"Jewell--Are you aware that it was the French, who the very next day after 9/11, introduced into the United Nation the resolution that crteated the worldwide coalition against terrorism?"
No. Thanks for the info.
"Are you aware that all the French want is:
* permanent weapons insepctors
* permanent UN peacekeepers
* permanent no-fly zone over all of Iraq
* containment--Saddam didn't produce anything while the previous inspectors were there, he's not producing anything now, why would he in the future under the above conditions?
Yes. It is well recognized that Saddam has shown cooperation once the threat of force became real. In order to keep the threat real and make what France wants work the threat needs to remain real. So we have two choices: 1) follow through so that neither Saddam nor his cheerleaders ever have a doubt about our integrity now or in the future; or 2)as France seems to "want" we camp the US military where it currently is in full ready status.
We are ready, willing, and able for success at option 1. For option 2 to work we need for France to fund the US military to stay in full ready position. Did you leave out the 30 billion dollar per year offer from France? I missed that part.
"The French alternative is far better than engaging in a war that will rival the number of deaths that Saddam himself has committed, and making America an agressive nation much like Iraq was when it invaded Kuwait."
Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis have died over the past few years of starvation and treatable disease. There were resources available to treat them and to feed them. These were Saddam's citizen enemies: Shi'i villagers, children under the age of 5, Kurds. I protested the US policy of containment because innocent people were the target. Our government believed that when the Iraqi people saw that Saddam was willing to sacrifice the children in this way, they would rise up and throw him out. A couple of attempts were made to do just this. Unfortunately the weakened populace couldn't pull it off. Now most of those who could have, his citizen/enemies, are dead.
Now we have correctly targeted the despotic regime that is our enemy. He has ordered 15,000 uniforms that are identical to US and British military uniforms, for his elite soldiers. These soldiers will attack his citizen enemies and murder them when we engage his army. Once again the US will carry the responsibility for him sacrificing innocent lives. The people of Bagdad could stand clear and let us take him out but they probably wont. He recieved 100% approval from them. hmmmm who else have you ever heard of getting 100% approval from the citizenry, Jesus, Moses, Mohammad, Ghandi, any president ...none. Was it because he is so nice and benevelent?
I doubt it, since he lines women up in the public market for beheadings...no trial or even charges filed. He invites his relatives to the Castle for reconciliation and executes them infront of all concerned. He gasses villages and test chemical and biological weapons on political prisoners. He disembowels children in front of their parents.
Given his goals of uniting the Arab nations under him toward global domination, we might want to take a reality pill here:
"...an agressive nation much like Iraq was when it invaded Kuwait."
What indication do you have that he has become any less of an aggressor except that we have been sitting on him? Why live at all if we are unwilling to stand for the things that are worth living for and against the things that are intolerable and heinously despotic? I know lives will be lost. Many, many lives have already been lost. Innocent lives that are sacrificed for the priviledge of this despotic heinous torturing murderer to stay in power.
We are all going to die. Living isn't just a numbers game or an arena sport for points. There are things that make living and dying worthwhile. Death is as much of a miracle as birth is. How many live or die is a pointless arguement since we all live and die. A life worth living is one where you have placed your life in the path of worth while causes and stood for them even knowing that it may bring the miracle of your death.
Removing this man from power is an honorable goal. You may argue, rightfully, that some people or organizations are in it for dishonorable reasons, oil, trade, political influence, etc. Personally, I can't imagine the dishonor of bringing our troups home and leaving him in power.
If you agree that the threat of force is what gave the inspectors some credibility, what do you think the future threat of force will accomplish if our bluff is called and we abandon the mission? Nothing, The tyrannical despots of the world will see no threat to their bullying. They will have free reign. |
