Some protesters morally blind on Iraq

The London Free Press (Canada) ^ | January 22, 2003 | SALIM MANSUR

[freeforall]

January 22, 2003

Some protesters morally blind on Iraq

By SALIM MANSUR -- For the London Free Press

The demonstrations across North America Saturday in opposition to war against Iraq were a reminder to those who forget, or obscure, what makes democracies so special and precious, in contrast with all other forms of government and, in particular, the regime of Saddam Hussein, that has made prisoners of most Iraqis.

There is a mounting fear of uncertainties over the costs of war -- lives, property, regional disorder, spikes in oil prices, recession, unemployment, tax burdens . . . and apprehension that our world is on a slippery slope, becoming an even more insecure place from threats of terrorism.

The fear, genuine as it may be, mounts every time democracies are confronted with the intractable problem of evil posing the oldest dilemma of how to contain, or eliminate, evil without doing greater damage than what evil has already wrought.

The demonstrations were a useful expression of what free citizens in democracies think of the impending situation in which Saddam's regime is in direct violation of the requirements of the UN, as once again set forth at great length in the unanimously approved Security Council Resolution 1441 of Nov. 8, 2002.

Those who demonstrated and those in agreement with them have indicated where they stand on the question of war and peace, the insolence of Saddam and the probable use of force to implement a Chapter VII resolution of the Security Council.

For a majority of those who were out in the street on an unusually cold Saturday afternoon, there is an admirable consistency in their opposition to war, of their refusal to justify the use of force under all circumstances without any exception.

This moral stance is one a political realist -- one who recognizes that our world is less than an ideal place, where evil exists and awful things occur -- can respect without agreeing with its philosophical underpinnings of unbending pacifism.

The philosophical pacifists also feel no burden in devising an answer for peace-loving people, Iraqis in this instance, menaced by an evil monster such as Saddam. Fortunately for the rest of us, they rarely occupy responsible positions where realism demands appropriate response to evil.

But among demonstrators across North American cities, besides pacifists and the usual coalition of those on the left with their rhetoric against American capitalism and politics, there were many whose stand on Iraq is politically offensive and morally blind.

These are people whose silence over the last 35 years of Saddam's rule, making Iraq a gulag of a Middle Eastern version of 20th century totalitarianism, has been deafening.

They have watched Saddam make wars on Iraq's neighbours, commit genocide against Iraqi Kurds, Shiites and marsh Arabs, and have not offered any public condemnation against these widely reported and documented atrocities, even as they have lived in the safety of North American society.

Their silence can only be interpreted as their being in political complicity with a tyrant whose rhetoric of Arab nationalism, and then Islam, has been to veil his crimes against humanity.

They have no credibility when they chant for peace and against war, should it take place, whose primary beneficiary will be the people of Iraq acquiring freedom, as did the people of Kosovo and Afghanistan not too long ago.

Since the Gulf War of 1991, differences among the Security Council's permanent members, and events elsewhere, such as the Balkan wars, allowed the Iraqi tyrant to defy international law for so long.

Moreover, the UN sanctions without discomforting Saddam and his cronies have extracted a morally repugnant price from the poor and defenceless Iraqis. The ending of sanctions is long overdue.

Hence, the irony that apprehensions of citizens in democracies provide comfort to a murderous tyrant.

There is no easy answer in confronting evil. But giving evil a safe passage, because it is expedient, is to become morally and politically bankrupt.

The tough choice remains disarming the Iraqi tyrant or forcing a regime change that will bring freedom for Iraqis while maintaining the effectiveness of international law.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Salim Mansur is a professor of political science at the University of Western Ontario. His column appears alternate Wednesdays.

[freeforall]

Islam ping

[F.J. Mitchell]

Sanctions can only be removed after force has successfully accomplished the chore that Sanctions could not.

[freeforall]

Just war justification lacking over Iraq

I can understand Salim Mansur's moral dilemma regarding a war with Iraq (Some protesters morally blind on Iraq, Jan. 22), but I believe two principles of the just war theory might be helpful here.

First, a just war must be a last resort; all peaceful options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified. In this instance, weapons inspectors are still in Iraq, scientists remain to be interviewed and a full report needs to be written and analysed. Thus, it is apparent all peaceful options have not been exhausted.

Second, violence and destruction must be proportional to the injury suffered. At this point, no injury has occurred. This is a pre-emptive strike and acceptable pre-emptive strikes are nowhere to be found in any of the principles of just war theory. In fact, it is a clear violation of their essence.

As we all struggle with the moral justification for a war with Iraq, it is hoped, at least, we keep these two principles in mind.

Rev. Robert G. Gentile

interim minister

Unitarian Fellowship of London

[freeforall]

Don't be fooled by peace activists

I am not being fooled by these people protesting a possible war on Iraq. These earth mothers, granola dads and assorted supporters of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who are being critical of U.S. President George Bush and America, are basically trying to make them out as the bad guys in this whole situation with Iraq.

I can only imagine what the world would be like without the U.S. Saddam is a madman, as is Osama bin Laden. Why are none of these people critical of them? These men have to be dealt with harshly, because they want to impose their beliefs on the rest of the free world -- and that is not acceptable.

