War Bulletin 32203
War Bulletin 32203
For many months I felt confident that our country would not [repeat not] go to war with Iraq. I thought that one or more of the people of knowledge, common sense and power of persuasion would be able to get through to President Bush and convince him that the preemptive invasion of another country is wrong and that our country’s interest is not well served by this type of war. I was wrong. The president seems to have decided a long time ago that we were going to war with Iraq regardless of our past reluctance to attack a nation who has not attacked us, has not threatened to do so and who does not
have the capability of doing so.
It puzzles me that Mr. Bush would act contrary to the long established principle of finding ways and means to settle differences through diplomacy unless these efforts failed or our nation were attacked. This willingness to attack a nation just because we don’t like its leader or his policies or because he is producing weapons that may at some future time be used to attack us seems to me to be a characteristic of a leader who has lost confidence in our nation’s will and ability to defend itself if it is attacked. Worse still, this preemptive assault gives every other nation the right to attack any other nation when it feels that sometime, under some conditions that nation might be a threat. To make the situation worse our president chose to bypass the United nation, the institution that our leaders organized and gave the responsibility to decide such issues. Our actions declare to the world that the U. N. is considered to be irrelevant as a keeper of the peace.
Our president’s actions have turned many friends into enemies, has destroyed the trust many peoples around the world had in the United States and its leaders. We have forfeited the world leadership and goodwill we had built up through our long history of working for peace and fair play in foreign policy.
Our nation’s policies indicate that we intend to force all others to accept our policies or face the possibility of attack from our armed forces. They go beyond assuming the role of the world’s policeman. It appears that we intend to dictate how large the armed forces of other nations may be and what arms and equipment they may use. Further, we have declared that although others who commit war crimes may be subject to punishment by a world court the Americans are not subject to such rules and regulations.
These actions and attitudes are characteristic of a dictator nation and are an affront to the American people.
Aside from the above considerations it is alarming to think of the financial mess that will accompany this war in Iraq. Instead of paying down our national debt we will be doubling it before the war and subsequent occupation and government change is paid for. Our haste and bullheaded attitude in dealing with other nations and the U. N. will probably result in our bearing the cost of this war by ourselves.
The Iraq war will get rid of Saddam as a world leader and will give our military practice in using the great new technology we have developed. It will bring much satisfaction to military leaders for the efficient and speedy manner in which the war was conducted. It will bring considerable increase in wealth of munitions manufacturers and reconstruction contractors.
We can look forward to honoring a new crop of brave young men and women who demonstrated a higher than average degree of skill and bravery under dangerous and unfriendly conditions, many of whom will endure hurt and disability for many years to come. Another group gave their lives and will not be present to receive our expressions of pride and gratitude for their sacrifice.
The financial cost of the war will be merged with the many other extravagances of the Bush administration such as the tax cut of the wealthy, the abuse of the environment, the neglect of our educational system and the wasting of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. The American people will experience the war in many ways that may, when viewed individually, appear insignificant—such as increased prices of many products, reduced quality in children’s education, eroded quality of land and facilities in National parks and reduced quality of medical services. All this in addition to the unprecedented national debt that will plague the population for many generations to come.
Finally, this war will brand the United States as a bully aggressor nation unworthy of trust or respect. It is a disgrace that will be regretted for generations. It will tarnish the reputation of the United States to an extent not yet imagined.
Jeremiah Dotson Clements 3/22/2003
For many months I felt confident that our country would not [repeat not] go to war with Iraq. I thought that one or more of the people of knowledge, common sense and power of persuasion would be able to get through to President Bush and convince him that the preemptive invasion of another country is wrong and that our country’s interest is not well served by this type of war. I was wrong. The president seems to have decided a long time ago that we were going to war with Iraq regardless of our past reluctance to attack a nation who has not attacked us, has not threatened to do so and who does not
have the capability of doing so.
It puzzles me that Mr. Bush would act contrary to the long established principle of finding ways and means to settle differences through diplomacy unless these efforts failed or our nation were attacked. This willingness to attack a nation just because we don’t like its leader or his policies or because he is producing weapons that may at some future time be used to attack us seems to me to be a characteristic of a leader who has lost confidence in our nation’s will and ability to defend itself if it is attacked. Worse still, this preemptive assault gives every other nation the right to attack any other nation when it feels that sometime, under some conditions that nation might be a threat. To make the situation worse our president chose to bypass the United nation, the institution that our leaders organized and gave the responsibility to decide such issues. Our actions declare to the world that the U. N. is considered to be irrelevant as a keeper of the peace.
Our president’s actions have turned many friends into enemies, has destroyed the trust many peoples around the world had in the United States and its leaders. We have forfeited the world leadership and goodwill we had built up through our long history of working for peace and fair play in foreign policy.
Our nation’s policies indicate that we intend to force all others to accept our policies or face the possibility of attack from our armed forces. They go beyond assuming the role of the world’s policeman. It appears that we intend to dictate how large the armed forces of other nations may be and what arms and equipment they may use. Further, we have declared that although others who commit war crimes may be subject to punishment by a world court the Americans are not subject to such rules and regulations.
These actions and attitudes are characteristic of a dictator nation and are an affront to the American people.
Aside from the above considerations it is alarming to think of the financial mess that will accompany this war in Iraq. Instead of paying down our national debt we will be doubling it before the war and subsequent occupation and government change is paid for. Our haste and bullheaded attitude in dealing with other nations and the U. N. will probably result in our bearing the cost of this war by ourselves.
The Iraq war will get rid of Saddam as a world leader and will give our military practice in using the great new technology we have developed. It will bring much satisfaction to military leaders for the efficient and speedy manner in which the war was conducted. It will bring considerable increase in wealth of munitions manufacturers and reconstruction contractors.
We can look forward to honoring a new crop of brave young men and women who demonstrated a higher than average degree of skill and bravery under dangerous and unfriendly conditions, many of whom will endure hurt and disability for many years to come. Another group gave their lives and will not be present to receive our expressions of pride and gratitude for their sacrifice.
The financial cost of the war will be merged with the many other extravagances of the Bush administration such as the tax cut of the wealthy, the abuse of the environment, the neglect of our educational system and the wasting of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. The American people will experience the war in many ways that may, when viewed individually, appear insignificant—such as increased prices of many products, reduced quality in children’s education, eroded quality of land and facilities in National parks and reduced quality of medical services. All this in addition to the unprecedented national debt that will plague the population for many generations to come.
Finally, this war will brand the United States as a bully aggressor nation unworthy of trust or respect. It is a disgrace that will be regretted for generations. It will tarnish the reputation of the United States to an extent not yet imagined.
Jeremiah Dotson Clements 3/22/2003
posted by Jeremiah | 2:36 PM
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