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Contributor: jariax
Date: 2003-03-18 04:45:31
Well, it seems that despite the best efforts of concerned citizens all over the world, the effort to resolve the situation in Iraq has failed.
Now that the decision has been made, what can be done by Canada, the UN and concerned citizens.
First of all, there are many things about this impending invasion that remain in doubt. It is clear from the holes in the evidence and the intentional deceptions of the US administration that they have something to hide.
The pretenses of WMD and links to terrorism are blatantly and transparently false. The ONLY reason that I could possibly condone this invasion is to rid Iraq of Hussein. There can be little doubt as to his crimes but the extent of those crimes remain in doubt. Will the new regime installed by the US be so much better than that of Hussein, that it will justify the deaths of the tens of thousands of IRaqi civilains and American troops? That is the question to be answered. Keep ip in mind that after ten+ years of sanctions, once hte US lifts those, life will improve dramatically and the US will pat itself on the back for dramatically improving the quality of life for the people of IRaq, failing to take notice of the fact that it was they that were responsible for reducing a once prospersous nation to such an appaling state.
We can only hope that the military action ends quickly and that the Iraqi troops do little to resist. The possibility of Hussein going into exile is quite small. Obviously, for him to take such an action as exiting Iraq and resigning his post, he must ensure that the US is not bluffing. Therefore, it is still possible as he rescinded his stances towards renewed inspections and the Al-Samoud missiles in the eleventh hour as well.
Once the situation is resolved, there will be some interesting developments and many questions to be answered.
Will the US follow through in rebuilding Iraq or will they turn that over to the UN or Europe? Their record in Afghanistan does not speak well of them.
Will they award rebuilding and major oil contracts to US companies, particlularly the ones that donated large sums of money to the Republican campaign? Can we expect to see Haliburton once again at the forefront of awarded contracts?
Will they honor the existing contracts with France, Germany and Russia. The US claimed that the only reason these nations were resisiting the new resolution was because they were afraid of losing their contracts. Why then did the US not suggest that the contracts be unchanged, thus eliminating the reservations of these nations and exonerating themselves by precluding themselves from potential profits?
What shape will the new government take? Will it truly be democratic or will it mirror the US intervention in IRan in which they installed the murderous shaw rather than deal with a socialist regime that threatened US corporate opportunity? Why is it that the US is holding meetings with those that will be the new leaders, instead of giving that choice to the people of Iraq?
Will, the victims of Saddam's brutality, the Kurds be given an independent state or will Turkey's influence deny them that and allow the oppresion of the Kurds by IRaq, Iran, Syria and Turkey to continue?
Will they allow the profits of the oil industry to go to the people of Iraq or will they claim that a socialist measure such as a natinally owned oil company goes against the interests of a free economy and instead divert the profits to MNC's while creating an illusion of greater freedoms and efficiencies?
Will they find the WMD that they were never able to find through UN inspections and US satellite imagery and advanced espionage equipment? When they do find it, will there be disputes as to whether or not it was planted there?
Will the US take credit for restoring prosperity to Iraq, knowing full well that lifting of the sanctions is the real reason?
Will the UN make the difficult decision of condemning the US and taking out punitive actions against them, despite the fact that without the US, the UN has far less power. Yet, at the same time, if it is unable to stand up to a rogue nation, such as the US, it does become irrelevant. The US argues that the UN has become irrelevant because it would not authorize the use of force against Iraq, but I argue that the UN is becoming irrelevant because it is not standing up to and opposing the US with sufficient leverage to prevent US aggression against Iraq.
Will US ambitions stop at Iraq or will this appeasement only serve to entrench their position in the Middle East so that they can launch similar invasions on Iran, Syria, Jordan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.?
I am pleased with the stance that our government has taken and fully realize that as our historical ally, and biggest trading partner by far, it is difficult for Canada to come out and condemn the US for these acts, particularly given the punitive actions that the US has taken against every nation that dared to disagree with it.
At this point, the citizens of the world can do very little. The nations of the world do not have the collective might to oppose the US. They have grown too powerful and there is no one to oppose them. The Soviet Union is no longer there to make the US reconsider their actions. Cuba would not exist in its present form, if not for Soviet protection.
It is up to the citizens of the United States of America to oust George Bush or at least get him to change his foreign policy out of fear of being impeached.
However, with the passing of the Patriot Act and with the government sponsored media in the US, it is very difficult for Americans to truly understand the injustice that America is perpetrating on the world. All they see is the stocks rising, mutual funds paying off and reports of liberation in the Middle East from sources such as Fox News. They are imbued with patriotism from such a young age, they believe America to be a philanthropic entity that can do no wrong. Always, for them, there is a way to rationalize American intervention, regardless of the number of casulaties.
That is why as Canadians, we must make them aware of their responsibility and failing that the citizens of the world must make life sufficiently adverse enough for them through ostracism and legal harassment when they travel abroad that the gains that they get through their investments are not enough to offset the lack of freedom that they have around the world.
For too long, the citizens of the world have turned a blind eye to American aggression as we take in the mighty greenback, smiling to their faces while condemning them while their backs are turned. I say it is time that we stop and say that our integrity is not for sale. Let America know what you think of them at every turn such that conistent world opinion forces them to reconsider their values, their sources of media and their politics.
There is little else we can do but chance the minds of the American people.
Do not misunderstand me, there are many great Americans. Perhaps they are the greatest of all for they have the most to gain from American aggresion yet they still oppose it. Uet, there are not so many that they have elected a responsible leader. This needs to change.
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