War against Iraq is not about oil or revenge

If there is any confusion about why we should go to war against Iraq and not North Korea, it is simple. Saddam has used chemical weapons against innocent Kurdish women and children (est. 20,000 dead) and hundreds of thousands of Iranians during the Iran- Iraq war. North Korea has not been in a shooting war for over 50 years.

If the use of deadly chemical weap- ons with genocidal intent does not offend your moral code, there is some- thing seriously wrong with your life.

Anti-war protesters around the world are seriously increasing the odds that one day Saddam will be successful in making 9/11 seem like minor traffic accident.

Allowing murderous vermin like Saddam to live is, in itself, an abomination to all humanity. I condemn the protesters for over- looking the dead victims of Hussein's regime, while spouting inane rhetoric about "blood for oil" and meaningless riddles like "give peace a chance."

What about peace for the millions of Iranians, Kuwaitis, Israelis and Iraqis who have lived in terror for 30 years? Come on, liberals! You should be in favor of this war! We are going to go over there, liberate Iraq and put the whole dang country on the UN welfare rolls. It is the ultimate act of compassionate liberalism. Ted Kennedy should be in front of our first tank leading this charge.

This war is not about oil or revenge, it is about the stark reality that we can either pay a little now, or pay a horrible price later. That price could even be your family, your neighborhood or your entire city.

If you don't have the heart to do what is right, that's OK. Coddle your children and raise them to be fearful. Hide in your safe warm house and chant your slogans. Do so with full knowledge that the United States military will be doing a fine job of ensuring that no harm will come to you. Be sure to thank them, even if it is from the comfort of your American home or the relative safety of waving a protest flag on the streets of our nation's capitol. Try doing that in Baghdad and see what it gets you.

HUNTER DUNAWAY
Biloxi
hdunawa2@bellsouth.net

Blind faith in government is America's real enemy

After spending the past 20 years of my life studying our nation's original government and attempting to halt the further erosion of our liberties (a losing cause, to be sure) I now discover that simply because I attended the anti-war rally in Washington on Jan. 18 I have been labeled an "enemy of America."

While it's true that the overwhelming majority of the protestors appeared to be socialists or communists, it's not my fault that they are the only people willing to actively oppose the president's war.

I felt compelled to be counted among the protesters because I am insulted by a president who insists that I back his war, and that I do so strictly on his word alone.

If anything is "un-American," blind faith in government certainly is. Ironically, while "conservatives" ridicule liberals for their trust in big government, their solution to the "threat" posed by Iraq is to add a new federal bureaucracy, expand the powers of existing bureaucracies, and give the president sole discretion to wage war, all on the word of the current administration.

It might be good to remember that at the time Congress passed the "Tonkin Gulf Resolution" granting President Johnson the power to wage war in Vietnam, the president had already been lying to Congress and the public about his intentions and activities toward that end, and continued to lie until events made it impossible to hide his deceit.

When Richard Nixon took over the presidency, along with the un-Constitutional power to wage war, he continued the lies and deceptions.

To me, President Bush's preference for rhetoric and scare tactics in support of his policies indicates that something in his administration stinks.

If that makes me an "enemy of America," perhaps it's because the nation has betrayed me.

WAYNE L. PARKER
Perkinston
justlaw us@yahoo.com

Bush plan was working until protesters piped up

It's obvious to most that President Bush's show of force against Saddam is first intended to avoid war by convincing Saddam to relinquish his leadership and/or choose exile rather than suffer suicidal consequences. It appears the tactic was beginning to realize success as Saddam's cohorts had begun to "secretly" explore avenues for his possible asylum.

Sadly, recent stateside anti-war demonstrations, a frantic media, Hollywood left appeasement and liberal congressional panic appear to have strengthened Saddam's resolve to continue to pursue a war option with the hope of turning public opinion.

Will today's protesters unknowingly destine our troops to a bloody war?

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.

This Eagle fan is proud to salute Ole Miss

For 30 years I've pulled for Southern Miss while cheering against Ole Miss because of their refusal to play USM except on their own very narrow terms. I've rooted for the Mannings and cheered every time Ole Miss lost a sporting event. Never again.

The announcement this week by Dr. Khayat of the establishment of a fund at Ole Miss to help ailing USM football player Derrick Nix is an example of the highest sort of intercollegiate fraternity. It's a wonderful example of a class young man from a class family playing for a class coach at a class university being helped by the class president of another class university, and I appreciate it.

Go Eagles! Go Rebels!

KEN HALL SR.
Picayune
khall@megagate.com