9-29-02, Voice in the Crowd
Put the Generals on
the Frontline
By Pete Chaney
IPS Features
William Faulkner wrote a short story about a World War I
pilot who wished he could get all the generals and admirals, all of the
presidents and premiers, all those leaders who make war for one reason or
another, and put them in one room. Then
he would drop a bomb on them to see how they like the taste of war.
People sit in cozy quarters, sip their cool beverage and send others off
to shed blood and limbs. Soldiers and sailors come back, if they are fortunate and
whole, and have at least lost their youth.
No one who has looked into the bloody and scarred face
of war wants to see it again. Americans
are patriotic. When they need
arises, they will make the sacrifice and answer their government’s call. Sometimes
they don’t know why. Sometimes
they question the motives. But they
don the uniform and give America all they can.
America has never been a bully, never throwing the first
punch. However historians may
question it, the battleship Maine was blown up in a Cuban harbor and was the
fuse to light the Spanish-American War. Germany
sought to rule Europe in World War I and their U-boats attacked non-combative
American ships. World War II began
for America when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the Axis nations
declared war on us. In Korea, we
and our allies were attacked. The
Vietnam War for this country at least tried to stop the spread of Communism.
Never before has America initiated a war, not until now.
Never before has America been ready to throw the first punch, not until
now. Never before has America
launched a first strike on a “suspicion” that another nation might attack
us, not until now.
It is easy to understand the frustration President
George W. Bush feels over Saddam Hussein and Iraq.
His father as president made the choice after the 100 Days War to leave
that nation some means of defending itself against arch enemy Iran to keep the
balance of power in the Middle East.
It is easy to understand the President’s frustration
at not being able to capture bin Laden or at least find proof of his death.
It is easy to simplify the battle against terrorism by
singling out a visible target to attack, instead of searching hiding places
worldwide for the enemies who want to destroy America.
To do this, President Bush wants a blank check.
He wants to be able to start a war without asking Congress.
No President has ever asked or sought this.
And it’s based on suspicion that Iraq might be suicidal enough to
attack America.
If the President has his way, attacking Iraq with
Britain as his only ally, the best that can happen is we occupy that country and
begin taking tax dollars to support its occupation for many years to come, as we
must do in Afghanistan.
The worst will be American soldiers fighting house to house in Baghdad, with countless deaths on both sides. Saddam will then have nothing to lose. If the president is right and he does have weapons of mass destruction, he will certainly turn them loose. Israel will be the first target. That will be just the beginning. We aren’t very popular in the Arabian, anti-Israel countries already. Terrorists will come from everywhere. This won’t be a hundred days war.
Best solution is to put those leaders who want war on the front line. Let them have a taste of it and see how they like it.
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