Feelings mixed over Iraqi war from Brit allies
by Brian Wainstein, Reporter

    Before the first shots were fired in Iraq, a war of words was already being fought around the world. European citizens in Birmingham voiced their concerns over spring break on how to handle Iraq.
     Differing news networks delivered differing opinions as to whether the war should be fought and when.
     "Nobody knows what will happen once the first shots are fired," John Simpson, England's Central News correspondent in Northern Iraq, said.
     "After 12 years of sanctions, the Iraqi people are psychologically and economically exhausted," Fazhid Omar, another Central News correspondent, said.
     Tony Blair, England's prime minister, went on televised debates with members of his constituents to talk about war.
     Citizens confronted Blair with their concerns and reservations, and he spoke to them, on television, about his feelings.
     Similar to the television networks, the residents of the United Kingdom also held differing opinions.
     Brenda Duane, headmistress of Presentation Primary School in Cork County, Ireland, was against the war.
     "I would prefer we didn't go to war. I don't trust Bush, I think he's a radical with an ulterior motive," she said. "There's going to be terrible slaughter, and innocent people will suffer."
     Duane compared America to a younger England.
     "There's no difference between today's American imperialism and yesterday's British imperialism. The British were arrogant, and although they may still be a little arrogant, they would never be imperialistic again."
     David Vint, the manager of Dawmill Colliery, the largest coal mine in Europe, originally from Girvan, Scotland, but residing in Solihull, England, disagreed, supporting the war.
     "I think they should go for it as long as their motive isn't oil. At the end of the day, [Saddam] is a threat to the world," he said.
     Vint discussed the Gulf War and his regrets that its conclusion hadn't toppled Saddam's regime.
     "If we don't go to war, we'll live to regret it. We had the chance to end it 15 years ago, but never took it."
     Despite his pro-war leanings, Vint professed misgivings about the unavoidable loss of life.
     "I think it will come to war, but I wouldn't be glad," he said. Kay Vint, David's wife, also residing in Solihull, expanded on the loss of life and disagreed with David about whether the war was justified. "Think of all the children that are going to be murdered in this war. The innocent are going to be punished yet again," she said.
     Kay Vint thought the Iraqi conflict could start another world war. Russia, Germany and France opposed it.
     "The war is just going to open up a can of worms," she said.
     According to Vint, Bush seemed desperate to go to war and wondered what difference a few additional months for the U.N. inspectors would have made.
     "Bush just wants the American people to forget their own troubles; he's going to go in regardless of whether the inspectors find anything or not," she said.
     Vint empathized with innocent Iraqi citizens, awaiting a U.S. attack and unable to sway their dictator.
     "Imagine if you were in Iraq thinking ÔI'll probably die sometime this week.' How does Bush live with himself? Who gives him the right to judge who should live and die?" she said.
     Despite reservations, war was declared on Iraq. England, the United States and Australia all sent troops to topple Saddam's regime.