Dear Mr. President:

I read with great concern the letter you addressed to college students defining your position in the war with Iraq. The letter appeared in the Jan. 14 issue of The Northern Star.

I must point out that my opposition to your policies does not imply that I support Saddam Hussein, rather, I group you and he together as representatives of the Old World Order.

The democracy you so piously claim to support has been subjugated to guns and force. As I see it, this war will replace one occupational force (Iraq) with another (the United States).

This is not a “New World Order,” it is the same old imperialism.

The use of the Amnesty International reports to justify your invasion of Iraq is a slap in the face for that important organization. How often has your administration ignored AI reports in the past?

You talk about the “essential value of human life itself,” yet condone sacrificing the lives of thousands of soldiers? Aren’t their lives essential?

You state: ” … aggression will not be rewarded,” yet, expect reward for your own aggressions. The invasion of Panama stands as evidence, as does your current offensive position in the Persian Gulf.

You expect to be rewarded by payments from other nations, continuation of the military/industrial complex, and the cheers of the American people. You won’t find any cheers here.

The statement “I am determined to do everything possible in the search for a peaceful resolution to this crisis … ” provides hope that you will consider using the United Nations to provide the basis for a true debate about the issues of the Middle East.

The current hostilities should not be taken out of context, no matter how badly you would like them to be. The fact is that there is an Arab/Israeli conflict. Your current policies do not address this fact in a fair and comprehensive manner.

I hope you will consider that the true strength of our nation lies in the compassion of our people, not in the size of your arsenal. Stop and think about truly supporting peace in the only way possible: by rejecting war.

Live up to your promise of a “New World Order” and help to put the horror of war where it belongs: in the garbage can. Any wimp can start a war, but it takes a true human being to prevent one.

Dave Okar

DeKalb citizen