Waving American flags, swinging an effigy of Saddam Hussein in a noose and chanting "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Saddam Hussein has got to go," about 20 people gathered on the steps of Pattee Friday to support U.S. action in the Persian Gulf.

Responding to criticisms that the war is being fought for oil, speaker Russ Suchana (sophmore-civil engineering), who held the image of Saddam, said economics are a good reason to fight a war.

"We have invested so much in other countries," Suchana said. "If one goes down we lose all our investments."

The United States has made mistakes in its energy policy, and college students will feel the economic ramifications, he said.

"You guys are going to be paying $40,000 to go to college," Suchana said.

Brian Brill (senior-ceramic engineering) displayed a shirt he bought at House of Kashmir, 130 Calder Alley. The shirt, a parody of Hard Rock Cafe shirts, read, "Hard Luck Cafe Kuwait City -- Under New Management." On the back was "We will Iraq you," "Desert Storm '91" and some Arabic writing.

Brill said he was participating in the demonstration because he has friends in the Army.

Speaker Pete Huston (sophmore-international poltics) said he received letters from friends in Saudi Arabia who heard about anti-war protests. He said they weren't happy about them and they took the protests personally.

People must support the troops when they come home, unlike during the Vietnam era, Huston said, who is an inactive reservist.

"You should welcome these people back into society," he said.

Another speaker said the war was not just about liberating Kuwait, but stopping Saddam's attack on the environment.

One organizer, Ari Storch (junior-liberal arts), who waved a large American flag, said the rally was to show support for the troops.

"It's got to be known and it's got to be heard," Storch said.

The 45-minute event ended with demonstraters shouting, "U.S.A., U.S.A.!"

Students responded positively to the rally.

Dawn Jones (junior-nursing) said the demonstration pleased her because it brought out issues of the war.

"We don't discuss things enough," Jones said.