MAILBOX Hunter claims ‘preposterous’ Dear Editor: Bob Hunter’s Jan. 27 column questioning the Persian Gulf War and Canada’s role in it couldn't be further from the truth. In a writing style that reflects a paranoid, conspiratorial air, he suggests that the entire Canadian public ‘‘was methodically misled”’ into committing troops to the Gulf war, and that the Mulroney government is nothing more than an extension of American foreign policy. This, however, is not surprising coming from Hunter, although his statement that he is not an anti- American did leave me scratching my head. Because to [follow his logic, the only way for Canada to b2 completely independent of the U.S. is to disagree with everything they stand for. His further claim that ‘‘Bush and his CIA buddies wanted a fight,”’ is preposterous. Nothing will bring down an American president faster than a_ steady stream of dead soldiers; and don’t forget, Iraq has the fifth largest army in the world. Then, to bach up his claim that sanctions would have been enough to force Iraq to quit Kuwait, Hunter states that there are “studies available’* which prove that sanctions levied against Iraq were the ‘‘most effective in histo- ry."” Well I hope so! Because sanctions applied elsewhere have been utter failures. Like others before, the Isaqi embargo was full of holes from the very beginning. Its neighboring countries Jordan and Jran refused to participate and the goods continued to flow in. Even if Hunter’s’ unshakable faith in the effectiveness of sanc- tions were true, it would only give Saddam Hussein time to fortify his defensive positions in Kuwait, then launch an attack when it suits him best — in the summer when the desert is scorching hot. And there is the alternative scenario of Saddam capitulating and pulling back into Iraq, just waiting tor the Allies to go home so he can try again in a few years — only by then, his threat will be nuclear. But the main point that Bob Hunter, and others who want sanctions to be applied indefinitely have overlooked, is that Saddam doesn’t care about the well-being of his people, because he never has to worry about getting elected. Furthermore, his Baath party's aim is forging all the independent Arab states into one nation; the ancihilation of Israel; and control of the majority of the world's oil supply. The choice to go to war was not made by the United Nations’ Se- curity Counci! resolution man- dating ‘‘all necessary means’’ to force Iraq from Kuwait. The deci- sion was made by an aggressor — Saddam Hussein — on Aug. 2, 1990 when he invaded his peaceful neighbor. Brian Platts North Vancouver War column ‘prattling of a fool’ Dear Editor: Who is this Bob Hunter who writes like his article is the last word on the Gulf War? ! am re- ferring to his Sunday, Jan. 27 column. 1 was struck by Hunter’s schol- arly insults against the coalition’s offensive initiative. Maybe if Hunter was the President, he could show them how to do it, perhaps by continuing the costly sanctions that were not fully working. Hunter's misplaced metaphor states ‘‘George Bush is holding a hoop for our Prime Minister to jump through.’’ Is he trying to create the image of a threc-ring circus out of committing our heroes to fight that venomous ser- pent? The desert scorpion hiding down his hole has flung the gauntlet! 1 would proudly stand up against Saddam and be counted among the hundreds of thousands of multi-national troops. Hunter says ‘“‘Canada’s reason for being there is for the sad, simple reason that Mr. Mulroney happened to be in Washington for a visit."’ Is he sure that he couldn't think of any other ex- cuses? Granted, Hunter scored some points on some of Mr. Mulroney's past performances, but saying he has ‘‘lapdog reflexes exquisitely refined’’ is a slanderous insult to a grave and bold decision in the face of a cold blooded interna- tional terrorist. Next, how were we, the Cana- dian public, misled as Hunter states? Everybody including the peaceniks knew that something had to be done. Furthermore, calling the United Nations’ deter- mination to stand together and rightly denounce this attacker as, get this, ‘‘George Bush’s high tech ERNIE CRIST LIVE ON SHAW CABLE Ernie Crist with Dr. Brian O’Connor — Chief Medical Health Officer for North & West Vancouver & David Schreck consulting Econo- mist & Public Health Analyst on the state & cost of Public ® REPAIRS - IN 2 HOURS © RELINES - IN 1 DAY e NEW DENTURES | PETER BARKER DENTURIST 231 Lonsdale North Vancouver 986-8515 DENTURE SERVICE FREE CONSULTATONS Fully qualified & licensed by the province of BC. Members of the denturists society of B.C. and subject to the high standards of service of the society. LE LEWIS DENTURIST #301-1124 Lonsdale North Vancouver 987-1944 Health in North Vancouver & British Columbia. THURS., FEB. 21st 1:30 P.M. 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