Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Don’t repeat this history

Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 | 5:46 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

MANY AMERICANS, including me, have had a difficult time understanding the Kuwait government's hesitation to support an American assault against Iraq. If not for the United States, that little country would have been forgotten in 1990 as it disappeared into becoming part of Iraq. Very simply, Kuwait only exists because of the great nation that rescued it from Saddam Hussein's clutches. So much for diplomacy and international friendship in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, next on Hussein's list in 1990, hasn't been any better as it has directed dollars for hate towards the U.S.

One group of people in that area does have good reason to hesitate before becoming actively involved in an attack against Hussein. The Kurdish people, almost 4 million of them, living in northern Iraq have been given several reasons to hesitate about becoming involved. During the years of 1987-90, when Hussein killed 100,000 of them in ethnic cleansing, the U.S. was supporting him in his war against Iran. Oh yes, our country was still cozy, diplomatically and economically, with Iraq up until a month or two before the invasion of Kuwait.

Following the Gulf War, in 1991 President George Bush encouraged the Kurds to revolt against Hussein. They did, and we sat on our hands and watched them get butchered by the soldiers and weapons our military forces had allowed back into Iraq.

In the spring of 1992 I wrote the following from Dahok, Iraq: "The Kurds, and the whole world, know that the Bush administration encouraged them to revolt against Saddam Hussein following Desert Storm. They did, and we watched as the Bastard of Baghdad butchered them with the helicopters and other weapons we failed to destroy when stopping the war about two days before it should have been terminated.

"Because of the pictures of suffering refugees coming out of the mountains of Iraq, the conscience of the world was bothered. Great Britain's Prime Minister John Major was the first to call for enforcement of a safe haven for the Kurds. 'I love John Major. He saved our lives with the safe haven concept,' Hussain Sinjari told me. President Bush followed this lead and U.S. military fighter planes covered the area, and food and supplies were dropped to the cold and starving refugees.

"The Kurds want only to recall the help given them by the U.S. and their allies. Generations of suffering have taught them how to forget being misled by U.S. policy and think only about the humanitarian aid they have received."

In recent weeks I have noted that the Kurds have forgiven but they have not forgotten the bitter and bloody lessons learned more than 10 years ago. Last month USA Today reporter Barbara Slavin wrote from Washington about the Kurds wanting public assurances that the U.S. will protect them if Hussein attacks. They also want national assistance to deal with a chemical attack. The Kurds already know how deadly chemical attacks can kill entire villages because Hussein did it to them.

I have to believe the present Bush administration will eventually calm the fears of the Kurds before using their area as a base for attacks on Baghdad. Last week Robin Wright of the Los Angeles Times wrote from Irbil, Iraq, that the Kurds are pleased with the progress being made with the U.S. military.

The president has also worked his way through the maze we call the United Nations with success. As our military works its way into striking positions, the Kurds can be very helpful. They have forgiven but not forgotten recent history. Now it's up to us not to leave behind more problems like this for future presidents and military leaders.