Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 19, 1991 TAG: 9102190397
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: NF1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Tammy Poole Newsfun Editor
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Q: Why do we have war? Reed Haney, Salem
Q: Why do people think that this is a United States' war instead of a United Nations' war? Chad Whitworth, Vinton
A: We can't really answer the first question. Why countries fight against each other instead of finding peaceful ways to settle their disagreements is a kind of mystery.
Even brothers and sisters who love each other sometimes fight. That can happen when somebody gets frustrated - such as when your brother takes a favorite toy without asking you.
For countries that speak different languages and have different customs and beliefs, it's even harder to understand and work out problems.
Wars are usually fought over land or resources, as is the case in the Middle East.
For 800 years, Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire, a huge piece of territory that also included Iraq and other countries. That's one reason Saddam Hussein thinks that it should belong to his country. Iraq also wants to own the oil underground in Kuwait - one of the richest countries in the world.
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August. That made other nearby countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, afraid they might be invaded too.
Most of the countries in the United Nations, an international organization that tries to help countries solve problems peaceably, thought Iraq was wrong to invade Kuwait. They voted to tell Iraq to leave Kuwait by Jan. 15.
The United States was one of the countries in favor of supporting Kuwait; we buy lots of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. So we agreed to send troops and planes to force Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait if he did not withdraw by the deadline. He did not, so the countries allied against Iraq attacked.
Some people think that this is mostly a United States war because we have sent more troops over there than any other country and because President Bush has led the opposition to Saddam Hussein.
\ Q: How much does it cost for one U.S. Patriot missile to be fired? C.W.
A: The cost is $600,000, according to the Armed Forces Newsdesk.
\ Q: Iraq has the fourth largest army in the world; who has the first, second and third largest? David Clark, Salem
A: It depends on what you meant by largest, according to a spokesman in the office of the U.S. secretary of defense. For example, one army might have the most people, while another would have the most weapons, planes or ships.
The United States has among the largest, but the Chinese would be first, followed by the Soviet Union and India.
Iraq used to have about a million people in its army, but since the war began, it no longer is quite as large nor does it have as many weapons as it used to, according to a representative of the Armed Forces Newsdesk.
\ Q: Why does Saddam Hussein still continue to fight the war after all that has happened? Shawn Phillips, Salem
A: Probably only Saddam Hussein could answer this question. The announcement Friday that Iraq might agree to leave Kuwait under certain conditions may be a sign that Saddam realizes he can't win a military victory.
But different countries have different ideas about honor and victory. Being willing to fight against more powerful enemies is an Arab tradition, and Iraq is an Arab country.
By standing up to the United States and the allies, Saddam has gained the respect of many Arabs in the Middle East. To some he is a hero, whether he wins the war or not.
\ Q: Do you think they'll ever start a ground war? Mitzi Wimmer, Vinton
A: Although the allies continue their preparations, President Bush will not say when or if a ground war may begin although he said the gulf conflict could end "very, very soon."
Many experts predict that a ground war could cost many lives. While most Americans support the war effort, they might change their minds if a lot of soldiers were killed.
\ Q: Do we have any plans to assassinate Saddam Hussein? David Clark
Q: I want to know if you make a cannon and shoot it toward where Saddam is so it might hit somewhere close to him and scare him? Greg Sharp
A: Many people are angry with Saddam for invading Kuwait and for causing the war in the Middle East. It's not unusual for kids who have relatives fighting in Operation Desert Storm to want Saddam to be scared or even to hope that he will die.
But plotting to kill an enemy leader is considered wrong in most countries (including the United States).
Although our military leaders say that Saddam has not been personally targeted, our troops have attacked the presidential palace in Baghdad as a part of Iraq's military headquarters.
\ Q: Can you tell me if Saddam Hussein is actually enjoying himself? And what kind of palace does he have underground? Belinda Carlisle, Franklin County
A: Although he's probably not having a good time, Saddam has a bunker that is made of reinforced concrete with walls and ceilings that are 6 feet thick. It is 60 feet underground, beneath his bomb-damaged presidential palace in Baghdad.
Reports say that the bunker has appliances ranging from a microwave oven to a washing machine, and also has a swimming pool and Persian carpets.
The bunker is said to be so well stocked that up to 25 people could survive there for more than a year.
\ Q: How long has Saddam Hussein been in charge of Iraq? James Bandy
A: Saddam Hussein has been president and prime minister of Iraq since July 1979.
\ Q: Who's side did Russia take? Stephanie Ogilvie, Roanoke County
A: The Soviet Union is part of the United Nations alliance against Iraq, although it has not sent troops to the region.
\ Q: On a recent map I've seen, it said Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, but on the news broadcast they say that Tel Aviv is the capital. Which is the real capital?
