AMERICA, OTHER NATIONS GIVEN NO CHOICE BUT WAR

So, it is war.

The assault by the United States and other United Nations members last night against the forces of Saddam Hussein achieved, in military terms, a "high degree of tactical surprise." It should not have held any surprise for the decent countries of the world that watched this intolerable situation in the Persian Gulf build since last August. Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president and tyrant who marched in to occupy Kuwait, was given adequate warning about the consequences of his actions.

Now, Saddam and his people are paying the price of this aggression.

Early reports from the Middle East, where a coalition of nations launched an attack against Iraq about 6 p.m. CST last night, indicate that the superior forces of the United States, Great Britain, France and other countries have conducted their dangerous missions with a great deal of strategic efficiency. We agree with Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney in his assessment that never in the history of the United States has a fighting force been sent into harm's way that was better prepared, more well equipped or more highly trained than the American troops who engaged the Iraqis last night.

Also at no time in history has more of a diplomatic effort been made by nations of the world on behalf of an invading dictator. The United Nations, while abhorring the seizure of Kuwait last summer, bent over backwards in an effort to get Saddam Hussein to back away from his incursion. He would not budge. Individual nations approached the Iraqi leader in an attempt to affect his withdrawal. Saddam tolerated none of these offers; in the case of the United States, he refused even to accept a letter that spelled out a course of peace.

The United Nations Security Council, a body not known for harsh or indiscriminate actions, defined the conditions by which Saddam could take his forces, their enormous crimes against Kuwait mostly excused, and retreat peacefully. A deadline was set, Jan. 15, and Saddam ignored it. The world had no choice but to use force to bring Saddam Hussein under control.

As news pours in from the Persian Gulf, as this tale of modern warfare develops, our thoughts go out to a great many people. First and foremost, we wish for the safety of America's brave fighting forces; we likewise think today of their families and hope they find sufficient comfort in these uncertain hours. Our thoughts also go out to President Bush, who bore most of the enormous burden of authorizing this attack. We applaud his leadership in these very trying times.

It is an overwhelming irony that mankind from time to time goes to war to preserve peace. The United States is a peace-loving nation that has had to do this many times. In Saddam Hussein, we encountered a despot who shared none of these peace-loving values. America had no choice to take action against him, doing so in the hope such an action would never again be necessary.