Members of the DeKalb City Coucil differed in their feelings about the attack on Iraq Wednesday night, but all expressed tremendous concern.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow regrets that war broke out, but fully supports the U.S. decision to use air power.

“All he (Hussein) can do is commit the genocide of his own people” by continuing to resist the military action, Sparrow said.

The mayor said he is concerned for his nephew who is overseas and hopes that air forces would be used exclusively. Nevertheless, he said he supports the troops in any action they might have to take in the future.

Fourth Ward Alderman Rita Tewksbury said she is upset about the action, but felt it was the only course the country and the United Nations could take.

Tewksbury said the action in the Gulf would not likely end in a short time. “For anyone to say it’s going to be over in a couple days is wishful thinking,” she said.

Jeff Monroe, 7th Ward Alderman, said sanctions have not been given enough time to work and opposes the military intervention.

“Five months is not enough time for sanctions to cripple an economy,” Monroe said.

He emphasized, however, that because the decision has been made to use force, people should fully support the troops in the Middle East in whatever action they might take.

Bessie Chronopoulos of the 5th Ward regretted the intervention. “There’s no way anyone in their right mind could want war,” she said.

She was encouraged, though, by the common stand taken by most of the world. “It’s good to see a good portion of the world is over there saying ‘enough of this,'” she said.

Second Ward Alderman Michael Welsh trusts the president’s actions and said it would be presumptuous to second-guess him.

First Ward Alderman Amy Polzin feels military action was inevitable, but she still hoped for a peaceful settlement.

She feels Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait “forced our hand” and that the involvement of the United States and other nations “goes beyond the question of oil.”

James Pennington, 6th Ward alderman, said he only wanted the hostilities to end as soon as possible.

“I believe all Americans and Iraqis want peace,” Pennington said. The problem was whether people would try harder to achieve it, he said.