European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday february 1, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 11tom. Wicker84focused War goals help hinder operation -. A nation divided Only a few weeks ago Lias become a nation largely United in support of the War in the persian Gulf. Can that Unity be maintained history suggests that it wont be easy. F the opening of hostilities naturally silenced much of the opposition As patriotic americans a whatever their prewar sentiment it a a a. Closed ranks behind the War Effort and those endangered by it. ,. Saddam Hussein then brought further american hos titty against himself with his missile attacks on israeli civilians his displays of coerced contrition from captured american fliers and his environmentally disastrous Oil discharge into the Gulf. The Success of the air assault on Iraq though overstated in the first Days of the War also encouraged americans a some to reassurance in the accomplishments of . Technology and military forces others to euphoric fantasies about a Quick and relatively bloodless War. If however us the Pentagon now suggests a ground War is inevitable and if that War proves lengthy bloody and destructive a As some but not All analysts believe it Wil a Early american support for the War could fade As it did in Korea and Vietnam. Anti War demonstrations in Washington and elsewhere show that substantial Domestic opposition remains and As anti War opinion continues to be displayed worldwide american dissidence could be encouraged and enlarged. The gravest threat to Unity however May be neither hard Core dissent nor a Long and costly War. Americans showed in the Central event of their history the civil War and later in world War ii that they can support the most horrendous combat through the most discouraging disasters if they relieve in the value of what they re asked to do. That s the problem. Judged by Korea and Vietnam the Lack of a Clear Cut widely accepted and easily understood War aim May be the Factor that could undermine american Unity in the Gulf War. In Korea once the chinese intervened the War be Cairne to Many americans a a no win struggle with no obvious Victory envisioned in Indochina three presidents failed to convince the Public that the United states was fighting for justifiable goals obtainable at an acceptable Price in lives and Money. The abstract aim of resisting aggression and even the specific one of driving Saddam out of Kuwait May not be enough to maintain american resolve through a lengthy ground War and extensive casualty lists suppose moreover the .-led Alliance succeeds at length and at High Cost in Clearing Kuwait of iraqis does president Bush having satisfied his , mandate then Call off the Wara More satisfying War aim and a in View of Saddam desert shield e demonstrated ferocity a a More popular purpose would be to defeat him totally end his regime bring him to trial As a War criminal and destroy Iraq s aggressive potential. If proclaimed by Bush that Golf might sustain War at any Cost it surety would be More in keeping with americans traditional desire,.in wartime for total Victory Over an opponent who can be perceived As savagely evil but if that were to become the asserted . War aim. It would surely have a divisive effect among the Arab state allies a even perhaps in saudi Arabia the defense of which was Bush a original purpose in deploying american troops to the Middle against the Western largely american assault on Iraq As it supplants the defense of saudi Arabia already is rising in Egypt Syria has never been an enthusiastic ally and even it their governments Coli Tine to acquiesce in Washington a leadership that a no guarantee that their Arab populations will. The mysterious flight of Iraq s fighter planes to Iran also raises disturbing questions about nations ultimate position in the War. I he question is not so much whether the United slates with Stout British help could win the War without Arab allies. But at what Cost what kind of peace ultimately could be had if the Arab world resisted and resented a As it surely would a a Western War with the proclaimed purpose of destroying modern Iraq even arabs willing to1 see Saddam a aggression rebuffed might see in this a plot to remove an Arab Champion and maintain Western dominance Over the Arab nations Vav Quot Quot v a a a still if ground War begins and body bags Start coming Home Bush May need a Clarion Call to arms both believable a an tin Ify i ng., am b inuit ies i Ike a if measures a re not much use in War Quot a a a. A c new Yolk times. Leslie h. Gelb. Two recent pronouncements oceans apart Point to the next strategic Crossroads for president Bush in the per Sian Gulf a How to respond to iraqis expected use of chemical and other terror weapons a. monday Saddam surprised no one by suggesting he would employ chemical biological and even nuclear weapons his nation meaning himself. A. On sunday White House chief of staff John Sununu caused a Little stir among his colleagues by asserting that if Iraq used Poison Gas the . Would not follow suit this being a tentative decision Bush hoped to shroud in some ambiguity to deter Iraq from starting Down this Patha the president fully anticipates having to make this awful. Decision once he moves to join the ground Battle in mid to late february should he decline to Reta Quot Liate with chemical and nuclear arms he would affirm great moral and political principles a at the Price of american restraint would be highly Sec Ond Guessable Noble very costly and courageous. A. All of which argues for rethinking the strategy that is leading him inescapably toward such a double edged decision namely the current strategy of creeping slowly but inexorably toward ground warfare. A a Quot ,. A \ when a strategy produces All bad choices that suggests the need for a new strategy a in this Case one that indefinitely postpones land Battles and simply stays with bombing and blockading. When the Allied land forces begin Quot their attack there is every reason to As sume Saddam will throw everything he has at them that his mole will not be Hirohito who surrendered rather than see Japan destroyed but Hitler who holed up in a Bunker while lie brought on Germany a immolation.. Intelligence estimates that he possesses no nuclear arms and that his scud Quot missiles cannot deliver chemical or biological weapons. But he can fire off artillery shells and drop bombs filled with poisons at ground Pentagon talks As if it can contain these threats. But soldiers will find it exceedingly difficult to Advance wrapped in chemical protective gear and that gear will provide them with Little Protection against germ warfare toxins. Faced kith a possible heavy toll in a m e r i c a n a n d a ii i e d 1 i pcs b h a s. C h o i cd s would be to. A a Quot retaliate with Poison Gas. T his would be a proportionate and Legal response but a draconian one that would make Washington appear us inhumane As Bach dad. A a. A. A hit Back Vith tactical nuclear weapons. While decisive and attractive from a Mili tary St and Point this riposte a Wou 1 d be the worst from a strategic one. For at inns americans would be stained with the terrible legacy of incinerating arabs and breaking a High moral Barrier. A bomb iraqi population centers. Such action would nth deter Saddam from further use of Gas it would Only punish the innocent. A continue the ground attack with no. Special response this could put american and Allied forces at an unacceptable disadvantage leading to extensive Allied casualties. A these Are All bad choices unless Bush is confident he can Blunt iraqis unconventional weapons. And when a strategy produces nothing but bad choices it requires re examination. Bush and his close aides Ary Well aware of their problem. That is Why Gen. Colin Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff stressed last week that the United states was in a to hurry to launch a land attack. But delay for a matter of weeks the current administration approach is unlikely to alter the presidents choices. Postponing a ground assault for months on the other hand could offer a less costly and risky alternative it would allow Lime for iraqi forces to feel the full weight of american air Power defect and even overthrow Saddam. _ postponement also carries risks. Moscow could Bolt. From the coalition and anti War sentiments could cripple Allied Unity. But there is time to see How these situations develop in a few weeks. Tor months Bush a strategy has forced his own hand More than Saddam a. That was the Case when he decided in november to increase american forces in the Gulf from 2 h ,000 to 5 h ,000. It was True again last w Eek when he moved . Forces near the future line of Battle. T now there is reason to look at another strategy one such As continuing to bomb and blockade one that might help him avoid the trap of chemical and nuclear weapons that he is setting for himself a. C flaw York times
