Mar 20, 2003 By Jennifer Harr 4 min read

Darlene Smith’s 7-year-old grandson called her recently to tell her he wanted to be the president of the United States. His twin sister, he told her, would be his campaign manager.

After reflecting on the adorable tone of the call, Smith said she realized that a childlike dream could come true because of the freedoms we are afforded in this country. And she appreciates those freedoms that much more since President George W. Bush sent troops to Iraq in an attempt to free those people from the rule of dictator Saddam Hussein.

She and her husband, W. Earl Smith, both of Connellsville, paused during a shopping trip to the Uniontown Mall Thursday to express their strong support for Bush’s decision to mount an offensive attack.

“I think we waited 12 years too long to do this,” said W. Earl Smith, referring to the earlier Gulf War during which Hussein was not ousted from power.

Darlene Smith said she completely supports Bush in his efforts to disarm Iraq and free its people.

As a former military man who served in the Korean War, W. Earl Smith said that he feels something had to be done in Iraq to bring its leader, Saddam Hussein, into compliance with United Nations orders to disarm. If no action is taken for Hussein’s non-compliance, Smith said that the resolutions “are not worth the paper they’re written on.”

Lance Cpl. Douglas Abbott, a Marine recruiting assistant, said he agrees.

“No one want to accept the fact that Iraq is a threat,” said Abbott of Farmington. “It’s better to face it now than once (Hussein) becomes more powerful and has chemical, biological or, God forbid, nuclear weapons, one day.”

Abbott, who was manning the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office at the Uniontown Mall, said people who oppose war should ask themselves why they are willing to hail the military as heroes when something happens on American soil, but make them into villains when they are sent abroad for action.

“It’s sad to think that there are Americans who will not back us in this war,” he said.

While Abbott said it’s doubtful that he will be sent to Iraq, he feels for those who have been sent to serve, noting that their actions are “for the greater good.”

Stores at the Uniontown Mall like RadioShack, Rex TV and Sears had televisions tuned to major news channels to keep patrons updated on the war. And although business at the mall was slow on Thursday afternoon, some shoppers did stop and stand to watch events unfolding before them.

James Marden of Carmichaels shook his head as he watched the screen in a store.

He and his wife, Melinda, said they believe the war is more about oil than removing Hussein from power.

“The war is troubling. Bush has not fully explained why he wants to take our military into Iraq and it leads me to think that he’s only in it to take over the oil wells,” James Marden said.

But while he does not believe that the motives for war are pure, Marden said he is glad to live in a country where he is free to say that.

Jane E. Couch of New Salem said she came to the mall to get away from the television. Although Couch said the television coverage of the war is not the same that people were deluged with during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she still finds it difficult to watch.

“It’s hard. I don’t want to sit at home and look at the television and imagine what the families in Iraq are going through.”

A mother of three, Couch said she is empathetic towards Iraqi families who are caught up in a regime they might not fully support.

She also keeps in her thoughts the troops deployed and what their families might be going through.

While Couch is internally divided on the decision to go to war, she said that she will trust the decision of the president and put the rest in the hands of a higher power.

“I pray that God is watching over everyone involved,” she said.