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From gung-ho support to staunch dissent, local residents ran the gamut of opinions on the Bush Administration�s insistence that war against Iraq is vital to the safety of America and its allies both domestic and abroad.
In Washington, President Bush has revived his claim that Saddam Hussein has been supporting Al Qaeda terrorists, in hopes of strengthening his case for the removal of the Iraqi President�s regime. However, House of Representative Democrats and other war opponents continue to criticize the president for not providing enough conclusive evidence and pushing for a resolution that will not allow a unilateral attack until such evidence is provided.
Charlie Barbera, 36, a research assistant at Loyola University in Chicago, is not convinced that Iraq is a clear and present threat, and expressed dubiety at military action until indisputable proof is presented.
�I think there should be another route,� Barbera said. �We should try a more diplomatic route. This whole unilateral thing is going too far.�
�They (the Bush administration) really haven�t come out with too many hard facts. I realize it might be difficult to get the evidence, but I don�t feel enough effort has been made to gather strong evidence.�
Penelope Rosemont, 60, an employee of a local publishing company, considers herself �anti-war,� but is undecided on this particular issue.
�Saddam is a ruthless person and is going to hide behind innocent people,� she said, referring to Hussein�s reputation for using Iraqi civilians as human shields.
�But,� she added, �Saddam is not crazy. He�s power hungry, but knows that if did something to the United States, we would destroy his whole country. He�s not like the Al-Qaeda terrorists. He�s got more to lose.�
Dee Lee, 47, an arborist in Glenview, agrees fully with the Bush Administration and believes that Saddam is �one of the kingpins of the terrorist organization.� He says the administration must go forth with or without the support of the United Nations.
�I think the U.N. has proven itself to be inconsequential. Since the Desert Storm war, (Saddam) has broken or ignored every resolution that we set in place, except for the ones where he had no choice, such as no fly zones and such. If he hasn�t complied so far, what makes the U.N. think he will suddenly change his tune.�
Interestingly though, underlying each response was a theme that does not surface in most polls, and thus is likely nonexistent in the minds of the players on Capitol Hill. There existed in each reaction a common sense of estrangement from the situation, as if in their heart of hearts this country�s citizens know their opinion doesn�t really matter.
�Right now for George Bush it�s a personal thing,� said Rosemont. �I haven�t come to accept war personally, but the fact that it�s used to effect politics is obvious. When I was young, I didn�t think this was the case, but after Vietnam I saw that politics are involved and I guess I�ve become used to it.�
�It�s a personal thing with Bush,� said Sara Fleming of Evanston. �He reminds me of a petulant child who won�t get what he wants.�
