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Subject: Preemptive Defense

In the spirit of the Bush Administration's so-called preemptive attack on Iraq, I would like to preempt the chest beating 'I told you so' that I expect to soon hear from proponents of immediate war on Iraq. I have no doubt that supporters of this reckless act of aggression will revel in the relatively quick and easy 'victory' which will likely be provided by the overwhelming force of the United States, the United Kingdom, and whatever other countries may join in, including those who do not wish to be identified because of lack of support among the population.

But do not make the mistake of thinking that we who oppose this war will join in the chorus of praise once we see the U.S. emerge victorious. Our opposition to the war is not based on some absurd idea that the most powerful military in the history of the world cannot defeat the emasculated army of a small, impoverished country which has been strangled by sanctions and partially disarmed by war and inspections for 10 years. It is based on the idea that war should be the last resort, not the only "solution" toward which a nation is willing to negotiate.

The ends do not justify the means. Victory, even including the deposition of Saddam Hussein, does not justify an attack which the U.N. Security Council has refused to endorse. Victory, which I assume even most opponents of this war expect will be the outcome, will not be proof that this attack is the right thing at the right time. The U.N. Security Council passed the resolution which the Bush Administration claims as the basis for its attack. But it is up to the Security Council to interpret compliance, not an individual member, and the Security Council has steadfastly refused to do so.

Do not be too quick to claim victory, as Saddam Hussein's regime is not the only potential threat to the security of the United States. The threat of terrorist acts by individuals and groups may increase dramatically in response to this invasion, seen by so many around the world as unjustified as long as the inspections were working. The threat to the United States and other countries by those who will use this war against Iraq as justification for their own bloody attacks should not be underestimated. After Saddam Hussein is gone from power, and I expect that day will come soon, the threat to United States and its citizens will be far from over, and may now be greater than ever.

With the Bush Administration showing nothing but contempt for diplomacy, despite inept efforts to convince us otherwise, the United States is more isolated internationally than at any time in recent memory. Win or lose in the war against Iraq, it will take quite a P.R. job to convince the world that the United States cares at all about the rule of law.

Russ Kevin Childers, Seattle

Axis of Helicopters

As a concerned American citizen, I have been following the progress of our troops in Iraq very closely. I noticed on the evening of 3/21 that two helicopters have "accidentally" crashed in the last 48 hours, causing the deaths of several coalition soldiers. More in fact than had died in combat up to that point.

Suddenly, the solution to the dangers facing our nation was clear to me: helicopters must be declared enemy combatants. These helicopters crashed without any regard to the moral conventions of war or the lives of those on board. Mr. President, it is time to shift our national attention to a new war - the war on helicopters. Helicopters, since the invasion of Iraq began, have proven themselves more dangerous than Saddam Hussein, and they are operating in this country right now!

I submit therefore, for your consideration, a plan I call "Operation Eagle Wing Clip."

Withdraw all American soldiers from Iraq immediately (not by helicopter, please!), and bring them home. Retrain and reorganize our Army, Navy, and Air force into Anti-Helicopter Attack Squadrons (AHAS) and deploy them immediately across the country to fight this new threat to freedom and democracy. Their mission: bomb every helicopter in America to rubble. Carry out "shock and awe" air strikes against helipads, thus destroying the helicopters infrastructure and preventing successful take-off and landing operations.

Not only will this destroy a serious threat to American lives (Innocent civilians die in helicopter crashes every year!), it will also confuse radical Islamic terrorists and disrupt the plans they are almost certainly forming to get revenge on the US for the invasion of Iraq.

And the best part is, since this operation will take place exclusively within American borders, no lengthy debate over UN approval will be necessary. You can act today Mr. President, and I pray you will.

Damon T. Di Cicco

Big Oil's Last Hurrah

Big Oil is caught in an historic tar pit. No matter how much it struggles it cannot break free and death is inevitable. That may sound a bit extreme, but I believe it to be true. Scientists around the world are busy documenting the change in climate, farmers are plowing dust, thousands of people are dying from respiratory illnesses, and world economies are failing because of oil wars. We have not heard much in the past months from Norway, Denmark, Holland, Sweden and other progressive countries. Why? Because back in the 1970s they realized that oil was non-renewable, polluting, and expensive. They have been working like busy little socialist beavers on renewable energy and are now sitting back, laughing.

These are the final death throes of the oil industry. Oil is an 18th or 17th century relic that has, through political corruption, managed to hold on until now. Even modest development in renewable energy over the past 40 years would have freed us from the oilmen by now, were it not for government discouragement. I can envision a time in the not-to-distant future when extracting fossil fuels or producing carbon dioxide will be internationally frowned upon, much in the same way that cutting down an oak tree to heat your wildebeast is seen today.

PK, via email

Thank you

I think it's been about a year now since I discovered your publication after hearing you on KEXP one Saturday morning. Now I listen to you on KEXP faithfully and try not to miss an issue of ETS!. I often refer to ETS! when talking to my friends. I actually collect your articles in a notebook where you can find them highlighted and underlined--I'm such a nerd! But that is how much I eat up Eat the State! So thank you for helping to open my eyes to the world around me in a whole new and disturbing way.

Thanks again,

Kristy Peterson