The day the War broke out

Only one year ago today, The Northern Star began coverage of the war in Iraq. And as with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, most people will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing.

Reaction around the NIU campus was a far cry from the anti-war fervor of Vietnam. There were small groups protesting, but the general reaction appeared to be apathy. As the second television war, people watched the events unfold as if it were a drawn-out mini-series. Everyone, that is, except those who had close friends or relatives stationed in the Gulf.

For them, it was a nightmare that didn’t end until they knew the war was over and their loved ones were coming home—those that made it home alive. For the families of troops who died fighting for their country, this day will always be one of mourning.

In the weeks following the war, there were numerous TV specials praising the soldiers who returned home heroes. But only a few months following the official end to the war, the spotlight quickly faded from Iraq and moved elsewhere.

Debates will continue to occur as to whether the war was right or unjust, but the fact remains that Saddam Hussein is still in power and remains the same dictator he always was.

This day should not be forgotten, and the sad fact that Hussein is still in power should serve as a reminder that we should never bury our heads in the sand as a country, because there’s always another dictator waiting in the wings.