I remember my high school American Studies teacher, Charlie Abraham, warning us: "Yours is the first generation that will have to seriously weigh the consequences of crossing the bridge before it's crossed, and decide that just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Because the technology and massive power at your hands is so awesome and so potentially destructive." He was talking about nuclear war, and about genetic engineering, and about environmental havoc, but he was also talking about dilemmas that he could not yet conceive. It is the only thing I really remember from junior year of high school, but it is a warning that stuck. He was delivering a charge for a future he may not be around to witness, to the bright and eager A.P. students, vying for college acceptance. Charlie passed away a few years ago, but I sure hope many more of his students are taking to heart his words, as we peer into the abyss of war. It is truly an historic moment. We are in agreement that failing to disarm Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime could have potentially catastrophic consequences. But is war and its terrible, immeasurable costs the ONLY solution? The ONLY way out? I know we are a creative and intelligent people. We have the ability to reason, and to even surprise ourselves. Let's use these divine gifts to craft a THIRD WAY.

1. Focus on removing Saddam and the Baath Party from power. Let's indict him and his top officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Get international support for changing his regime and disarming Saddam rather than declaring war on the Iraqi people, who are also victimized by him.

2. Beef up the inspections. Get the U.N. to support and enforce inspections with a multinational force that would accompany inspectors to any site and destroy weapons of mass destruction. What's the big hurry? Tighten up the arms embargo to prevent Iraq from acquiring prohibited weapons, especially at the borders, where there is no advanced detection technology currently. Implement this technology.

3. Organize a massive humanitarian effort now for the citizens of Iraq. A population that is weakened, brutalized and starving cannot effectively overthrow its tyrant. But one that is emboldened by rebuilt infrastructure, clean water, food, and international sympathy just might. Lay the groundwork for a post-Saddam Iraq; temporarily have it administered by the U.N., which would assist the Iraquis in initiating a constitutional process leading to democratic elections.

4. Find a "Roadmap to Peace" in the Middle East, as outlined by a delegation of U.S. church leaders, accompanied by colleagues from the U.K. when they recently met with Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss alternatives to war. As they pointed out, establishing a Palestinian state while guaranteeing the safety and security of Israel is crucial to resolving the Middle East crisis and the larger war on terrorism.

5. Pay attention to the War on Terrorism. What has worked: identifying and apprehending key terrorist organizers, freezing financial assets, and isolating terror networks. Keep the pressure up on this instead of fueling more anti-American sentiment which in turn inspires more terrorism. These are not new ideas, they have been pitched by the U.S. delegation of church leaders. But our Administration needs emphatic support and encouragement to explore strong alternatives now.

Clearly, a preemptive strike is NOT the only way. Question is, is there a better choice? Charlie urged us to think through what "Crossing the Bridge" would mean for the future, for our world, for how we lead in solving international crisis. Once we set a precedent by invading a country, killing innocents, sacrificing our troops because we THINK there MIGHT be a threat to us sometime in the future, without U.N. backing and the support of our allies, there's no turning back. Is this the legacy we want to leave? Let's NOT burn that bridge when we get to it.

Respectfully,


Anne Meiman Hughes, Class of 1983, Andrew Warde High School