War feels far away

Deepa Bharath

Local residents believe the arms of war are not long enough to reach

their safe haven.

President Bush announced Wednesday night that U.S. forces launched

a strike against “targets of military opportunity” after the military

struck with cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs a site near

Baghdad where Iraqi leaders were thought to be.

Bush described the action as the opening salvo in an operation to

“disarm Iraq and to free its people.” The president addressed the

nation about two hours after his 5 p.m. ultimatum for Saddam Hussein

to give up power.

“Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is

to apply decisive force,” he said. “We will accept no outcome but

victory.”

Newport-Mesa residents expressed a wide range of emotions, from

patriotic support for the president and the troops to disappointment

that the situation had to end in a conflict. But nobody believed that

the war would have any direct effect on this community.

Costa Mesa resident Steven Ras said the United States must wage a

war to “protect ourselves.”

“I believe in our troops,” he said. “I have no concern that

something may happen here. I don’t think Iraq has the capability to

pull off something like that.”

What we may get is people acting alone committing acts of

terrorism, Ras said.

“I think that’s something that’s bound to happen at some time,” he

said. “It’s something we need to accept and learn to live with.”

Christina Dorsman, however, said she believes “we didn’t do enough

to avoid war.”

“We should have done more,” she said. “But I think we have the

ability to win it, although we don’t have much support from other

countries.”

About 100 war protesters gathered at the corner of Bristol Street

and Anton Boulevard on Wednesday evening. Costa Mesa Police said the

assembly was peaceful.

Phil Morello carried his portable television into a community

meeting organized by the Mesa Verde Community Inc. on Wednesday

night. That homeowners meeting coincidentally featured Costa Mesa

Fire Chief Jim Ellis and Costa Mesa Police Capt. Tom Warnack, who

talked to residents about disaster and emergency preparedness.

“This war is long overdue,” Morello said. “I believe we’ll be

victorious. I’m sure there’s always a concern that anything can

happen anywhere, but I’m not really worried about something happening

in our community.”

Mesa Verde resident Cindy Brenneman, who organized the meeting,

said the meeting turned out to be “topical.”

“It’s just ironic that we picked this day to have this meeting,”

she said. “But I just think that the more information I get, the

better I’m going to sleep tonight.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.