So the USA is about to attack Iraq. It’s blatant imperialist aggression, blood for oil, the end of the United Nations, etc etc.
Perhaps. But let’s get a few facts straight first.
“The case for war is not convincing.” Technically, how much better does it have to be? 12 years, 17 UN resolutions, including a “last chance” promising “serious consequences”. What?.. as in more weapons inspectors?
“It’s US imperialism, pure and simple”. Consider the US’s history. It has been mostly isolationist, turned up late for two world wars, saved us – yes, us – from oppression by two tyrannical ideologies in succession. If this is an empire, you could get worse. Of course the US acts in its own interests, but then perhaps these are everyone’s interests. And don’t forget Kosovo, where there was absolutely no strategic or oil interest whatsoever.
“This isn’t about disarmament, it’s about oil.” Surely odd then that the costs of invading and occupying Iraq ($100bn, $200bn, you name it) are going to be more than Iraq produces in oil revenues for many years.
“This isn’t about disarmament, it’s about Saddam.” What’s wrong with a hierarchy of motivations? Saddam and banned arms are probably (but not certainly) inextricably linked.
“It should be for the people of Iraq to decide.” This one is really stupid. What are “the people of Iraq” supposed to do? Vote Saddam out? Do we even know what they want? We do know that there have been four attempted revolutions since 1975, and each time thousands have died. There is no peaceful way.
“Peace is always better than war.” (Alternative version: “Even tyranny is better than war.”) Ah, now here’s the real issue. Pacifists are people who don’t like to get blood on their hands. But whichever way this turns out, we will have blood on our hands. During 30 years of Saddam, 1 million Iraqis have been killed and 1/6 of the population has gone into exile. Shall we imagine for a moment another 30 years of Saddamite rule strengthened by a successful confrontation with the US?
The courageous peace dove Chirac has now changed his mind from “serious consequences” to “no consequences”. Any war will now be less than legal, and maybe it shouldn’t happen. But there can be no clean consciences.
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