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Marine helicopter crash kills 12 Britons, 4 Americans War CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Thursday and bombed limited tar gets in Baghdad. But military com manders withheld the massive on slaught that would signal all-out war as U.S. officials tried to talk the Iraqi regime into giving up. Coalition forces suffered their first casualties in a helicopter crash that left 12 Britons and four Americans dead. “The days of the Saddam Hussein regime are numbered,” Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld predicted, although he also said there was “no need for a broader conflict” if Iraqi leaders surrender. On the second day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, American officials held out the tantalizing possibility that Saddam had been killed in the initial Wednesday night bombing of Baghdad. State-run Iraqi television said Saddam survived and met with tof> aides to counter the U.S.-led attack. “We are resolved to teach the criminal invaders hard lessons and make them taste painful punish ment,” declared the Iraqi military. The onset of war sparked anti war demonstrations across the country — more than 1,000 were arrested in San Francisco — and at U.S. embassies around the world. The State Department warned U.S. citizens abroad of an increased danger of terrorism. Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., said following a House briefing with Rumsfeld that “the behavior of those who’ve not surrendered would suggest that they might.” In southern Iraq, white Tight glowed in the desert sky, and the sound of explosions could be heard from across the Kuwait-Iraq fron tier as the 3rd Infantry Division unleashed an artillery barrage. Troops eager to cross the border into Iraq cheered — and units were soon on their way. The 101st Airborne Division rumbled across the desert in a vast convoy — trucks, tankers, humvees and more rolling along under a round white moon. Iraq sent missiles toward Kuwait in retaliation for the pre dawn attack against Saddam, and American officials said the Iraqis had set fire to some of their own oil wells. Protecting the oil-rich Basra region was one of the American military’s goals as Marines and Army special forces headed into Iraq. The Iraqi missiles landed harm lessly in the Kuwaiti desert. Officials said none of the Iraqi missiles caused injuries, and one was intercepted by a Patriot mis sile. Thousands of American and British troops donned protective gear, but there was no evidence the missiles carried chemical or biological weapons. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush’s staunchest ally in the war ef fort, went on television to tell his country that British forces were “en gaged from air, land and sea. Their mission: to remove Saddam Hussein from power and disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction,” he said in the recorded address. It was the second straight night that cruise missiles and bombs penetrated Baghdad. This time, officials said the tar gets included facilities of the Special Republican Guard and the Special Security Organization. The organization, run by Saddam’s younger son, Qusai, oversees most security and intel ligence activities in Iraq. Red and white anti-aircraft tracers lit the night sky and a huge plume of smoke rose from the west bank of the Tigris River in central Baghdad. But two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the night strikes were not the begin ning of the massive air assault that Pentagon officials have said they plan to unleash. In Washington, the Senate unan imously approved a resolution sup porting U.S. military forces, while protesters briefly blocked one of the Potomac River bridges carry ing traffic into the capital. Outside the White House, demonstrators shouted, “No blood for oil.” In an unusual diplomatic move, the Bush administration called for the expulsion of Iraqi diplomats by all countries that recognize and deal with the government in Baghdad. The Bush administration seized $1.75 billion in Iraqi assets already frozen in the Gulf War, saying the money would be used for humani tarian purposes in Iraq. Students CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 manitarian effort continues in Iraq,” he said. “I would think a large portion of the mobilization process has occurred.” Buchanan said that because the standing Army was down sized to about.500,000 soldiers dur ing the Clinton administration, many Army reservists are being called to active duty. “Even more so than we have in past years, we’ve had to resort to using reserves,” Buchanan said. USC Army ROTC members said they had been instructed not to comment on their fellow ROTC members’ mobilization. Major Steve Luhrsen of USC Navy ROTC said no members of NROTC have been called to active duty at this time. First-year criminal-justice stu dent Chris Stinson said that while he was initially against war, he supports U.S. actions in Iraq and USC students serving in the armed forces. “I wish it didn’t have to come to that, but since