Cost of U.S. Intervention in the Mideast

There has been much wringing of hands in the news media--newspapers and television--and in Congress over the cost of our military intervention in the Persian Gulf, and its consequences. It would seem more to the point to assess the costs and the consequences to us as a nation if we had not intervened.

The cost of oil is not at issue and is not the reason President Bush decided to move in. OPEC has been ineffective. It hasn’t controlled oil prices over any long period. In 1989, oil prices (adjusted for inflation) were 62% below their 1981 level. OPEC’s share of oil has dropped from 55% to 32%.

The compelling reason for our intervention was to curb military dictator Saddam Hussein and others like him from the seizure of weaker nations by armed force and the most blatant disregard of international law and human rights and the threat to use poison gas. If he succeeds in his objectives, he will be dominant in a much wider area than Kuwait, and will by example have encouraged would-be dictators in other parts of the world to go and do likewise. To prevent this would certainly be worth its cost and deserves the wholehearted support of all Americans.

ALFRED B. POST

San Marino