With all the uncertainty that lies ahead in the Middle East and the U.S.-Soviet relations, now more than ever, the war efforts in the Gulf should be followed through.

Whether or not one was for the war in the first place, it is here and apparently drawing to a close.

Now the debate lies in whether Bush should stick to his guns or meet Hussein somewhere in the middle.

Unfortunately, it is not feasible to give Hussein the benefit of the doubt and put any credence in his claims of withdrawal. From day one, the Allied Forces have been straightforward in their demands for unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait.

The latest deadline was set this weekend, and Hussein chose to play games with the Soviet Union and negotiate for virtually no penalties and withdrawal within an undesignated amount of time.

Hussein’s attempt to leave the battlefield without any sacrifices or penalties is understandable, albeit unacceptable. Assuming most of the U.S.‘s information is accurate, Hussein is losing—and losing badly.

His only choice now is to try to keep the Iraqis behind him by declaring victory. This became clear when Hussein announced over Baghdad radio that the war was over and the enemy was “swimming in its own blood.”

This move was the plea of a desperate man—a man who realizes he is losing soldiers, but is more afraid of sacrificing his reign than the people fighting his battle.

But Hussein cannot just outwardly recognize his defeat and take his football and go home. This would inevitably lead to the demise of his power with no soldiers to protect him, whether they be acting through fear or loyalty.

Although it is not easy to set aside the efforts of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev for a peace plan, with the Cold War supposedly behind us, Bush is correct in doing just that.

Some say Bush is out for himself by denying Hussein’s withdrawal claims, especially after Bush refused his proposal again on Tuesday. They also say Gorbachev’s negotiations with Iraq should have been seen as a step in the right direction.

This step, however, is no different than what could have been anticipated from the start. The Soviet Union has a great deal to lose in the Middle East from this conflict, most notably, good relations with Iraq.

Gorbachev wasn’t purely acting for the pursual of peace. He was acting in his own best political interests with the Middle East and at home.

If Bush had given in to the Soviet proposal and sacrificed the U.N. resolutions, he might have helped continue positive relations with Gorbachev. But it would be at the expense of all the reasons that we are in Iraq in the first place, and Hussein would continue with the same practices.

At this point, the Allied Forces are successfully completing the original mission. And, hopefully, Bush’s hardline stance will force Hussein from power.

Hussein has not withdrawn from Kuwait. He is, in fact, ordering a retreat under the guise of victory and righteousness.

The war is in full force. Hussein had plenty of time to devise some sort of plan to keep his own dignity intact. It now comes time to cut our political losses and defeat this frightening monster.