Published Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

Leaving the terrorists alone will not bring the U.S. peace

BY FRED HIATT

Just four years ago -- in September 1997 -- a U.N. inspector grabbed a briefcase from two Iraqi officials running out the back door of their laboratory building in Iraq. Inside the case she found reagents used for testing biological weapons such as anthrax and documents about Saddam Hussein's secret biological weapons program. When other inspectors tried to follow up by visiting the headquarters of the agency referred to in the documents, Iraqi guards blocked them at gunpoint. The inspections were never completed.

It was just one episode in the long and ultimately failed U.N. effort to enforce its own resolution that Iraq rid itself of nuclear, chemical and biological arms. The resolution was agreed to by world powers as a condition of cease-fire after Iraq lost the Persian Gulf War a decade ago. But when Iraq reneged on its commitment and began frustrating the United Nations by force and deception, those same powers lacked the will to insist. France, Russia and China were more interested in commerce with Iraq. The United States had no stomach for another fight.

Avoiding conflict can't always be the primary objective. As Iraq increasingly resisted inspection -- because inspectors were drawing near the weapons Saddam most wanted to protect -- the goal for many became avoiding another war. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy to Iraq called in June 1998 to avoid ``at all costs the potential for any conflict situation that might involve the use of military force in the region.'' Never mind the briefcase.

Now we will hear -- are already hearing -- calls for an end to conflict in Afghanistan: for a bombing pause to care for the hungry, to let the Taliban show its good faith, to rely on justice not violence. These calls are understandable. War hurts the innocent. It carries a substantial risk of making things worse.

But there is also a risk, as we now know, in leaving the bad guys alone. The absence of conflict does not mean that peace was served. Saddam has had three years to work unimpeded on his weapons.

Bin Laden's terrorists similarly have had years to train and plan unimpeded in Afghanistan and many other places. The United Nations vowed after Sept. 11 to deny them such sanctuaries from now on. But you already see wavering. It's by no means ensured that anyone will stick with this war any longer than they stuck with their inspectors in Iraq.

One thing is different, though. This time no one will be entitled to claim any surprise at the consequences of faintheartedness.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2001