Even as another 100,000 troops head for Saudi Arabia, the euphoria over Operation Desert Shield, the American effort to hold Saddam Hussein in check, has justifiably begun to crumble. 

Iraq’s unprovoked invasion of Kuwait recalled memories of Germany’s unopposed annexation of Czechoslovakia.  History has suggested that had the nations of Europe confronted Hitler with a united military front, he would have backed off … and perhaps the course of history would have been altered, saving tens of millions of lives.

This analogy, coupled with Hussein’s strident threats to neighboring Gulf countries and willingness to freely use chemical weapons against his own people, gave President Bush ample ammunition to mobilize not only American public opinion, but also that of the governments of most of the world community.  Not to be overlooked has been the

global economic realities should the world’s insatiable thirst for Middle Eastern oil be severely disrupted by a despot like Saddam.

However, in spite of the verbal rhetoric for Operation Desert Shield which has been forthcoming from the international community, the unwillingness of these nations to “belly up to the bar” and shoulder a proportional share of the military and financial burden draws into serious question the full measure of their support.

The United States is currently underwriting more than 50% of the enormous cost of the operation as well as over 80% of the troop strength … and an even higher percentage of front line forces! 

So, while our economy continues to reel under staggering budget deficits, other nations have made the decision that their internal economies must take precedence.  Even Japan’s billion-odd dollar contribution is but a drop in the bucket.

And, while Germany, Britain  and even the Soviet Union have committed token forces … their anticipated losses in the event of a shooting war will be minimal … while the Pentagon estimates as many as twenty-five thousand young American solders and sailors may become casualties; none of whom are likely to be sons or daughters of those politicians currently beating the war drums.

That’s simply too high a price to pay for an as yet undefined foreign policy!

The time has come for the Bush Administration and Congress to decide on our national objectives in the region and tell the American people; 

  • Are we part of a “united nations” effort, or are we defending primarily U.S. interests?
  • What clear and present danger does Saddam Hussein represents to us?
  • What vital U.S. interests are threatened? 
  • And, why, if this is a United Nation’s sponsored alliance against Iraq, we’re picking up most of the tab and supplying most of the manpower and hardware?

If our goal is to eliminate Saddam Hussein or to neutralize Iraq’s NBC warfare capability, let’s get about that task and take the appropriate surgical actions as soon as possible.  If the rest of the world complains, to hell with them!

If the objective is a United Nations effort to preserve the free flow of oil from the Gulf, we should help determine the size of the force needed to accomplish that task … and then agree to send only a proportional share of troops and military hardware, perhaps based on the percentage of Gulf oil which is shipped to the United States. 

We should give the UN and the its member states who are dependent on that oil supply a firm deadline to ante up their “fair share” of the troop and financial pie, after which we should unilaterally withdraw if that support is not forthcoming.

If we’re part of a United Nations effort to make the point that naked aggression of sovereign states will not be permitted, then we should also adopt a posture of being part of a UN force and not end up, as we did in Korea, undertaking most of it.

But, if we are simply there to reestablish an autocratic regime with political and social values far distant from those Americans hold dear, and whose leaders have diverted American agricultural aid funds (our hard earned tax dollars) into weapon’s purchases … weapons the Iraqi’s are now pointing at U.S. troops, we should bring our men and women home immediately!

In order that Operation Desert Shield not become another Vietnam, the American government must define its goals, take the pulse of its citizens and, if they agree with those aims, get on with them, using whatever resources are necessary. 

If, however, those objectives can not be defined, or if the public feels they are the wrong ends, the President has the obligation and  responsibility to “pull the plug” and stop the financial hemorrhaging and avert any further American casualties.