You say "tom-eh-to", I say "tom-ah-to". You say "democracy", I say
"hypocrisy".
George Bush Junior believes that the current crisis has exposed the
ineffectiveness of the United Nations as a governing body for the
World. He is right. But this ineffectiveness isn't demonstrated by the
"failure" of the UN to rubber stamp his war, but rather by the fact
that the UN can do nothing to stop him from embarking on it, in spite
of widespread international opposition. How ironic that he is using
Saddam's failure to comply with UN mandates as partial justification.
He alternately reiterates that the UN is an important international
body, the will of which must be upheld, and conversely, that he won't
let UN opposition stop him from doing what he sees fit to do.
The fundamental principle of the democratic system which a triumphant
Bush may ultimately impose on the people of Iraq, is that government
should reflect the will of the electors. I question just how sincere
support is in America for this war, because the latest opinion polls
are disturbingly in favour of it. I'm loathe to apply either of the
two obvious interpretations - that Americans are bloodthirsty, or that
they unquestioningly believe whatever they are told by their leaders.
Indeed, Saddam has been thoroughly vilified by White House spin
doctors, and in turn the people of Iraq dressed as his pathetic
victims, so it is easy for the citizens of America to convince
themselves that this is a philanthropic liberation rather than a
capitalist invasion. However, it is a well documented fact that war
fosters both popularity and prosperity for the victorious, and a more
cynical assessment is that recognising the terrible state of their
economy, the people of America are allowing this war to go ahead
because pessimistically, the spOILs of war are seen as the only viable
solution to the deepening domestic crises.
Irrespective of why they come out in favour, the poll results also
indicate that Americans would prefer to have international, and
preferably UN support before engaging in another war in Iraq. To some
observers, the support of Britain lends an air of credibility to this
farce, but the people of Britain, and many of it's politicians are
strongly opposed to this war, and frankly, Tony Blair has secured
himself a place in the history books, not alongside the great leaders
of Great Britain, but rather among the footnotes to US presidents,
perhaps on the page after Monica Lewinsky. Seemingly obliviously,
Spanish leader Jose-Maria Aznar courts similar fame.
It is possible to interpret earlier UN resolutions in such a way that
they endorse this impending war, and thus the three musketeers have
scraped together the legal justification that Blair desperately
needed, and that Bush could care less about. But by the fact that they
were unable to garner sufficient support for a new resolution
authorising this "reckless aggression" they have in mind, they clearly
lack the moral mandate to proceed. And yet proceed they will.
The precedent is not a good one for the future of international
relations - assuming there is a future. If Saddam really does have
weapons of mass destruction (and nobody outside Baghdad dismisses that
possibility), or connections to terrorist networks, then surely the
most appropriate time to unleash them is when being invaded. The worst
case scenario for this conflict doesn't bear thinking about.
So long as America maintains its love affair with the gun - arming
itself, even as it forces others to disarm - so its opponents will be
forced to respond. America still believes that monumental military
superiority is the best defense. Instead of resolving conflicts, the
preferred approach is overwhelming intimidation and ultimately
violence. Despite being wrapped up in the Bible, and despite numerous
poignant reminders, America has forgotten that given enough
determination and ingenuity, David can beat Goliath. And nothing
inspires determination and ingenuity like overwhelming intimidation
and violence.
So with perhaps only hours to spare, I offer the same ultimatum to the
people of America that Bush has offered to the people of Iraq (and I
expect the same lack of response):
Depose your leader, or America will invade Iraq.
Click here to read people's responses to this
essay
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