Wilkes-barre Politics 
Leighton Says He's Too Busy For Chair 
W-b City Councilman Doesn't Want To Return As The Council Chairman. Mike
Mcginley Could Get The Job.

Albert Manzi

By KALEN CHURCHER kchurcher@leader.net
 Sunday, January 05, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





It has fast become fodder for dinner-time conversations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Talk of a possible war with Iraq largely dominates television newscasts,
and across the country, thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen are readying
themselves for what might come. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locally, it doesn't take much to get folks to express their views on Saddam
Hussein or the consequences of a potential military attack. Charles
Mazzarella, 73, said war appears inevitable - now or in the near future - as
the United States sends troops to the Middle East. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Once we get there, what are we going to do, turn around and come back?''
the Exeter resident said. ``It's not too late, but it should have been done
two months ago. The United Nations can take this sanctimonious side, but the
United States is footing the bill. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``(Iraq is) a very wealthy country. They can buy technology. Somewhere down
the line, we're going to have to fight them.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mazzarella, a veteran of the Korean War era, said the situation mimics
views expressed in 1936 and 1937 when Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini told
tales of large armies they were building. According to Mazzarella, had the
U.S. then intervened, World War II would not have occurred. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 War on Iraq might just be the beginning said George Killian, a Korean War
veteran. Killian, of Pittston, says he knew in 1953 that North Korea would
always be a problem for the United States and believes any war with Iraq will
also include a war on North Korea. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That theory bothers David Frey, co-administrator of Wilkes-Barre's Peace
Center, who agrees Iraq might not be the only problem for the United States.
Frey said the United States must ``fight for what's right in this world,'' but
concedes he has not seen how a war has ever helped the country. He hopes
President Bush continues to work with the United Nations and recognizes
military action is not the only solution. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I think people are very concerned right now about the security of the
country, but I also think people want us to go through the United Nations and
to do whatever as a unity of nations.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Support for peace can be found at the center's vigils held weekly on Public
Square. Frey said about 40 people attended a recent event. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Killian, 66, says anti-war sentiments sting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``American people who do speak out, I don't think they realize what they're
speaking about. ... We've been trying to solve this peacefully for years. This
is their freedom that's going down the drain. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Are we acting like the big bully? No, I think the United States is being
misjudged. The U.S. is trying to help everybody and we're getting backlash.
... After all the good we do, it's a shame we have to watch them go against
us.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Robert Griffin says an attack on Iraq would not be pre-emptive, but rather
provocative, and clearly increase the likelihood of terrorism on American
soil. The Forty Fort psychologist is not alone. According to a poll conducted
for the Associated Press by International Communications Research of Media,
Pa., two-thirds of participants said they were worried war with Iraq would
increase chances of a terror attack in the United States. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mainstream media has provided an unbalanced report of public sentiment
toward a war with Iraq, Griffin said. ``Group think,'' a term coined after the
1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion in which people rushed to an ultimately poorly
decided unanimous decision, sets in when society is pushed to see one side of
an issue. In that case, the allure of war - of protecting against the enemy -
becomes great, Griffin said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Most of the world believes there are other ways than war to approach
(Iraq) and that those ways are more reasonable at this time,'' he said.
``People are remarkably obedient to authority, even when it's not legitimate.
I think there are two sides to it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``There is a large momentum to war, but there is also a groundswell in
America that isn't apparent in mainstream media.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joan McCoy of Wilkes-Barre says the lack of a ``minority voice'' is
frightening. As a sociologist and Quaker, McCoy describes the current
condition of the United States as rather bizarre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I think the whole world I live in is pretty absurd. The world is a mess,
television is a mess. ... The standard minority position is why are we going
into Iraq when we have so many other things to do?'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McCoy contends the desire to fight is much less about conquering Saddam
Hussein himself, but rather battling a religious and economic fight. She too,
supports mediation and believes other countries may intervene to avoid further
conflict. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Richard Evans, a veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars,
says he ideally would like to see both sides sit down and come to ``a happy
medium'' but understands that is not always possible. The 76-year old Kingston
resident says he'll back whatever the president decides. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I would have to say that I'm definitely behind the president of the
United States, behind the United States completely,'' he continued. ``This is
our country. It's the greatest country in the world.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Griffin says that kind of group think is leading the United States into
almost a gang mentality, where individuals agree to blindly follow a strong
leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I don't think it's going too far to say that our government is starting
to resemble that of the Nazis,'' Griffin said. ``We're in a dangerous time.
Among American people, the polls are saying we don't want war. I think it will
be a disaster if we attack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``... Bush is tearing up the Constitution and no one is really opposing
him.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kalen Churcher, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7329. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In The Valley: Thoughts Of War, Hopes For Peace 
As Tensions With Iraq Grow, Local People Look Within Themselves And Grapple
With One Of A Nation's Toughest Questions.

In The Valley: Thoughts Of War, Hopes For Peace As Tensions With Iraq Grow, Local People Look Within Themselves And Grapple With One Of A Nation's Toughest Questions.