Response to Editor’s “What ifs”:What if the US is right? [Archives:2003/629/Opinion]
By Kelly Brown
Austin – Texas, USA
[email protected]
I would like to respond to the editorial published in issue 628 of the Yemen Times by providing my own “What ifs” and answering the Editor's 'What ifs' as well.
Firstly, here are my own 'What ifs':
– What if the American government was not a government of The People?
– What if America stopped caring about others?
– What if Americans' hard-earned tax dollars stopped flowing to poor countries for aid?
– What if American troops didn't follow exact rules of individual's rights?
– What if Americans thought only Anglo-Christians should be allowed to vote?
– What if America didn't actually believe that ALL people have inalienable rights?
– What if America hated the rest of the world?
– What if the American presidency could stay in power as long as he (or she) wanted as Saddam (and his regime) could?
– What if America followed a religious belief that stated other religions are intolerable?
– What if America believed in world domination?
– What if the rest of the world were as well-educated as the typical American?
Secondly, here are my responses.
– What if US plans fail to persuade Iraqi military commanders to rebel and overthrow the regime and reach a standstill in this regard?
Iraqi military commanders are already rebelling and surrendering. The people of Iraq that hate the current regime are beginning to speak out and throw off the oppressive military controls now that it is understood that US and UK soldiers are there to support them.
– What if the US war causes the death of hundreds or thousands of innocent Iraqis while the international community watches the bloodshed?
The only way thousands of innocent civilians could be killed is by Iraq's use of weapons of mass destruction on its own people.
– What if the killing of those civilians causes pressure against the US and UK to stop the war, as demanded by all world nations?
The war will stop and Iraq will finally have a government by its own people. The demand to end the war, even here in the US, is by a fraction of the population. Everyone wants Saddam gone. Those that do not have no righteous sense of government or politics and no place in this world. The US let the Iraqi people down after the Gulf War and that won't happen again.
– What if the plans don't go as expected and US and UK troops are surrounded and killed in bitter fights in the middle of Iraq?
US and UK troops are already spread over the whole country. Being surrounded is not possible and while some may be killed in “bitter” fights, victory against any regular army is assured.
– What if the US feels that it will lose the war so it uses its 21,00- ton, mini-nuclear bomb or even full nuclear weapons?
The use of Weapons of Mass Destruction are illegal and against the Geneva Conventions. Any use of these weapons in an offensive capability would result in the impeachment of the president of the United States and extensive and appropriate reparations to the affected area.
– What if anti-US sentiments over the war result in the spread of terrorism all over the US and in pro-war countries?
Terrorism is already spread mostly through ignorance and religious fervor throughout the world and America accepts this. There are no pro-war countries. America and its coalition regret the use of force, but find it necessary to protect future innocent lives against the Iraqi regimes' stores of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
– What if Pakistanis decide not to cooperate with the US any more in its fight against al-Qaeda, if the war continues for long?
Pakistan must choose its own future. Even if that is to overthrow the current president in favor of a government based on radical Islamic Fundamentalism. f this happens it would be a matter of diplomacy and politics to gain the trust of the American People. If the new government houses al-Qaeda openly, then America must declare war. Remember the American people grant freedom of religion, but will not tolerate any government that openly permits attacks against civilian targets.
– What if the US wins the war, and people start questioning the legitimacy of the US occupation days, months, or years later?
As long as Iraq is a free country that poses no threat from terrorism, attacks towards it's neighbors, or the selling of Weapons of Mass destruction, then America will defend its' actions with fervor.
– What if the world starts prosecuting G. W. Bush and Tony Blaire one day for launching a war against a country and changing its regime without international legitimacy?
That is exactly what the UN should have done to Saddam Hussein for attacking Kuwait, using Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Iraqi Kurds, and for dumping oil in the Persian Gulf in his blatant crime against the world's sensitive ecosystem.
The American people don't necessarily agree with Bush's timing and lone attack against Iraq, but Saddam had to be removed. Even the UN agreed to this, but lacked the political clout and philosophy to do it. America accepts responsibility and will pay it in blood and dollars. Just so the Iraqi people and the rest of the world can have one less worry.
– What if the Arab people wake up from their trance and defy their leaders and the result is chaos in the region?
Many Arab countries are only beginning to educate themselves in modern philosophies and theologies. Americans hope one day that soon the Arab nations of the world will all govern themselves with political philosophies based on individual's rights and religious freedoms.
– What if the second target, after finishing off Iraq, is revealed as perhaps one of the elements of the so-called “axis of evil” Iran or North Korea?
America has no interest in Iran except to promote political friendship and personal protection from terrorist activities. North Korea is a government that in its desire for military supremacy, cannot feed it's own people and rely on US food aid. America fears North Korea's plans for reuniting South Korea may result in another conflict resulting in North Korea's actually using nuclear weapons. If a crisis does in fact occur then it will be the responsibility of South Korea, China, and other Southeast Asian countries to decide what to do.
– What if the UN continues to be irrelevant and strong countries continue to do what they want without any consequences or giving a damn about it?
The UN is not irrelevant. Many countries have greatly benefited from the UN. It is the only possible solution for future world peace. War has its consequences and they will be felt here in the US as well as Iraq. The wonderful thing about the American government is that the president can be impeached or at least only has a four-year term with a maximum of two terms.
– What if we then go back to the rule of the jungle where the strong dominate the weak?
Saddam's regime lives by this very same rule which is why America is removing him with force.
– What if the US makes our world unlivable? Will Americans wish they never supported their president's moves to take part in this war?
The United States' government currently is our species' most sensitive political method for protecting an individual's rights this world has ever produced. America realizes, however, that government itself is inherently evil and so is the power associated with government. That is why America believes it always fights to win freedom for all with the dream that one day the whole world will live in freedom.
Currently, there are many Americans that do not support the president's attack on Iraq and therefore will no longer vote for him in the next election. The people of America have that power to control it's own government's greed.
Many here in America see this attack as a return to Hitlerism in its provocativeness and the fact that much of the world is frightened by its violent nature. Removing Saddam is a righteous endeavor and the US is ready to take full responsibility for doing so.
Ridding the world of Weapons of Mass Destruction is also a righteous endeavor and again Americans feel compelled to do so.
Americans are from every culture, every religion. The current president has power enough to make mistakes, but the people of America have the power to fix them.
Hating the current president is one thing, but hating the People of America is something else entirely. America is a vast and complex culture that represents all the peoples of the world. Hating America is hating yourself.
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[archive-e:629-v:13-y:2003-d:2003-03-31-p:opinion]
