Voices on War and Terrorism
By: Citizens of The Earth
My thanks go out to the brave people of Iraq who assisted our troops. It is my hope that they become part of the government of a new and better Iraq. My husband and my brother are both Marines who today are in Baghdad. I am so proud of them, many of these troops are so young and only in the military to get an education. My heart goes to all the families of those who lost their lives. American, British, Iraq, it makes no difference. We all love our children, and it is the children of all countries that we took this action. I pray that a better life is the gift we leave behind.
SHAME ON AMERICA AND EVERYONE WHO THINKS LIKE YOU! (IN FACT, YOU CAN'T THINK OF YOUR OWN, YOU'RE BRAINWASHED) EVERY US-SOLDIER OUTSIDE THE US IS A CRIMINAL! SOLDIERS FIGTHING A DISARMED AND HELPLESS LAND ARE JUST COWARDS AND NOTHING ELSE!! MR. BUSH IS THE HITLER OF THE MODERN WORLD, HE IS THE WAR CRIMINAL NUMBER ONE OF OUR TIMES. THE WAR IN IRAQ IS NOT OVER YET. LONG LIVE SADDAM HUSSEIN! (EVEN IF THE IRAQI PRESIDENT IS CATCHED OR MURDERED, SOMETIMES THE DEATHS HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU MAY THINK) GOD BLESS THE BRAVE PEOPLE OF IRAQ!! THEY WILL THROW OUT THEIR BARBAROUS INVADERS SOONER OR LATER!!! THE USA HAVE MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS. THE HAVE MILITARY POWER. BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY MORALS. SO THEY CANNOT WIN THE WAR AGAINST HUMANITY THEY HAVE STARTED. WE ALL WILL EXPERIENCE THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN WORLD POWER. Sincerely, yours
My husband and I have listened to all sides of this war issue. Neither of us will ever believe that war is the best response to anything. We have, however, come to the following personal peace on this issue. Americans do not kill with a light heart. We do not send our children to die in foreign places with glee. We mourn each death as though it were a loved one. Like another writer here, we too do not trust Mr. Bush to be honest with us. However, we are free to say that outloud without fear of retaliation. We have not seen a single desenter against the reign of Saddam Hussein. Among human beings there can never be 100% agreement. Mr. Hussein may not know that the very lack of descent proves the case for his brutality and the fear under which the Iraqi people must be living. We are sad that innocents will die, but innocents always die in wars of liberation. If the Iraqi people had stood up to this man, we would not have to. While those who oppose this war were unable to prevent it, let me promise the world that we American citizens will have the power to hold this government to the promises of autonomy and rebuilding of Iraq for the benefit of its citizens. I pray that our bombs are indeed smart and that mistakes are not made. We thank our friends for standing with us, we thank the desenters who forced us all to look carefully at the issues. It is now time for us all to pray to whatever god we know for a quick ending to this crisis. And a merciful ending to the nightmare of the Iraqi people.
Should there be a war on Iraq? A better formulated question would be; Should Saddam be dismissed? This is what it all is about. Let's make one thing clear, we are talking about a guy that has started one war (on Iran), invaded another country (Kuwait) and on top of that murdered his own people. He has for three decades tormented his own people, political opponents are murdered, torture is on the daily agenda. He has personally tormented and shot people he has disliked or suspected of not being loyal. He encourages in terrorism in the middle east with money and words. He runs one of the most brutal dictatorships since Hitler and Stalin.
Just the suspicion that this person might get nuclear weapons in a near future should fill us all with great horror. The suspicion that he soon might be able to provide terrorists with small nuclear armaments makes Iraq an extremely dangerous dictatorship. He was close to getting his hands on the A-Bomb after France helped him with a facility for this. Israel took out this plant in 1981 with an air attack. He was only 6-12 months from having the bomb when the Gulf war ended those plans. Once again, there is suspicion that he is trying to get nuclear weapons.
