European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Friday August 31,1990 columns . Apple or. After 25 Days of remarkably Clear sailing perhaps unparalleled in a foreign policy crisis in the last Quarter Century president Bush is about to face closer scrutiny from Congress for his policy in the Middle East. Many members of Congress though scattered across the country _ and the world on vacation or other trips have intently followed the events in the persian Gulf. So far most have approved of what Bush has said and done. But they do not see clearly where the United states goes from Here. Few Are openly critical Many Are apprehensive some Are fearful. A this is the easy time for the president a said sen. Alfonse m. Do Amato . A a he a done terrific so far rallying the world behind his policy responding vigorously to aggression. But now the real test starts. A lot of people in Congress Are starting to ask pointed questions. Rep. Dante b. Fascell d-fla., who Heads the House foreign affairs committee said a the time has come to a cup in and broaden the National dialogue on Steps yet to be  at first the inquiries arc Likely to be mild and the administration can count on stalwarts like sen. Sam Nunn d-ga., who Heads the Senate armed services committee to mute whatever doubts they have. Visiting american troops in saudi Arabia the influential Nunn was supportive telling a Small group of marines a this is the world against Saddam  from comments made already and All but drowned out by the chorus of Praise for Bush it is possible to discern some of the things on the minds of the lawmakers who a paying for this what a the Long term goal what about the hostages a More aggressive american policy involving an attack on iraqi military or governmental installations would certainly arouse passions on Capitol Hill. Rep. Los Aspin d-wis., who Heads the House armed services committee remarked that Bush docs not now have a the political mandate to conduct a military attack on objectives inside Kuwait Marilyn Geewax Bush a Owci trip. Glossary of Tennis a Foi Ilie Currette  unpleasantness fraternity Brothers Sarpi h01v  Al i fre Heifer Quot or inside  but even without such a catalyst Many foresee much More intense congressional scrutiny when the current recess ends and Congress returns to Washington on wednesday. A prominent Republican representative said that time was the enemy of Bush a policy. And that a was the iraqis work on the hostage families and whip up emotions in this country George Bush is going to feet plenty of heat from people on the  hoping to delay this pressure As Long As possible Bush has been reluctant to talk very much about the Fate of the americans trapped in Iraq and Kuwait. His aides say that anything Bush might say would inflame the situation. On television sunday sen. Bob Kerrey d-neb., who won the medal of Honor during the Vietnam War inquiry be tit Crebs de into a potential weak spot. He said he could not support a policy based on the idea that a a we re going to go there and have our Young people die so that we can have cheap Oil Here at  anticipating that criticism administration officials in recent Days have been emphasizing the need to set right a political wrong a iraqis purported annexation of Kuwait a rather than the need to avoid an economic peril a the loss of the arabian Peninsulas vast Oil reserves which Bush made much of in a speech in Houston two weeks ago. Then there is the question of objectives. Some members of Congress mainly conservatives have expressed concern about Bush a pledge to reinstate the Emir of Kuwait. They regard the ruler of a Little Sheik Dom As an anti democratic Feudal Oli m0m Garch. Others led by Aspin argue not that Bush has set dubious goals but that he has failed to aim far enough. Aspin said Bush should state a Clear goal a Saddam Hussein has got to go or his army has got to  otherwise Aspin said the United states will be faced with the problem of Baghdad More or less permanently in a position to threaten saudi Arabia and influence its Oil prices. Most people on Capitol Hill see Little disposition in Congress to abandon the role in making foreign policy that it has hacked out for itself in a series of struggles with the executive Branch since the Vietnam War. Instead they see a presidential policy that has so far won wide support in Congress. And among foreign governments that will almost certainly lose some of that support As time goes by. New void time history tells us to go for action in persian Gulf fifty years ago this month Hilter a bombers began pounding London smashing civilians and Homes but not Hope. No matter How Many accounts i read of the Battle of Britain i always am moved by tales of the heroic a Pink cheeked pilots of the Royal air Force. What courage. At that time most americans did no to want to hear about fighting another War Over there. So what if jews Gays gypsies and so Many others already were in concentration Camps thai was a european problem. Meanwhile Franklin d. Roosevelt was trying to get americans to see that Hitler was a madman who would not be stopped by appeasement. And he insisted we not sit on our hands. A there will be no bottlenecks in our determination to Aid great Britain a he said. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Thank god that in the heat of 1940, those two men had the courage to resist aggression and the Wisdom to Sec that a dictated peace with hitter would be worse than War. As a youngster i used to experience the Battles i had never seen by watching a a combat on television and listening to my father an army air corps Veteran Tell stories about world War ii courage. But As a teen Ager in the late 1960s, i developed new heroes. I grew to Admire the College students who had the guts to oppose the Vietnam War because they could see to Chi Minh was no Hitler. Thank god for the Young people who had the fortitude to protest the bombing of Cambodia even when that meant facing tear Gas nightsticks and even deadly rifles on some campuses. After the Vietnam mess my baby Boomer friends and i developed an instinctive distrust of almost any military action. After watergate and Ira Gate we became deeply cynical about All White House pronouncements. My gut reaction to any Call to arms is that the president is exaggerating the problem and overlooking the non military solutions. Enter Saddam Hussein. Is he another Hitler a maniac Bent on aggression or another to Chi Minh not necessarily a swell Guy but not someone Worth waging a War Over is it time to react like Roosevelt or Ron Kovic i find myself checking my moral Compass frequently now trying to figure out which Way to head in assessing Saddam. When i think of body bags and Poison Gas i keep wanting to suggest we talk our Way out of this Jam. But then i read about iraqi soldiers bursting into kuwaiti Homes plundering pillaging and terrorizing families. I know its hip to say that this confrontation is just about Oil but ask the cowering kuwaiti women if they Are More worried about Oil prices or rape. If Saddam would use chemical weapons against kurd and iranians would he hesitate to Send jews to Gas Chambers if he Isnit stopped now what will he be like in two years when he May Well have nuclear arms my fears for the Young people heading to that sizzling desert Battlefield and my pacifist inclinations want me to Call for peace at any Cost. But then i think of Charles Lindbergh and the other isolationists who five decades ago did not see the nazi menace for what it was. I think Roosevelt and Churchill would Call for action. And 1 would Loo Marilyn Geewax is an editorial writer Tor tie Atlanta Constitution