Discussion/Iraq

["Melynda Huskey" <mghuskey@hotmail.com>]

Some visionaries may be interested in this statement by 33 international 
relations professors from around the country, which appeared in the New York 
Times (a list of signatories can be found here:

http://www.bear-left.com/archive/2002/0926oped.html


WAR WITH IRAQ IS NOT IN AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTEREST

As scholars of international security affairs, we recognize that war is 
sometimes necessary to ensure our national security or other vital 
interests. We also recognize that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and that Iraq 
has defied a number of U.N. resolutions. But military force should be used 
only when it advances U.S. national interests. War with Iraq does not meet 
this standard.

Saddam Hussein is a murderous despot, but no one has provided credible 
evidence that Iraq is cooperating with al Qaeda.

Even if Saddam Hussein acquired nuclear weapons, he could not use them 
without suffering massive U.S. or Israeli retaliation.

The first Bush administration did not try to conquer Iraq in 1991 because it 
understood that doing so could spread instability in the Middle East, 
threatening U.S. interests. This remains a valid concern today.

The United States would win a war against Iraq, but Iraq has military 
options-chemical and biological weapons, urban combat-that might impose 
significant costs on the invading forces and neighboring states.

Even if we win easily, we have no plausible exit strategy. Iraq is a deeply 
divided society that the United States would have to occupy and police for 
many years to create a viable state.

Al Qaeda poses a greater threat to the U.S. than does Iraq. War with Iraq 
will jeopardize the campaign against al Qaeda by diverting resources and 
attention from that campaign and by increasing anti-Americanism around the 
globe.

The United States should maintain vigilant containment of Iraq-using its own 
assets and the resources of the United Nations-and be prepared to invade 
Iraq if it threatens to attack America or its allies. That is not the case 
today. We should concentrate instead on defeating al Qaeda.

Best,

Melynda Huskey
(who doesn't agree that war is sometimes necessary to ensure our national 
security or other vital interests, but still found the argument an 
interesting one.)


"The things that make us happy make us wise."  John Crowley




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