This is why he must be dismissed. If the Hitler of our days gets his hands on nuclear weapons the world will be a much more dangerous place. Israel can't sit idly by watching and will of course act on this. The question is if that is enough. What will happen if a nuclear missile is fired upon Tel Aviv? WW3? Remember that he has been firing missiles (scuds) on Israel before, it happened during the gulf war in 1991. How will the other countries in the region react? The balance in the area will tip towards Iraq and the surrounding countries will be kept hostages.
We cant sit passively waiting for the moment when a nuclear bomb is smuggled into New York, London or Tel Aviv to detonate. European countries (and all countries) have the duty to support the US in the plans of taking Saddam out before Iraq turns into a nuclear power.
Now the US + allies steps in and says enough is enough. Being a European from Sweden, growing up under the threat of communism from Soviet Union, this is what I expect from the countries of the free world. Sadly, some European countries are acting cowardly hoping that the problem will go away if they ignore it. It wont. One cannot reason with dictators, it is a very naive and dangerous game some of the European leaders are playing. Germany has started two world wars, but are incapable to act on this threat, maybe the biggest threat of our times. I am very thankful that US + allies (mostly UK) take on the responsibility that is expected of them. The United States saved Europe from nazism and communism. Again and again The United States has taken responsibility for Europe and the world. The history repeats itself. (Last time in Europe was in the beginning of the 90's in Kosovo and Bosnia. Europe stood beside, perplexed, and watched.)
This is important; this is not a war on the Iraqi people, this is a necessary step to bring down Saddam. A removal of Saddam from power in Iraq would be a contribution to peace in the middle east, a basic condition for the re establishment of the dignity of millions of oppressed people in Iraq, and would make the world a little more safe.
There are fractions of people that oppose a war. They are surprisingly many actually. However, it is a very heterogeneous group of people. Here in Europe there is everyone from the US haters to people that dislikes war in general. They are driven by different agendas but it is a mystery to me how they fail to see the threat. Or maybe they just ignore it unknowingly (?). For some people the most important thing is to be politically correct, even to the degree that absolutely nothing else matters. No matter what. Some of them claim that peace and love should be sent to the people of Iraq (I have heard it myself), that is a ridiculous and a childish way of looking at the world. How would that help the Iraqis?
Another question is: what exactly is the "peace" that these people want to maintain? Is it that the sanctions on Iraq should continue? Is it that Saddam Hussein should be able to continue to torment his own people and to be a threat and menace to his neighbors and the world? The sanctions have been on for 13 years now. In 1991 the UN stated that Iraq had to comply and show the world their programs for weapons of mass destruction but nothing has happened (they were given 90 days back then). Now some European countries say that the inspectors should be granted some more time. More time? It has been more than enough time. Saddam must be laughing his moustach off hearing France and Germany going on about continuing inspections. How will 3-4 months more help when nothing has happened for 12 years? And remember that the only reason that the weapons inspectors are there in the first place, is the threat of force from The US and The UK. Would Saddam have agreed to host those inspections? Of course not. What would happen if the US and UK stepped down? Would the inspections continue? I guess not. And it is not a bold guess.
Wars cost lives. Sadly enough. But it is the reality. Can we just hope that the threat will go away by itself? I don't believe so. But that is just my opinion.
A UK perspective: I guess my starting point relates to Mr. Tony Blair, his Party and his Ministers.
I'm afraid to say that I trust not one of them. I don't trust their words, their actions, their deeds or their morals.
I have never traditionally been a Labour Party supporter, but once the fact that the costs of employing ' Government Media Communication' staff had quadrupled under the present Government became known, I lost all respect for the UK Government.
By the way, these communication staff (aka Spin Doctors) have one purpose, and one purpose only. They are employed to cover up embarrassing facts or failures for the Labour Party. They brief the press; they destroy careers through unfounded rumour and insinuation. And of course, they cover up, they deceive, they spread untruths.