Perhaps those individuals within our community who are supporters of Saddam should pack up and move to Iraq or catch up with bin Laden. That may, however, prove difficult, as cowards of their nature are always on the run from the Americans.

T. P. Sandor

London

[greydog]

Second, violence and destruction must be proportional to the injury suffered. At this point, no injury has occurred

Let me ask you sir, if you had to opportunity to murder Hitler in say,1935, would you do so?

[Steel Wolf]

Hence, the irony that apprehensions of citizens in democracies provide comfort to a murderous tyrant.

"The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

[freeforall]

I doubt that he would have. Some of this is what passes for enlightenment here in the great white north.

[freeforall]

Many will do nothing beacause they refuse to think evil can exist.

[Steel Wolf]

Second, violence and destruction must be proportional to the injury suffered. At this point, no injury has occurred.

I'm sure that the Iraqis, Kurds, Iranians, and Kuwaiitis might differ with you on this point.

In this instance, weapons inspectors are still in Iraq, scientists remain to be interviewed and a full report needs to be written and analysed. Thus, it is apparent all peaceful options have not been exhausted.

This, while sounding reasonable, is in actuality a bogus arguement. The burden of proof is on Iraq, and they have steadfastly refused to give up any evidence. The inspectors are not there to try and uncover what Saddam hides, they are there to verify the disposition of his previously known WMD programs. The Russians and the U.S. have similar inspectors that check on SALT treaty verification in each other's countries, but it only works because both sides want it to work.

The just war theory is an anachronistic niceity that ignores the realities of modern technology. Only shooting back after you have been shot is a losing proposition, and turning the other cheek doesn't work when your head has been blown off.

[tiki]

The Bush administration should buy time on the air and show video of the people killed by Saddam with poison gas. They should somehow get across all the atrocities that he perpetrates against his own people like having the eyes gouged out of children in front of their parents and grandparents, raping women in front of their loved ones...and I'm sure these are just some of the horrible, awful things he does.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Greetings freeforall, FReepers, et al:

If Iraq enjoyed a free press and had freedom of association, there could be a moral unjust war argument. But that is not the case with Iraq. There is no frame of reference, by western standards of civilization, for comparing Iraq. For the controlled Iraqi press, even a Holy Bible requires an image of Saddam Hussein. You did know that. Right?

An ostrich like stance on Iraq will not make Saddam go away. Sanctions were violated, inspections thwarted, and a new paradigm of warfare emerged, state sponsored terrorism. Laurie Mylroie, President Clinton's advisor on Iraq, states there is little doubt the first WTC attack was an Iraqi state sponsored terrorist act. In the book Study of Revenge: The First World Trade Center Attack and Saddam Hussein’s War Against America, Mylroie also makes a good case the 9/11 attack was too. With that in mind, a war against state sponsored terrorism is an unjust war?

The horrific cruelty of Saddam is beyond belief. Former UNSCOM inspector, and now peace activist Scott Ritter, described an Iraqi children’s political prison. Ritter asserts in a Time Magazine story if we knew what went on in that children’s prison, even the peaceniks would demand war with Iraq. Freeing the Iraqi people from this brutal repression is somehow unjust?

With all due respect, this Christian Gulf War Veteran disagrees with you sir. The Iraqi people have suffered long enough. It is time to liberate the Iraqi people.

[ThinkDifferent]

One can rationally oppose a war with Iraq only if one also opposed Clinton's war in Kosovo. Since there are far more anti-Iraq-war protestors, we can safely conclude that the majority of them are anti-US and/or anti-Bush hypocrites.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

The reason behind them is not moral blindness,LIBERALS HAVE NO MORALS!These people will use any excuse to trash and tear down America.

[freeforall]

I agree with you Saddam must go by any means.
I am for destroying this tyrant and all threats to western civilization.

[knighthawk]

I was debating the same with people who rallied people to the demonstrations in the Netherlands. I accused them of supporting Saddam, which they denied. So I asked them were all the protesters were when China invaded Tibet and over decades killed off hundereds of thousands of people. I asked them were they were protesting to support the Kurds, or the Palestians in Lebanon.

No answers.

But the same people applauded the UN strikes on the Serbs. They wanted us to bomb the Serbs because the were 'bad people'. But now we want to bomb Saddam, and they don't want us to bomb him.

My only conclusion is that they support Saddam.
No wonder mostly the socialists march in support of their fellow socialist comrade of the Ba'ath party.

[goodnesswins]

Join the AXIS OF FREEDOM Rally on TUESDAY –

it’s a CAR/HOUSE/YARD sign Rally

DAY of SUPPORT…Tues, 1/28/03....FLY your flags (U.S., British, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Quatar, Kuwaiti, Australian and Japanese one, too if you have them)....and put up your BUSH/CHENEY signs, (and the BIG W's on your SUV's) for the STATE of the UNION next Tuesday, Jan 28th, if you support the President, our MILITARY and the United States of America. PSST....pass it on. LIBERATE THE IRAQI'S!!!

	UK	JAPAN
AUSTRALIA	BULGARIA
ROMANIA	ISRAEL	POLAND
SPAIN	CZECH
KUWAIT	HUNGARY	QATAR