Bazza Alzouman’s Oct. 2 letter makes a number of good arguments, however in her enthusiasm to go to war, she seems to have overlooked a few points (“Hussein and Iraq pose a real threat,” pg. 10). Saddam Hussein is a number of things. He is undoubtedly a brutal and savage dictator who oppresses his people in order to stay in power. He is not, however, suicidal or insane. His main interest is his own survival and though he’s probably hiding a number of caches of weapons, it would not be in his best interests to use them frivolously. The very fact of Mr. Hussein’s brutality in itself is not a valid reason to invade his country or remove him from power.

The citizens of the United States must ask themselves how willing they are to go to war; all the options and considerations must be weighed publicly, and no action must be taken rashly. Should action be taken unilaterally? Is the United States willing to commit itself to a war, possibly another “turkey shoot,” which would be followed by delicate years of nation-building? Is the U.S. ready to handle the pent-up tension between the Sunnis and Shi’ites, which erupted in violent upheavals in Shi’ite-heavy cities during the first Gulf War? How should the question of Kurdish independence be handled? Most importantly, how would a pre-emptive attack on Iraq affect the already-tarnished image of the United States in the Middle East?

These are the questions which must be asked, yet remain conspicuously absent from public debate. We must never forget that hand-in-hand with global dominance comes global responsibility.

Let Hussein be handled via proper protocol. Let the United Nations step up inspections, and put firm international pressure on him to disarm. By committing an egregious act of hubris, the United States would only be playing into his rhetoric. War should always be the last resort, not the first reaction to a potential threat. If military action is required, it should be taken if — and only if — all other options have been exhausted. Let us hope calmer heads prevail on Capitol Hill.