The mood at area pubs and taverns was solemn last night while President Bush addressed the country on his decision to attack Iraq.

About 40 people crowded around two television sets at the Gingerbread Man, 130 Heister St., smoking cigarettes and quaffing beer in silence at 9 p.m. when Bush began his speach. Workers came out of the kitchen to view the speech, as the song "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" faintly played over the radio.

"I thought he was reading from a TelePrompTer," Charles Jones (senior-foreign service) said after the speech ended and bar patrons returned to a light chatter.

Phil Jones (senior-agricultural mechanics) said a similar mood fell over the crowd at the All American Rathskeller, 108 S. Pugh St., when the president spoke.

"It kind of brought a lump to my throat," Phil Jones said. "Some of these people we're probably out protesting yesterday, but they still had enough patriotism when the president came on to listen up."

The volume of the Rathskeller's two TVs were on full blast until about 10 p.m., as more than 100 patrons mingled.

Although conversations were dominated by the topic and nearly everyone had an opinion, support for the military action varied.

"I can't believe it's gone this far and I hope it doesn't last much longer," said Joy Crump (senior-English) who was at the Rathskeller. "It's kind of fruitless."

"I wish it would have happened sooner," said John Schwegmann (senior-architecture), who was also at the Rathskeller. "You can't dick with this man (Saddam Hussein). He's a hard nose."

"Lately, I've been thinking, not that it's a good thing, but that it's a neccessary thing," said Dana Williams at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave. "Anyway, it's all been predicted in the Bible."

Predictions on how long the violence would last were just as sporadic, with everyone hoping for a quick ending.

"How long it goes on depends on the first week of air strikes," said ROTC member John Palka (junior-administration of justice) who visited the Surf Club Bar & Grill, 128 E. College Ave., after watching the news for four hours.

"If it goes well, it will be over in a couple of months but it could last six to eight months if it goes poorly," he said.

But perhaps the topic on most people's minds was the number of dead bodies that will accumulate during the conflict.

Palka, who has several friends stationed in the gulf, said, "I'll say a prayer for them. But I'm also really proud of them."

Melanie Meares, who sat at the bar in Cafe listening closely to the TV, worried for several of her friends stationed in the gulf.

"It's kind of sad," she said. "Because I just don't plan on seeing them ever again."