they’re there, all you can do is hope and pray for their safety,” Stinson said. First-year criminal-justice stu dent Bryan Lelasher said he ^strongly supports the war and hopes the service men come home. " “I hope they get returned safe ly,” Lelasher said. “I’ve got full re spect for them.” Buchanan said USC students should keep all service members in mind in the days ahead. “Say a prayer for your soldiers, sailors, air men and marines as they go do their mission,” he said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Ground Attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in Washington. Yet conditions were some times difficult. The Marines drove through thick, swirling dust storms. Troops detected Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles hidden behind sand berms by the heat they gave off, and U.S. air craft attacked the positions. None of the forces apparently encountered chemical or biolog ical weapons. The Marines passed burning oil wells, though it was not known who had set them afire. Flames shot up hun dreds of feet, thickening the air with black smoke. Artillery, mortars and how itzers rumbled for hours in the nearly deserted far north of Kuwait, mixed with bursts of rocket launchers. The explosions rattled tin roofs noisily on their wood frames miles away and shook concrete houses. The attack came at the end of a day that began with allied troops at the other end of the gun bar rel, as Iraq — responding to the American bombardment of Baghdad and other targets — launched missiles into Kuwait, where allied forces were primed to attack. The Iraqi military claimed in a statement it had repulsed an “enemy” attack at Al-Anbar province, on Iraq’s border with Jordan and Saudi Arabia. It was not clear what force could be at tacking from that point, and the statement did not mention at tacks in the south. Associated Press writer Chris Tomlinson, traveling with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, also contributed to this report. Red Cross CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Department’s Armed Services Blood Program to ensure that a supplemental supply of blood is available to soldiers in case the defense’s supply runs out. “People feel a strong sense of patriotism that compels them to do something to support our coun try, and giving blood is the action that many people will take,” Maness said. Nikki Snead, donor recruit ment representative at the Columbia Red'Cross, is responsi ble for coordinating the blood drive at USC. The drive was orig inally to be held at Fort Jackson,’ but was moved to USC for security reasons. “USC has always been a big supporter,” Snead said. “Right now, as the country faces mili tary action, it’s important for the state and nation to supply blood.” Although the Defense Department operates its own Armed Services Blood Program office, the need for blood remains. Col. Glenn Fitzpatrick, director of the Armed Services Blood Program Office, said the need for blood products increases signifi cantly as new operations begin or the tempo of current operations increases. “In such situations, the ASBPO historically has contracted to ob tain blood from civilian agencies,” he said. CEO and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Marsha Evans said the Red Cross could be an important source of supplemen tary blood products to the mili tary. “The Red Cross is proud of its history of providing life-saving blood to the servicemen and wom en of this country,” Evans said. “With this agreement, the Red Cross promises to continue this critical service whenever and wherever it is needed.” The South Carolina Blood Services Region is one of 36 American Red Cross blood-ser Upcoming community blood drives include: ♦ FRIDAY, MARCH 21 Columbia Red Cross Blood Center, 2751 Bull St., 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ♦ MONDAY, MARCH 24 Columbia Red Cross Blood Center, noon to 6:30 p.m. ♦ MONDAY, MARCH 24 Midlands Tech at Beltline, 316 Beltline Blvd., 10a.m.to3 p.m. vices regions tnrougnoui tne country and provides blood to pa tients in 54 hospitals in South Carolina and Georgia. The Red Cross must collect 500 units of blood a day to meet the needs of hospital patients in the region. “Because blood is perishable and has a limited shelf life of 42 days, it must be regularly re plenished. It’s critical that peo ple give blood regularly. That is the only way to ensure we have a safe and stable supply so that lives can be saved,” Maness said. To be eligible to donate blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, ana De in general gooa neann. To sponsor or to set up an ap pointment to donate blood, call 1 800-GIVE-LIFE. “This week, there has been somewhat of an increase in peo ple calling to set up appointments, which can be attributed to the lo cal media,” said Rhonda O’Banion, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross in Columbia. “The Red Cross has provided a convenient outlet to students and faculty and staff at Carolina to give blood to help build a safe and stable supply.