Friday, June 20, 2003

By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

Okay, it's been over three months since the war in Iraq officially ended. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Where are the clear and undeniable links between Saddam and Osama bin Ladin? I fervently hope that the Bush administration didn't deliberately deceive us but, well, maybe it's too early to tell.

Several months ago, when war with Iraq was proposed, I had my serious doubts about the necessity for this action. I listened to the president explain why force had to be used and had to be used now. I watched with great intensity when Colin Powell presented his case to the United Nations. The whole thing was, to me, a bit like airline food it didn't taste just right and it wasn't satisfying. Nevertheless, I thought, "Perhaps the administration knows something that they can't reveal right now. Maybe secrets are being kept for a reason."

Still, I was troubled. I have a son in the military and our church family has an additional six men and women in uniform. Our bishop's oldest son is a Marine and many of my friends and colleagues have sons and daughters in the military.

Saddam was a bad man, to be sure. Iraq was an oppressed nation and a terrible place to live, no one doubted that. But there are plenty of bad men leading nations and numerous nations that suffer under a despot.

Was there a clear and present danger to the security of the United States? That was the overriding question. Was the situation so desperate that it was worth sending the seven people from our church, including my son, into the heart of war to save our nation? To me, the evidence wasn't there.

But, believing the president to be an honest man who was privy to classified information, I supported him, his decision, and our men and women in uniform. Like many Americans, I watched and waited for the weapons of mass destruction to be unleashed on our forces as they encountered the enemy. It didn't happen. I braced for the loss of life as coalition forces reached the gates of Baghdad. Surely, this is where Saddam would unleash his terrifying arsenal of chemical and biological-perhaps even nuclear-weapons. But the holocaust that had been feared never came. Weapons of mass destruction were not used. So far, they haven't even been found.

Polls say that the vast majority of Americans don't care if the United States finds weapons of mass destruction. Most Americans say that they believe that the war was worth the effort in freeing the Iraqi people. But this American does care. And this American isn't even certain that the Iraqi people appreciate being liberated.

Nearly 50 U. S. soldiers have been killed since the war has ended by these "liberated" Iraqis. If no weapons of mass destruction are ever found, here's what I want to know: Was the president misinformed or mistaken? Or did he deliberately deceive the American people? If the answer is the latter, then I fear that the President will find that trust, once betrayed, is nearly impossible to regain.

John Ashcroft recently indicated that the so-called Patriot Act needs to be expanded. He said that the government needs broad new powers to combat terrorism. Really? Is that truly the case? Or could Mr. Ashcroft be misinformed or mistaken? Is it even possible that he could only be saying that the government needs extra powers to combat terrorism and that there is really no need at all? And that is the dilemma. If the government deceives its people about one thing (if that truly is the case) can one ever believe them again on any subject?

Mr. Clinton "misinformed" the people about his relationship with a White House intern and I never trusted him again. If his lips were moving, I suspected that he was lying. If Mr. Bush has "misinformed" the American people about the reasons for going to war, then his credibility, as far as I am concerned is seriously compromised.

I sincerely hope that U. S. forces find massive caches of these horrifying weapons. I hope that undeniable links between Saddam and terrorism can be proven. If not, then why, Mr. President, did we go to war? And if not, then why, Mr. President, should we ever trust you again? If not, Mr. President, what are we to think when we see your lips moving?

I was in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, Mr. President, when the government lied to its people on a regular basis. The cause was noble but the politicians were dishonorable. Do I trust the government? You have to be kidding.

But I did trust you, sir. I believed you and I supported you. So far, I still do. Please don't let me down.

[Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, which meets Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in new facilities on Ga. Highway 34 between Newnan and Peachtree City. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com.]

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