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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PartyTime who wrote (13402)	2/26/2003 6:50:37 PM
From: HighTech	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

What if Sadam provides chemo and bio weapons to fanatic Muslims who find a way to drop them on big cities in the US?

To: PartyTime who wrote (13402)	2/26/2003 7:56:24 PM
From: Steeny	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 25898

Improving economic conditions I agree is the best way to move toward freer societies(Vietnam, China spring to mind), but the Arab world has been given trillions of $ for oil--all of it squandered on the dictators. This was tolerable until 9-11. We must find a different way. -Our past history is very mixed. Plenty of bad(Latin America, Vietnam) & plenty of good(Japan, Kosovo, E. Timor). "What if Baghdad, a city of 5.5 million, becomes like Stalingrad?" I think this is a poor argument. The Russians were defending their homeland against the Nazis. Do you really believe that Hussein has any support outside of the Baath party? b) "What if we see a tinderbox reality?" I agree this is a risk with North Korea, but I think they are looking for food & not a fight. Again, I do not bleieve the Iraqi war will be long. I suspect that Hussein supporters will back down rather than die. He does not have the support of the Iraqis(perhaps we disagree on this?) c) "What if Iran, fearing its next, decides to support Iraq; perhaps Syria also." Come on. The Iranians hate Hussein & are trying to mend fences with the US. The Syrians voted for 1441 in the UN. d) "enables OBL increase..." Yes. This is a good argument. More Al Qaeda recruits. It does give me pause. I also feel that a Democracy in Iraq could create a lot of goodwill in the longterm(if handled properly). Perhaps Bush is too inept to pull this off & it does worry me. e) "What happens if the citizens of Turkey revolt against their government? Or the citizens of Saudi Arabia?" I have heard no signs that the Turkish population is seeing revolution. I HOPE THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT FALLS. The House of Faud pretends to be our friends but funded 9-11. Of course I am hoping for a Democracy. If Islamic extremists take over the country, I feel it is the same situation as now, but at least we will know they are our enemy. f) "What if the environmental consequences become greater than any we have known in the modern age?" You mean from the destruction of oil fields, I think. Yes, a decent argument. One thing we both agree on is that Bush wants those oil fields intact. I am assuming that he has a plan to protect them before hostilities break out. This is also a risk. g) "What if our traditional allies turn against us?" When the war is over, everyone will be clamoring for their piece of Iraq. I believe we have already cut a deal with the Russians that will protect their interests in Iraq in return for abstention in the UN. I suspect somnething similar will happen with France. I don't see the longterm threat here, especially if a Democrat wins the next election. h) "What if Americans find they can no longer comfortably travel?" Most of us already avoid places with Moslem populations. Again, I believe the European rift is a temporary one & that longterm a Democracy in Iraq makes the world safer for all of us as longterm goodwill is created in the Arab world. i) "What will be the effects upon education?" I am concerned about the financial costs of this war. I am not in favor of paying alone. The US needs to pay for it's own problems(state deficits, state education). However, you neglect the longterm financial benefits of a free Iraq which is producing oil & becoming a trading partner of the US. If Democracy in Iraq does not take root, my arguments are destroyed. There is of course no guarantee here. It is a scary thought & this also gives me pause. I do need to study the history of the Iraqi factions further, but my impression is that Iraq is the most secular of the Arab countries, making the people more accepting of each other. Bush wants the oil-agreed. I had not thought of the military aspect-keeping bases there to replace the Saudi bases. Look, the best arguments against this war are the financial costs(which we will bear the brunt of) & the fact that Iraq is already contained & not threatening anyone. Also that Bush is a moron. For the war, we have the chance to break the cycle of Arab dictatorships funding Islamic fundamentalism & anti-Americanism which could mean the transformation of the Arab world. Welcoming Iraq back into the world also has longterm economic benefits. The Economist also points out the humanitarian costs of the sanctions & that millions of Iraqis could be saved when the sanctions are lifted. I admit I am less of a hawk than I was a week ago due to many of the arguments on this board, but still backing the war if some friends go with us. Bush has handled this horribly & it does weigh.