This was in an article in The Week newspaper and I thought it made a good point:

quote:

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America is playing straight into Osama Bin Laden's Hands, says David Gardner. Bin Laden had hoped the September 11 attacks would provoke a "clash of civilisations", with the US lashing out at the Muslim world, and the Muslims rising up in resistance. He must have been bitterly disappointed by George Bush's initial measured reaction. But a war with Iraq will give Bin Laden what he was denied then: a huge "groundswell" of support for his fanatical brand of Islam. In the Arab world, America's obsession with Iraq - coupled with its failure to deal even-handedly with the Israel-Palestine issue - is fuelling an unprecedented level of anger. The US is increasingly seen as a bully with a vendetta against Muslims: an awesome display of military power against Iraq will do nothing to counter that impression. A far better bet would be to contain Saddam Hussein through UN weapons inspections, and make a serious attempt to settle the Middle East question. The war on terror is really a battle for hearts and minds. Attacking Iraq would be a surefire way to lose it.

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What do you think? Do you agree with his statement that the war on terror is a battle for hearts and minds?

Do the pros of going to war with Iraq outweigh the cons? Will we look back on this as a monumental mistake or as a necessary step to prevent nuclear attack? If we strike first doesn't that mean Iraq would be justified in using these weapons we think they have in their possession?

Will the people of Iraq be grateful if we get rid of Saddam Hussein, despite the massive loss of innocent lives? Incidentally, our allies, the neighbouring countries to Iraq (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) are also dictatorships but we're not talking about attacking them.

Is this just a drive for dominance? Is America going too far?

Is anyone really certain where we stand in this war?

Bex

I'd like to raise the point of, if America did overthrow Saddam Hussein, would the Iraqis be better off? I don't pretend to know the answer to this, it's a genuine question.

The way things are turning out in Afghanistan, it looks like America just left the country in chaos. Yes, the Taliban are gone and that's a good thing, but the rapidly escalating murder rate and the state of the country in general has been brushed under the carpet. America made no lasting effort to solve Afghanistan's problems. I don't know whether it was their business to do so, but claiming that it would be better for Iraq if America got rid of Saddam Hussein implies at least some attempt to clear up the mess afterwards,and this is not what has happened in Afghanistan. If America really does want to stop terrorism, the countries they attack have to get some benefit to make up for the loss of life involved. Otherwise only hate, and a greater enthusiasm for the terrorist cause, will be left. It is not any use getting rid of existing dictators or terrorists if more are just going to spring up in their place. It isn't something you can just walk away from.

I agree, wondrousbob, that pacifism is not always the right course to take. But I think that attacking now would only provide an excuse for Iraq to use any weapons in their possession, and I don't think there's harm in giving the inspectors more time. Iraq is hardly likely to mobilise weapons while the inspectors are there, are they?

I don't understand this eagerness to rush into war.

Bex

sure, nobody would attack us if we cowered safly within our own borders " looking out for number one" and being carefull not to make terrorists and dictors angry.

I think the questions you are asking are really important and the article you quoted was interesting. Although Im not American I really think going to war with Iraq will seriously damage the credibility of the United States and will cause more conflict and animosity. A poll done by an American company showed that anti-Americanism had grown throughout the world substantially since sept 11th. Starting a war which a large proportion of the world is against is certainly not gonna get you more support and what you need if you want to succeed in a war against terror is support. But instead the majority of the world sees the USA as being on a crusade to attack the countries and leaders that it has vendettas against, defending its interests and its allies (namely Isreal) not fighting for the security of the world. Many political scientists have know concluded that to much of the world the USA is more and more being seen as a rogue state who undermines the UN and manipulates it to suit its purposes and interests. This war is only gonna cause more terrorism. How can you win the hearts and minds of people when you are killing them. And has the world improved since this war on terror has begun. From what I've seen the world has only gotten worse. Now any dictators or tyrannical governments who suppresses the rights of their people and torture people who oppose their evil regimes can justify it and have justified it by claiming its part of the war on terror. We were actually closer to a nuclear war after sept 11 (between India and Pakistan) then we have been in a long time. Racism and bigotry has increased since sept 11 especially in america where many muslims and in general asian people have been attacked and abused. And at the end of it we dont even know if Osama bin Laden is dead. No ones mind has changed. No ones heart has changed. Terrorists attacks have not stopped and nor have the supply of recruits to terrorists, because the conditions that created those terrorists in the first place are still there. You can not stop violence with violence because all you will end is that generation of vioence but if the conditions that allowed those terrorists to be born still exist then there will be more terrorism. Terrorism is not an ideology. Its not a belief. Its a method that people resort to when they are desperate and when no one listens to there troubles. If you take away those peoples despair then you eliminate terrorism simple. The war in Iraq is not gonna help especially if it is not backed by the UN. And even then I think it will be unwarranted because the Iraq people have already suffered greatly. The only good thing about sept 11 is that, in Europe, it prompted alot of people to try and understand their fellow man and has made people open their eyes to the suffering of other people in the world hence the huge anti war movement in most of Europe. I cant really gauge the effect that Sept 11 has had on Americans in terms of their tolerance. I mean that whole mantra for a while that they only hate us and attacked us because they are jeaolous of our freedoms really shocked and scared me for a while. but hey this website is definitely a positve development and indicator. anyway i'll stop babbling now. BYE!