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Friday, January 17, 2003The Case for IraqI had several topics that I wanted to blog about, but this one keeps coming up. Latte foam on the coffee of my mind. The foreign policy actions taken by the United States government usually have several rationales. Some are purely philosophical, some economic, some either oriented to internal or external politics. Depending upon your point of view, some reasons are more valid than others. Rarely does the government undertake a major foreign policy action for one single motive. Iraq is a case in point. I've made it clear that I believe Saddam is an abcess on the ass of humanity. He and his thuggocracy should be removed ASAP. Is Iraq a danger to its neighbors? Undisputedly, yes. Is Iraq a danger to its own citizens. undisputedly, yes. Has the thuggocracy enriched itself at the expense of its citizens? Yep. But... but... so have lots of other governments and dictators. Yeah, so what's the point? The issue as I see it isn't "Why remove Saddam?" but "Why not remove Saddam?" What is there about Saddam and his thuggocracy that is worth defending? What moral principle protects him? Why does he deserve a break today? But... but... it's about oil. Duh! So? If the world oil prices fall after Saddam is ousted, why is that bad? I like being warm and having the lights come on when I flip the switch. Why should I pay high oil prices so that Saddam can live in a palace? Falling oil prices are a good thing. But... but... it will destabilize the region. What? More than it already is? Actually, by removing an aggressive and homicidal government, it will stabilize the region. And it will demonstrate that the United States has certain standards that it values and will uphold. But... but... think of all the Iraqis that will die. As opposed to all the Iraqis that Saddam and his actions have already killed? This is a guy who happily shoots people who piss him off. He gases whole villages. He spends money intended for food and fuel for his people on palaces and weapons. The French may regret that Frenchmen died during the liberation from Hitler, but very few would not have had the liberation occur. But... but... think of all the Americans that will die. Americans have been dying for freedom since 1775. American blood has enriched foreign soil all over the world. Our fighting for freedom overseas means that we don't have to fight for it here at home. And, in the last two decades of American warfare, less than one thousand Americans have died in combat. We're getting very good at using our technology and weapons instead of our troops to win wars. Americans may die in a war with Iraq. They will die to preserve our American lifestyle. They will die to prevent one more additional rape by a government employed rapist, one more infant killed in front of his parents, one more village gassed, one more child starving outside a palace. American blood will be spent to show that thugs don't win, evil is punished, and that even brown skinned Moslems deserve to be free.
-- posted by Chuck at Friday, January 17, 2003 | E-mail | Permalink | Main | 0 comments
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