Critical analysis is key to understanding the consequences of Iraq according to the Rev. G. Simon Harak, S.J.

He is a Jesuit scholar, university professor, ethicist and co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, a group of American citizens who oppose the U.N. economic sanctions on Iraq.

During his lecture on Tuesday, Harak concentrated on the consequences of the last Gulf War: what the media had shown, what really had happened and what the effects were on humans- physically and emotionally.

“I’m glad he (Harak) showed the realities of what is really happening to the people in Iraq, their economy and health,” said Sister Leyla Cerda, C.S.J.

During the Gulf War, the media showed only images of “smart bombings,” said Harak. Only seventy five percent of these targeted cruise missiles hit their targets. Another 25 percent of the “smart bombings” missed their targets, he said.

“This means that 93 percent … 60,000 tons of bombs … hit cities and communities in Iraq,” said Harak. “Sixty percent of these bombs hit civilian centers, not soldiers.”

The Gulf War also took on an emotional strain.

American soldiers were ordered to bury Iraqi soldiers right then and there. Of these soldiers, 98 percent admitted that it was emotionally disturbing, he said.

“It dehumanized soldiers that were ordered to do this,” Harak said. “There were hundreds of buried trenches [in the desert] with arms and legs sticking out.”

Halfway through the lecture, some members of the audience were in tears.

Josh Daly, music composition junior, said the lecture had been very powerful. “I was in tears at a couple moments,” he said.

“He (Harak) put it on a personal level instead of how the media portrays it, which is impersonal and makes us think we have no power,” Ben Fazioli, international business freshmen, said.

Harak also said that Saddam Hussein has two realities. Although he is a cruel dictator, Saddam has worked on the social structure and infrastructure of Iraq. He has used oil money to give his people a free education, kindergarten through twelfth grade, as well as college and study abroad programs.

Before the Gulf War, the biggest health problem for children in Iraq was obesity. Since then, 5,000 children under the age of five have died every month for the past 13 years. “It’s like a 9/11 of children every month,” said Harak.

The United States will be ten times as strong as it was in 1991 if war occurs. Iraq will be a one/third as strong as it was then.

If the United States goes to war against Iraq, it is estimated that there will be 500,000 causalities. “Three million in Iraq will need therapeutic feeding,” said Harak. “They will mostly be children and women.”

There will be an A-Day, air strike day, where 300 to 400 cruise missiles will be dropped on Iraqi soldiers leaving them unwilling and unable to fight. The electrical grid and water treatment system will also be cut, leaving citizens physically and emotionally drained, and a target for diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A and B, E-coli and dysentery, Harak said.