European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday March 12, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13 commentary Stephen s. Rosenfeld War questioners served democratic purpose democrats and other derelicts Are being invited raise and credit for a Job in one something that most of to Render the president Praise and credit for a Job in Iraq exceptionally Well do them do riot need to be prompted to do. They Are also being summoned to acknowledge the error of their ways in not supporting his policy before it turned into War at which Point almost everyone came aboard. This is quite a different affair. It is not simply that George Bush a splendid accomplishments As a wartime president were preceded by his lamentable performance As a peacetime president. In the year Ana a half before Saddam Hussein seized Kuwait Bush consistently misread Saddam a strategy and tactics. Whether a More Alert american policy would have obviated aggression and War is an alternative that history did not have a Chance to disclose. There remains copious presidential error to acknowledge. Recall the circumstances of the key congressional vote on Jan. 12, four Days before president Bush launched the air War. There had been what was by almost anyone a standards an unusually serious probing and civil debate on the litmus Issue of whether to move beyond sanctions diplomacy and a military buildup into authorizing the president to use Force. Heavy hitters had stood up on both sides of this Issue. It was acknowledged in Many places that both had a Case and that any decision would be a judgment Call. So close was the Call in fact that some number of legislators a quite possibly the number that tipped the balance a made their decision not on the basis that War had become necessary and feasible. No they were aware that the United nations Jan. 15 deadline for iraqi withdrawal was coming up fast and they Felt that a vote to authorize Force offered the Only Chance remaining to squeeze Saddam into backing off. In Short whatever the president and his advisers May have thought the vote in Congress was finally carried not by those who had determined War was inevitable and who were ready for it but by those who hoped War was still avoidable. At that moment moreover there was Little awareness evident anywhere in Congress that the United states and its allies were going to wage the sort of fantastic High intensity a military Campaign t air and ground a that shortly materialized. Neither Pentagon planners nor outside defense experts had prepared the Public even the informed Public for what was to come. On the contrary in Congress and elsewhere the prevailing Assumption was that a fearsome and costly struggle Lay ahead. The administration presented terse projections of a Quick violent and successful conflict but with Little of the amplifying detail that would have imparted under standing or credibility. Legislators who voted for the president did so not on the Assumption that the coalitions Victory would be easy and cheap but that the cause of combating Saddam was just and Wise. Once War came those who voted for the president were no less surprised by the unfolding of the Battle than those who voted against him. To this Day it is not Clear that even the president and his men had comprehended the awesome uses of the Power at their command. They were using weapons and tactics that had not been applied in meaningful combat before. They could not know How the coalition would hold together or How Saddam might react under duress. They were fearful of raising the Public a expectations to Levels they might not be Able to meet. The doubters Are now being taxed with their earlier anticipation of High american casualties a the leading emotional and political Index. But was the anticipation of the commander in chief any different he sent his army into combat having ordered up 16,000 body bags. Only to him this number apparently was not forbidding by High. But this is beside the main Point which is that the congressional decision that gave crucial National weight to president Bush a preparations for War issued from a debate to do a democracy proud. As it turned out the questioners were wrong but they were wrong for respectable reason. Perhaps democrats will now pay a political penalty but it serves no National Benefit to ask them to Wallow for having participated in Good Faith in a debate that illuminated the Issue provided for full participation and produced a sound National decision after which ranks closed in Congress and in the country. This is How it should be. C Tho Washington pos Walter r. Mea Swar Success hurts democrats defense image a before the Parade passes by the smart politician marches along for a while. That a what most democrats Are doing now and never mind that they re marching to president Bush a Republican beat. They figure that there a time to change it before the 1992 election Campaign. A we Are a Long Way from that election and the world turns Over Many Many times a said rep. Lee Hamilton d-ind., in a morning after television appraisal of Bush a triumphant Victory report to con Gross. The political world is not Likely to turn enough to give the Democrat s anything but the longest of Long shots at the White House Republican for All but one of the last six terms. The More realistic democratic goal is defensive a to hold a Senate majority in what could be a difficult year and to limit their House losses in the event of a Bush landslide. That a the Point of their counterattack against Republican congressional campaigners who Are after democrats for voting against the measure that authorized War with Iraq. And that quarrel has not muted their applause for Bush dramatized when House speaker Thomas s. Foley offered a wan nest congratulations on the Brilliant Victory of the desert storm operations he presented the president to a joint ses Sion of Congress on wednesday night. Foley said later that it would be Uphill for the democrats in 1992, but a a that a a matter for 20 months from  meanwhile he said Bush a record popularity a 90 percent approval in the polls a is an asset As the nation tries to Deal with its problems at Home. A i think its wonderful that we be got a popular president a he said. Sen. Albert Gore jr., d-tenn., exemplified the two track democratic strategy applauding the president while assailing republicans who try to make an Issue of the War vote. Gore who voted to give Bush the authority he sought said the presidents joint session speech was a National Celebration of Victory National Unity and resolve. A and so we Al wanted to celebrate with the president and through the president with the country a he said in an Abc to interview thursday one Day after denouncing gop political use of the War vote. Ever since Bush declared Victory and Quot n Kab. 27, the. Of Quot bursting with congratulations for him forthe conditional cease fire on Feix 27, democratic Congress has Beeri a generals for the troops. Last weeks celebrations were Only the i prelude to the parades and patriotic rallies that will follow As american forces come Home. Bush said every City and town should make the coming fourth of Juty a special a Holiday  never  Congress is considering a $350,000 Celebration at the Capitol on memorial Day. In a Resolution overwhelmingly approved the House declared that it a a acclaim the president for his decisive leadership unerring judgment and sound decisions. A a on the persian Gulf conflict. The vote was 410 to 8 Liberal democrats. That was unusually effusive language but then to the Victor belongs the flattery. And As rep. William s. Broomfield a Mich a observed a the staked his presidency on the outcome. He won America won and the world  the republicans figure its their win too. Some of them sounded miffed that democrats were getting a piece of the Celebration. Complaining at sparse democratic attendance during the debate on the House Resolution rep. Steve Gunderson r-wis., said the missing congressmen should yield their seats at the joint session to people who really want to say thank you to Bush. Not Many  House chamber was standing room full As usual for a presidential address. The gop offensive is concentrated on democratic opposition to Bush policy in the Jan. 12 vote authorizing the use of Force to drive Lara from Kuwait. Democratic leaders said the president should wait to see whether economic sanctions would suffice without War. The measure passed the House 250 to 183. In the Senate the vote was 52 to 45. Only 86 democrats voted for it in the House 10 in the Senate. Republican tacticians already talk of recruiting desert storm veterans As challengers for democratic i Louse seats next year. Gore said in a Senate speech on wednesday that republicans were trying to a Load their big guns with cheap shots. Bush Gore said should Tell gop operatives to Stop it. But there would be no democratic cease fire on War policy As an Issue had the conflict dragged on and Cost the heavy casualties of their worst Case warnings. And republicans Arentt about to declare one either despite Bush a thanks for overwhelming congressional support of a your troops in  the War Issue reinforces a problem that has plagued democratic tickets for More than 20 years an image of weak Ness on National defense. That has been an important element in gop presidential successes. It had seemed Likely to fade As the cold War ebbed. Its Back. E the associated press