Preparing for War: A Personal Perspective
for Economic Developers

This article attempts to offer some personal thoughts on the impending war with Iraq and its meaning to economic developers. Little has been written or said about how economic developers prepare for or cope with war. Fortunately, few of us have had to directly cope with these issues in the recent past. I believe that we need to think about the war from the perspective of our role in society. This war poses significant threats to our national and local economic security.

While we are paid to think about the economic issues facing our communities, the top concern for everyone at this moment is clearly personal, family and community safety. No one really knows at this point how the war with Iraq and ensuing events sparked by the war will impact their personal lives.

What are some of the issues economic developers might want to think about at this time?

First, the threat of a war with Iraq is imminent. People are making personal, career, business and other decisions in light of the expectation that a war will take place. Most are proceeding with much greater caution. Look at the stock market for one indication of this trend. And yes, we saw some improvement yesterday, which will hopefully continue. Consumer spending also reminds us that things are not good. Many business decisions have been placed on hold. Until we know more about the war we will be fighting, most major business and economic decisions will continue to be on hold.

Second, we do not know at this point how severe this war will be in terms of its impacts on American and international interests in the short and longer terms. Each of us can formulate our own scenarios in terms of how we think the war might go. All of us hope this is a war that ends as soon as it begins. The shorter the better. We must consider the possibility that even a short war could spark other dangers and threats, including additional terrorist acts, deteriorating foreign relations even with our friends, and economic sanctions imposed on U.S. business and economic interests abroad.

Third, business and economic activities will be impacted in various ways by the war effort. They already have been impacted as we have struggled since 9/11 in a state of heightened risk and uncertainty. These conditions have taken their toll on business investments and profits, as well as individuals' ability to create wealth. In short, economic development activity has slowed to a trickle everywhere. These are likely continuing realities until we know more about the shape of the war effort to come.

Fourth, our nation is at risk elsewhere in the world. North Korea is a known threat, but there are probably others that will become visible once the war begins. Most of us already worry about possible retaliation from other parts of the Muslim world.

Fifth, our national economic interests are on the line. Not only is the threat of an oil shortage a possible threat, but some of our longstanding trading partners may impose trade and economic sanctions on the United States if the war effort goes wrong. There is also the threat that namely the Chinese will take advantage of our current vulnerabilities to gain economic ground on us.

Our minds must be nimble enough to think in different directions at this time and consider many possibilities. These are serious issues with implications for every local economy in the U.S. and many worldwide.

Sixth, many of us remain in a state of denial about the whole state of world affairs, hoping and praying this is just one long bad dream. It's not. This is a real situation that will impact our lives and we must heighten our awareness of how these events can and will impact us. This article hopes to contribute to everyone's awareness.

Finally, this is a time for not only greater courage, but also increased intelligence, compassion, and greater sensitivity to how the big picture is shaping the small picture of our individual lives. Do what you can on a personal level to help at this time. Don't be afraid to accept a helping hand offered by another. All of us must work harder at managing our emotions during this troubling time.

Like other traumatic events in life, this war will be a true test of what we are made of. Hopefully all of us will discover that we are made of more than fear, anger and hatred. These qualities have dogged humanity from the beginning of time. History tells us that war is an inevitable aspect of human existence. History also tells us that wars have changed the course of lives of people, nations and businesses. Hopefully someday very soon all of us will look back upon these dark days, understand their purpose and continue to feel good about ourselves. Let that be our deepest hope. May God bless you, your families and the communities you work for.