CPT Iraq Team Report, June 17, 2003
The CPT delegation arrived back in Baghdad after spending 2 days in Basrah,
southern Iraq. Team members who had been in Basrah before the recent war
were shocked by the extent of the damage caused by U.S./UK bombing of the
city.
Many commercial buildings, hotels, and residential areas had been
heavily hit. However, they also noted that there were far fewer troops on
the streets than in Baghdad and that the soldiers and civilians were more
relaxed. On the way back to Baghdad, the delegation attempted to visit Ur,
the birthplace of Abraham. However they were denied entry as the site has
now been taken over for a U.S. military base. They could see that the
famous ziggurat at the site has been defaced. The delegation also stopped
at the place on the highway where CPTer George Weber was killed in a road
accident on Jan. 6, 2003. Team members Anne Montgomery and Peggy Gish, and
Iraqi drivers Sattar and Ismail, who had been with George at the time of
the accident, led in a joint service of remembrance.