bottom


Don February 1, 2003
     
I disagree with your analysis and you know we can agree to disagree. I emphatically believe that Iraq is without a doubt a threat to our interests and primarily its neighbors, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain who are mostly friendly with U.S. interests. More importantly, Israel is more at risk than the United States from such a regime. Israel is to Iraq what South Korea is to North Korea. Facing a fanatic evil person with potential access to WMD; does anyone doubt he would send nerve gas to Tel Aviv on top of a Scud if given the opportunity. Imagine Iraq in a nuclear, biological, or chemical showdown with Israel. I shudder at the thought. After 9-11, the US is changed. We now know there are no limits to what our enemies will do if given the opportunity. Iraq is our enemy. They do not like us and wish to destroy us and Israel. That cannot stand. Israel cannot politically or militarily invade Iraq, only the US can do so. Despite this threat, I don't agree that simply our "self-interest" should always be the single predicate necessary for taking affirmative steps to topple such a heinous regime as the Baathist Party led by Saddam Hussein. For me personally, simply the fact they are a threat to Israel is enough of a reason. If the only reason to invade was to overthrow his tortuous regime, I believe that that reason alone is to put us on the side of angels. Thomas Friedman eloquently stated this week that "who do you think was cheering in Iraq after France's presentation"? The murderous dictator in Baghdad or his thousands of political prisoners? We all know the answer to that questions. We have no reason to care what Iraqi's do to each other except the humanity in each of us. I guess no American, British G.I. is worth liberating a backward Arab regime. Who really cares? If self-interest is the only consideration, the United States would have never liberated or rehabilitated Europe, never joined forces to stop the slaughter in Bosnia, or done many acts outside this argument of war and peace. Why increase AIDS funding in Africa? Why reduce debt to third world nations/Africa? Because it is the right thing to do. Why invade Iraq. The biggest one is that it is the right thing to do. I understand there is always cost-benefit analysis going on, but the attitude of "this doesn't affect me, lets not get involved", is why the Holocaust was able to germinate and grow into Nazi Germany. Don't we wish we had done something. It was because no one wanted to get involved and call evil, evil, and treat evil with contempt, and yes show the guts to do the right thing despite the risks.
Editor->
    Previous letter
Our most recent letter

send a letter to the Editor

top Advertisement