Retired general supports ongoing war against terrorism

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Retired four-star U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks believes the United States' military action in Iraq and Afghanistan have given the people in those countries chances they did

Thursday, March 25th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Retired four-star U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks believes the United States' military action in Iraq and Afghanistan have given the people in those countries chances they did not have under under former rulers.

Franks told about a thousand people at a conservative fund-raising event in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night that the war against terrorism should continue.

``My greatest fear is that we see a repeat of 9-11-01, or maybe something worse right here,'' he said. ``We are at risk of being attacked because of the level and the depth of hatred of the freedoms that exist in this country.''

Franks, a Wynnewood native, was commander of the U.S. Central Command during recent conflicts Iraq and Afghanistan before he retired in August.

He thanked the armed forces for their work.

``Twenty-six million more people have a chance,'' he said of Iraqis. ``Are they going to make it? I don't know, but I know that they have a chance to make it, a chance that they did not have under Saddam Hussein's regime.''

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs gave Franks the 2004 Citizenship Award.

The council is a think tank that supports limited government, charter schools, lawsuit reform and lowered taxes. It opposes a state lottery.