Editorial: Take a step back

As this issue goes to press, President Bush is considering waging a war in Iraq in order to take Saddam Hussein out of power. A majority of the United Nations security council is against war at this time, at least until weapons inspections find evidence that Mr. Hussein has the capability to attack his neighbors or the United States. But Mr. Bush insists that now is the time to press on and wage war.

Other nations have come under fire for opposing Mr. Bush. Some Americans are protesting the French by renaming French fries and French toast "Freedom fries" and "Freedom toast."

But we live in a democracy, one in which every opinion counts. As much as some Americans, including Mr. Bush, believe in war, the French and some other countries (plus more than a few Americans who have attended recent anti-war rallies) are against the war. Those countries have expressed why they are against the war, and they are entitled to their own opinions.

In the meantime, there are scads of other issues that Mr. Bush needs to deal with more immediately.

· First, North Korea. According to newspaper reports on the west coast, North Korea likely has the capability to reach California using its weapons. According to inspectors in Iraq, Mr. Hussein does not have the capability to reach the United States using his weapons.

· Second, if Iraq was threatening other neighboring nations and those nations could not defend themselves, Mr. Bush should certainly consider action. But no such declaration has been made by Mr. Hussein. Mr. Bush seems to feel more threatened when Mr. Hussein talks of blowing up oil fields than when he discusses weapons.

· Third, Israel. Mr. Bush seems to have all but forgotten about the horrible fight between the Israelis and the Palestinians. If Mr. Bush applied as much pressure and diplomacy as he's applying to Iraq, could these two peoples find peace?

And fourth, there are a number of issues that this country needs to deal with on its home front. If the United States spent the money it spends on military action in Iraq on education, this nation will be both educated and powerful. If the country used that money to feed citizens, or shelter them, or give them health insurance, this country would be that much stronger.

The Horizon hopes the nations' resistance makes Mr. Bush think about some of these things before he acts in Iraq.