We must answer the tough questions first

Any consideration of the U.S. launching a unilateral war on Iraq must be based on the strongest national security grounds. But the administration has given us rhetoric, not facts, and launched an expensive PR campaign financed by taxpayers to sway public opinion.

Sadly, I conclude that the president only listens to the military-industrial views of Cheney and Rumsfeld and the Republican political strategists who see “war until 2004” as the way to achieve wealth and win elections. Certainly at the least the presence of inspectors in Iraq can help curb further military build-up and action by Saddam. Congress should prevent the devastating loss of U.S. soldiers’ lives and those of thousands of Iraqi women and children by insisting on answers to tough questions, getting and publicizing the facts, and supporting action only by the United Nations.

Camano Island