A: The reason some people are confused is because Tel Aviv was the capital of Israel from May 1948 until July 1980, when Jerusalem became the capital.
Many government offices still are located in Tel Aviv.
\ Q: How many soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf are from Virginia? Michael Poff
A: The Pentagon said those figures have not been calculated yet. However, there are about 40,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen from the Virginia Beach area serving in the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Storm.
\ Q: How many of our people including journalists and American soldiers are POWs at this time? B.B., Salem
A: There are eight American soldiers and airmen officially listed as prisoners of war at this time and 26 are simply listed as missing, according to the Armed Forces Newsdesk.
The only journalists reported missing are CBS News correspondent Bob Simon and his three-man crew, whose abandoned vehicle was discovered at the Kuwait border Jan. 21.
CNN reported Friday that the men were being held in Iraq near the former residence of the U.S. Embassy Marine guards, and that their fate will be determined by Saddam. There are three categories they could fall into: innocent bystanders who could be released, prisoners of war or spies.
\ Q: Why are they letting so many Iraqi planes go to Iran? Rachel Turner
A: About 100 Iraqi planes including top-line fighters flew to Iran recently so they would not be destroyed by allied bombers.
Iran has not sided with Iraq or the allies, and Iran's government said it is going to keep the planes and their pilots until the war is over.
The U.S. military has said it knows where the Iraqi planes are, and they will be attacked if they leave Iran.
\ Q: How come the news is telling us so many things about allied forces and ships? Can't Saddam Hussein use that against us? B.D.
A: Your feelings about media coverage of the war are shared by many people. They believe that military plans or details seen on television might alert Iraqis to our troops' plans.
Recently the military handed down new rules for reporters covering Operation Desert Storm.
Among them: Reporters covering the war now must have an Army public relations officer with them any time they cover field operations. A public relations officer must be present whenever a journalist interviews a serviceman or woman. All outgoing news stories must be approved by military censors so there will be no information that would help Iraq.
These requirements mean that no news can be reported without approval by military officials.
Some people argue that this is not right because the military can prevent unfavorable stories from being reported. Some say that military officials are afraid something could be shown on the news that would show the allied side is not doing as well as the public has been told.
No matter what your feelings are on this issue, the new rules are bound to make the broadcasts seem less personal and, sometimes, not nearly as exciting.
\ Who are our allies? Ashley Prillaman, Salem
A: There are 32 allied countries that are contributing about 205,000 troops, as well as money and supplies, to Operation Desert Storm.
The biggest contributions so far include:
Saudi Arabia - $760 million cash, $854 million in host nation support including free food, fuel, water, facilities and transportation.
Kuwait - Pledged $16 billion, contributed $2.5 billion cash and $6 million in material assistance.
United Arab Emirates - Pledged $1 billion in cash and other support. Have given about half that so far.
Japan - Pledged $11 billion in cash and material. Has given about $1 billion so far.
Germany - Pledged $1.07 billon in cash and materials. Has given about $325 million so far.
Korea - Pledged $95 million in cash, material and transportation.
Others have pledged $3 million in material support.
With the U.S. forces, the total troop commitment is approximately 705,000.
\ Q: What happens if we lose the war?
A: Experts say that there is no way we will lose the war. The number of allies on our side, combined with the military power they have, far outweighs the strength of Iraq, which has had much of its military equipment destroyed since the war began.
Your concern is felt by many children, who have had trouble sleeping because they are afraid that Iraq will attack the United States.
Iraq has its hands full fighting the war in the Middle East and it doesn't have any missiles that could travel the thousands of miles between them and us.
\ Q: What do the soldiers have every night for supper? Emily Smith, Roanoke County
A: Soldiers have three different kinds of food to eat. The military calls the food for its soldiers "rations." What soldiers get to eat depends on where they are stationed and if they are moving or staying in one place.
When the first troops were sent to the Middle East, they ate MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat), which are individually wrapped plastic pouches of dehydrated food. Each soldier had to add water to the food and then eat it cold or hot.
Many of the troops now are eating trays of precooked food fixed in mobile field kitchens. These are called T (for tray) rations.
When they're at a base, soldiers eat A rations, fresh food prepared in a mess hall.
One of the things that soldiers joke about is how bad the food they get tastes, but military officials say the troops are getting plenty to eat. In December, the Pentagon ordered a $44.6 million supply of Top Shelf entrees from Hormel & Co. to help improve mealtimes for the troops.
The Minnesota-based company will provide 10.8 million of its packaged meals, which come in 12 varieties - from chili to sweet and sour chicken. What the Pentagon gets will be the same items available on U.S. supermarket shelves.
Many of the soldiers also got food from home in the mail, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has numerous restaurants where the soldiers can eat.
by CNB