Udall's Internet survey opens war debate
By MICHAEL A. de YOANNA
Colorado Daily Staff Writer
November 30, 2001
A U.S. Capitol Internet server, chugging hard at work for Congressman Mark Udall, has gotten a lot of hits from Coloradans concerned about the war in Afghanistan lately.
The survey, first posted Nov. 1, asks constituents in Boulder's 2nd Congressional District for their opinions on the war in Afghanistan, so-called "fast-track" trade authority, tax cuts, airport security and the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.
Though Udall's spokesman, Lawrence Pacheco, notes that many constituents prefer the tried-and-true methods of speaking out at town meetings or writing a letter, he said the Internet has provided a new voice for those concerned about national issues.
He notes such surveys could hardly be considered scientific and serve as a barometer that Udall can check.
Take the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan, for example. According to the survey, 61.8 percent of those who logged on do not support current military actions against the Muslim Taliban, which controls the southern half of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, 35.5 percent said they support the effort.
Though the online survey came out against the war, constituents communicating with Udall in other ways largely support the war, Pacheco said.
In September Udall expressed reservations to the Colorado Daily about a ground war in Afghanistan. On Thursday, he reiterated some of those reservations, but is satisfied so far with the campaign.
He voiced support for the Northern Alliance, a rag-tag group of tribes opposing the Taliban that has taken several Afghan cities with the help of the United States. Udall hoped that the bombing and the U.S. ground campaign would eventually subside and turn into a humanitarian and economic aid effort, perhaps on a par with the Marshall Plan concocted in the aftermath of World War II.
"I think in the longer term we want to help the county rebuild," Udall said, adding concern that more food and other humanitarian aid be provided in Afghanistan, where the White House reports that 1,883,100 daily rations have been dropped.
The peace talks in Berlin are worthy of praise, Udall said. But he stressed that ethnic Pashtuns who constitute the country's majority and who are largely affiliated with the Taliban, should not be shut out.
"Some Pashtun tribes are not Taliban," Udall said. "Some have switched sides. Pashtuns should also be part of the discussions, but the radical Taliban leadership should not."
He urged patience with the effort to root out Taliban leader Osama bin Laden and others affiliated with the al Qaida network alleged by federal authorities to support the kind of terrorism met out on Sept. 11 in New York and Washington, D.C.
"Finding people in caves and hills can be bloody and desperate business," Udall said.
But expanding the search for terrorists to countries outside Afghanistan could increase the possibility of terrorism - the opposite goal of any foray, he said.
"It's too early turn toward Iraq," Udall said. "It would only disrupt the fragile nature of the coalition that we have built."
More than 1,300 visitors have taken the survey at Udall's Web site: www.house.gov/markudall.
The site received 300 responses on Monday, 600 on Tuesday and another 300 on Wednesday.
Area activists, such as the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, might be why a majority of those surveyed online oppose the war.
The group recently sent an e-mail telling informing members of Udall's online survey.
Eric Blair, a member of the group, said many members are staunchly opposed to the war.
The nation's foreign policies have fostered hatred toward the United States, Blair said.
"What about the hundreds of thousands of children that the United Nations said died in Iraq?" Blair said. "What about our military support for Israeli in Palestine? The United States needs to address its own policy."
He added that the Northern Alliance has a horrendous human rights record.
"They have slaughtered people in Kabul," Blair said. "Now we are party to that."