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My Beef About Iraq:
this is what I have to say about this war that does NOT need to happen. What I am writing is not in formal essay.. more like informal. So you will see why I have jumped around.
I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about the war occurring on Iraq. I know being a student at SAU, it is hard to express my views especially when the majority is in favour of war. I also know that a lot of the students at SAU do not listen to the news nor analyse it.
During Spring Break, I was able to watch the news non-stop. I am going to quote what Senator Robert Byrd said on Larry King said this past week "the administration has mind, ears and eyes closed." I am in 100% agreement with him. I mean look around. A lot of people are against the war including most of the UN. PM Tony Blair said recently on a MTV Forum "war is war which is why it should be the last resort and I want to have this situation resolved peacefully."
I bring what these two men had said because there is a lot of truth. However, I think Tony Blair has lied to the public because ever since he has become buddy-buddy with our President Bush, Jr. Don't get me wrong, I look up to PM Tony Blair.
Now here is a no-brainer. If you proclaim "I am going to attack you" without 100% evidence and you tell your axis "you have to leave or suffer the consequences", what do you think would happen? Obviously the axis will not leave. I wouldn't. And then the whole idea about terrorism, well since you have declared war on another country, well of course you should hope for terrorism! Duh! I mean if someone told me they wanted to go to war with me, duh, of course I would send out my best men and women :) that are willing to attack you.
Recently, a lot of people have resigned in the Labour Party in the UK because they do not want to go to war without full UN backup. One person who resigned recently, which I have added on the site was Robin Cook. He said "Iraq probably has no weapons of mass destruction in the commonly understood sense of the term--- namely a credible device capable of being delivered against a strategic city target."
Another member of the Labour Party, a women said "there has been evidence not given to the public that Iraq is not a big threat to us anymore. They do not have WMD."
I read that recently in a 77 page book called War On Iraq- it is an interview with former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter who brought up some VERY good points. One of them he said that even if Saddam is no longer the President of Iraq, Iraq will not become a democracy, in fact they will elect another Sunnis who will be if not worse than Saddam. Quite sad. Ritter quit because of Richard Butler.
And must I say that on TV current UN Weapons Inspector said and I quoted "Iraq does not have WMD. If they do then it is hidden pretty well and as for the biological weapons threat, it is not a big threat because the lifeline of Anthrax is 5-10 years". ---almost a direct quote.
Now when Bush was elected, I had a little respect, thinking yeah he could change the way I feel... but now that little respect I had for him is 100% gone. I mean the United States is officially in violation of International Law. For example UN Charter, Chapter 1, Article 2:
All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered; and, All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner consistent with he Purposes of the United Nations". . .
Also, I will bring up Chapter 7, Article 51 of the same charter:
"Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security."
So, basically, since almost the entire UN did NOT agree with this whole war business, then does this mean that US will be kicked out of the UN? No, we will not... but does this mean that President Bush is over-exercising his use as President? And does this mean that technically he can be impeached for what he is doing? Not just him of course, even Colin Powell and the others who were forcefully pushing for war.
I for one do NOT want to see innocent lives killed, this means for both sides. Have we learned from the other wars???? Apparently not! We can never have peace. I do hope this war does not last long.
And I know my teacher is not going to like me saying this but I am quoting something that Clive Efford, MP said on Tuesday at the House of Commons "United States should not put Europe as an axis in the New World Order (NWO)." I agree with him with the US and Europe are divided up because of this issue.
Why am I quoting mostly British politics?? Because 1. this is what I can watch on my computer and pay attention to more and 2. it isn't boring. For example, I saw it on my computer when Robin Cook resigned, he got a standing ovation, as well as the seven others who have resigned recently. If I was in his shoes, I probably would not have resigned but kept fighting it out.
And what bugs me the most about this whole ordeal is the fact decisions are being made without what other people think. I mean there are times when I was watching the debates, that I wanted to go and have my say. Yep, sometimes, I found myself yelling at my computer/TV. And because I am a student I can't do anything. Oh well, I know I will someday have my time to debate.
All I want to say that I do not agree with Bush and Blair. There is not enough evidence to even prove that a war is in need. I mean there are other things to worry about. Granted, yes Iraq is a threat but then I could turn this all around and say that USA is a threat to other countries because we are considered a Superpower.
Before I conclude, I heard someone recently bring up Churchill how when WWII was in chaos, and he said we needed to enter a war and everyone thought he was crazy and he did it and now everyone praises him, well this isn't the same thing. Iraq is not invading random countries. We are the ones invading.
I also hope that Saddam gets out of there. Yes I agree he is an evil man but he does not deserve to die like this... no one does. He should be captured and brought to International Court, after all, isn't that the reason we have International Court? And I hope this doesn't turn out as "where is Osama Bin Laden?" Pretty soon it will be "where is Saddam?"
okay.. I have had my say.
Rachel