Document text
SUNNY Temp: 56 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Tuesday, February 25, 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 14, 2003 Ex-Marine says U.S. needs to act By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Doug Laurence can only shake his head at those who would climb a tree and go on a hunger strike to demonstrate their opposition to war with Iraq. "Hey, if they are stupid enough to go up there, let them go hungry," he said. But, he added, "People are entitled to their opinion, as long they don’t harm anyone else." Laurence, 54, of Phoenix, a 17-year-veteran of the Marine Corps, beginning with a tour of Vietnam in 1967-68, is all for dropping the bombs on military targets in Iraq now. "My personal feeling is that I when I feel threatened, I take action," he said. "I think the U.S. is threatened right now. We need to take action." A veteran of the Gulf War, Laurence, who left the Corps after the Vietnam War era and rejoined in 1981, serving until 1993, described himself as a conservative Christian. There is no doubt in his mind that Saddam represents evil, and that he will use whatever weapons are at his disposal when he gets the chance. "If someone is a potential threat, and it’s been verified they are, then why let them take the first strike?" he asked. "This man is a madman," he added. "He will attack when he gets a chance. Why give him that chance? Take them out in my book." Laurence agrees with the Bush administration that Saddam is in violation of the United Nations resolution requiring him to disarm. "The United States, its allies and the coalition have every right to do what they intend to do: Disarm him," he said, adding that Saddam is the one who is in the wrong, not the U.S.-led coalition. "He’s lying," he said of denials by Saddam that Iraq has gotten rid of all of its weapons of mass destruction. "We don’t need to give him anymore time," he said. "It doesn’t make sense." A sergeant when he was discharged, Laurence said he would rejoin the military if he were younger and in better shape. "A lot of people are concerned about the war, concerned about our armed forces being put in harm’s way," he said. "But they should remember these people joined to protect our nation, to eliminate any threat, foreign or domestic." There is no question in his mind that Saddam is a threat to both the United States and the free world. "We have people willing to go, to prevent people like Saddam from continuing to be a threat," he said. "And we’ve got a bunch of little Hitlers out there we need to stop. This is pre-emptive." 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 webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S