From the Times, but it applies across the Atlantic, here, as well, IMHO: Two minutes to midnight, and it seems that the peaceniks have lost the battle. Cabinet ministers, rebel MPs, columnists, polemicists, marchers, letter-writers, schoolchildren, moderates and hippies, Christian and Muslim, retired admirals and student anarchists, scholars and sentimentalists, tweedy county ladies and urban guerrillas — all have failed. The odd, unprecedented chorus of voices opposing the war has failed to change the minds of the small huddle of national leaders bent on following the US President into battle. Resistance may have managed to slow things down a bit, but still the warplanes will fly and the missiles will blast Iraq, tonight or tomorrow or the day after. So, what next for the peace party?
do what everyone else will be doing. gather 'round the big screen tv with a case of cold ones, tortilla chips and salsa and watch the events unfold live. hope that the fighting and bloodshed is over quickly and that a positive outcome arises in iraq.
Complain about how the start of the war pre-empted or postponed coverage of the NCAA tournament. That's what I'll be doing.
I hope it is over, with a fast US victory and minimal casualties. Those are real human lives at stake, not for entertainment. I hope it stops with Iraq. I hope people realize there is a difference between military might and moral authority. I hope Bush loses the next election, just like his daddy did.
Re: Re: A Person of Peace's Guide Damn skippy! And I was planning on going to Vegas for the weekend...
I hope that the people of Iraq finally find freedom I hope that the Kurds, Sunni, and Shiit Muslims are allowed to practice their religons freely I hope that the country of Iraq returns to being one of the richest in the world, in both wealth and culture. Remember this is a country that was a cradle of civilization, and thanks to Saddam, is nothing more than a collection of terrified, oppressed people. Who are routinely tortured and killed, usually for stating an opinion.
Bush wants to prevent terrorism, right? Terrorism is the act of putting fear into peaceful civillians and use force to convey an issue/objective. What is bush doing? Committing Terrorism on the Iraqi people. What is he going to do? Encourage/back the killing of innocent civillians by a USAF pilot who bombs a house purposely because of being brainwashed by bush.... how many innocent civillians will bush kill in promoting war and violence in the world? Six-digit numbers if not more... bush is going to do the same thing as Hussein and Hitler... he will go into a country, take it over, and put some ludicrous explanation in there that we all know is a lie. If there are weapons of mass destruction other than the non-mass destruction weapons hussein says he has, where are they? The US certainly can't find them.... thanks to bush many people all over the world will justifiebly jump American tourists (because of bush) so much, that Americans will be afraid to leave the US... bush has no brains and is an idiot who seems intent on destroying America and Americans overseas just in his B.S. war on terrorism which he is helping to continue...
I suppose none of these facts bother you: Saddam has killed over one million of his own people? Invaded two nations for territorial expanion? Used chemical weapons against Iran and the Kurds? Tortures and kills children in front of their parents? What a moron.
The # of Iraqi citizens to die would have been higher if we did nothing than what that number will be when we invade.
> The # of Iraqi citizens to die would have been > higher if we did nothing than what that number > will be when we invade. This might be more powerful if the US wasn't the one blockading medicine and other imports above and beyond any UN mandate. But in any case, that isn't the important thing. The important thing is that Bush is taking a very big gamble on Iraqi oil. If he somehow pulls it off, then I will be happy, the US will have truely won the war and the world will be a better place. If not, we are screwed.
your talking about when and if Saddam lights up his oil fields? Iraq holds less than 3% of the oil in the Mid East. This was never about oil. Saddam doesn't control enough oil for it to matter. Just an honest question here. Is it the US or the UN or the WTO that have placed sanctions upon Iraq? And does it actually blockade medicines?
They currently produce less than 3% of all oil production, but they have more oil under them than any other nation except (maybe) Saudi Arabia. It is probably the last place on earth where there is still easy oil to be found. As other producers prump less and less oil, Iraq will become more and more important. The UN imposed a blockade on Iraq, but the US which actually enforces it has its own stronger limits on what can pass. Anything that can be considered "dual-purpose" will be stopped, and that includes many very basic and common items, such as chlorine for treating drinking water.
Thanks, I figured it was something like that. I don't know if its right or wrong to withhold this stuff from Iraq but I do know it all end in a few weeks
Regarding the original post in this thread: I just want to know when has "peace" ever won? Has it even ever been tried, ever? Seems it always resorts to bombings or war no matter how many protest against it's brutal reality. Boy, how simplistic is this...I live for the day that our leaders will see there are options and try something different. And be true world leaders. But it's going to take a leadership with a lot more balls and more creative and unpolluted minds. A leadership with the people in mind, not just their pocketbooks. And a citizenry to elect these leaders, a citizenry that can see past it's own selfish and arrogant nose. I'm dreaming!
Hmm... the inspectors just looked at a chlorine plant recently in Iraq. I guess they're not allowed to help thier own people purify water then huh? The fact is there's more than enough money being taken in by Iraq to take basic care of the populace. The fact is Saddam would rather ferret it away in Swiss bank accounts, weapons programs and multi-billion dollar *palace* construction. The human tragedy in Iraq is solely upon the shoulders of Saddam Hussein. Kevin