Has Iraq "initiated force" against us, or against anyone that we are morally obligated to protect?
Yes, in a number of ways.
1) The Iraqi military fires almost daily on our aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone. Firing on our aircraft is an act of war.
2) Saddam supports terrorists which have attacked US interests, and the intererests of our allies.
3) Saddam threatens neighboring countries that if they do not do what Saddam wants, he will annihilate them.
4) Saddam's violation of human rights is intolerable. Children are tortured in front of their parents, wives are raped in front of their husbands, mothers are raped in front of their sons, to intimidate dissent. After the 1991 uprising, people were forced to lie down while hot tar was poured on them. I could go on and on.
I find it astonishing the rest of the world (you, maybe?)simply reacts by saying, well, it's merely an internal affair. It's true that we have simply stood by and done nothing, but I think we are morally obligated to stop this if we are able to do so.
5) Iraq has developed biological and chemical weapons, and is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. I believe that Iraq intends to use these weapons against our troops stationed in the area, or against its neighbors, in an offensive manner.
Given 1 through 4, I think it's insane to wait until he actually attacks us or our allies with WMD. He's got them, and if he uses them, the death toll may be in the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands.
Balanced against action is only fear, the fear that more innocent Iraqis will be killed or hurt. |
