Who Would Jesus
Bomb?
by Josh Frank
Dissident Voice
January 30, 2003
10 Reasons to
Oppose the War with Iraq
1. War with Iraq
won't make us safer.
A unilateral
attack by the United States will inflame anti-U.S. sentiment, feeding right
into Bin Ladin's own evil rhetoric, and may stimulate more attacks by
fundamental extremists.
2. There is no
imminent threat.
There is no hard
evidence that Iraq has nuclear weapons. Recent UN reports suggest inspections
have shown no evidence that Saddam's robust nuclear program of the 1990s has
continued. According to these same reports the United Nation's believes Iraq
has little means to deliver chemical and biological weapons to threaten
countries in the Middle East, let alone the U.S.
3. A preemptive
attack violates the U.N. charter.
The U.N. Charter
forbids member countries from attacking another country except in self defense.
If the U.S. puts itself above international law it will further encourage other
nations to do the same. Not to mention the contradiction of the United States in
relation to the numerous U.N. resolutions Israel has broken with their dealings
of occupied territories of Palestine. While Israel continues to receive the
majority of US foreign aid, totaling a staggering 1.6 trillion dollars since
1973, with over 50% supporting Israel military operations in Palestine.
4. Our allies
don't support us in this war.
U.S. allies in
the Middle East oppose a U.S. attack on Iraq. Our European allies have urged
the U.S. to work through the U.N. An invasion of Iraq would isolate the U.S.
from the rest of the world and shatter the principles of international
cooperation and mutual defense that are key to U.S. and global security.
5. Thousands of
innocent people may die.
Pentagon
estimates say that an invasion of Iraq could lead to the deaths of 10,000
innocent civilians. The CIA also reports that if Saddam does possess biological
weapons, he is more likely to use them in defense if attacked by the US,
putting even more of Iraqi civilians and US troops at great risk.
6. Young
American men and women will fight and die.
U.S. military
action and possible occupation is likely to produce far more casualties than
the previous Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan. Many combatants will suffer
physical and psychological repercussions for years after the war ends.
7. Funding for
education, environment and health care is already being cut in order to pay for
the "war on terror."
Estimates put
the cost of a war with Iraq at $60-$100 billion with ongoing billions for
occupation and rebuilding Iraq, a drunken thought if one realizes our economy
is currently suffering an awful recession. Also the environmental impact of
another Gulf War could potentially threaten even more oil reserves, and
endangered species (if set on fire like the first Gulf War), as well as
contributing greatly to global warming- which Bush after his 2003's State of
the Union address- is acknowledging actually exists.
8. Things may
not be better after a war.
We have no
guarantee that a new regime in Iraq will make life any better for the Iraqi
people, who already live under a tyrannical dictator. Or that Iraq will be any
friendlier to the U.S. than Saddam's regime currently is. The Taliban were once
our allies in Afghanistan, will the new regime in Iraq become our enemy after a
few years as well?
9. There are
other options.
The U.S. can
work through the U.N. using mechanisms such as the resumption of weapons
inspections, negotiation, mediation, regional arrangements, and other peaceful
means. Most significantly trying Saddam in an international court of law for
War Crimes, such as was done post-Bosnia conflict for Slobodan Milosevic. This
may also entail prosecuting certain United State's officials and companies who
openly supplied Saddam with biological components used during his gassing of
the Kurds.
10. The American
people have deep misgivings about this war.
Many people know
deep down that this war makes no sense. They are starting to speak up and make
themselves heard. You can add your voice to activities in your own community.
In the rhetoric of our President Bush, a proclaimed Christian, one must wonder,
has he ever thought-"Who would Jesus bomb?' The response surely would not
be the innocent people of Iraq who have already suffered greatly because of
Saddam, along with the U.N. sanctions supported and controlled by the United
States.
Josh Frank is a writer living in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached
at: frank_joshua@hotmail.com