Page 6
Kurdish people sacrificed
by Chad Clouse
Opinion Editor
Zakhu, Iraq, sits in the north a mile the region in hopes of protecting their
from the border to Turkey. The town itself people. In the process they have moved
sits on a piece of land the size of the with Iraqi forces against their own. The
Millcrcek mall. The city streets are dirt and Kurds are now killing Kurds. Everyone in
the dust from the few cars and trucks settles the Middle East should be happy. Iraq has
heavy on everything and hangs precariously
in the air. It's not the town that is so
important but the check point on the one
major highway to the west of town. There
on the edge of the town, running past the
mud brick homes, a four lane highway
appears and runs south and north promising'
those who can cross the check point a
chance at a new life in Turkey.
The fleeing masses are Kurds. They are
hunted by the Iraqi government as a
nuisance; the Kurds want a free Kurdish
state
Fleeing to Turkey is not always a
legitimate escape for these people. The
Turkish government hates the Kurds as
much as the Iraqi government and uses
every opportunity they have to bomb
known Kurdish settlements in Iraq and
southern Turkey. They are our allies in
protecting the no-fly zone. It gives them
every opportunity to fly in northern Iraq .
Also important in the town is an old
cement pad that the U.S. Army uses to land
its UH-60 Blackhawks on. These
helicopters are the main supply line for the
American Colonel and British officers
staying in Zakhu. The helicopters are also
their main transportation.
This operation is called "Provide
Comfort." The mission of the U.S. soldiers
in northern Iraq is to set up talks with the
Kurdish leaders.
The question is, "As Americans where do
our loyalties lie?”
Zakhu is held by the KDP (Kurdish
Democratic Party). However, the KDP is
now backed by Sadam Hussien. The
Democratic tendencies proclaimed in their
name is lost when they choose to affiliate
themselves which the Dictator. Yet we
must understand their frustration. The U.S.
government has in the past refused to help.
Even now the U.S. is refusing to arm the
other faction of Kurds fighting the KDP
and Iraqi soldiers. The faction, PKK, can
only depend on Iran for arms.
How are we protecting out interests in
Iraq when we have done nothing but shoot
jg 'tc ★ ★ ★ +
off a few missiles in the defense of these
peoples. We have forced one side to affiliate
itscif with the most prominent power in
armed a faction to kill half of his enemy.
Do not be surprised if Iraq attacks the KDP
in the near' future in an attempt to finish
the job.
Through all this our Colonel sits on his
ass in Zakhu, sipping imported coffees and
eating well in a town owned by our
supposed enemy. This is a town where
children in the street bare the scares of the
nation. A young boy no more then five
wears heavy white scars across his face and
chest. Jt his bqdy is .melting
away. When asked what happened an adult
near him replies that a grenade blew up in
his face.
The President has sanctioned military
action against Iraq. The coincidence that
this is an election year seems minor. The
claims from the White House remain the
same. "We are protecting our interests in
the Middle East."
I spent six months in southern Turkey
and northern Iraqi as part of operation
"Provide Comfort." In that year I dropped
flour and sugar from helicopters like bombs
inion
into the dirt near shanty towns; I helped in
disaster relief when the cold snow in the
mountain broke loose and covered those
towns; I pulled the blued and stiffened
bodies out of the snow and wrapped them
with care in the thick black plastic of a
body bag so reminiscent of a trash bag; I've
met the Kurdish leaders on a few occasions
and found them fat and well clothed while
the children around them are dressed in rags;
I've tried at night to block out the faces.
I am no longer prepared for war. Going
back to Iraq is not an option for me. There
is no endgame in the Middle East. We are
there and will remain there. Again the
young of our country will set foot on Iraqi
soil to take part in something (hey can not
believe in. "Who cares about the Kurds?"
they'll ask and be right in their assumption
that no one does.
Our interests in the' Middle East are all
economic. We are not humanitarians; we
are pirates. Oil is money. We are protecting
our oil trade.
There is a photo that goes along with
this article. That's me in the middle of a sea
of children. They came to gawk at the
helicopters that sit out of frame to the
photographer's rear. These are the faces I
see when I close my eyes. Stare at them a
while and see if you care.
Thursday, September 19, 1996
The Behrend College
Collegian
Published weekly by the students
of
The Pennsylvania State University
at Erie, The Behrend College
Editor in Chiefs
Jennifer V. Colvin
Danielle Murphy
Business Manager
Cariey Gwin
News Editor
Doreen Foutz
Sports Editors
Brian Gregory
Matt Plizga
Entertainment Editor
Sheila Bickei
Photography Editors
Colleen Gritzen
Joe Stiller
Opinion Editor
Chad Clouse
Advertising Manager
Thomas D. Keefe
Office Manager
Crystal Dehart
Advisors
Dr. Ursula Davis
Rob Speei
Collegian Staff: Dave Anechstein,
Edward N. Black, Dave Boulos,
Brian Charnock, Mika Coursey, Adria
Kovaiy, Kristine Kannel, Jessica
King, Eric R. Krouse, Mike Nies,
Adam tevenstein, Josh Pie, Sara
Prosser, Jenn Reisenweber, John
Rossomando, Joe Ryan, Kevin
Schaaf, Wendy Schell, Jason
Simmons, Brad Waldbaum, Kirsten
Wright, Jonrta Zteak.
Postal Information: The Collegian is
published .weekly by the students of
The Pennsylvania Stole University at
Erie, The Behrend College; First
Floor, The J, Elmer Reed Union
Building, Station Road, Erie, PA
16563. 814-898-6488 or
814-898-6019 fax. iSSN 1071-9288
Utter Policy: The Collegian
encourages letters on • news
coverage, editorial content and
University affairs. Letters should be
typewritten, double-spaced and
signed by no more than two persons.
Letters should be no longer than 400
words. Letters should include the
semester standing and major of the
writer. Ail letters should provide the
address and phone number of the
writer for verification of the fetter.
The Collegian reserves the right to
edit letters for length and to reject
tetters. Letters submitted to The
Collegian become the property of the
newspaper. The Collegian is