THE PUBLIC MIND: SOLDIER SAYS AMERICA HAS TAKEN PROPER ROLE IN PERSIAN GULF

To the Editor:

As the United Nations deadline passed by tonight (Jan. 16) there is little hope for peace. While a soldier never wants a war, we stand behind President Bush knowing that he exhausted all means for a peaceful solution. Congress has approved the use of force, and media polls show that the majority of Americans support the resolution. It is the presence of that somewhat larger-than-expected minority of Americans, however, who preach patience or peace of some form that causes me concern. This letter, which explains my views and the general consensus of many soldiers here in the 25th Infantry Division (Light), is for them.

Some people say that a war with Iraq would not be a just war. According to Michael Walzer, the author of "Just and Unjust Wars," the only just cause for war is the aggression of one country against another. Kuwait was a victim of blatant aggression by Iraq. Therefore Kuwait has the right and is compelled to resist the aggression. Any other country may aid Kuwait in order to preserve international law.

So why do United States forces have to do most of the fighting? The U.S. emerged from the Cold War as the only country with the resources required military, economic, political to exert the desired influence over Iraq. The coalition we have assembled against Iraq throughout the world strengthens our position, but we must still bear most of the burden.

Still others cry, "No blood for oil!" If we were fighting, as some people believe, to only keep gas prices at $1.50 instead of $2.00, even one soldier dying would be too much. But it is more than that. Oil is a vital resource to the world economy which affects much more than the fuel prices at our gas pumps. The shocks that OPEC sent through our country's economy in the 1970s show how devastating an oil shortage can be.

Since then, we have taken more precautions to protect ourselves but other countries are still extremely vulnerable. Japan, for instance, is a larger investor in the U.S. economy but they import almost 90 percent of their oil from the gulf. A major blow to their economy would, in turn, affect us. In Third World countries the effects could be even worse. Higher energy prices mean less food and medical services can be delivered to countries who already have less than they need.

Others opposed to military action say, "It's not our problem, let Iraq have Kuwait." We know from history, however, that this is not a feasible option. The United States followed that course in the 1930s when Japan invaded Manchuria and Germany took over Hungary and Czechoslovakia. At that time, people preached appeasement but those two countries eventually propelled us into a world war. Even the actions of Saddam Hussein give us warning. When American forces were deployed, he was poised for a possible invasion of Saudi Arabia. To let him have Kuwait without suffering any type of punishment would allow him to build up his armies with oil profits from the newly annexed Kuwaiti lands and give Iraq the strength to attack Israel, Saudi Arabia, or any number of countries.

Even without taking into consideration that Saddam Hussein is trying to develop his own nuclear weapons, this course of action would lead to instability in that region which could erupt into conflict at any moment.

Basically I believe the facts show that we have the right and we have the need to use force to drive Iraq from Kuwait and punish them for their aggression. This will lead to a more stable and peaceful Middle East in the future. I know that there are still those who oppose my views and that is their right. But the citizens of this nation and the government have the right to expect everyone in the United States to obey the laws of the land, whether they agree with the policy or not.

I close with a quotation from John Stuart Mill that everyone should read and contemplate: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

2LT Warren Hearnes II

Aiea, Hawaii

(The writer is a native of Charleston and a 1989 honors graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is the son of Jean F. Hearnes of Charleston and the late Robert Hearnes. He is the nephew of former Gov. Warren Hearnes.)