On October 9, the Optimist raised concerns about President Bush's warlike rhetoric concerning Iraq. However, in the five-and-a-half months since, the president and his Cabinet have built an impressive case against Saddam Hussein. The case was such that on Feb. 12, the Optimist endorsed a small-scale war in Iraq. Now, with war again on the ... [Read More…]
Dyess Air Force Base sees key role in past, current military operations
By Steve Holt, Copy Editor With just hours remaining for Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq, United States military forces are ready to begin their mission of unseating and disarming the Iraqi president. Alongside hundreds of thousands of American troops in the Middle East, personnel and equipment from Abilene's Dyess Air Force Base are ... [Read More…]
War hurts both sides, regardless of victor
I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for 21.5 years and I would have gladly fought and died to defend our rights and freedoms. During that time I lost 30 friends in airplane accidents and know deep loss. My greatest fear of any war is the human loss both sides will sustain. This is the greatest tragedy of any wartime conflict. It's not who wins ... [Read More…]
Letter from the Editor: Protests futile, war will come
By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief Millions of people worldwide united last weekend to voice their objection to war with Iraq and showed the world once and for all that they were absolutely wrong. It's possible that never before in the history of civilization has such a large protest been planned. Hundreds of thousands of people each jammed the ... [Read More…]
Peace still a possibility
By Melanie J. Knox, Opinion Editor As I Wish I was raised to love the George Bush family and nothing will ever change that. I will support my president to the end, regardless of whether or not I think he is right. And when we enter war, I will support that as well, along with my Christian brothers and sisters involved in the fighting. But we ... [Read More…]
War with Iraq now could prevent tragedies like 9-11
An letter submitted last week ("War stoops..." Zachary Shaner) accused the United States of reaching new lows by following "inconsistent disarming policies" and using foreign policy to exploit other nations wishing to obtain superpower status. There were several points in this article I disagree with, namely all of them. First citing America's own ... [Read More…]
War should be small-scale
War with Iraq looms over our heads like a great shadow of uncertainty. Our generation has yet to see or experience a prolonged, full-scale war. America has been attacked, like Sept. 11 and the Oklahoma City bombing, and many remember the Persian War. However, a war on the scale of Vietnam or World War II is foreign to this generation. But war ... [Read More…]
War stoops to inconsistent disarming policies
Through the blinding entity we call 'patriotism,' American citizens are being duped into an immoral war with Iraq. I do believe that disarmament is the single greatest goal humanity should strive toward. But disarmament should not be selective, with mid-major powers (Iraq, North Korea etc...) being opposed so vehemently for daring to be like ... [Read More…]
Students have mixed feelings as Iraq war looms
By Melanie J. Knox, Page Editor President Bush Wednesday signed the authorization he had received from both the House and the Senate last week to declare war on Iraq. Bush has been talking to the United Nations about the possibility of war, and the issue has caused controversy throughout the nation and at ACU, as well. Many students are torn ... [Read More…]
Letter from the Editor: Parties play chess with Iraq situation
By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief America is still debating whether George W. Bush and his Republican counterparts in Congress are playing politics with a potential war in Iraq. And I'm here to tell you: Of course they are! Before Iraq became the dominant story on every front page, the dominant piece in every national news segment, the dominant ... [Read More…]