As the United States launches strikes against Iraq, Iowa’s representatives

have differing views about the attacks’ impact, safety at home and necessity

of a war.

President Bush addressed the nation Wednesday, announcing the United States’

mission of disarming Saddam Hussein. The decision to strike followed Bush’s

48-hour deadline for Hussein to leave Iraq. Bush said Thursday more than 40

countries are supporting the U.S. in cooperative coalition during the

military campaign.

American troops fired cruise missiles on Baghdad at a location where Iraqi

leaders, including Hussein, were believed to be. It is not known at this

time whether Hussein was actually in the building targeted.

Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada, said Iowans are directly affected by the

operation.

“We have the obvious impact of our state?s sons and daughters who are

overseas fighting the war,” he said.

Kurtenbach said soldiers’ families will face economic hardships.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said Iowans will feel the blunt of the attacks

at home.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] we received word that we had to send extra troops to

protect the railroad bridges across the Mississippi,” she said.

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, however, said Iowa will not suffer economically.

“I don’t foresee [economic cuts in Iowa due to the war] at this time,”

she said.

Kurtenbach said Iowans are safe from attacks in Iowa.

“I have never given a serious thought to safety,” he said. “I really feel

that today we are as safe as we’ve ever been in our nation’s history.”

Heddens said it is hard to call Iowa safe while the nation is facing war.

“I think most people feel a sense of security, but they also feel a false

sense of security,” she said. “I think it would be presumptuous of me to say

we are very safe here just with the current state we are in.”

Though Bush described the strikes as the United States’ last resort,

Greimann said she wishes Bush would have waited for support of the United

Nations taking action against Iraq.

“I have said publicly that I think this is a presumptive move,” she said.

“But now we have done this and I am very supportive of the young people that

are over there.”

Heddens said she would have liked to have let the U.N. investigators

search Iraq longer.

Kurtenbach said he believes a war with Iraq was a necessary move for

the U.S.

“I have always trusted the wisdom of leaders,” he said. “I realize our

leadership would not take us there if it wasn’t necessary.”