Playing the part of bully
An attack on Iraq is a hot topic. However, despite polls indicating support for such an attack, I doubt anyone wants an attack, regardless of whether we have legitimized it by a declaration of war. In fact, I believe President Bush has degenerated into a backyard bully instead of being the world's responsible policeman.
A president whose modus operandi is based on instilling fear and a spirit of blind nationalism across our nation and railing against an "axis of evil" is puerile. This nation has enough to feel good about without taking out its frustrations on puppet leaders like Saddam Hussein.
I don't buy the argument that Iraq is preparing to use its weapons of mass destruction against America, or even against Israel, in some unprovoked or clandestine opportunity. If Iraq dared not use its weapons during the Gulf war, why would it use them now?
Saddam surely knows that any such strike would provoke worldwide outrage and a strong counterattack and would seal his fate. However, if we provoke him by an attack and try to destroy him, he may feel he has the justification to use all the forces at his command. By continuing to unilaterally bully Iraq, we could make Saddam into an offbeat hero and foster even worse terrorism than we have seen.
What should Bush do? He should tone down his rhetoric and act only in consort with our allies, other affected nations and the United Nations. Better yet, he should take the lead in a major effort to bridge the gap between Western and Muslim cultures, not for feel-good reasons, but to understand and address why some of the rational, good people of Muslim nations appeared so gleeful when the terrorists struck on Sept. 11. He should encourage cooperation with Muslim nations, enlist nongovernmental organizations such as the Red Cross and the Red Crescent and promote cultural exchanges. It is difficult to believe that it was only because of U.S. support of Israel.
Finally, he should be more evenhanded in supporting Israel and push Israel harder to negotiate a Palestinian state.
People who are strong and wise seldom need to throw punches.
CHRIS FORBES
Edgewood
International thuggery
Even though the vast majority of governments and individuals around the globe oppose the idea, George W. Bush and his "advisers" still appear to be considering starting a military campaign against Iraq. The reason, we are told, is that Saddam Hussein is an evil man.
Mr. Hussein's personality issues aside, there is also a global consensus that this action would be illegal under international law. Even Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush, has publicly stated that this is not a good idea. [See Scowcroft's commentary on Page B-4.]
This administration has offered up only the barest, nonspecific rationalizations on why an attack on Iraq is necessary. Does Mr. Bush think because there is no other superpower to oppose the United States that he can do whatever he wants? By setting himself up as judge, jury and executioner of the head of a sovereign nation, Mr. Bush is becoming the international thug he says he is trying to eliminate.
I pray that wisdom, which surely must come from outside the White House, prevails and that this course of action is discarded. If not, we'll be lucky if Mr. Bush doesn't get us all killed.
KENNETH M. BARKER
Monongahela
The politics of war
President Bush is playing war politics to get re-elected in 2004. Without the politics of war, being selected again as president is almost an impossibility, due to his inept economic domestic policies: using up most of the government surplus money, cutting taxes and leaving very few resources for growing the economy.
I believe the downturn in the economy started with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but got worse with corporate greed. Perception is reality when dealing with the stock market, and with Harvey Pitt as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, it's like having the fox guarding the henhouse. Corporate bankruptcies are being filed at a record pace this year.
President Bush is on a mission to overthrow the leader of Iraq. His effort is making a mockery out of international opinion. He is trying to finish the job his father couldn't do. The possibility of destabilizing the Middle East just might happen, but it will also keep Bush in the White House for four more years.
LEONARD H. DARBY
North Versailles
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