Congressman Mike Capuano, right, tours a U.S. base near Kuwait City International Airport with fellow U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell and Brigadier General Robison (middle). The men are shown in the dining hall where they were meeting with some of the 3,000 soldiers being fed dinner on Feb. 17.

By Bill Forry

Congressman Mike Capuano remains critical of what he calls President Bush's "rush to war" in the Persian Gulf. The former Somerville mayor does not think our armed forces should be building up to invade Iraq next month.

That position, however, did not stop him from joining a fact-finding mission last week that brought him to within a mile of the Iraqi border.

As part of a Congressional delegation that visited U.S. troops in Kuwait and two other countries, Rep. Capuano got a first-hand look at the preparations for a war that he thinks will be a mistake. Still, Capuano says he was compelled to go and see for himself, in part because he wants to give a vote of confidence to the men and women preparing for combat.

"I thought it was important to have someone go who opposed the president's policies," Capuano. "I'm old enough to have lived through Vietnam and I think the message got mixed and people got confused about who the opponents were. (Our troops) are not the ones setting the policy."

The Congressman toured three military bases in Kuwait, including Camp Doha, headquarters for the Army Forces Central Command. He was also taken to see Camp New York, a newly constructed base that Capuano says is within easy striking distance of the Iraqi border. Everywhere he went in country, the Congressman says he saw signs of a huge American build-up and, among the troops themselves, an eagerness to get into action.

"They are very upbeat," Capuano says. "The morale is very, very high. They are incredibly well prepared and ready to do their job."

Capuano says that he watched as planes carrying soldiers from the 82nd Airborne arrived at an airport in Kuwait City. Four thousand troops flew in the day he was there, Capuano says. The Congressman also met with many of the soldiers one-on-one and, on occasion, discussed his position with them.

"I had several people who said that we want to go north or go home. And I agree with them for a policy reason. I think the president's wrong and should bring the home. But if we're going in, I want them to win it as quickly and effectively as possible."

Capuano says his stance against invading Iraq "did come up" in meetings with the troops.

"I didn't back off. I had a lot of people come up and tell me one of two things, either, thanks for coming, we respect the fact you're here. The other half would say we agree with you, but we have to do this."

Capuano insists that he is not a pacifist and agrees that Saddam Hussein's regime possesses weapons of mass destruction and could be a threat. Like Senator Kennedy, Capuano believes that United Nations weapons inspectors are the appropriate tool to corral Hussein.

"The question for me is 'Okay, what is the appropriate reax to Saddam. The least intrusive and costly reaction- in lives and money- is the one should be followed.

"I don't have a problem with war if necessary. I think the inspections are working. I have never said under no circumstances. I just say now, based on what I know, why should we put American lives in harm's way."

On his trip, Capuano also visited Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, two countries where American bases are being used to support ground and air actions in Afghanistan. The delegation met with Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev to discuss the U.S. presence at the Ganci Airbase, a way-station for U.S. troops and materials in Afghanistan. Capuano was also due to visit Afghanistan, but a snowstorm cancelled his fly into Kabul. Capuano was eager to see the results of the Afghanistan campaign, which he did vote to support in 2001.

His experience in the region, Capuano says, has not change his feelings on Iraq.

"It didn't change my policy, nor did I expect it to. It solidified my opinion that, militarily, no one can challenge us."