To all the Americans out there, who understandably love and respect Mr. Blair at this very moment because of his stand on Iraq, keep reading:
That most terrible of days, September 11th, in my view, a day that changed the world. On that day, a very well known communication staff member circulated an e-mail within the Labour Party departments that "Today would be an excellent day to release bad news."
The thinking behind this was obviously that as the UK and World attention was elsewhere, the Government could get away with failed targets or tax increases or whatever.
As one can imagine, the press and public furore was immense, "Sack this female member of staff" was the demand, but No, Mr. Blair defended her for a full four months until at last she resigned in disgrace.
So, when I hear about Mr. Blair's moral crusade, and the respect that he engenders in the US and countries around the world, I shake my head, and think of his highly paid (by us) communication deceivers, who have done their job so very well.
Blair has no deep seated moral reasons for supporting the US; rather it is a carefully considered policy to ingratiate himself to the US public and to increase his own personal standing abroad.
It seems it is only us, the UK public, that can see fully behind his mask of deceit.
My thoughts include that: the current president, though in office only a little over 2 years has managed to polarize not only the United States, but the entire world. Quite a feat for a Christian? president. I also wish the word terrorist be stricken from the English language as that's all we've heard since 9/11. Also, historically there have been few wars with the exception of WWII that accomplished anything except bring chaos & unrest to the countries involved as well as huge debts. How long can our country remain a power if we continue to wage wars & have armies in so many foreign countries? Are we stretching ourselves too thin - is it not better to wage wars on poverty, hunger & world unrest?
My English is not good, but this quote says what I would like to say to President Bush.
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Sir Winston Churchill
What is an American? From Australia
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote the following to let everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, Afghan, or even Iraqi. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that they will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.
Americans welcome the best, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
We must put terrorism in the proper perspective. For the entire history of mankind on this planet we could die from a cut on our body. An organ got sick, we died. And then penicillin and the other antibiotics appear in the 1940's. Now, we almost never die from infection. Sick organs are routinely treated, or removed, or removed and replaced. These ancient stalkers of our species have been laid to rest. Terrorists are just new bigger bugs. In 1917 and 1918, the Spanish Flu killed millions world wide. 911 saw 3000 dead. It was tragic, but it should not change the way we live our lives. As far as the "War on Terrorism" is concerned, I would like to point out to the pro gun Bush Administration that last year 15,000 people were killed in America with a gun. 3000 died from the acts of a terrorist. Now, where should this battle be fought? And who are the real enemies of the American people? For those right wing Christians out there didn't Christ state "remove the log from your own eye before you remove the splinter from the eye of a neighbor."
Let me begin by stating for the record that I did not vote for George W. Bush. I do not trust George W. Bush and I feel that if he wanted me to trust him, he should have not run to his father's Supreme Court to get himself elected. He should have demanded that his brother, the Governor of Florida allow the people of his state to recast their ballots. He should have done everything within his power to support the people's right to honestly and fairly choose their president. He did not do those things.
Let me also state that I am embarrassed by his comments and his attitude. He appears to be arrogant in a way I have never seen a United States President. Even Richard Nixon didn't begin ever sentence with the word I. George W. Bush has not, to the best of my knowledge, enlisted to go to Iraq. He plans to send other people's sons and daughters to do his fighting for him. He will remain the most protected man in the world as will his family. This is the way it always is, but most presidents have understood that war can not be a vendetta. I am not sure he understands that. He certainly doesn't speak as if war is something he would like to avoid.
As an American I could never support the concept of "Preemptive War." As a democracy which espouses peace and justice to the world, we must live by those principles. We must be brave enough to take the first blow, then we are free to defend ourselves.
George W. Bush is not America. The world needs to remember that. He is spending the asset of "Good Will" that it took 230 years to build. We did not give him permission to make enemies of our allies. We didn't even give him the majority of our votes. But, we must put up with him for another two years. When the population of America hands over control of all branches of our government to one political party, this time the Republicans, it is the responsibility of that same population to become the watchdogs of our own government. So, I totally support the rights of Americans to protest this war.I pray with all my heart that war is avoided.
