The invasion of Iraq: an unjust war

Last night (U.S. time), the United States and Great Britain began their military assault on Iraq. This war is unwise as it will likely inflame anti-American attitudes and increase risk of terrorism on Westerners. The war is unjust because it will result in the death and destruction of innocent peoples lives. The war is unnecessary because Iraq does not pose an imminent threat and the war will not lead to a more peaceful and democratic Middle East. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder states, "My question was and remains: does the extent of the threat posed by the Iraqi dictator justify the imposition of war which will result in the certain death of thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer in this case was and remains: no."

The U.S. government was never interested in working with the UN inspectors and did not provide them with useful intelligence. UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has questioned US intentions regarding inspections. Blix stated that "I somewhat doubt that when (the Security Council) got the resolution last November they really intended to give under three-and-a-half months for inspections." Furthormore, Blix states, "We did not have any obstacles from the Iraqi side in going anywhere. They gave us prompt access and we were in a great many places all over Iraq" (BBC News). Blix questioned the information passed on to the inspection teams from US intelligence service.

The fact is that if they had been given a real chance, inspections would likely have been successful. According to the Washington Post, referring to the 1991-1998 inspection period: "[U]nder UN supervision, Iraq destroyed 817 of 819 proscribed medium-range missiles, 14 launchers, 9 trailers and 56 fixed missile-launch sites. It also destroyed 73 of 75 chemical or biological warheads and 163 warheads for conventional explosives. UN inspectors also supervised destruction of 88,000 filled and unfilled chemical munitions, more than 600 tons of weaponized and bulk chemical weapons agents, 4,000 tons of precursor chemicals and 980 pieces of equipment considered key to production of such weapons." The UN inspections did not fail; the US failed the UN inspections by not allowing it to proceed.

One of the major justifications given for the war has been the notion that it will foster the spread of democracy in the region. But as the Los Angeles Times reports, "A classified State Department report expresses doubt that installing a new regime in Iraq will foster the spread of democracy in the Middle East.... The report, which has been distributed to a small group of top government officials but not publicly disclosed, says that daunting economic and social problems are likely to undermine basic stability in the region for years, let alone prospects for democratic reform." Given the US government's history of supporting undemocratic and oppressive regimes, it seems unlikely that democracy will flourish under an American installed Iraqi government.

Related articles:

• Arab World Erupts in Fury Over Iraq Attack (Washington Post, March 20, 2003)
• War draws condemnation (BBC News, March 20, 2003)
• Annan, Blix regret Iraq conflict (BBC News, March 20, 2003)
• Chirac and Schröder oppose Bush's war ultimatum (World Socialist Web Site, March 19, 2003)
• Iraq and Beyond (The Nation, March 19, 2003)
• The Bush administration repudiates international law (World Socialist Web Site, March 18, 2003)
• U.S. Lacks Specifics on Banned Arms (Washington Post, March 16, 2003)
• Democracy Domino Theory 'Not Credible' (Los Angeles Times, March 14, 2003)