Post Scripts: More than six months

It wasn’t long after the 1991 Persian Gulf war came to an end (so we thought) that senior aides to President George Bush (the old one) predicted that Saddam Hussein wouldn’t last six months. Our people felt certain he would be overthrown after the debacle he led his people into. Ten years later much of the old Bush national security team is back in power, still trying to develop a plan to throttle the ambitions of the Iraqi strong man.

About a month ago American and British planes carried out a bombing mission intended to neutralize radar and defense sites near Bagdad. Their goal was to reduce the growing risk to the pilots assigned to patrol the southern "no flight" zone. The mission was designed to also send a message that the new administration is determined to keep the pressure on Iraq – even as Washington ponders what they can do about this ruthless madman who keeps his people under freedom-less bondage.

Unfortunately, the bombing mission largely failed, many of the missiles and bombs missing their targets. There were a lot of red faces and no acceptable explanations . . .so what’s new?

The reason this mission came about was that during January Iraq fired more surface-to-air missiles at Allied aircraft than all of last year. Defense officials said a response was necessary. Had the air strikes hit their targets they would not have greatly changed the military situation in the Gulf region, or provided a guide for how the new Bush administration might get rid of the man whose survival has haunted Washington for years.

The U.S. has been somewhat successful in containing Iraqi power, but it hasn’t figured out how to oust Hussein, or get him to accept unfettered weapons inspections. President Bush is new to his work but we are told he and the Pentagon are working on a more muscular policy. There are no easy answers. Economic sanctions are in place but it will be nearly impossible to enforce them since France, Russia, Middle East and Asian nations who see business in Bagdad.

The U.S. is sending $29 million in aid to opposition groups within Iraq, but so far nothing has happened. Neither in the White House or the Pentagon is there any appetite for another war, one that would settle things once and for all. Our attempts at weapons inspections inside Iraq have ceased and the air strikes have produced little but scorn for America and England, our loyal supporter against this dangerous leader who one day may rain down biological weapons and missiles upon his favorite enemies.

There are no quick solutions. Truthfully, Saddam may not be our most dangerous enemy. Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born terrorist, has in recent years struck with more deadly effect at U.S. interests, directing the 1988 bombing of two American embassies in Africa, and who is now suspected of being behind the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yeman. He is a fanatical enemy.

There was a time when there was honor in battle, and our patriots demonstrated it time and time again. There is no honor in the tactics of dictators or terrorists. We must be constantly aware that America has dangerous enemies. Who really knows what to expect next from those who would bring America to its knees?