1-17-91 Thursday. The war in the Persian Gulf is escalating. For many hours now the United States and other coalition forces have been bombing military targets in Iraq. The aim appears to be to destroy Iraqi military capacities, including any nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons it may have. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein [1937-2006] appears to be safe in his bunker, and since only military installations are being targeted, Iraqi civilians are in little or no danger. At least that’s the story being disseminated by the United States government. This evening there was a flurry of journalistic activity as Iraq launched scud missiles at Israel. These are land-launched missiles that carry either conventional or chemical warheads. Some of them landed in populated areas such as Tel Aviv with loss of life and considerable property damage. Western journalists, like the Israeli citizens around them, are equipped with gas masks in case the warheads contain chemical weapons. It’s pretty scary. Most commentators believe that Saddam Hussein is trying to draw Israel into the war. Why? Because that would fracture the coalition which has as its members such unlikely countries as the United States, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. If Israel retaliates against Iraq, as it must be tempted to do, the entire Arab world might respond as one, which would change the complexion of the war and make the United States the enemy.
One thing I don’t understand is why people in the United States are worried. I’m not talking about worry on behalf of others, namely, those in the Persian Gulf. I’m talking about worry that the United States will be bombed—that Dallas, for example, will be attacked. Young people are especially susceptible to this sort of thinking. The fact is, we are perfectly safe. Iraq has no capacity to send warplanes this far or to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. Our borders are secure. The only thing we have to fear are terroristic acts by Iraqi sympathizers in this country, which, while always a threat, are more likely now that war has broken out. Parents should explain these things to their children so they will stop worrying. They think every outbreak of hostilities is World War III.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 