Central State University
Saddam warns of nuclear prowess NEW YORK (AP)—Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was quoted this week as saying that nuclear, chemical or biological warheads could be harnessed to the missiles Iraq has been firing at Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saddam, in an interview with CNN's correspondent in Baghdad, Peter Arnett, said the round-the-clock allied air assault on Iraq has "failed," and he predicted that "lots of blood will be shed on every side" of the gulf war. He expressed regret at having released foreign hostages prior to the war, said Iraq would never surrender Kuwait, and suggested Iran was accepting Iraqi planes on its territory as a favor, Arnett said,
Marine sentenced CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP)—A marine reservist who said he enlisted to help pay for college and did not plan on fighting has been sentenced to nine months in a military prison after pleading guilty to desertion. Cpl. Greg A. Dawson was charged with desertion with intent to avoid hazardous duty and missing a movement. The government dropped the second charge. Following hearings Monday, Dawson was sentenced to 30 months in the brig, forfeiture of pay and allowances, reduction in rank to private and dishonorable discharge. A pretrial agreement limits his confinement to nine months while the other terms of the sentence stand.
Military pay raise proposed OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Rep, Dave McCurdy has introduced legislation that would raise the amount of money military personnel receive for serving in remote or hostile locations. McCurdy said this week that the "certain places" pay now being paid is the same amount adopted in 1949 when it was raised to 10 percent of a enlistee's basic pay with payments ranging from $8 for the lowest enlisted rank to $22.50 for the top enlisted rank. McCurdy said in a news release from his Washington office that he would like to see the payment raised to $80 per month for all servicemen. Officers do not now receive such a payment. "A private stationed in Saudi Arabia expriences the same hardhship as his sergeant and therefore should receive the same pay," McCurdy said. V See WORLD WRAP, back page.
THURSDAY anuary 31 1991
The Student Voice Since 1903
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2,000 gather at Hafer Park to back effort By Penny Owen Student Writer
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had and Kendra Long got the idea from the nightly news. Anti-war protests were gracing the TV with more frequency as the standoff with Sadaam Hussein reached its pinnacle. It was time, they felt, for positive reinforcement. It came together for the Central State University students in Hafer Park when, last Saturday morning, under a clear, but chilly Edmond sky some 2,000 citizens gathered in appreciation of the Allied troops in the Mideast. "Pray for our country. May we be solidly united in spite of our differences," was the theme of the rally, as said in the opening prayer by Joel Baker of First Presbyterian Church. A common spirit was evident as parents and children, students and veterans, donning orange-ribboned lapels, waved hand-held flags and signs, and wiped away an occasional tear while singing one of the many patriotic songs they knew by heart. "We study the past to apply to the present to affect the future," said former Gov. George Nigh, one of several speakers. "If we don't know how to stop Saddam Hussein, we learned nothing from World War II." V See RALLY, back page.
A piece of Old Glory! U.S. troop supporters help themselves to a piece of an 850-pound cake, which was decorated as a replica of the American flag. (Photo by Peter Weds)
IRAQ.
Mideast culture reflects its history
By David LoBaugh Staff Writer Second of two parts here is more to Iraq than Saddam Hussein, Scud missiles and oil spills. Its ancient, and often turbulent, history gives some insight into the people of the Gulf Region. Although the Islamic religion played a major role in Iraq's development, its turbulent past cannot be ignored. "Iraq occupies a region that is the site of the earliest civilization in human history, which was known as Mesopotamia," Gene Hellstern, assistant professor of history and geography, said.
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Many groups such as the Assyrians, the Persians and the Romans, have gained, then lost, empires in the land that is now Iraq. "The Assyrians conquered and held this empire together, largely with violence and the fear of violence. "Some of the most blood-curdling, hideously-cruel actions taken against subject peoples in all of human history was perpetrated by the Assyrians," Hellstern said. "Much of the history of the region is one people after another succeeding to power by invasion after invasion," Hellstern said. "Iraq was under the rule of the Turks until the time of WW I," Dr. John Osburn, professor of history and geography, said. After 1918, Iraq became a mandate of the League of Nations under the British, and be-
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came a monarchy in 1921, according to Osburn. Iraq did not gain total independence until 1932. Iraq was ruled by three kings before the military ousted the monarchy in 1958 by assasination. In the 1960's the Bath party, through which Hussein rose to power, became a dominant force in Iraqi politics. "Saddam Hussein has tried to use force against, first the Iranians, and then his own Curdish people to the north, and then finally toward Kuwait," Osburn said. "Iraq made two different treaties with Kuwait, recognizing their independence, which they have now broken," Osburn said. V
TODAY
PEOPLE
SPORTS
Dena Tunstall will give up her crown to the 1991 winner of the Miss CSU of Edmond pagent Saturday night, when nine women compete for the title at the Mitchell Hall Theater.
Broncho freshman forward James Morris, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, has likely played his last game. Morris was called for military duty overseas.
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