Columnist Benjamin Grove: Before war, Americans want to know more

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 | 4:51 a.m.

WALKING among thousands of war protesters at a massive rally on the National Mall last weekend, I found one person who was undecided about conflict with Iraq.

"I don't know," said a vendor, busily peddling stale pretzels for $3 a pop. "I'm more worried about terrorists than Saddam."

President Bush thinks they are one in the same, I said.

"Maybe," he admitted. "How does he know?" A complex question. The vendor looked at me as if I knew the answer.

I shrugged, and he wheeled his little cart off into the impassioned but peaceful -- and hungry -- crowd.

The gathering was impressive in its diversity and size (estimates fluctuated wildly between 30,000 and 500,000). There were grandmothers and gay activists, hippies and clean-cut conservatives (one sign: "Republicans for Peace"), parents of soldiers and parents of tots (another sign: "Toddlers for Peace").

The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton spoke. Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark called for Bush's impeachment. Actress Jessica Lange said those who question the war had been "reviled" as unpatriotic and "made to feel foolish."

"We cannot be silenced!" she shouted, drawing cheers.

Vietman veteran and peace activist Ron Kovic, subject of the movie "Born on the Fourth of July," told CNN that people who had never demonstrated before were drawn to this anti-war movement.

"I think this is going to become much more powerful than people realize," he said.

Perhaps it already has. Outside the United States, opposition to war is swelling. A majority of the veto-wielding, five-member United Nations Security Council -- France, China and Russia -- oppose rushing to war. The majority of people in Germany and strategically important Turkey oppose an Iraq attack.

The outcry overseas has been far greater than in the United States. While many abroad feel increasingly alienated by Bush, Americans want to believe in their president.

But they are not eager for war. A Washington Post-ABC News poll last week found:

The numbers suggest that many Americans quietly stand somewhere between the flag-waving, anti-war activists and those beating the drums of war.

They are conflicted. They want to hear more convincing arguments from both sides.

Here is what they want to know from the anti-war crowd: If Bush is right that Iraqi-backed terror will find its way to America, what do we do about that? How do we oust Hussein's regime without war?

On the other hand, they have questions for the war proponents: What evidence supports the theory that Saddam equals terrorist attacks on U.S. soil?

Iraq is now the most scrutinized nation in the world, while terrorist cells of countless nationalities thrive in dark corners all over the globe. Is Iraq our biggest problem?

If we invade, will it invite terrorist strikes against U.S. targets overseas and even within our borders? Could it be possible that the United States and Britain are wrong to push for war, while the rest of the world seeks more time for better solutions?

On Tuesday President Bush will have a chance to give some answers as he outlines his thoughts on Iraq in a State of the Union address, one day after weapons inspectors file an important progress report to the United Nations. Bush has said he likely would explain his justification for war in a subsequent address.

Meanwhile protests will continue worldwide as war appears more imminent.

The pretzel vendor will be listening to both sides.