All of those things said, If this war must be then we need to rethink how we view it. This is not a preemptive war. It isn't even a new war. This is the final battle of Desert Storm. If I might use an analogy to prove my point, 12 years ago, the government of Iraq crossed the border of a nation and occupied it. They broke the law. The forces of the world united to address this crime. For reasons which most Americans if not all did not understand at the time, the United Nations offered the criminals a plea bargain. They offered probation in the form of a resolution which said in exchange for not having certain weapons and a few other things, the criminals could stay in power. As in all plea bargains, the criminals were given a second chance. But, they were clearly on probation. They knew that. Now, when a criminal violates the rules of their probation, the plea bargain vanishes and the criminal must face the consequences of their acts. All promised disappear and the criminal is called back to the bar of justice.
Sometimes, a criminal will give up and turn themselves in. That is rare. Sometimes, someone else will turn them in. Other times a criminal will take hostages and hide behind them hoping for a better deal. And sometimes the criminal doesn't care who gets killed, he just refuses to take responsibility. We have yet to see which of these approaches the criminals of Iraq will take. But, one way or the other the criminal will eventually be punished.
If the Iraqi people are as innocent as the government tells us they are then they are being held hostages by their evil and corrupt government. America and the United Nations must exhaust every avenue before they are put into harms way. We owe them that. We would want that for ourselves, we must "Do unto others as we would have them do unto us."
But when and if every avenue is exhausted, we will regrettably send for the "US Marshals." In this case, they will take the form of smart bombs and brilliant aircraft and brave and courageous men and women. The finest of our sons and daughters, our husbands, brothers, wives and sisters; we can not waste one of them. But, for the sake of a safer world for everyone, we will offer them up.
To the question of why Iraq and not North Korea the answer is simple, only Iraq is on probation. Only Iraq has violated the rules of that probation
Now, if the leaders of Iraq were getting good advice someone would tell them that if they voluntarily left their country and went into exile for the sake of their citizens and to prevent this terrible catastrophe from falling on their heads, they would be heroes to their people and to the people of the world. Bravery is not cowering in some bunker, it is standing tall and saying "I did it, and I will do what is necessary to prevent my actions from hurting the people I represent." That could be a legacy which would make your name a holy word among your people. How much better to be remembered that way than as a curse?
Americans do not want to police the world, we don't want to tell other people what to do or how to think. We want to be proud of ourselves. We want to be the ones sending the plane loads of food and tents after an earthquake or a flood. Americans are generous people. Americans are not a government, we are an idea. The idea that free men and women can rule their own lives and while doing so improve the lives of others. Our current president needs to be reminded that when he says "I will not …" that he speaks for himself. And when he speaks for us, the sentence should begin "We will not …"
Since it's possible to captivate the nation's news media with what MIGHT happen, I'm announcing a press conference at my office in Myrtle Beach on April 1st to make several potentially revealing announcements.
First, let me assure you that you'll be safe from The Terrorists here because people can't find us! They think we're in Florida. Havana, Princeton, Cleveland, Dallas, Harlem, Hollywood, Mexico Beach, Naples, and Venice are there, but there's no Myrtle Beach since Myrtle Beach is in South Carolina.
Anyway, all news media folks should come because I'm just as deserving as The Terrorists to receive billions of dollars worth of free PR. Among other things, I'm announcing that my book, Was The Cheese Moved To Mexico? MIGHT be made into a movie, I MIGHT run for governor, I MIGHT lose weight, I MIGHT swim across Lake Murray topless, plus I MIGHT win the lottery next Tuesday! If you prefer bad news, I'm going to announce that the sky MIGHT fall!
Now, some of these things are more likely to occur than others. The media reps will have to come to the conference and meet me to decide. Then I expect to see hours of talking heads on TV arguing, speculating, and postulating over the possibilities. I've got to run now. I'm off to the store to buy duct tape for when the sky falls.
