George,

There is no doubt in my mind that Bush ll will keep the nation on a war footing to enhance his reelection in 2004.

Bush l used all the propaganda he could muster with the Persian Gulf War. First, he did everything but hold the door for Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait. Several of his minions were sent to talk with Hussein in an effort to learn what Hussein was considering. After all, Iraq was, for a time, our ally. Remember they bombed an American ship, claiming it was an accident and got by with an apology.

Iranians were the evil guys at the time and Reagan/Bush concentrated their efforts on helping the "moderates" in Iran topple the Ayatollah Khomeni. By subterfuge and the efforts of Poindexter, North and McFarland et al. Reagan and Bush made illegal deals with the Nicaragua Contras to generate the money to pay the arms dealers to supply the "good guys" AKA, moderates in Iran.

So, for a time, Iraq was "out of the loop, so to speak.

Bush the First knew Hussein was making noises about retaking what the Iraqis thought was rightfully theirs, ie: Kuwait.... Bush's final minion was April Glaspie, who met with Saddam and assured him, the United States did not want to get involved in Arab-Arab conflicts.Our concern was the price of oil not go off the charts and, apparently, Hussein gave her assurances that would not be the case.The result was Hussein thought he had a green light and invaded Kuwait.

Double dealing Bush saw the opportunity to put the U S on a war basis, first with Operation Desert Shield followed by Operation Desert Storm. Virtually, anyone who knew anything about Iraqi military capability knew it would be a walkover, but Bush made certain the propaganda machine went all out! Huge orders for body bags, etc., to convince the Americans this was a real war!

Bush made a costly error, he ended his splendid little war too soon and left Hussein right where he was at the outset! The very next State of the Union speech saw Bush l declaring total victory in the war with Iraq.

Bush ll will not make the same mistake. On a daily basis, he rattles the saber,bringing the use of nuclear weapons into the picture. Lining up one
country after another to get on his hit list. He has enough to last well into the future and, he knows or his advisors tell him, it is unlikely Americans
would change leaders in time of war.

Now, we are talking about reintroducing the draft ... just talking, mind, but it is perfect grist for the war mill. Keep the focus on the flag, terrorism and patriotism and, like Bush l and Nixon with Viet Nam... you'll be around for a second term.

Reagan invaded Granada to take the focus off the slaughter of 268 marines in an unguarded barracks in Lebanon.

Bush invaded Panama because Reagan/Bush backed the wrong horse with Noriega. When Noriega's officers staged a coup, Bush l did nothing and was seen as indecisive and ineffective. Noriega, when offered a pass to leave Panama with his "booty" in tact, thumbed his nose, he chose to stay put.

Yes, I am cynical, I don't think, in spite of the tears he shed in Georgia, that Bush is really interested in solving the underlying cause of terrorism.

First, the focus was Osama bin Laden and Omar Musharrif, but now we learn, they have been "marginalized" and it's time we move on to bigger and better things.

We are in for some rough times.

Harry Tenney (electronic mail, March 14, 2002)