi civil defense forces, 14 Iraqis were killed and 30 others wounded by US-British missiles strike on a busy market area in northern Baghdad on Wednesday.
 
Although Baghdad is under vehement air raid everyday since the outbreak of war, which aims to topple the Iraqi regime, the life here still goes on as usual.
 
Baghdadis have accustomed to going to work with the explosions, shopping with them, and sleeping with them howling overhead.
 
Banks and shops were open. Electricity and water supply were normal. However, prices of bread, vegetables, fruits, eggs and meathave doubled or tripled in the past days.
 
The traffic was busy in the day and only dareful drivers drove at night, when the air raids intensified.
 
As the coalition forces pound Baghdad at night, frightened children would hide under the arms of their parents, while some bold ones would climb up to the rooftop to enjoy a free "fireworks"performance.
 
Iraqi officials make their daily appearance on TV, briefing the common people on recent battle results, most of them good news achieved by the Republican Guards, Iraq's elite forces, in a bid toshow that the country was still under the control of President Saddam.
 
Football matches were held on green grassland, as if in times ofpeace. Fans cheered for their sports heroes with all-out ardor.
 
People believe the siege on Baghdad by the coalition forces would last for a long time, and the supply of water, food and othernecessities may be cut off some day. But they can do nothing to stop it but to let it be.
 
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