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Compound CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 from stealth fighters, was aimed at a residential complex where U.S. intelligence believed Saddam, and possibly his sons, were sleeping. After the attack, intelligence re ports indicated Iraq’s leaders were not organizing any coordinated re sponse in Baghdad or in the rest of the country, suggesting the lead ership might be in chaos or cut off from communicating with field commanders. A defiant Saddam was on Iraqi television a'few hours after the strike. Officials said the taped mes sage did not prove he was alive. It appeared to be him and not a look-alike, officials said after ini tial analysis. A voice analysis was under way. There was nothing in the tape that made specific reference to the attack, or other events, that would confirm it was made in the hours after the strike. However, the fact that Saddam read the speech from a steno pad indicated a fairly impromptu pro duction, suggesting it came after the strike, the officials said. If Saddam survived, U.S. offi cials hoped the surprise attack at least would make him distrustful of his inner circle, leaving him less able to command. Associated Press writers John Solomon, Ken Guggenheim and Robert Burns contributed to this story. Protests CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 to protect the freedom and lib erties that each of us enjoys on an everyday basis and should receive nothing but support for their actions.” Joey Oppermann, a third year history student, helped or ganize yesterday’s rally. He said it is important that students show their discontent with the Bush administration’s deci sions. “It’s the students’ duty more than others’ to stand up. It’s im portant for us to take leader ship,” he said. “If we can’t dis agree with and stand up against the norm, what kind of respon sible adults will we become?” Though the rally remained peaceful, some remarks were made as the protestors marched. “There were some comments yelled at us, such as ‘We are go ing to send you to Baghdad,’ but we just need to realize they love ‘ our country just as much as we do. They just express it in dif ferent ways,” Catanese said. Anti-war demonstrators blocked morning traffic in Washington, San Francisco and Philadelphia and chanted “no blood for oil” outside the White House on Thursday in reaction to U.S. military strikes against Iraq. Protestors also demonstrat ed around the country to show their disapproval of war in Iraq. As many as 150 protesters temporarily shut down the in bound travel lanes of one of Washington’s Potomac River crossings, snarling rush-hour traffic. Some 50 demonstrators bicycled through downtown Washington carrying signs that said “Bikes not Bombs.” Three people were arrested. “There are many, many peo ple here and around the world that are opposed to this war,” said Dana Hubbard, 54, of Washington. Outside the White House, about 50 anti-war protesters gathered in the chilly rain, shouting “no blood for oil!” Police blocked Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to protesters and pedes trians. In San Francisco, at least 175 protesters were arrested after blocking streets and snarling traffic across the city, police said. Police and firefighters used power saws to separate protesters linked with metal pipes. _i_x_•_nu;i« X iuu-oicio ill X iixiuuux^lliu blocked the entrances to the downtown federal building, forcing police to detour mo torists around the area. About 100 were arrested. Not every demonstrator op posed the military action. While many students at Brown University in Providence, R.I., held signs denouncing war, Alec O’Neill stood at the edge of the crowd, wearing a handmade T shirt that read, “I am threatened by Iraq.” On the back were the words “Regime change now.” “We are taking on a real and present threat,” said O’Neill, 21, of Red Hook, N.Y. Several polls taken before the strikes began found that about two-thirds of Americans sup ported the war, but most pre ferred winning United Nations support before an attack. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk @hotmail.com Congress CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Republican fire for saying Bush “failed so miserably at diploma cy that we’re now forced to war.” With airstrikes in Baghdad be ginning Wednesday night, Daschle and most other critics moderated their tone. “We may have had differences of opinion about what brought us to this point, but the president is the commander in chief and today we unite behind him,” Daschle said. But some of the most vocal op ponents of the war continued their criticism. “While I support the troops, I cannot support this mission,” said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D Ohio, a presidential candidate. “President Bush has launched an unprovoked attack.” Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., said the president “has created this disaster to cover up his failed diplomatic, social and economic agenda.” Stark said the Republican budget proposal, which does not include war costs, shows how “George Bush and his Republican henchmen mistreat our troops.” Republicans have remained solidly behind Bush. Forum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 “Those with political influence get fed first from the trough,” Neal said. Panelists also discussed how the budget is determined. State Rep. Tracy Edge (R-104th District) of the Ways and Means Committee de scribed how the Board of Economic Advisers’ revenue pro jections are important in creating the budget. He also said that the timing of the revenue projections can make a difference since the projection might have changed by the time it gets to the Senate from the House. Edge said that revenue pro jections are helpful in creating the budget and that overall, “our forecasting, I think, is improv ing." Sen. Phil P. Leventis (D-35th District) of the Senate Finance Committee said legislators place tax relief before the budget when the budget should be the priority. With 40,000 people per year com ing to South Carolina and de manding services, the state bud get actually needs to increase in order to keep up, he said. “If we don’t increase our bud get at a certain rate, we’ve not only not maintained the status quo, we’ve moved back,” Leventis said. Fourth-year government stu dent Chad Sellers said he was glad that he attended the discussion be cause “the stuff they’ve talked about tonight affects people our age more than it affects anybody else in the state.” The debate was the latest in a series of public seminars spon sored by the West Forum on Politics and Policy, which was founded in 2002 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization in USC’s Department of Government and International Studies. Other panelists included Sen. John W. Drummond (D-lOth District), president pro tempore emeritus of the State Senate, and Rep. David Wilkins (R-24th dis trict), speaker of the House. The purpose of the discussion was to “promote civic values of broad informed democratic polit ical involvement” and “advance public understanding of political processes,” according to the West Forum objectives. “They brought up a lot of im portant issues,” Sellers said. “It’s nice that men in such high places can use common sense instead of getting caught up in the politics of it all.” Neal pointed out that South Carolina is one of the poorest states in comparison with its neighbors, and as such, it will have to appropriate money more wise ly. “Unfortunately, we have some terrible budgeting policies,” Leventis said. “What we’ve got to do is take a broader view, take a transformational view in dealing with our budget.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotma.il. com Roberts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Roberts also addressed stu dents’ parking concerns. He is against eliminating freshman parking because he said that would decrease the number of in coming freshman and that a small er student body would cause an in crease in tuition. “Students are go ing to be more willing to come to USC if they know they’re not go ing to have to worry about park ing,” Roberts said. Roberts instead proposes adding bicycle path? and more shuttle routes so that students would not need to drive so much. Roberts said he also realizes that, because USC is in the mid dle of one of the biggest cities in the state, it is not always the safest place to be, especially at night. To address this problem, he plans to create a student security council, which he said would help the USC police eliminate suspi cious activities on campus and would also make improvements such as increasing the lighting around campus. “Little stuff like that would make students feel more secure when they’re walking around campus, whether it’s at night or during the day or anytime,” Roberts said. Roberts would like to reorga nize the way the student-activity fee is distributed among organi zations on campus because, as he sees it, some organizations are getting more than they need, while others are not getting enough. Overall, Roberts thinks the key to an efficient SG is student in volvement, and he stresses the im portance of communication be tween students and SG. “I’m just trying to get the stu dents’ opinions to where they need to get to be heard and be known so that something can be done about them,” Roberts said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail. com Wright CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Wright also hopes to establish better relations between SG and city and state governments and policymakers. She said she would like to see USC mimic how other schools use student fees. Other schools’ fee money is broken down, she said, so that students can see how that money is used. “Student Government should have a say on how fee money is used,” she said. “A lot of issues students have revolve around that.” According to Wright, SG needs an overhaul before it can legitimately address some of the more visible problems at USC. “Our biggest problem, I’d have to say, is budget cuts. But I’m not claiming I can fix them,” she said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com