Our nation is unsurpassed when it commits to the solution of a difficult problem. Our history is replete with examples such as the Manhattan project and putting the first man on the moon.

The Middle East situation is today’s difficult problem. Saddam in Irag has designs on controlling Middle East oil, and he’s a dangerous fellow. Still, I question our apparent solution to destroy the Iraqi regime and nation-build ad infinitum. Paul Dunn, in his column of Sept. 27, addressed the potential for disastrous unintended consequences from an attack. It argues that the cure might well be worse than the disease.

The long range solution, I believe, lies in eliminating the American thirst for Middle East oil. Existing fuel-cell technology replaces the internal combustion engine with a catalytic process that generates pollution-free energy based on the most abundant element, hydrogen, or a hydrogen-source fuel.

What is needed is for the administration to reduce the effort at Saddamizing the people and commit to the long range. It will take less time, money and American lives to replace the internal combustion engine than to replace Saddam and rebuild Iraq.

Michael Keogh
Pinehurst