POINTS OF CONCERN
A majority of the people I talk with these days seem to feel that the war with Iraq has progressed very well, including some who have opposed the war in the recent past.
Success breeds confidence, it seems. The rapid advances on Baghdad by United States and British units has won a great many people over according to the quick newspaper polls I have read.
Some disurbing factors exist, however, which deserve attention as the days and weeks roll along.
Let's start with those folks we just mentioned....many of whom opposed the war and were quite critical in the past month and who were won over, you might say, by the fast progress of the troops. These were, in some cases, the very ones who were harping on a long seige theme and voicing fears another bogged-down Viet-Nam. We're less than a month into the actual confict and almost in controlof the ememy's capital city and leading industrial areas.This critics who now speak of "our" troops and "we" as they recount their viewing of the war scene. Any group so easily influenced bears watching. I remember quite well how enthused a Germany youth I knew became when Hitler's blitz tactics moved his armies through the Low Countries and into France. I doubt if most have listened to the cautious voice of our President saying:" the fighting is not ended."
Another point of concern: How can the Senate engage in "pork barreling" by adding scores of highly questionable, expensive items to the military supplmental funds - pet, vote-assurance items which have nothing whatever to do with the war effort? It would seem wise for the noble solons to forego this peacetime plaything for the duration - plus. Members vote without even reading the bulky bill.
One more, and I'll stop.
We must deal wisely with any plans for the future government of Iraq and waiting in the wings exected to be called on stage as stars. These are those nations which refused to go to war beside the U.S. and Britain to bring about this time of renewal. France, Russia, Germany and others who were not concerned about any excesses of Saddam Hussein as long as they were making money selling him munitions, technical items, and supplies of all kinds, are suddenly most interested in helping to rehabilitate the country. Their reasons for doing so are far from feeling sorrow for the Iraqi people.They are intent on seeing to it that the new governmnent accepts resoinsibiliy to pay debts Saddam's government made with them. If the UN is to survive, it must have a part in the restoration of normal living conditions to the people of Iraq, but to " bail out" opposing nations from their unwise, poor and probably illegal busines deals with Saddam is wrong.
Thinking the war is over when it continues to waste lives is unwise. We all have work which needs to be done.
A.L.M. April 10, 2003 [c590wds]
