The consequences of Mr. Bush's war
Americans will come to realize that, win or lose, the U.S. president is wrong to launch an attack against Iraq.Mario Cuomo
Citizen Special
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
[..snip.....]
After a quick euphoric surge in stock markets, the expenditures of hundreds of billions of dollars on the war, the attempted reconstruction of Iraq and more tax cuts will worsen what are already the greatest national deficits and debts in American history. That will exacerbate the already crushing burdens on our state and local governments, debilitating further public health care, education, law enforcement and environmental protection.
And what of his political future if President Bush's war becomes his proudest boast in 2004? I think he will face the same fate Winston Churchill did in 1945, and his father did in 1992.
The majority of the United Nations and world opinion comes closer to the truth than does the president, and by November 2004, that will be clear to a majority of the American voters. After the music of the victory parades fade, the nation will reflect upon the sober truth of the war. Americans will remember the death and destruction, the debilitated economy, the increased terrorism, the deteriorated world unity and the ugly irony of a nation which says it is too poor to provide its people the health care, education and old-age security they need, but rich enough to fight wars, reconstruct other nations and give its wealthiest taxpayers huge tax cuts. Why then, would Americans want to vote for more of the same?
Mario Cuomo served as governor of New York from 1982 to 1994.
He is with the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
Reprinted from La Republica.
The Iraq Dilemma
© Copyright 2003 The Ottawa Citizen
