Local vets support Bush’s decision on war
Fifty years ago, George Mt. Joy of Uniontown was serving in the U.S. Army, fighting in the Korean Conflict. He remembers those days as if they were just yesterday, when, in fact, half a century has gone by.
Monday night, on the brink of a second Gulf War in 12 years, he and several other veterans listened intently from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 as President Bush made his final plea for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq or face military force.
Nary a sound could be heard inside the post during the president’s 15-minute address to the nation Monday, though the men and women who gathered had plenty to say about the pending war, which could start any time following the 48-hour deadline Bush gave Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq.
In fact, the only time the silence was broken at VFW Post 47 during the speech came when Bush announced the 48-hour timeframe for Saddam Hussein to leave before facing the 250,000 troops that have been assembling in the Persian Gulf in recent months.
Most in attendance felt that the president made his case for action against Iraq and pulled no punches during the address.
Mt. Joy, 72, agreed with Bush, saying the cat-and-mouse games Saddam Hussein has played with the United States and United Nations for the past 12 years have gone on long enough. He said Bush’s words clearly and eloquently outlined the necessity of war and he pledged his support for the U.S. effort to remove Hussein from power as quickly as possible.
“I don’t think he could have said it any better,” Mt. Joy said about the president’s address. “It’s about time to go get him and get him out of there. I am 100 percent behind him.”
Sam Austin of Uniontown, 62, a Vietnam veteran, said anyone who wasn’t sure about why the country is headed down the path to war should be clearly convinced now. He said the United States has the most advanced weapons and troops in the world and will waste little time once the war begins in completing the task at hand.
“This should be done in a very short period of time, with a minimal loss of troops and civilians,” Austin said. “I say we should give Saddam and his regime all the hell they deserve.”
He said the threat of chemical, biological and other weapons should be reason enough to justify war. Given the changes in weaponry since he was a soldier with the Army, Austin said we cannot assume that a leader of a foreign nation or terrorist will not use whatever is in their arsenal to injure or kill thousands of Americans in one attack.
“If any country has those kind of weapons, no one is safe.” Austin said. “He (Bush) should have given him one hour. Pack your bags and leave.”
Richard Thomas of Uniontown, 52, served in Germany during the Vietnam War. After hearing the speech, he said he supports the decision to disarm Iraq by force and is hopeful the conflict that is looming will end as quickly as it begins.
“He’s the commander in chief and they have to do what he says, whether they like it or not,” Thomas said, referring to the president’s orders to the military to begin an attack on Saddam Hussein should the Iraqi leader not comply with Bush’s order to leave within 48 hours.
For Bruce Kennedy, 63, the sounds of impending war take him back to his years in the U.S. Marine Corps, but also remind him of the first time U.S. troops were sent to the Persian Gulf to liberate Kuwait.
He said he hopes President Bush will finish the job that his father should have completed when he was in office.
“Go do it and get it over with,” Kennedy said. “This should have been done 12 years ago.”
Wiping away a tear, he said he hopes the war is over quickly or the risk of high numbers of casualties will become higher. He said parents, spouses and children across the country who have family in the Persian Gulf all want to see their loved ones return home safely.
But he can’t help thinking this pending conflict could have been avoided.
“This shouldn’t be happening now, it should have happened 12 years ago,” Kennedy said. “I hope we don’t make the same mistake twice.”