JEDDAH, 26 March 2003 — The streets of Jeddah have been unusually quiet throughout the day and night over the last few days. People wake up to images of war on their television screen. Those who stayed up all night in the run up to the war on Iraq, saw the strikes on Baghdad live. But how “live” was it?
No matter how emotionally involved and mentally focused we are on those ugly scenes of destruction, they remain scenes from a distant place, almost like watching a movie. Modern information technology gives us instant, clear pictures of events as they are unfolding on the ground in a real place far removed from us. Modern warfare technology gives us precision bombing and weapons of mass destruction operated by button as the military men and women sit comfortably in their bunkers.
Yes, the hot bunkers, heavy equipment and cumbersome gear are comfortable compared to the old days of face-to-face combat when a man killed another man and saw the blood, smelled the decaying flesh and heard the awful noises of the dying and the equally awful silence of the dead.
We know that US President George W. Bush has never experienced war. But his ignorance does not excuse his indifference. On the other hand, we also know that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has no conscience, causing the death and destruction of his people and that his country is ultimately irrelevant to him. So who do we blame for this terrible, unjustifiable, unnecessary and unprovoked war?
We listen to the political analysts, the military experts, and the economic gurus, and it all seems like a show to us. But the fact remains that there are people dying, and that they may be fortunate compared to those who are maimed and will suffer life-long disability or illness. It is a shame that we can watch in awe as all this power destroys Baghdad, and forget that it is a city with a long history of civilization and culture that should be protected by all means and by the whole international community.
Unfortunately, all the millions of protesters around the world could not stop a few warmongers from executing their plans.
Watching the events on television with some family members, the reaction varied. The grandmother’s eyes filled up with tears thinking of the innocent lives particularly of children. “War is always terrible no matter what the reasons for it,” she said.
The 12-year old boy clapped his hands in excitement. “They’ve blown up a building,” he exclaimed. To him it’s like a video game, he does not comprehend the reality of it.
The 14-year old girl realized what was going on but what she really cared about was whether her school would be closed. The rest watched mostly in silence, except for a few words of grief for the Iraqis, a few words of anger toward Saddam and few words of disappointment for the US.
