Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

8-7-90 . . . The Iraqi army, reportedly a million strong, is massing near the border of Saudi Arabia after invading and occupying the small (but oil-rich) nation of Kuwait. President [George Herbert Walker] Bush has demanded that the Iraqis leave Kuwait and warned that if they attack or otherwise enter Saudi territory, he will order military action against them. As I write, American troops and vehicles are being flown to Saudi Arabia, which, understandably, welcomes us with open arms. There is talk of war, not only among political pundits but among government officials. Many believe that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein [1937-2006] is power-hungry and will risk an attack by the United States in order to extend his control over the region. One problem for the United States is that there is an air of suspicion throughout the Arab world. If we go to war with Iraq, it will be taken as a sign of American aggressiveness and will cause otherwise warring Arabs to join as one against us. That could create serious military and economic problems. The main military difficulty is logistic; the United States has few bases in the region from which to launch airplanes or ground troops. The economic problem is oil, on which the West relies heavily. To be sure, the economies of Arab countries will falter if they refuse to sell oil, but they may be willing to suffer that fate (good martyrs that they are) in order to destroy “the great Satan”. I’m just glad I’m too old to be drafted. There are plenty of gung-ho Texans who would like to get a chance to kill an Iraqi; send them to do the fighting.