Columbians look to Middle East as threat becomes action

By PATRICK HEALY
Columbia Missourian

The same war broke under opposite skies.
In Columbia, a cold rain accompanied President Bush as he promised military victory and the end of Saddam Hussein’s rule.
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The nighttime airstrikes represented the culmination of stressful, uncertain days for people across the world and in Columbia. Columbians said the last hours before the attacks were quiet and tense.

Many residents said they felt more and more apprehensive as Saddam’s 48-hour window to leave Iraq lapsed at 7 p.m. Some riveted themselves to CNN and National Public Radio, skipping dinner to learn about the 17 Iraqi soldiers who surrendered before fighting began.

Others tried to deflect their anxiety by diverting their attention. They went swimming, studied at Lakota Coffee Co., folded laundry, hooked up a new computer printer and took the dogs for a walk.

MU student Josh Neustrom and several friends loaded candy, Q-Tips, Bibles and puzzle books into care packages destined for troops stationed in the Middle East.