Lowman S. Henry

IRAQ: The Time for Talk is Over

By Lowman S. Henry

If and when the United States and our allies launch a strike against Iraq it will certainly come as no surprise to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. In fact this war is in danger of being talked to death before the first troops are ever deployed.

While something as serious as an action committing American troops to fight and die in a foreign land certainly requires considerable thought and planning, the debate over invading Iraq to prevent Hussein from launching weapons of mass has been prolonged to the point where our enemies must again be questioning American resolve.

Just a few weeks ago we commemorated the horrific events of September 11, 2001 in which over 3,000 of our fellow Americans, and citizens from hundreds of countries around the globe, were killed in a dastardly series of terrorist attacks. We vowed to never forget. But the waffling on dealing with Saddam makes me think that while we remember the event, and those who tragically lost their lives, some have already forgotten the lessons.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has presented in stark terms the nature of the chemical, biological, and atomic threats Saddam poses to the United States and to the world. There is no doubt Saddam has weapons of mass destruction and the means to use them. While President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have taken a leadership role on this issue, the rest of the world should be paying attention because there is nothing to prevent terrorists from attacking targets in any nation on the planet.

After President Bush turned the tables on the cowardly United Nations General Assembly, there was an initial rush of domestic support for his request for Congressional authorization to wage war on Iraq. Despite Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's whining and self-righteous outbursts, the President is right when he questions the Democrat-controlled Senate's commitment to dealing with this problem. The simple fact of the matter is Congressional Democrats are desperate to find a way to oppose the President on this issue, but know politically they will pay dearly because the Commander in Chief enjoys widespread support from the American people for military intervention.

Given the fact Democrat spokespeople consistently say the country should be focused on the economy, not the war on terrorism, I am tempted to say they are dragging their feet on dealing with Saddam for purely partisan political purposes. I hope that isn't the case because our national security is a much higher priority that any election.

The fact is Saddam and the terrorists are preparing to strike. We got sucker punched the last time and vowed it would never happen again. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair are working hard to keep that promise. The United Nations has proven itself to be as ineffective as the old League of Nations. Its resolutions have been ignored by Saddam. And we should ignore the U.N. as well. It is time for America and whatever allies it can muster to get the job done. It is also time for the U.S. Congress to get behind the President and give him the power he needs to fight and win this war.

If they don't, September 11, 2001 will not be the only day of terror to live in infamy.

(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute, a non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, PA.)