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WHY is war unavoidable?
It is only unavoidable if the dominant powers insist on it
October 14, 2002
The Iranian
You asked [See Siamack Salari's "Talk
some sense"] and so I shall share my two cents. I do not hate Iraqis and
certainly not Americans for I happen to be a naturalized American citizen and my
wife and children are American born. So, I should be able to give you a perspective
with balance and not based on hate!
You point out in more than one place in your article that war is inevitable and if
not now it shall come later. Why? Why is war unavoidable? It is only unavoidable
if the dominant powers insist on having a war at this time.
I travel back to Iran often. I have heard from numerous Iranians who have traveled
to Iraq on pilgrimages and all reports indicate that 12 years of economic sanctions
have left that country weak and crumbling. Their infrastructure is in ruins. Until
recently they couldn't even make long distance calls abroad and what little remains
of their public services and health infrastructure is barely functioning.
What I mean is that Iraq is hardly capable of managing its own affairs and by all
evidence cannot conduct offensive actions of any significant measure even against
her neighbors, much less Israel. The argument from US President and British Prime
Minister is that Iraq is close to having nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.
But no evidence of this has been presented.
Leading senators and other politicians in the U.S. who are privileged to sensitive
and classified military reports, come out of briefing sessions unconvinced. They
are saying that they don't understand why Bush is insisting on war with Iraq. Even
the current head of CIA announced a few days ago that there are doubts about Iraq's
intentions (and ability) to wage war!
Finally, by publishing his new national security doctrine, President Bush revealed
why we have to attack Iraq all of a sudden. The openly announced strategy of preemption
and the stated goal of global dominance explains it all. Someone (country) has to
bare the horror of being the first whipping boy and made an example of. And that
will be Iraq.
You see, Afghanistan was not a big enough challenge. And the U.S. President believes
that there is still a preventive lesson to be taught. But what they are missing is
that animosity towards the U.S. didn't develop in a vacuum. Bush has repeatedly announced
that the terrorists of 9/11 attacked us because "they hate freedom". That
is the most absurd thing anyone could say. How could a human being "hate freedom"?
With the ocean of goodwill and compassion generated for America after the 9/11 tragedy,
U.S. leadership could have set history on a new course of cooperation and understanding.
Along with strong measures to fight terrorism, we could have addressed the root causes
of ill will and own up to the horrific choices made in our foreign policy in the
past 50 years in all corners of the world.
Americans keep asking "Why do they hate us?" but no one wants to be honest
with them and tell them that after 50 years of hostile intervention in just about
every country on this planet, after instigating, funding or outright planning government
take overs, coups and revolts in tens of countries and causing the death and dismemberment
of untold hundreds of thousands as a result of our actions and policies, when we
experience a backlash, all we tell our people is "They hate freedom!"
But you see, in America everything circles around the next election and how a president
can win the next term. And more importantly is that thick stuff that comes out of
the ground and Iraq has a whole lot of it.
But in accordance with his new doctrine -- and since
the Saudis can no longer be trusted, according to U.S. think tanks) -- President
Bush has decided that whipping Saddam will take care of all problems! The Saudis
would be replaced by Iraq as the major U.S. petro-ally in the region. Iran's mullahs
will be further contained. And the Republicans will have a righteous political stance
to run on while the President won't have to worry about his approval rating falling
to pre-911 levels!
Yes, war can be avoided if we can convince George W. Bush and Tony Blair to put political
motives aside and think about the children who will die in their desired war. I really
worry about the precedence this will set in international relations and dealings.
Imagine what disasters come out of Bush Doctrine becoming popular with other countries.
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