Letter: Bush is no Jefferson

Monday, Nov. 4, 2002 | 8:37 a.m.

Now with all the power of full congressional approval in hand, George W. Bush seems destined to fulfill his long proclaimed intent to declare war on Iraq and Saddam Hussein. What few Americans have bothered to ask is, "Why now, Mr. President?"

Why are we attacking this impoverished Third World nation 6,000 miles from our shore that doesn't even possess a navy or air force? Why did the United States manage to live with the dangers of the former Soviet Union and yet cannot practice containment with this far less formidable foe?

Why do our experienced top-level military advisers advocate a "go slow" policy while the ones without military experience demand war with a vengeance?

Why are we sacrificing this country's fragmentary remaining moral high ground utilizing naked aggression and replicating the very type of rogue government and dictatorial power we oppose?

In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "No country perhaps was ever so thoroughly against war as ours. These dispositions pervade every description of its citizens, whether in or out of office. We love and we value peace, we know its blessings from experience."

MIKE HAZARD