Letter: The threat of war in the world is as real as ever

Thursday, March 6, 2003 | 8:58 a.m.

I'm sorry to say this, but in response to Dawn Richey's Feb. 28 letter "Bush provoking an already bad world situation," I think that anyone with the same mentality is uncaring and has tunnel vision.

To dismiss the threat of weapons of mass destruction by saying, "I don't think a government would use them against another government," is ludicrous. One government will use any method at its disposal against another government if it will further its "cause."

Richey should know this, if she studied and learned her history well. Look at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor -- nuclear weapons had not been invented yet. Look at Hitler's attempt to conquer the world -- at any cost -- including using young boys on the front lines even though Germany's defeat was inevitable. Look at the Crusades, when Christians -- in the name of Christianity -- slaughtered the infidels. Look at the innumerable examples of governments slaughtering their own people. When they do that, you don't think that they would use any means at their disposal, Ms. Richey?

I do not mean to downplay the seriousness of terrorism and strikes by organized or singular terrorists. It is obviously a reality and very serious -- the very president whom Ms. Richey scorns created the Department of Homeland Security to deal with terrorism. But we are fighting more than one enemy on more than one front. Saddam wouldn't mind for a minute using nuclear weapons. Wake up, the threat is real. Times have changed and so have weapons. War has not.

GLEN J. GILLETTE