A response to Henry Chien's article "Right War, Right Time, Right Place"

Donald S. Shih Nov. 1, 2004

For the past 20 months, I thought I have heard every possible spin or twist regarding the reason, purpose, tactics, and strategy of our invasion of Iraq from the Bush administration or Republicans. Mr. Henry Chien proved me wrong with the strategy he described in his article, "Right War, Right Time, Right Place," published on the Oct. 28, 2004 issue of the St. Louis Chinese American News.

His assumptions were twisted, scheme unworkable, and most of all, his strategy cruel.

The way I see it is that war against terrorists is not at all a zero-sum game. You cannot kill them all, and you should not. Moreover, I really think it is inhumane to use Iraq as a "bait" and to put the lives of our soldiers, other country's delegates, and innocent Iraqis in a grave danger.

In referring to the World War II, Winston Churchill said, "One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once 'The Unnecessary War'. " Even when a war is absolutely necessary, it is still an evil. Besides, a war by and large settles nothing. It is equally disastrous in winning a war as well as in losing one [I'm paraphrasing Agatha Christie, 1977].

At the time of my writing, I don't know whether John Kerry or George W. Bush will be our next president. Undoubtedly I hope Mr. Kerry will be. But no matter who wins tomorrow's presidential election, I truly hope he can get U.S. out of the Iraq quagmire as peacefully as possible.