
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 23, 1991                   TAG: 9102250263
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

YEN FOR CONTROL PUT U.S. IN BAD SPOT

THE ANALYSIS "Disaster in a war for minds" (front page, Feb. 14) did an excellent job revealing the propaganda games of war. However, it surely should have been no surprise that Saddam Hussein is publicizing deaths of civilians: It is to his advantage to make the United States look like an ogre.

Unfortunately, it was our leaders' desire to have control in all parts of the world that put us into this position. The United States chose to lead the way to war instead of acting as an equal partner with its allies to explore every possibility to achieve peace. If the United States had let go of the desire to use an aggressive stance, Saddam would be the only person with blood on his hands.

I'm sorry that Iraq has to play "mind games" by showing the world that civilians are being killed. But isn't it deplorable that our own leaders didn't tell us? This is what they meant when they said this wouldn't be "another Vietnam" - they didn't intend to let Americans know that war has victims and that we all lose when we choose war instead of peace. PAULA DEMING ROANOKE

by CNB