As the United States braces for war with Iraq in the event the
Iraqi government does not comply with the United Nations
resolution, the majority of UCLA students polled opposes sending
American troops to remove Saddam Hussein.
In addition, very few students, even among those who support
war, said they would volunteer to fight.
“I don’t think (war) is the right way to go about
things,” said Carrie Stern, a first-year undeclared student.
“Going to war is just the easiest option … there are other
less violent ways to achieve a goal.”
Many students, like Rollin Matthews, a third-year political
science student, share Stern’s opinion, but emphasize that
action does need to be taken.
“Saddam needs to be in check, especially in making nuclear
weapons, and there is a good argument for disarmament,”
Matthews said.
“But I’m not sold on military force this soon. It
would isolate us.”
Some students, like Chris Ward, a third-year history student,
have ambivalent feelings about the issues, but place themselves
against war.
“Both sides can be very persuasive when articulated
well,” Ward said. “There is a significant threat to the
United States if Saddam gets nuclear weapons, however, I am
generally against armed conflict. I also think that running in
brashly alone right now might compromise our relations with other
nations in the region.”
Out of 100 students polled, 65 said that they oppose war.
Thirty-five students said they support war, and, of these students,
six said they would volunteer to fight.
Ryan Fix, a first-year mechanical engineering student who thinks
the United States should go to war if there is international
support, expressed his uncertainty about volunteering for war.
“Part of me would want to go, but I wouldn’t want to
leave what I’m doing now,” he said.
On Nov. 8, the United Nations passed a resolution stating that
weapons inspectors must have complete access to anywhere weapons of
mass destruction might be stored, including presidential palaces.
In addition, Iraq must eliminate or declare all banned weapons
programs by Dec. 8.
Though Iraq has accepted these terms, President Bush has said if
Saddam fails to comply, the United States will disarm him. Some
students said Bush’s comments imply the nation might be
rushing into an armed conflict.
Other students, like Rodrigo Ramos, a third-year Spanish
student, cited humanitarian concerns and ambiguous evidence against
Iraq as reasons for their positions.
“I can’t express the frustration I feel that our
president … is leading this country into a war that I don’t
think is deserved,” Ramos said. “Saddam Hussein will
not feel the effects of this as much as the Iraqi people
will.”
Bush recently approved a plan that would send a total of 250,000
troops to Iraq in the event that the United States goes to war.
Eleven years ago, during the Persian Gulf war, reservists were
called to active duty, and some UCLA students left school to fight
in Iraq.
Currently, no reservists have withdrawn from UCLA to serve on
active duty, according to Paul Taylor of the Veteran’s
Affairs branch of the registrar’s office.