Saddam Hussein is a brutal dictator. The 25 or so million Iraqis currently living in Iraq certainly don't enjoy any form of political democracy. Hussein's policy vis-a-vis the United States is not friendly. What he has said about the 41st president is probably not far from his thoughts about the 43rd. Yet, launching a preemptive strike against Baghdad is a clear violation of international law. The exact standard we are attempting to hold Hussein to; i.e., UN Resolution 1441.
It's difficult for us to know exactly why we are invading Iraq since the government changes their objectives with each passing week. First, we're told it's regime change. Then it's to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. Then came the link between Iraq and al-Qaida (and the link was 9/11). Most recently, the Bush administration wants us to launch a crusade to "end oppressive governments in the Middle East." (If you think I'm cynical, note Bush's timing of his new road map to peace for Israel and the Palestinians.)
Let's look at these arguments.
Regime change in Iraq is certainly a laudable goal and one that I'm sure most of the Iraqi citizens would welcome. The problem with trying to build a coalition on the premise of regime change is that the nations we are now partnered with -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc. -- have some reservations about spreading democracy too quickly. Of course, Turkey is held up as the great beacon of light in the region of how an Islamic country can be democratic. Fact is, the "democracy" in Turkey is maintained only with the tolerance of the military, which is exactly the kind of "democratic" governments we're used to dealing with in Latin America. No wonder we look to Turkey. It should also be noted that the Turks are responsible for far more Kurdish deaths and oppression than Iraq could ever imagine. Another historical oversight that suits the moment.
What about those weapons? Well we haven't found them! In fact, after all the grandstanding at the UN, the American government still hasn't turned over any evidence that they exist. The weapons that have been located are being destroyed. That by a country that is under imminent threat of foreign invasion. If the evidence was available, wouldn't it make sense for the US government to simply turn it over to the inspectors and allow them to verify for the whole world to see?
Nine-eleven was a tragic event and one that many of us spent months mourning and remembering in community events throughout Carson City. Yet it is the height of insentience to misuse the terrible event to cause hysteria in our nation (remember the color codes). There has been no tangible evidence that links Iraq with al-Qaida and certainly none that Hussein was somehow behind it. Israeli intelligence stated that they could find nothing that substantiated that claim. Jack Snow, the British Foreign Minister, said in a Feb. 5 interview that he has seen no intelligence that Iraq had anything to do with al-Qaida or was now harboring al-Qaida operatives. One should not miss the irony that all the al-Qaida leaders who have been found have been residing comfortably in Pakistani suburbs. It appears that Pakistan only turns them over to US officials once we've uncovered them. There certainly doesn't appear to be much cooperation from this "ally" of ours. Of course, it was Pakistan that built up and armed the Taliban in the first place.
Is America really ready to end all oppressive governments in the Middle East? We've already occupied Kuwait so that wouldn't be too difficult. I'm sure Syria would fall quickly. We've armed the Saudi's fairly well so that might be a tougher battle. Jordan is supposed to be our friend.
In support of this war we are told to boycott French goods."Only buy American," is the slogan. That is certainly what Hussesin did. He bought all his weapons in America. In fact, it was Donald Rumsfeld who was our special envoy to Iraq during the shopping spree.
Before we are too caught up in war fever, let's not forget what events caused this "crisis" in Iraq. Was it anything they did over the past few months that made invasion now so necessary? Did they threaten a neighbor? No. The "crisis" was Enron, too many corporate scandals, economic disaster at home and the looming fall elections of 2002.
Can we win this war? Of course. Do I support our troops? Absolutely! I'm a veteran whose son is currently in the Army National Guard waiting to be activated. But I also pray for the thousands of Iraqi people who have done nothing to provoke this unlawful attack and, who we abandoned the last time a Bush encouraged an uprising against Saddam Hussein. War is easy. Peace takes work.
James Hukari is the Director of the Western Nevada Center for Restorative Justice and Reconciliation