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OVERCAST Temp: 47 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 26, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend February 18, 2003 War fears pervade town hall Sens. Wyden, Smith offer varied advice to address worries at Medford meeting By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Talk of war against Iraq dominated a town hall meeting in Medford Monday with U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith. When asked to stand if the talk of war has them concerned, about two-thirds of the approximately 250 residents in the audience stood up. Medford resident Barbara Davidson said the current atmosphere surrounding the war reminds her of the days of McCarthyism. Comparing proposals to expand on the Patriot Act with the search for communists, she said, "(It) makes the McCarthy era look like child’s play." Smith and Wyden, fielding questions from the audience, made stops at various towns across the state Monday and were scheduled to continue today. In Medford, they discussed everything from the possibility of shutting off Klamath basin water to the Rogue Valley, to improving health-care coverage to all Americans. Wyden said it is highly unusual for two senators to appear together to discuss issues affecting their constituents. "Nowhere else in the U.S. is a town hall meeting being held like this one," said Wyden. Once political opponents, now friends, Wyden — a Jewish Democrat from Portland — and Smith — a Mormon Republican from Pendleton — admit they are the ultimate odd couple. They say they have resolved to put their differences aside and work to improve the lives of Oregonians. While they discussed many issues at the meeting, the threat of war often dominated the discussion. Smith, justifying the U.S. actions of late, said, "No one should believe that we would have any inspectors in Iraq if it wasn’t backed up by the muscle of the U.S. and its allies." The country, he said, lives in uncertain times after the terrorist acts of Sept. 11. "There is not a more difficult decision than the issue of war and peace," he said. But he does think that much of the burden of protecting the world from dictators falls to the United States. Responding to concerns about trampling civil rights, Smith said he recently opposed legislation that would have produced an even greater invasion into the lives of Americans. But he said that personal freedom must sometimes be sacrificed in war. "In these times, liberty and security are in tension," he said. In contrast, Wyden expressed a more cautious approach to war. Wyden, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, "I’m one of the 23 senators who voted against unilateral and pre-emptive strikes." He did agree that Saddam Hussein is a pathological bad guy, but is urging the country’s leadership to work with other countries to find a solution. "If our country moves too quickly to go it alone, we will be less safe than we are today," he said. "We need a global coalition to get Hussein to disarm." If the pressure doesn’t work, he said the world needs to up the ante. Wyden said Hussein needs to be warned: "If you don’t disarm, you will face the consequences." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S